This may be a long thread, but my so called IBS is 20yrs. I am 59 years old and have been suffering for about 20yrs. Here is how is goes: I get the urge to have a bowel movement, visit the bathroom and relieve myself. No pain, no problem. About 20 min to 1/2 hour later, I once again get the urge to visit the bathroom again....this time I have a little intestinal pain, and bowels are a little softer. I finish this visit and again about 1/2 hour later I visit the bathroom again, intestinal pain is growing more intense with each visit. To make a long story short, I visit the bathroom every half hour for around three to four hours, BUT have no more bowels to pass, and my intestinal track is having extremely intense spasms trying to pass bowel that is no longer there. The pain is my lower stomach is as severe as childbirth, my rectum is trying to push out something that is NOT there. The pain is enough to make me want to scream as though I am having a baby. I know the pain of childbirth. I had a colonoscopy 9 years ago and they removed two non-cancerous polyps and told me to come back in 10yrs. I currently am taking 60mg of dicyclomine when I get an attack. I have lost no weight. I do have bright red blood in the toilet and blame this on hemmorids. Does anyone have any of these severe spastic colon symptoms??
I too have suffered from IBS-D for 20 years. My mornings were like yours. I'd park my self right outside the bathroom because many times I was unable to make it to the toilet if I wasn't closer than 10 feet away from it.
I was mostly housebound, and if I ventured out, you better believe I knew where every bathroom was. I carried a bag in my car with a change of clothes, wipes and toilet paper.
When those cramps would hit, I'd fall right into lamaze breathing to get thru them. I think I may have even passed out once or twice from the pain.
I had every test, xray, ct scans...my diagnosis was always IBS. I tried every medication available, OTC and prescription. Went on an antidepressent which totally freaked me out, went on something else that just surpressed me/my emotions... made me feel like I was constantly under a dark cloud, but did nothing for my stomach issues.
I went dairy free, gluten free, existed on protein shakes...nothing helped. I could eat a double pepperoni pizza and have no problem... yet eat a saltine cracker and spend hours in the bathroom.
Not one doctor could help me. I was told to be happy that what I had wasn't terminal.
From trial and error, I found what I can eat and what I should avoid. If I am eating out (a new thing for me recently) I avoid heavy, fatty, greasy and spicy foods. I can't eat a lot of veggies and fruits (which sucks cause I love veggies and fruit!) I alway start a meal with a piece of bread or pasta or some sort of complex carb, just to give my stomach something to chew on. I can eat a salad, in small portions, once or twice a week, but not 2 days in a row and never before a meal...always with. Same with other veggies. I avoid all carbonated drinks.
But what really has made a difference in my life is just over 4 years ago I started taking acacia fiber (google it... in the yellow pouch). It has changed my life. Or given me back my life. I may have a bad IBS attack once a month now and that is if I eat poorly or too much (for instance, very rich creamy ice cream, while it tastes divine, will have me tied in knots for hours).
I am never without this fiber, haven't skipped taking it once. It is not like metamucil or fiber con...they made my IBS worse. This is odorless, tasteless, clear...doesn't leave that jelly like icky stuff in the glass.
I can go on long car rides now, eat out, go to the movies, walks in the park. All the things that I had given up.
The Following User Says Thank You to seabell For This Useful Post: LouAnn53 (06-04-2012)
I too have suffered from IBS-D for 20 years. My mornings were like yours. I'd park my self right outside the bathroom because many times I was unable to make it to the toilet if I wasn't closer than 10 feet away from it.
I was mostly housebound, and if I ventured out, you better believe I knew where every bathroom was. I carried a bag in my car with a change of clothes, wipes and toilet paper.
When those cramps would hit, I'd fall right into lamaze breathing to get thru them. I think I may have even passed out once or twice from the pain.
I had every test, xray, ct scans...my diagnosis was always IBS. I tried every medication available, OTC and prescription. Went on an antidepressent which totally freaked me out, went on something else that just surpressed me/my emotions... made me feel like I was constantly under a dark cloud, but did nothing for my stomach issues.
