Is this really IBS or something else
#343633 - 03/25/09 09:38 AM
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mrae
Reged: 02/05/09
Posts: 481
Loc: California
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I have been diagnosed with IBS-D or at least the doctor says it sounds like thats what I have.The only question I have is, is it really ibs or something else. The only symptom that I have is urgency and alot of bathroom trips. I don't have any pain anywhere at all. My days are fine except the # of urgent bathroom trips I have. Nothing seems to be helping me except for immodium. I could take one a day and it would help me get through without the urgency. I am just reluctant because I am afraid my body will get use to it and it won't be so effective when I am really needing it. I did not have this issue until 2.5 yrs ago after I gave birth to my son then when he was 3months old just one day out of the blue it started which I thought I was getting the flu but it never went away. The only meds I was taking at the time was bith control pills which I quickly quit taking just incase they were the cause but my urgency never went away. About 4 months ago I quit my job because it just got to stressful worrying and dealing with this issue. I have had a colonoscopy done which showed diverticulosis which the doctor said was caused because of my bathroom trips and other than that was never addressed. I have had 2 stool samples, blood work, x-rays, ultra sounds, a CT scan with iodine and I think thats about it.They all came back normal. I just for some reason think it might be something other than ibs. I read on here and understand everyone is different and after reading everyones symptoms I am very grateful this is my only issue but at the same time is very life changing not to be able to go anywhere without knowing where the nearest bathroom is or not being able to go anywhere at all. The only other issue I do have is painful sex which only started when my bathroom issues started. I have an appt with my gyno for some hormone levels to be checked but I just wanted to get some suggestions on what maybe I should be tested for next or if anyone has this exact problem what is it that you have found out. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I just feel like I am not getting anywhere and that this issue shouldn't be that hard to clear up it is my only symptom. I dont understand and am getting very frustrated.
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Pain is not a necessary condition to be diagnosed with IBS. However, it is possible that you have functional diarrhea. You might ask your doctor about it. The treatment is similar to the treatment for IBS as I recall. Have you been tested for lactose intolerance or fructose malabsorption?
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Hi mrae,
Have you tried or are you taking the acacia? This is your best bet to get things to calm down and stabilize. Work up to a maintenance dose of 1-3 tablespoons/day to stabilize diarrhea and loose stools. Only increase the dose by as much as you can tolerate without getting increase gas and bloating, usually ½ to 1 teaspoon added to the daily dose every 3-4 days will be safe. Also, does stress seem to make your IBS worse? You might be a good candidate for the IBS self hypnosis program to get things to calm down while you are interviewing etc. http://www.helpforibs.com/shop/books/hypnoibs.asp
If you followed the instructions for the acacia and have made the dietary changes Heather talks about in her books but still didn't see total improvement, you probably either don't have IBS or have something else like food sensitivities going on at the same time. This can make it difficult to stabilize IBS. This is very common and can cause a lot of IBS-like symptoms. Or, sometimes people think they have IBS when it really is just food sensitivities alone. Conventional doctors, like the ones you've been seeing, will not talk to you about this because they don't even acknowledge their existence. They haven't developed a good validated lab test for food sensitivities, which means they can't test and get objective findings for a diagnosis. The gold standard for diagnosis and treatment is a dietary strategy called the elimination diet. Food sensitivities are an immune response just like a true food allergy (example peanut allergy) only it involves a different antibody and is less severe. They talk about it in immunology textbooks; it is a very real thing that affects a lot of people including me. You'll need to find a good naturopath, holistic nutritionist, or other provider familiar with elimination diets to help you identify foods that may be causing these types of reactions. Once you remove the offending foods from your diet, you may be able to get everything under control. I attached a list of helpful websites where you can locate a provider in your area that can help you with identifying food sensitivities. Here's some more information from great website http://www.womentowomen.com/inflammation/allergies.aspx
Fructose intolerance/malabsorption or salicylate sensitivity are additional common culprits that would be work checking out. Here's some information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose_malabsorption and http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/salicylate-allergy
Also, make sure your doctors have checked you for parasites such as giardia (stool sample test) http://www.cdc.gov/Ncidod/dpd/parasites/giardiasis/factsht_giardia.htm and also celiac (gluten intolerance) http://celiac.org because these can cause similar symptoms as well.
