IBS sufferers support group thread

[Ladytiger]

Me too:rolleyes:

[captorquewrench]

popcorn

lettuce, especially iceberg lettuce

and my favorite "death food" item in the world.....the JIB Bacon Bacon Cheeseburger

and everything else i like.

Murphy's Law of IBS: The more you like it, the worse it affects you.

[captorquewrench]

pass me my bentyl. having an attack. blech.

[captorquewrench]

ahhhhhhh thank you!!!!! and WHY is it when I am on my way to the bathroom the boss needs something????????

[captorquewrench]

This is the list so far.

Feel free to add your own.

1) The more you like to eat it, the worse it will affect you.
2) If it doesn't give you a flare-up, it will make you fat.
3) If it is the worst possible time to have to go, you will have to go (the list of worst times includes while stuck in traffic and important meetings. Counterrule: The more important the meeting, or longer the traffic delay, the worse your IBS flare up is.)

[midniteblu2]

3 little letters that makes me RUN!

I'm IN!

4) Makes you want to STOP eating.

[captorquewrench]

5) If you are out of TP or your toilet is broken, you will have a flare-up.

[midniteblu2]

6) You wear something that is very complicated to get on & off, your IBS will flare up.

[Ladytiger]

Worst is when you are in a restaraunt..and *bam* hits ya!!
Umm, I have handheld games that are in my drawer in the bathroom, keeping concentrating on that seems to help the pain not be so severe.
Also, popcorn nuts and the like always help me, when it's the opposite and I can't go.

[dedesunshine]

You guys have it nailed....I have had this problem for years!! I hate it ....always flares up at the worst times.

[dream walker 2]

Lordy what a bunch of sicko's on here. Me included. LOL I have had this all my life. I dare not eat anything if I go anywhere. Because when I gotta go, I GOTTA GO!! Can't get through a whole meal. But you know what.. 2yrs ago, they put me on anti-depressants, Now, it's just the opposite, I can't go. I need to eat the things that made me go before. Now I have gained to much weight. I think I am full of Chit. LOL So ladies ya can't win for losing. LOL I also have an ulcer so certain things I eat can tear my stomach up. so I am between a rock and a hard place. I want to be skinny again....

[jaboomer2]

1. It is possible not to eat for days if you have appts. day after day.

2. Never leave home without a change of clothes, EVER

3. Always keep TP in your car for those 'over the guardrail/bank moments'.

4. Helpful tip: Hospitals always are open and the ER always has a bathroom.

lori

[midniteblu2]

I can't eat much iceburg lettuce but I am OK with endive, spinach & red leaf lettuce. I have to avoid tomatoes, cucumbers, & bacon bits.

JABOOMER...I can go for several days without eating anything soild. Before my last colonscopy I lived on clear broth, jello, & gatorade for 4 days because I have so much trouble taking the stuff to clear me out.

[Ladytiger]

I do ok with lettuce, anything spicy is what tears me up.
I have found that taking acidofilus(sp?) helps me alot, it puts back the "friendly flora" back into your system. You can get it any health food store, just make sure it is in the refrigertaed section, and that you keep it refrigerated. It doesn't interact with any other drugs either, and you can take as many capsules as needed.
Hope this helps some of you-it has me!;)

[jaboomer2]

Originally posted by chelle33
I have had 2 colonoscopy's the crap you
drink is worse than the test!!!

UHG :eek:

I have had so many upper and lower GI'S since I was 17, I told them no more. I have been checked from A`hole to Appetite and where I didn't have a hole to stick something in they made one.
They have never found any reason for my problem, other then the standard, well some women are like that, and my fav, well you did have your gall bladder out...ugh.
I am 41, if they haven't found out why, they never will. Besides 1/2 the drs. I have told about it say it is all emotional, and I can learn to live with it. I sure wish they had to live with it.

lori

[midniteblu2]

My gastroenterologist is WONDERFUL! Last time I saw him I told him that I was beginning to think all of this was 'in my head'. He told me right out that the blood tests alone are telling him I am NOT imaginning it & there is soemthing very wrong however finding it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
In the past 3 months alone I have had a colonscopy, endscopy, Upper GI,ultra-sound, MRI, stool culture test(GROSS), and numerous blood tests.
At first I wanted to get cured but at this point I will settle for being able to manage my pain & not 'poop' 20+ times a week. If I coudl gain a few pounds that would be great too.