I went dairy free, gluten free, existed on protein shakes...nothing helped. I could eat a double pepperoni pizza and have no problem... yet eat a saltine cracker and spend hours in the bathroom.
Not one doctor could help me. I was told to be happy that what I had wasn't terminal.
From trial and error, I found what I can eat and what I should avoid. If I am eating out (a new thing for me recently) I avoid heavy, fatty, greasy and spicy foods. I can't eat a lot of veggies and fruits (which sucks cause I love veggies and fruit!) I alway start a meal with a piece of bread or pasta or some sort of complex carb, just to give my stomach something to chew on. I can eat a salad, in small portions, once or twice a week, but not 2 days in a row and never before a meal...always with. Same with other veggies. I avoid all carbonated drinks.
But what really has made a difference in my life is just over 4 years ago I started taking acacia fiber (google it... in the yellow pouch). It has changed my life. Or given me back my life. I may have a bad IBS attack once a month now and that is if I eat poorly or too much (for instance, very rich creamy ice cream, while it tastes divine, will have me tied in knots for hours).
I am never without this fiber, haven't skipped taking it once. It is not like metamucil or fiber con...they made my IBS worse. This is odorless, tasteless, clear...doesn't leave that jelly like icky stuff in the glass.
I can go on long car rides now, eat out, go to the movies, walks in the park. All the things that I had given up.
I am brand new to using these boards! My ibs symptoms are 30yrs and running...no pun intended. Back then you didn't really talk about this problem and they did not know to call it ibs. I,m so overwhelmed reading that so many others have experienced what I've been going thru, you know what to call it.....and YOU especially know what has helped you and shared it. I placed my first order for acasia fiber today after googling it, like you said, and ordered the yellow packet. If this works for me as I think it will I'll have relief for the first time in 30yrs and I'll have you to thank.....more than I can say....Thank you!!!
I am brand new to using these boards! My ibs symptoms are 30yrs and running...no pun intended. Back then you didn't really talk about this problem and they did not know to call it ibs. I,m so overwhelmed reading that so many others have experienced what I've been going thru, you know what to call it.....and YOU especially know what has helped you and shared it. I placed my first order for acasia fiber today after googling it, like you said, and ordered the yellow packet. If this works for me as I think it will I'll have relief for the first time in 30yrs and I'll have you to thank.....more than I can say....Thank you!!!
(((counterclockwys))) I take the fiber at night before dinner. Mix it into a glass of water and drink it right down. You should start seeing an improvement in your tummy in a week or two and over time, you'll start feeling better and doing things you haven't done in a long time w/o worrying where a bathroom is. One day (I hope) you'll have an A HA moment like I did. I was out, feeling great, didn't give my stomach a thought in hours, and did a little happy dance right then and there!
Dear Seabell, I do not know if I should keep doing this thread or not....please school me. I'm halfway through my second week. If I was weaker I'd just quit with the feeling of "better the devil you know, than the one you don't". I wasn't looking for any miracle after 30 yrs....I just didn't think everything would get worse!!! I know I told my stomach "you can't have everything anymore". I love red meat, crackers and cheese, all dairy products....all the triggers. So I read the book, am following the recipes with rice and pasta which I hate and really being controlled...rice milk..are you kidding?!!!
Hang in there counterclockwys! Are you taking the fiber? I read the book just to get an idea of what my triggers can be, but I don't follow any of the eating plans. I know what my triggers are and avoid them most of the time but I can have them occasionally. Triggers are different for everyone so eat what you like, but be aware of how you feel after eating. I enjoy read meat and love cheese! I do avoid spicy, greasy foods as much as possible (but I love french fries and can eat them w/o worry).
Have you tried keeping a food diary? I used a regular calendar and scribbled down what I ate and how I felt. I began noticing a pattern and that helped me determine what foods were my triggers. Make sure you do eat carbs with your meals (rice, pasta, bread). Put cheese on your rice! Limit your fruit and veggies. For me, eating with IBS is the opposite for eating healthy (meaning my carbs/protein portions are larger than my fruit/veggies)
Oh, and stop all artificial sweeteners. That was a biggie for me.