The best type of provider to help you sort all of these issues out would probably be a naturopath. You can learn more about this type of provider and find a good one here http://www.naturopathic.org.
I wish you the best and hope you can get stable!
Erin
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Erin Dudley, MS, CN
Certified Nutritionist
Heather's Tummy Care / Heather & Company for IBS, LLC
IBS Education, Support, & Products
Toll Free: 866 640 4942 Direct: 206 264 8069 Fx: 206 264 8072
80 S. Washington St. #304, Seattle, WA 98104 USA
Patient Support Site: HelpForIBS.com
Wholesale Accounts: HeathersTummyCare.com
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This email is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Any application of the recommendations in this email is at the reader's discretion. Heather Van Vorous and Heather & Company for IBS, LLC are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from use of this email and/or any web site(s) linked to/from it. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this email
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Hi mrae,
You can find some fabulous nutritionists who do a great job with these things at this link http://www.helpforibs.com/footer/links.asp#in. I hope this helps!
Erin
--------------------
Erin Dudley, MS, CN
Certified Nutritionist
Heather's Tummy Care / Heather & Company for IBS, LLC
IBS Education, Support, & Products
Toll Free: 866 640 4942 Direct: 206 264 8069 Fx: 206 264 8072
80 S. Washington St. #304, Seattle, WA 98104 USA
Patient Support Site: HelpForIBS.com
Wholesale Accounts: HeathersTummyCare.com
Co-Packing Services
Join Heather's IBS Newsletter Here
Join us on Facebook!
Join us on MySpace!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This email is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Any application of the recommendations in this email is at the reader's discretion. Heather Van Vorous and Heather & Company for IBS, LLC are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from use of this email and/or any web site(s) linked to/from it. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this email
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No I have not been tested for those. How do I get tested for them? I will check out the functional diarhhea.
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I have been taking the Heathers fiber but just recently started all over because I think I up it to fast the first time and didn't see results. So now I am taking it slow. I have done EFI and the only thing I do notice is I can't eat alot at once no matter what it is. I have to eat small meals during the day other than that it doesn't seem to matter what I eat it all affects me except spicey food that I have never been able to eat without bathroom issues. Thank you for all the info I appreciate all of it.
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Hi there,
The best type of provider to help you sort all of these issues out would probably be a naturopath. You can learn more about this type of provider and find a good one here http://www.naturopathic.org.
You can also have your GI doc test you if he or she agrees. You can also read the response I made to your original post. 
All my best!
Erin
--------------------
Erin Dudley, MS, CN
Certified Nutritionist
Heather's Tummy Care / Heather & Company for IBS, LLC
IBS Education, Support, & Products
Toll Free: 866 640 4942 Direct: 206 264 8069 Fx: 206 264 8072
80 S. Washington St. #304, Seattle, WA 98104 USA
Patient Support Site: HelpForIBS.com
Wholesale Accounts: HeathersTummyCare.com
Co-Packing Services
Join Heather's IBS Newsletter Here
Join us on Facebook!
Join us on MySpace!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This email is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Any application of the recommendations in this email is at the reader's discretion. Heather Van Vorous and Heather & Company for IBS, LLC are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from use of this email and/or any web site(s) linked to/from it. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this email
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Both are breath tests that can be ordered by your doctor. The other approach is to eliminate all dairy from your diet to remove lactose and remove foods high in excess fructose (i.e. foods containing more fructose than glucose such as honey, apples, pears, melons, managos, and juices of these fruits). I posted a list of favorable and unfavorable foods for people with fructose malabsorption in this message that you might find useful.
Good luck
--------------------
STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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I will have to ask my doctor about the breath test. I have eliminated the dairy and fructose. I can't have alot of fructose or it upsets my stomach. Thanks for the info.
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