[jaboomer2]

Originally posted by chelle33
Anyone have trouble eating meat? sometimes
meat will cause my IBS to act up BIG TIME!!
Man is there anything we can eat without it
bothering out system? :(

No there isn't for me. Because if something is safe for me one day, the next it kills me. I swear air does it. There is a couple of things I have noticed where I don't seem to get it at all.
Deer meat. When DH cooks it, even with deer chili I don't get the back door trots. Also seafood. Includes fish, crab, scallops, just about any kind of seafood is safe for me.
I haven't lost weight, sigh. My metablosm seems to be on starvation mode and sucks up all it can in the 15 seconds most food stays in my system.
It was really bad with my last 2 pregnacies, and even though both boys had a genetic condtion, I am still wondering if that is why they were so low birthweight. DS2 was only 4.11 at full term, DS3 wasn't even 6 pds, while DS1 before it got so bad was almost 8 pds.

lori

[midniteblu2]

I can not eat red meat at all & I eat VERY little pork. I mainly stick with fish, boneless-skinless chicken & turkey. I have to be very careful about what spices I use when I cook. I usually only use garilc salt & parsley. Oregano is my DEATH sentence!

[midniteblu2]

I can't drink soda at all. I also had to give up caffine. Now all I basically dribk is water.

[midniteblu2]

I just hate living like this. dh & I are going away this weekend for my birthday & I am dreading it. I guess I will go on my liquid diet on Wednesday. Last thing I need is to be 'POOPING' for the 4 hour drive to AC!

[midniteblu2]

I plan on having lobster & a very rich decadent dessert or at least I would like to but I know I will have to stick with dry chicken & just dream about dessert.

[midniteblu2]

I have to go see my doctor in 2 weeks & that is a 90 minute drive for me & I am getting nervous from now. I hate driving that far alone in the winter. There is a quicker way to go but I take the longer back roads because there are bathrooms along the way.
My hubby laughs at me b/c I keep spare clothes in my truck of my car just in case!

[~Angel Eyez~]

I have IBD..so whats the difference between what I have and what you guys have, does anybody know?

[bears984]

bugerking is a no no for me cant get though a meal there I hate it I have had it for 15 years now every seince I had my gallbladder surgery

[~Angel Eyez~]

Originally posted by chelle33
what does IBD stand for?
IBS is: irratible bowel syndrome


IBD= Irratible Bowel Disease

[captorquewrench]

you do not get IBS after gallbladder surgery.

You can get very similar symptoms and/or aggravate existing IBS but what happens after the gall bladder removal is not bowel or colon spasming like with IBS. What happens is, after gall bladder removal, you cannot digest fatty or greay foods as well (since the gall bladder releases the stuff to digest fats & oils) and so it fatty/greasy things literally pass straight through and will irritate the bowel that way. IBS is colon spasming that can be triggered not just by diet but stress.

Had this talk with my nurse this past July.

[captorquewrench]

it is awful. i had IBS, then I had my gallbladder out last june. ugh. i have no life. if I want to do anything, I have to plan around eating or not eating. Usually I just don't eat, to be safe.

[midniteblu2]

chelle...Right now my doctor is trying meds & diet. I was on Roubinol & now Beneytl. He also had me try Metamucil & Questran which is a cholestrol medication. My cholestrol is really low but my doctor said that sometimes it helps control IBS.
I see him the end of the month so maybe he will have all of my test results back by then.
Right now my biggest trouble is coming from my liver.

[captorquewrench]

IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. no inflammation of colon or bowel tissue.

IBD is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease)

[captorquewrench]

yeah, having a broken butt is NOT FUN, but to be honest, I think IBD would be worse. It can cause alot more damage to you internally.

[Blackerose]

I just found this thread. I was diagnosed over 20 years ago; they used to call it "Spastic colon." I think the name fits. I had my gall bladder out 22 years ago and having it out made it worse. I was scoped last week; endoscopy and colonoscopy. I now have a hiatal hernia and diverticulosis on top of everything else. Any kind of nuts tear me up but sometimes I can't resist. Lettuce does not bother me but oatmeal does.

[midniteblu2]

I just HATE that we have to put up with this. Why can't they find a cure?

[Blackerose]

There is not a lot of research going on in any of these related conditions. There is still no cure for colitis or Crohn's disease. AIDS and cancer get a lot of money for research. But as someone mentioned earlier, if IBS was a male only condition, you know that there would be more done for it than there is now.

[captorquewrench]

ugh.......i am still adjusting to my mom's cooking on a regular basis. granted, it's VERY good cooking, but my guts aren't used to it. they are used to my cooking. anyway, it's been pretty rough this past week. but between that already and I just HAD to eat an orange last night and OJ again this morning, I am not doing too good here folks.

