Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I am new to the world of IBS and am wondering how many people out there might have only diarrhea, no constipation, and very little abdominal pain. My major symptoms are diarh. and at times extreme fatigue but they are intermittent. Sometimes they go completely away. This seems different from what a lot of the websites describe. I am never constipated and never have pain, though I do get excess gas and rumbling.

I went away to a cottage on a lake for a lovely, relaxing, peaceful week and had NO SYMPTOMS no matter what I ate and I ate some real garbage like hotdogs and chips. I felt good for two weeks after that but tonight the IBS seems to have come back. Seems like stress is almost more of an issue for me than diet, which in a way is frustrating because how can you eliminate stress from your life??? You can't make the bills go away, or the piles on your desk at work, or the kids bickering. I can't drop everything and move to a cottage on a lake, as appealing as that sounds.

Another issue: Are there any people out there with IBS and endometriosis? I had surgery for endo 9 years ago and have been symptom free since then but wonder if maybe there is endo I don't know about affecting my gut.

Finally, I am very, very nervous about taking anti diarrheal meds. I have heard that they can cause more problems than they solve. Is it better just to tough out the diarrhea as long as you are not getting dehydrated?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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