IBS urgency

[icjen]

Ive got a question about IBS. Went to GI Doc months ago for c/o chronic diarrhea. He did a colonoscopy which as normal (except that he removed a polyp), and he put me on two tabs fiber-con. He never diagnosed me with anything though, and didn't say why I always had diarrhea. The Fiber did help for awhile (not completely, but much better than it was before). The problem that I'm having now is urgency. I'm going sometimes up to 8 times a day(even if it's a normal consistency) I don't really mind it so much, but I hate to have to go when I'm at work, not sure why but it's still a bit embarrasing for me. Lately, I'll be just fine, passing meds, and all a sudden I get killer cramping and the urge to go terribly. I feel like I'm going to have diarrhea, and when I run to the bathroom, sometimes it is diarrhea and sometimes it's just regular. But I can't understand why a normal movement is causing me such distress and urgency. Do you guys think it's IBS, and should I go back to Doc? Have major heartburn and gas all day too, besides the everyday excitment of IC.
Thanks,
Jen

[RainSun]

Sounds like my IBS....When I get the urge...I better run to the bathroom or else I'll have a major embarassing situation to explain. Nothing that I can pin point makes it worse or better. I try not to eat very much while I'm at work just in case.

[July]

I would go back to the dr. It sounds like it is disrupting your daily life.

[Katrina]

Yes it does sound like IBS. One thing that can happen with IBS is that like in overactive bladder the musslces will spontaneously contract for no reason....thus you have more bowel movements than your body should need. The gas could be from the IBS too. Regardless sounds like a gastroenterolist should diagnose all of those symptoms. So need to go back to the doctor. With urgency...you can get on an antispasmodic that you can take before you eat...should help the urgency and gas.
Sounds to me like bowels are contracting and you need treatment.

[icjen]

Thanks alot. Made an appt. for the GI Doc. Maybe he can give me something different now. Jen

[pandahbebe]

i've had the same problem with urgency. sometimes it's diarrhea, but more often then not it's just a normal passing. i was going about 6 times a day.. at least 3 at school (yuck). i honestly think that it has to do with the pelvic floor muscle spasms. because if you look at the anatomy of it, when you make either movement you're contracting the same muscles (try it out). so i think that the urgency has to do with just a major spasm. when i started taking my bladder instillations the urgency really slowed down! are you doing any kind of instillations for IC? usually after my instillation i'll have a movement about 30mins-1hr afterwards, then no worries for the rest of the day.. and if i feel a little constipated then i take an instillation and i'm fine :)

[icjen]

That could be! I haven't started bladder instills at this point. Still trying out different oral meds. I'll be seeing my Dr. soon for this, so hopefully I'll get some relief.
Thanks, Jen

[poetgirl]

Welcome to the story of my life! :headbang:

I often experience the same symptoms you're describing. I've had IBS for years and fiber tablets do not help me at all. I don't get heartburn but I do get gas, which can be very painful at times.

I haven't had much success with anti-spasmodic medications, although I do know it has helped other people with IBS-D. It's definitely worth a shot. The only thing I have tried that really helped me is a natural supplement called DigestMORE from Renew Life. You can find it at Whole Foods or the Vitamin Shoppe. It has a number of enzymes to help you properly digest foods (especially ones like dairy products, which can cause problems for people with intestinal disorders) as well as L-Glutamine, which helps repair the intestinal wall lining, much the same way Elmiron does for the bladder. I've done much better since taking this supplement and it hasn't interfered with any of the other medications I'm taking.

I hope you feel better soon! I know the frustration of having to go to the bathroom 5-6 times a day, especially at work or in some other public situation. Having to deal with that tends to stress me out even more, which of course, triggers more intestinal spasms.

[icjen]

Thanks alot for the advice. I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully I'll get something that can help. If not, I'm definetly going to check that out too. Jen

[icjen]

Got my official dx of IBS. Darn it!! Dr. increased my Fiber to 2 tabs twice a day. He said to try that for a week and if it doesn't work better, to just take Immodium once or twice a day. I just hope if I have to do that, I don't get constipated instead. Well, thanks for the support and input. Jen

[poetgirl]

Yeah, I wasn't too happy with my diagnosis either, but at least it gives you the opportunity to treat it with the correct diet, supplements or medications.

