Anyone with IBS...

My symptoms were the following:
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- gas
- stomach pain (just under ribs)
- abdominal pain just before bowel movement
- symptoms worse during points of high stress, usually surfacing about 3-4 days after the highly stressful event
- the only thing that helped me feel better during an episode is sleeping and eating and pepto bismal
- symptoms worse if I ate greasy foods

I highly recommend the book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" - author Phyllis A Balch, CNC. Both my mother and I have suffered with IBS for years (mom 20, me 10) and the recommendations in this book have brought us both so much relief. I cannot tell you how much better I feel. I was having "episodes" about every other day for many years, now I am going months without any issues!

Also, the other posts are correct, that stress management is key. However, as we all know, we cannot control our bodies reactions 100%, so supplements and a good diet are extremely important. I make sure to eat a high fiber diet, and I have switched to organic milk and little to no red meat. If I do eat red meat I use grass fed.

You may also want to get tested for food allergies. My mother found she has a sensitivity to wheat and eats wheat and gluten free products.

If I can be of any more help, feel free to email me.

Best of luck to you!

i highly recommend taking daily probiotics, enzymes, and an omega 3 fish oil gel cap daily. Also read anything you can get your hands on by Brenda Watson or Jordan Rubin. Both had severe IBS &/or Crohn's issues and have learned how to use supplements and diet to resolve irregularity and other digestive issues. I used to get horrible gas pains frequently, but since sticking to my supplements, have about 1/100th of the problem. only occasionally do I have issues. Same w/the constipation right before and until the 2nd day of my period. I stay on supplements/fish oil or vit e or lecithin and I'm great. smoothies made w/extra fiber help too. the problem today is that most food is processed to the point where we aren't getting either enough fiber or the right kind of fiber, so our systems get sluggish. good luck. oh and supplements can get expensive, so I buy mine at either Vitamin shoppe, or online at http://vitacost.com They have flat rate shipping and their house brand is often much cheaper-you can do price compares right on their site. also do a search for vitacost coupon code and sometimes you get either a discount or a free gift with purchase.

My doctor has said I might have IBS. Symptoms started after I had my second son. I recently stopped eating dairy and that has helped a lot. I also get constipation during my period, and I have a metamucil wafer every morning around that time of the month, which helps.

I have IBS although never officially diagnosed and have never had constipation, always the reverse. Within 10-20 minutes after eating I am on the toilet with #2, after leaving a stressful day at work when I still have thoughts rolling in my mind, I dont even make it the 20 minute drive home, I have to stop and #2. For me though it doesn't bother me enough to take pills, I just make sure I'm always near a bathroom or dont leave the resturant until I'm done. Also mine is worse around my period as well.

IBS symptoms include pain or discomfort linked to elimination problems, diarrhea and/or constipation.
It is stress related so stress management is key for IBS treatment. The body learns to react to stress with these symptoms. In Great Britain the recommended course of IBS treatment is reprogramming the mind and body through self-hypnosis instruction.

My IBS sometimes starts with that and then becomes loose. I used to think it was period related but I had a hysterectomy and it got worse after that. I stay away from lots of dairy and salad. IBS meds don't generally work for me because I have both situations. When I am really bad, I take Hyoscyamine sublingual tabs and stay in bed. I feel much better in a few hours. My episodes can last for days. Currently I have terrible insurance so I am waiting until January to get re-evaluated. I have dealt with this problem for years so feel free to contact me.

Hi C.,
I was diagnosed with IBS and only had constipation, and also with GERD. I had my doctor do a blood test to find out if I had any food allergies. Turns out I am allergic to eggs and am sensitive (not allergic) to wheat. I stopped eating anything with eggs or wheat. I'm now symptom free! And after 2 years of eating no wheat, I now allow myself to eat it once a week or so and am still doing fine.
I also went to a naturopathic doctor to help actually heal the GERD and no longer have that either.
Good luck!

There is a Crohn's and Colitis foundation, www.ccfa.org, where you can get info on IBS....Don't know where you live, but there are also support groups in the suburbs and in Chicago....Good luck,,,B.

Hi C.,

My symptoms are sometimes worse with my period. I have constipation usually, but have been know to have boughts of diarrhea when it acts up. THe worst part is lower abdominal cramping which comes from the spasms know to occur with IBS. My best advice is to eat a lot of fiber and know your trigger foods (i.e. fried foods, dairy). When mine really acts up I follow the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Tea or Toast). Also, camomille tea works wonders when my IBS is at its worst. Best of luck to you, it can be frustrating. Sorry that you have to deal with IBS, hang in there!

I have had IBS for years - There are tons of different reactions...for a long time I had it where I would throw up when I was stressed and my stomach was constantly bothering me...now it's turned into the constipated kind - my stomach feels liquidy after water sometimes and dairy, so I have to take lactaid to combat the dairy and I don't drink a lot of straight water. Certain nuts help - almonds, and so do dried cranberries and cherries. Lots of fiber helps. Sticking to blander foods helps a lot too - I KNOW I am going to get sick if I eat Mexican food, but I like it, so I eat it anyway (just have to pay the price). Let me know if you have more questions...

I have had IBS for about 17 years now and it does get worse with my period. I have started taking a probiotic pill and that helps with the constipation, it regulates your system and they are relatively cheap too! My control mine through diet and exercise, but I also find that stress really makes it worse!

My sister was told she had IBS but looked into things further. She did not want to be on meds. She found out her body was "sensitive" not allergic to avacado. It took about three weeks for her system to get back to normal with digestive suplements and probiotics. She even drank aloe water to help heal inside. She has been fine ever since...avoiding avocado. So, please look into what your "sensitivites" are. Let me know if you want more info about where my sister went to get tested.
Oh, I also know someone else who has a similar reaction to coconut.