Last night mom & I talked a little more about this and she was mortified when I told her what REALLY went on in there. She just thought I was prone to loose movement. Thats what everyone thinks when they hear that you have IBS, isn't it? They just dont get how bad the pain can be, the ugency.....

raven, Ive got a hiatal hernia myself and severe GERD (to the cervical esophagus, that's right up in my neck to almost the back of my mouth is how far it comes back up) so......I really understand.

And let's not talk about adding stress on top of it. The slightest stress can make soda crackers my mortal enemy. and YOU, my friend, need more stress like eskimos need more ice. take it easy today.

[~Angel Eyez~]

Originally posted by captorquewrench
I think IBD would be worse. It can cause alot more damage to you internally.
Im sure both are bad but I know IBD is really bad...( I think I said it before I have Crohns..doesnt anyone else have Crohns or colitis?)
It SUCKS, theres probally alot of similarites but I didnt know IBS didnt effect the colon, my fiancee has IBS and so does my mom it seems to be very common....

I dont know if my diet thing would be like IBS but when Im having a flare up DR told me to avoid things like raw veggies, anything with seeds, nuts, processed (sp?) meats (sausage, hot dogs, bologna), and dariy products

Bland foods are good....

I believe Acid Reflux and GERD are similar but not the same???

[captorquewrench]

all I know is exercise should help me lose wieght and help with the fibro but egads it stimulates the bowel. i worked out last night and got no sleep afterwards, yanno?

[captorquewrench]

Originally posted by Ravenlost
Oh my gosh, I know!

hey, I'm not a gosh!

it was horrible! But I know if I keep with it it should help me out in the long run. Tae-bo only 2-3 times a week. The other days I will walk. 25 times around the circle here in the building is a mile.

[midniteblu2]

I just wish there was something that could be done for this. I had to cancel my appointment with my gastro doctor today. I am sitting here crying my eyes out. I dealt with the stress of having to make the long drive & that flared the IBS up. Here I am, feeling sorry for myself because I stressed myself out for NOTHING!
I just wish I knew what was wrong with my liver too already. That is where most of my pain is now! *CHIT CHIT CHIT*

[~Angel Eyez~]

chelle~ So whats the major differences in what we have, or do you know??

I know alot about Crohns but not much about Colitis

[~Angel Eyez~]

BTW my email [email protected]
email me sometime!!..might be nice to be able to talk to someone that can relate to stuff, or talk about similar stuff with, ya know??

[midniteblu2]

{{Raven}} CUTE!
The liver pain can be horrible at times. I still have my gall bladder but I have a feeling I am going to end up having to have it out. The thing I don't get is why I am still losing so much weight. I am now down to 95 pounds. I am eating. I called dh & asked him to bring me home a milkshake. I know I am risking an IBS attack because of the dairy but oh well.
Last nite dh finally saw just how quickly an IBS attack can occur. I was fine one second & the next I could not stop pooping! Now he understands what it is like since me was brushing his teeth when I barged into the bathroom! I knew I would not make it to the donwstairs bathroom! Poor HUBBY! He the asked if that was an IBS attack & I looked at him like DUH!!!!

[coupongal]

Well, I was diagnosed about 9 years ago, but truly, when I think back, have had it since I was a little girl. Most of my sisters and brothers have it too, and so does my Dad. I take Levsin (it is a wonder medication!!!--An antispasmodic that stops those cramps in mid-cramp in about 5 minutes!!!) I am SO thankful for it! They also market LevBid which is the time release version of it, and it is wonderful too! I also take Bentyl which is a wonderful antispasmodic--but can only take it at night as it makes me drowsy. But that's OK at night, and since it stops cramps, lets me sleep like a baby! If all else fails, Lomotil is an antidiarrheal and it works in 10 minutes with one TINY tablet...versus taking about 8 Immodeums and waiting to see if they work... --NO time for THAT, is there??:eek:
I am so indebted to my GI doctor for giving me these meds. Actually, I can go longer in between now, with having to take these, as they seem to have settled my GI system down a LOT!! But I keep a supply in my purse, so if I am out, I can take something right away! But I can eat at restaurants now, go to my Inlaws, and despite feeling so stressed out seeing my MIL, I don't get cramped up anymore!!!:D So I feel like I have more power over how my body reacts to stress--which is a WONDERFUL feeling!!!;) --So, if you haven't tried it--ASK YOUR DOCTORS about it!!!!:) --My heart goes out to you all!

[coupongal]

I'm bumping this back up, in case some of you IBS sufferers did not see my post about medications my GI doctor ordered--AND THEY DO HELP!!!!!!:) I read so many posts that spoke of such misery, and I am here to tell you that the medications I listed on my above post, DO help! Good luck to you all--and hope you feel better REAL soon!