A typical day of eating for me consists of: english muffin with peanut butter and banana for breakfast. Lunch can be ham and cheese and crackers, melted cheddar on tortilla chips (yeah, I love cheese) or even a PB/jelly sandwich. Dinner is chicken or beef, rarely pork because I find it hard to digest, Friday night is Pizza! Side dishes are pasta, rice or potatoes and some veggie. I snack on nuts (something I could never eat in the past) grapes (not too many), and the occasional Oreo cookie!
If I do get an 'attack', I sort of follow the BRAT diet... bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, but I'll put the banana on a soft bagel, rice in chicken broth. A baked potato, butter on egg noodles. All of these foods settle my stomach.
My goodness, I'm throwing everything I can think of into this post... I wish for you the relief and happiness I found with a 'behaving' stomach.
Please keep in touch. I'd love to hear how you are doing.
SB
p.s. do you take imodium or something that will slow down the motility in your intestines?
I firmly believe that many people with IBS really have food allergies or intolerances. I am one of those. After 40 years of suffering with IBS, I found out I am diary, gluten and yeast intolerant, and as a result, had leaky gut syndrome that made me sensitive to 31 foods in all. Since taking out just the 3 items, I am like a new person. The key to this though, is you must get IGG food testing done, not IGE. IGE is used for severe, acute allergic reactions to foods like shellfish, peanuts. Most allergies are more subtle, and IGG shows that delayed allergy response. So when people get tested with IGE (the standard allergy test method), they are told they are negative for the allergy, but their IGG (not tested) may have been positive. I would explore that option so you don't have to struggle through the trial and error method of figuring out what foods to avoid. A functional medicine Dr. is more likely to be in tune with that type of testing. Try googling "functional medicine physicians" for your area.
PS Ten years seems like a long interval between colonoscopies for someone who has had 2 polyps removed. Usually it is 3-5 yrs. I would try to schedule my colonoscopy now to see if anything new has cropped up and to get a clean slate for trying to get this better controlled. The blood could be from something other than hemorrhoids. It is just not safe to assume that. Tumors in the bowel can cause tenesmus too-that feeling of having to go so urgently, but nothing is there.
SB...I will keep waiting & hang in there. My stomach is just saying "you want to play games with me I'll play a new one!". Fiber... is 1 teaspoon at noon and one with dinner.
Rice, pasta, and sour dough bread are my newest friends...I love the bread toasted. Never any art. sweeteners...sugar guy me and I love gummy bears! No immodium or anything else as it never seemed to help in the past, but I haven't tried it with this new diet either. All your suggestions give a light at the end of the tunnel... so keep throwing..thanks again!!! Am I posting right..there's not enough room on quick reply?
You're posting fine but can also hit "Post to this Reply" on the bottom left of post you are reading (does that make sense?)
I take 2 heaping tsp of the fiber at night, preferably before I eat. If my stomach was a little off, I may take a little bit more of the fiber.
You're not going to like this...but give up the gummy bears for a bit. I loved Twizzlers, but found that they are one of my triggers. I wonder if gummy bears have something similar in them (some sort of gelatin maybe) that makes both candies soft and chewy? Maybe makes them hard to digest?
I take imodium and have a script for lomotil. I know that both help slow down my food process. I take imodium almost daily with no problems.
Hope that light at the end of your tunnel gets brighter and bigger!
Hi SB....In frustration, I'll ask a lot of questions. I definitely acknowledge that our triggers may be different. Do you make your own pizza? I tried pizza out and it didn't work...gas, bloating messed me up and yes I love pizza..I just can't eat it anymore. For three weeks I held to the schedule till my birthday last week. And I did go out to eat...just one meal...and I couldn't sleep all night my stomach was roiling and boiling sooooo bad. Okay, I get it ....it just is not worth it anymore to think in terms of trying to be "normal" this early in the game change. In this third week I will increase my fiber to three teaspoons a day. You said that you take yours in the evening at one time. Did you find that by doing so you had better results with more fiber at one time? So far all I can tell is that it seems the more fiber I take, the worse my bloating and gas seem to be getting. Diarrhea symptoms have not changed so far...6 to 8 times a day. I accept your challenge to keep a strict diary of what I'm eating and the consequences instead of just trying to "remember". It really may further help to define what I need to change even now with a IBS diet. And I also will try to add imodium daily. GIVE UP GUMMY BEARS!! OK...I'm open to try anything. Thanks for the help ! Still hanging in there: counterclockwys
The following user gives a hug of support to counterclockwys: seabell (08-16-2012)
The reason I take my fiber at night is because whatever I put in my mouth previously, zoomed thru me, so I'd take all meds (vitamins etc) at night when I was home, safe and sound, and near a bathroom. I usually didn't eat anything during the day if I had to be out.
