Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | forget answers, how do you just survive?

if anyone remembers from previous posts ... I've been on Heather's diet for over a year and still having problems with D. But I do (did) manage to keep it mostly under control with meds and diet.

The last couple months things have gotten worse and worse and the last couple weeks have been KILLING me. I am constantly having brutal D attacks with agonizing pain. There is absolutely nothing I've found to help -- all I can do is endure until it's over. I'm just drinking plain lukewarm bottled water and eating homemade white bread at this point.

I have a new GI and a second colonoscopy (the first was done a year ago) is coming up in about a week and a half. He won't treat me until after the colonoscopy results. My PCP doesn't want to do anything because that's why I'm going to the GI. After talking to the PCP's office (and emphasizing that I have gone through 120 anti-spasmodics in the last six weeks), she's agreed to see me Monday and I think she will be open to prescribing something stronger. I am going to ask to try Donnatel. Is there anything else anti-diarrheal out there that is stronger than Imodium? I've heard Lomotil mentioned, is that really any stronger? The Imodium isn't doing a thing for me at this point except that with each D attack the stuff that comes out initially is a chalky grey-green. (In a previous life, I would have been grossed out by this revelation.)

I work full-time and I live nearly an hour away from the office. I've had to miss at least some time five times in the last two weeks because of attacks. I don't know why I'm asking this because I've been reading these boards so long that I've probably heard every suggestion out there, but what else can I do to try and fight off attacks? I am getting pretty desperate.

I can't drink tea (gives me D), can't do peppermint (GERD), can't do SFS (D gets worse). I do take meds like clockwork, do sip lukewarm water gradually, and do slowly eat bread to keep stomach from getting empty. Don't know what else to do.

Stupid body!

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jen

"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC

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