Ibs - Decorah,IA

I don't know if it's an option for you, but have you explored any alternative medicine?? I used to be a chiropractic assistant. We saw some people with IBS (one man, had it very severely), and they all had success. Through chiropractic care and nutritional testing (this was really key), many really felt a big improvement. I'm not saying it's going to work for everyone, just as modern medicine won't...but it did work for, and help many. Just a suggestion!!

P.S. I TOTALLY agree with the probiotics suggestion!!

I haven't read through the posts you've already received but I posted this as an answer in a previous question I have IBS predominating constipation alternating Diarrhea...stress is a huge trigger for me I also have bouts of insomnia my doctor put me on nortriptyline which has helped w/the insomnia and some anxiety. My gastro dr referred me to a nutritionist who specializes in IBS this is what we have discussed regarding foods it's easier to read than to explain...but based on the foods that are highs/lows in the FODMAP I have figured out my triggers especially when I max out for the day (salad for lunch then veggies w/dinner as an example) will send me into HORRIBLE doubled over cannot move pain, cramps....http://ibs.about.com/od/ibsfood/a/The-FODMAP-Diet.htm
the link above provides a good explaination of the FODMAPs as well as a list of high/low foods. Fiber is also great & probiotics as someone else suggested...I've heard Align is good. I've been suffering w/IBS for over 6 yrs. Hope you can find something that helps you.

Hey R.,

I have been dealing with IBS for a while too, and have found that being super-strict with myself helps. Getting a lot of rest is important, because we tend to stress out and that effects us in the worst way.

One thing I wanted to share is something a girlfriend of mine picked up on, and it's in regard to sugar in our diets. (I know you are avoiding this.) I don't know if you have this information on FOD-MAPS; you can google this. It's a list of foods which contain higher levels of fructose, fructans and highly-gaseous carbohydrates. I try to stay within these parameters, but have some exceptions (beer doesn't seem to bother me). I avoid too much wheat (one portion every two-three days is no problem), I eat a lot of white rice, too. I also seem to do well with seaweed and greens as a part of my diet.

Lots of other good suggestions already posted.

My mother has had the same problem since gall bladder surgery. She takes Metamucil religiously to bind everything. If she forgets it she has a similar experience as yours.

Before my husband had his gallbladder removed I talked to the surgeon about my mother's experience hoping to avoid the same problem. He told me that some people's bile salts do not bind after gall bladder surgery and there is no way to predict which ones. He said that there is a medication called Questran that may help her. I mentioned it to her but since the Metamucil was helping she didn't want to fix what wasn't broken.

I found out recently that a doctor recommended that she try probiotics. She did not because she felt they were too expensive. I on the otherhand was told to try Align probiotics (as a last resort) for what was thought to be 'a touch' of IBS (I DO have my gallbladder.) I was put off by the price as well and thought NOTHING would help me. I did the BRAT diet for an entire WEEK and my problem remained the same so I had low expectations. I bought the 7 week pack at Sam's and by the time I finished that box I was normal again. Like I said I DO have my gallbladder but I recommended that my mother suck it up and buy a box.

So try Metamucil or see if you can't get a prescription for Questran. Also give Align probiotics a try. My GI doctor said that they are the best. Surprisingly I guess I've got to agree.

I had mine removed in June 2010. I suffered extreme nauseau to and lost 30 pounds in about a month. I kept going to the same doctor and he did not seem to care. About 6 months ago, I changed doctors. My problem was slow digestion, and I had every symptom of IBS. He told me to take previcid and citricel ( the fiber pilll) and I am fine. I do not have the nausea, nor the pain in my stomach. I go to the bathroom normally, TMI... I would recommend all this. Try it and see. I eat what I want, but I know not to go eat cheese fries or greasy burgers, although I do eat them, just a small bite. Please try this. When the doctor said this I was a a little bothered that I did not get more help, but when I did it, the relief was within a week. I also cut back on soda, which helped. Also, have you had your thyroid checked. Alot of those symptoms mirror IBS. GOOD LUCK< I will say a prayer for you tonight!!

There are lots of medications you can take but I do not take them. I have such a hard time traveling. You know what I mean....

I wear diapers to places I am going to have to wait in line or if I might have to try and hold it long enough to get off the highway.

Here is how I work around the chronic diarrhea.

I always eat before I drink ANYTHING. I drink water, pop, milk, juice, anything on an empty or even half way filled stomach and I know I will have cramps and pain within moments. I eat a full meal first. This in the most important thing I do all day. I start with something like a bagel, and the stuff I want to go with it. After I eat I can drink, whatever I want. It won't do anything to me. I eat a full lunch, I can now drink and not have watery explosions out my hiney...same with dinner.

If I drink a lot of water during the evening I can be guaranteed to wake up during the night with runny diarrhea again. So the food that absorbs the fluid is the most important thing I do all day.

You're not the only one! :-) I have the same problem to a degree. I don't feel hungry and I HATE eating first thing in the morning. I have moved from whole milk to Soy and I drink those carnation breakfast packets in the morning. Those tide me over till I can get a (A granola bar, or small pack of oat meal something along those lines.small snack in. I find that for me it's better than eating somthing first thing. I snack lightly in the afternoon and by the time dinner rolls round, I find I can eat something. I have also cut out (much to my disappointment) alot of things that have acids in them, not 100% of things, that have alot of acid, just most of the stuff that does. Coffee, oranges, fruite juice etc. I find that helped. I have also cut out (because I have had to) beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, carrots, etc. I have found that because I don't eat those (and if I do they are in SMALL amounts) the stomach attacks/pains are fewer as are the trips to the restoom. I also take omeprazole for the acid attacks when they happen. You can buy it in your local store. I also drink ALOT of water. I find that helps at times when my gut isn't feeling to well. I also try to avoid alot of dairy products as well. Have you tried probiotics?? Those help some.

Citrus is a big one to avoid. All citrus is evil for me. That's great you cut back on caffeine because that's another trigger. Coffee did a real number on my digestive system. Racing to bathrooms was my specialty.

What has helped:

1. Increase fiber intake. Take fiber supplements. It's counterintuitive when you have diarrhea issues, but my doctor recommended it and it helped a lot. I now have one Activia with fiber in the mornings and it really settles things.

2. Probiotics. Try Activia. It's supposed to have a small amount of probiotics but it seems to be enough for me. Really helps.

3. Immodium. When I get the earliest signs of a bathroom dash, I take an Immodium. This stuff is awesome. I also take it proactively if I'm going somewhere important or into the boonies where there may not be a bathroom handy, just in case my body decides to challenge me with an episode. I used to use Immodium a lot, but have been able to cut way back with steps 1 and 2 above.

Best of luck to you! I've been in your shoes and know how awful it is.

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