New To Board-Questions About IBS
#11242 - 06/10/03 08:50 AM
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dlt647
Reged: 06/10/03
Posts: 12
Loc: West Chester, PA
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I recently found this web site and thought I would post my questions to see if anyone had any similar experiences. During the past several years went through a divorce. The stress of the divorce and helping my children through this rough time caused me to completely lose my appetite. I ended up losing 80 pounds over a 4 month period of time. I went on for about 8 months not eating much of anything. Finally, last fall things settled down a bit and my life became much happier. I started eating normally again, however, I developed digestive problems. My GI doctor (whom I had been seeing over the last 4 years for diverticulosis) said my symptoms more like IBS than anything else. I had a colonoscopy 2 years ago which was normal (except for the diverticulosis). My symptoms are intestinal gas, bloating, severe constipation and very loud stomach/bowel noises. There are quite a number of foods I now cannot eat because they cause my symptoms. I have been taking something called Colon Cleanse twice a day. If I don't take it every day, my constipation gets worse. If I have a change in schedule (during trips or otherwise) my constipation increases.
Do these symptoms sound like IBS or something different? Any recommendations for diet, etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Welcome to the board! You'll find lots of helpful suggestions and tons of support from people who are going through or who have gone through the same things.
I suffer mainly from IBS-D which is just the opposite of what you are describing. So, I'm sorry I can't offer any suggestions. But, I'm sure someone here can.
Good luck and visit often.
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Welcome! The first thing I would recommend is a trip to your Doc. It's extremely important to get a proper diagnosis. These symptoms can also mean other problems, which should be considered (ie. crohn's, colitis, etc.). If your Doc won't listen, go to another one. In the meantime, the dietary guidelines on this website may help ease your symptoms.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Hi - I thought I was the only one with such a noisy stomach. My doctor says it is all part of IBS. I had a colonoscopy 3 yrs. ago and will have another one this year. It revealed diverticulosis and mild inflamation, but no colitis. Back to the noisy stomach - I find it very embarassing and don't know quite what to say in the presence of others. How do you handle that?
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Welcome! Your symptoms are almost the same as mine. The bloating and constipation are the worse. When it gets real bad I get very nauseas(sp?) and its hard to breath. Never heard of colon cleanse, I take Mira-Lax and fibercon. Lots of great info on this site, take time to cruise around.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Sounds to me like what you have is classic IBS, especially if they've done a colonoscopy and found nothing else like Crohns or colitis. I too have diver. Now, since I've gone thru H_ _ _ trying to get the system back in order from IBS-C (like you), I've learned a lot about fiber and laxatives. So, here is some advise. PLEASE get off the Colon Cleanse...it has senna in it......which is SO hard on the colon with long term affects. That and cassara sagrada (sp?) is a no-no. Yes, how well I know it works, and I thought I couldn't do without it, but you can. Ween yourself off slowly and go to one of the 3 recommended on this board, Fibercon, Citrucel, or Benefiber working up quickly to max dosages. I personally like the tablets over the powder because of the convenience. Then at night I add a finer grind of psyllium, called Konsyl, available in almost any drug store. Also some plumped prunes at night. The Konsyl and prunes I do at night only since they are bloating, the fiber pills I do throughout the day. It is sooo nice to be off the stool softeners, strong laxative herbs and the Metamucil (with additives that I didn't like). Hope this little recommendation helps you. Kandee
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Thank you everyone for your responses. I will take your advice and try to stop the colon cleanse. I am afraid, though, because I know I have forgotten to take it before and have had such trouble. The stomach noises are very embarrassing. My fiance and I make jokes about it when we are home, but if we are around other people I try to just say it is because I hadn't eaten and I'm hungry or make some other excuse. I am so tired of not being able to eat the things I used to. I can't eat chocolate (and if I do, it limit it to very, very small amounts), some fresh vegetables, bran muffins, etc. without suffering later in the day. I would love to know what caused this problem. Was it the stress from my divorce, my poor diet for so long or something else. Just before I started having these problems I had a problem with my diverticulosis and also a urinary tract infection in which I was on 3 different types of antibiotics within a one month period of time. Could that have caused it? I will definitely check out the information on this web site and possibly try the diet. At this point, I am ready for anything just to start feeling better.
Thanks again,
Donna
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You sound like you have been thru a rough time.
To give you some perspective, I am a 41 yr old male who has been having a rough patch with his marriage in the last year. I never had ANYTHING to do with gut problems before. During the last year a colleague died of stomach cancer (after exhibiting symptoms I had which were subsequently diagnosed as Oesophagitis or gastro - reflux.)
Three weeks after that, another colleague committed suicide. (I was a police detective at that time).
I thought, enough is enough, I don't need the stress anymore and left the police. (I had symptoms of excessive stomach gurgling prior to that - which is very embarrassing and I also had nausea and bloating).
I had a battery of tests including endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, urinalysiss, ultrasound and CAT scan. (If you had anything less then get a new doctor).
I now have low level pain most of the time that extends across an area which is in the area of the transverse and descending colon and particularly below the left side ribs. I also continue to have low level nausea.
I have read many of the letters on the forum and I have heartfelt sympathy for many of those who have written in.
I have particularly read those of ConcreteAngel and I hope she can hang in there.
I think you should keep off the Colon Cleanse as I think you can overdo it with the chemicals. Try and regulate your problems with natural products.
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to Crow
#11347 - 06/11/03 06:18 AM
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artist
Reged: 05/28/03
Posts: 132
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I read your post with great interest. You are one of the few people I have encountered who developed symptoms after age 40. I have been told this is highly unusual for IBS. I also developed symptoms of pain, abdominal distention, bloating suddenly at age 40. These symptoms followed a period of EXTREME stress. (I found a lump in my breast, had a kidney stone attack, and injured my back which caused constant pain) I had a total melt down. Prior to age 40, I had NOTHING wrong with me. They are not kidding when they say you start to fall apart. All of those things have resolved, however I am left with what my GI specialist says is IBS. I have had all the appropriate tests, the only thing I have left to do is the colonoscopy. I am just skeptical of the IBS diagnosis because of my age.
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Thank you for your response Crow. Sounds like you've been through a lot also. My fiance's step father just passed away a few months ago from stomach cancer. I was shocked at how quickly it advanced.
I really don't have a lot of pain. I occasionally have mild cramping feelings in my lower abdomen when I have my other symptoms. I am going to try and work off the colon cleanse, though. It may sound weird but I am so worried about stopping it. It has been the only thing so far that has helped the constipation and when that is better the other symptoms improve. I will give the peppermint a try and also the citrucel.
Thanks again for your help.
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