I think you have to limit what you eat for the next couple of months to non spicy, non greasy, gentle on the tummy foods and give your stomach a chance to heal while on the fiber. Eat smaller portions a few times a day as opposed to 3 large meals. Gas can be caused by swallowing a lot of air, so be aware how you are eating when you eat. So often we are in a rush and gobble our foods. I used to count to 32 while I was chewing and keep my mouth closed (no talking) so I wouldn't swallow air. Oh, believe me when I tell you I tried everything to better my stomach issues. I know I tried Beeno and it didn't help at all. Peppermint oil does help, as well as Peppermint Tea.
I wouldn't increase the fiber (it's the acacia fiber right?) until the gas stops.
I'm so hoping you see an improvment soon!
SB
p.s. I forgot to add that when I eat, I try not to drink anything (unless its a PB sandwich!!). I remember reading somewhere that your digestive system works better w/o the addition of liquids so of course, I had to try it.
Thank you, SB! I also have been cutting back on size proportions to about half. I know that is helping and I may even lose a few pounds. I can't seem to stomach the peppermint pills...too strong..burn a hole in my stomach and give me heartburn. But I've been drinking herbal teas for many years and especially like mint teas so that's a plus. I always drink tea with my meals and in between...so I'll eat and then drink afterwards to see if it helps. As for the Acacia Fiber, I took for granted that it was "Heather's"...it seemed to be the best out there..hope thats right! Thank you again for all your suggestions. I know that they may not all work for ME..but some may and I'll keep trying and believe something will happen even if its way too slow...I really do want some kind of relief...and I was kidding myself...I was looking for a miracle! counterclockwise
The horrible aspect of IBS is that there is no "cure". Doctors would love to be able to give us a pill and voila...we are all better. But when they tell us to take certain drugs and it doesn't work, and they give us certain tests which reveal nothing, they would like nothing better than to show us the door. I have heard that its all in my head and to be thankful that its not terminal.
It is boards like this one where you can find out really helpful info, different things to try, different things that have worked for others, which will hopefully work for you. I know how happy I was when I found this board and realized that I wasn't alone in my tummy issues.
Yes, it is Heather's and her peppermint tea is awesome too.
Have you ever been tested for gluten allergies? When I first went gluten free, I think I lost 20 pounds because food was so hard to find. My grocery store now has an aisle of gluten free foods.
Try to find the multi symptom imodium. It works on diarrhea, cramps, gas and bloating. I take 2 tablets every morning if I'm heading out and sometimes will take 2 if I'm going out to dinner.
Hi, SB! This is now a whole new ball game. This past week I've kept to a non-trigger IBS diet..it is now soooo important. I also did not increase my fiber..as you suggested. What I did do was to begin taking my 2 tsp of fiber in the a.m. with my hot mint tea and added 1 immodium tab.....now five days ago! I know that YOU KNOW this is awkward. Most people want to share when they get a new car, new house, new clothes. I'm excited to share ...for me..a huge change in my gi tract. No diarrhea for 4 days!!! This is the first time in 30yrs. Now I 'm sure I'm not there yet. I have no idea what's going to happen in the next 2 days....am I going to have a huge accident I didn't expect?...I just don't know yet....but this change is very good! What a journey. Again...I thank YOU for your insight, helpful suggestions, and sincere "leading". I keep going back through all of the posts so I remember......here's looking toward my AHA moment! Counterclockwys.