Be forewarned that increasing fiber for people with IBS-D can, in some cases, actually increase instances of diarrhea. If that is the case for you, either Immodium or an anti-spasmodic medication may provide some relief.

And of course I still advocate the DigestMore supplement, which helped me IMMENSELY. I even got my boyfriend to try it and now he swears by it too. :) This is the first thing that has actually worked well for me since having IBS-D for nearly 10 years. I also do yoga and have chiropractic adjustments done, and both of them help my IBS and IC/OAB symptoms.

[icjen]

You know, I think I will try that if the fiber doesn't work for me. I'm predicting that it probably won't. Thanks alot!! Jen

[dminton]

I have chronic diarrhea every morning, sometimes up to 8 times. It is needless to say exhausting and depressing. Anyway, you aren't alone. I haven't found out what causes it either. Well, I know I have IBS because of other symptoms, but it seems like I should be able to pinpoint something that sets this off, so that I can avoid it, but so far no luck. I tested negative for celiac disease, and stool cultures are negative.

Does anyone think that Elmiron worsens their diarrhea? I have been on it for 3 years, two caps twice a day. I tried cutting down to one at night, but it didn't improve the diarrhea problem at all.

The other thing with IBS for me is that I CANNOT eat greens on an empty stomach. Boy, do I ever get cramps from that. If I eat a salad with other food, I'm okay, but NEVER on an empty stomach. I learned that one the hard way. Most diets for IBS make it seem like you can and should eat more "fiber" but they don't go into soluble and insoluble fiber, which is very important! Insoluble fiber would be raw vegies. There is no way I can eat them, and I have had to give up broccoli whether it's raw or cooked. I just can't handle it any more. Beans are out.

I have heard that the tricyclics like Elavil help with IBS, but I can't take any of those meds due to side effects.

Sometimes when things get really bad, I use 10 mg. of dicyclomine (Bentyl) and Vicodin, and it seems to help a lot. But that is a desperate measure. Otherwise, I use Immodium with the anti-gas component added.

Hope that helps!

Diana.

[icjen]

I think Elmiron does worsen the diarrhea. Of course, I need that to badly to stop it. The fiber didn't work for me, so tomorrow, I'll be starting Immodium only. Hope it helps me. Thanks for your reply. Jen

[dminton]

Jen,

My only advice is to get the Immodium AD, that is with the anti-gas added, it just seems to work so much better than plain Immodium, for me anyway. But we are all different. The other thing is that if I wait too long to take it, then the morning trips to the bathroom are already over and there's nothing left! I tried taking it first thing when I woke up, and I'm not sure, but it seemed to work more effectively that way. Another thing I'm going to try is taking it at bedtime, so it's already in there by morning.

I also posted on the Elmiron thread; are you on Elmiron? I'm worried that it's causing the problem.

Diana.

[icjen]

Yes, I've taken Elmiron for a little over a year. I do know that my diarrhea did increase from it, although it was already present before I started on Elmiron. Does the Immodium ever make you constipated instead. I would hate if that happens. Constipation, which is a rare occasion for me, tends to make my bladder hurt so much worse all day. I will pick up the Immodium with the anti-gas. Thanks for that advice.
Jen

[poetgirl]

I haven't had any issues with Elmiron making my IBS-D any worse. I also can't say that taking Elavil has helped it at all either. It's basically been consistent since I had my gallbladder removed almost 9 years ago. Some days I'm relatively OK, other days, I'm in and out of the bathroom.

I also cannot eat greens on an empty stomach. It's kind of annoying too, because sometimes it would be nice to have a salad for lunch (and I always end up with co-workers who want to do just that!) but I know I'll end up with cramps and diarrhea less than an hour later.

As far as stomach meds go, I usually only use Immodium AD in the worst cases, because I find it tends to cause constipation. Most of the time, believe it or not, I find that Pepto-Bismol works pretty well without constipating me.

Anyway, I hope you feel better soon. :grouphug:

[dminton]

Jen,

Immodium AD does not cause constipation for me. I only take 1, however, not 2. Maybe 2 would. NOTHING causes constipation! If it's the Elmiron causing the diarrhea and urgency, then I've got some deciding to do. Keep us posted!

Diana.