The following user gives a hug of support to counterclockwys: seabell (08-24-2012)
<Grabbing counterclockwys and doing happy dance!!!>
I am SO HAPPY to hear your news! So very happy for you and your tummy!
You know you are on the right track now. Don't be disappointed if one day your tummy acts up. It's all trial and error now...what works for you, what doesn't. Smaller portions, tummy friendly foods, fiber and immodium is a good foundation.
I was bad earlier this week and ate extremely greasy and spicy take out chinese food and my tummy acted up for about 3 days. Didn't stop me from going out but I watched what I ate and made sure I was close to a toilet.
I hope you see continued improvement CCW (easier to type than counterclockwyse lol). Please keep posting and let me know how you are doing or if want to discuss something.
Thank YOU, Thank YOU, Thank YOU SB! You have the gift of encouragement too! But what I just realised overnight was this: the new change in my IBS symtoms is not just physical...it is also psychologically liberating! My body will no longer control who I AM.. it no longer defines me because I am now in control.
I feel like a kid with a new toy...only this "new toy" is the rest of my life. For years I suffered these IBS symptoms. Saw an internet add for "healthboards" 4 weeks ago. Looked up irratable bowel symptoms. Found your thread helping someone else: {a} bought Acacia fiber and began
{b} changed to non-trigger IBS diet
{c) added 1 immodium tablet per day
I couldn't believe you actually went out to eat "greasy" chinese food....YOU KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!! But I get it. You were in control! You knew what would happen, and more importantly, you knew how to fix it and that's what is now so real! Now to continue to experiment, learn, and grow in the new knowledge that I'm in control!!
The new CCW {your right! it is}
Last edited by counterclockwys; 08-25-2012 at 08:37 AM.
Oh CCW, I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes over your news.
IBS beats you right into the ground, stops you from going out, from enjoying your family and friends, and soon takes over your life, physically and emotionally. But you are fighting back...and WINNING!!
As I said before, there is no magic pill to cure IBS, we all have to find what works for us and you are certainly headed in the right direction. The right attitude can take you miles!
Enjoy your 'new toy'! When I first started eating out again (after at least 15 years of avoiding it), my hubby and I were in a very sloooow restaurant. Hubby was getting impatient, but I was like a kid in a candy store, I was looking at everything, everyone, just soaking it all in. I could have stayed there all day.
Dear SB! What I'm about to say I would never say to a "normal" person. Its absolutely ridiculous to share except when training a child on the potty. And even if its awkward only another IBS individual would understand. I still stayed inside last week because I didn't know what would happen when my diarrhea had stopped...fearful of what I could not anticipate. But now I know! I had a "normal" stool for the first time in 25yrs. No crazy accident, no anxiety. Just a normal "human" response. And I feel "normal" again. I know its silly, but I wanted to take a picture for proof! No...I didn't do it.
I am deeply thankful for the good fortune of finding Healthboards, seeing your post and following your suggestions and all of the sharing. I've become a new person as a result. You said earlier that I would soon be doing things I haven't done in a long time. Tonight I bought a new pair of walking shoes..very expensive{i'm worth it} and did a 2 mile walk.........with a happy dance in the middle!!! Please keep helping people on these boards. Its about changing lives...and I am One!! The New CCW
CCW!!! What wonderful, fantastic news! I can just see you 'happy dancing' during your 2 mile walk! Of course you are worth your expensive shoes... and so much more! Celebrate! Dance! Jump around with joy! It's a fantastic feeling to be able to feel normal again isn't it?
My hubby and I took the train into NYC over the weekend and went to Radio City Music Hall, then walked down Fifth Ave and around Rock Center...and I was skipping ... literally! So happy to be FREE and to be OUT and ABOUT. For years I missed doing all these great things. My hubby and daughter would go to Broadway plays and concerts and the Christmas show without me. I'd bravely wave to them as they drove away, and then I sit down and cry. Now I'm making up for all those times!
I am so very happy for you!! Keep posting all your good news. It makes me smile!
Re: IBS 20yr Misery 
Re: IBS 20yr Misery 
