Ibs????? Can Anyone Share Their Experience

[hanabell0421]

Dear all:

after being diagnosed in Oct. with the IC last week I posted about the changes in my stools and am beginning to think I may have IBS. I already have gastritis. I had a colonoscopy and uperr GI last August. Everything was ok with the Colonoscopy. Had one tiny tiny polyp that was benign and removed. Will go back in 5 years for another. Upper GI should inflammation in my stomach lining but that was all.

I am wondering if anyone with IBS can tell me how there symptoms were and how it came on, suddenly??? For the last month the pain I have felt on my right lower abdomin I was associating to the IC. But my bowel movements have really changed a lot in the last month. Sometimes I feel like I don't fully complete going. That I still have to go. The color has changed somewhat to more yellow like and the consistency has too! More loose like and then other days I feel constipated and strain a lot. I do have hemmoroids as well.

Does this sound like IBS to you all? I am going to see my Gastro dr on Friday!

[lisabar36]

Hi, I have IBS. When it started for me, I had diarrhea. It quickly changed to constipation, and my stools change in color from day to day and sometimes I am so constipated. I do get pains sometimes in my right lower abdomen, I also get bowel spasms. My main symptom with IBS is chronic constipation, which causes the right lower abd pains and I also get gas pains alot. I was diagnosed with lazy colon they call it and IBS. Good luck at the doctor and keep us posted.

[hanabell0421]

I am really thinking that is what I have developed. Why on earth does something like this just start out of nowhere. I am usually constipated beyond belief and then it goes from one extreme to another. Constipated one day and very loose the next. However, I have alway been one of those that does not go every day. I have had lots of gas here lately as well. UGH! I CANNOT TAKE THIS ALL!

[elitynski]

Greetings - you should know that the majority of IC'ers have IBS. I don't usually have a problem consistently but I have IBS currently. If you can stand taking any Citrucel - that might help.

It sounds like you have IBS but it's manageable.

I know these things are irritating but hang in there.

[jen74]

I am also having bowel issues this past two weeks. I have motility issues of the gut, but usually my upper gut and small bowel. But here lately I have had issues with being very soft ( pudding like consistency) which is not normal for me. I also have a ton of gas. I have started using some benefiber type stuff. It's ingrediant is acacia or something like that. I am hoping it will help. I am trying to avoid that psyllium stuff which I hear is very hard on the system and GI tract. I believe this is likely IBS I am dealing with as well. This sucks, it is just one thing after another. Hope you feel better soon.
Jen

[hanabell0421]

wow, I did not realize this. I wonder, if this just came on since the IC. I had a colonscopy last year and everything was fine other than a tiny tiny polyp the removed which was non-cancerous. Can they tell if you IBS from a colonoscopy? Can you develop it quickly? I am just confused to with the correlation between IC and IBS. Can someone enlighten me?????

[Mothergoose]

I think that people with IC and IBS often also have PFD. These all effect the muscels in the pelivic, this has to do with the muscels working in a sycnoized order for you to preform your bodily functions. I think with these disorders the muscels spasm instead of tightening or loosing when they are suposed too.
Other has suggested types of laxatives or bulk forming laxatives. I use metamucil 2 times per day, You could use any bulk forming laxative. This helps me to stay regular with the meds we take. Most people know that this type of laxative works to bulk up your stool and make it softer, but it also works to bind stool for diarrhea. You just need to remember to drink a glass of water with it, if you don't it can really block you up.
I take it everyday just to help things move smoothly. When my bowels go in either direction it makes IC pain much worse.

As I said this is just my opinion, hope you get reg soon
Mothergoose

[jen74]

Hi Hanabell0421,
There is no test that will Dx IBS. They usually like to do tests to rule out other things, though not all doctors will rush you into doing a ton of needless expensive tests all the time depending on your symptoms. If you have blood in your stool, then it calls for investigation naturally. Some doctors will just try and treat your symptoms if they believe they are due to IBS. I am having issues right now as well. I have ALOT f gas and am somewhat loose when I go. I usually have been going once a day in the morning so far, but after I eat, 10 minutes later I feel this gushing and rushing sound in my intestines and have major gas attacks. It almost feels like I am going to have to run to the bathroom at times, but it is gas.
I think you can develop IBS at any time, just like with other health issues. I know that alot of people have had issues with developing it after they had to take a course of antibiotics. They mess up the bacteria in our guts and then in the process it messes up our bowels and how they function. Taking probiotics is also a good step if you have bowel issues of any kind. This is what my doctor told me. There are many on the market ( florastor, floragen, femdophilis, etc....) . Anyhow, I do hope you get to feeling better soon.
Jen

[hanabell0421]

I have just gotten some and plan to start taking them tonight! Thanks so much for all the good info!

[jen74]

I hope they help you. I will keep you in my prayers, I know how awful it is to deal with all these things. Good Luck.
Jen

[yvette]

I came down wit IBS in 1997 following a belly piercing and went on to lose 40lbs in 2 months. and then for a while it was fine...or I had IBS-C, which was easier for me to deal with.

And then I took a trip to FL and it all came undone again. I've just started to stabilize after 3 years of severe IBS-d. I found that taking Immodium helped immensely and even tho I could tolerate 1 cup of coffee with my IC...my IBS had other ideas. I had to cut out coffee altogether (reg. and decaf too!) Even decaf Coffee has a component int he bean that is a gastric irritant. Nice, huh?

And there were MONTHS I ate nothing but plain mashed potatoes, bananas or boiled carrots. And drank either water or black decaf tea. or plain peppermint tea. It took a lot of patience and waiting for that gastrocolic reflex to just calm down.

[PirateIsabelle]

Hannabelle,

My IBS started when I was 15 years old (I'm 24 now), on the first day I was treated with the antibiotic Keflex for a staph infection. I would get terrible diarrhea cramps every morning and have very loose stools/diarrhea, pain in my abdomen, etc. Weird-looking stools, yellow/greenish and very soft. It wouldn't feel like I was "done." I would swing back and forth between constipation and diarrhea constantly. I was treated with the antispasmodics Levsin and Levin SL for several years, which seemed to help. Ultimately what stabilized the IBS was diet modification - no dairy products, caffeine, carbonated drinks, or really greasy/fried stuff like pizza or french fries. Sounds crappy, I know, but as the years went by I found I was able to re-introduce most of those things. The only thing I still don't tolerate is milk. If I eat/drink a bunch of really bad things for a few days, my symptoms start to return, but other than that I don't even notice it anymore! (I've been off the medication for ~8 years).

The Levsin tended to cause constipation, which I found was very well controlled by taking Metamucil every morning. This actually helps firm up the stools too, which makes it a lot more comfortable!!

This year I was diagnosed with IC and vulvar vestibulitis after four years of symptoms.

Hope that helps.

[jen74]

I have to take an antibitoic today,(vantin) which is in the same family as keflex. I pray I do not have any issues or bowel troubles with it. I am already having bowel issues. I do take daily probitoics though, so I hope this will help prevent any bowel issues.
Jen

[PirateIsabelle]

Jen,

Eating yogurt every day helps me a lot too. Well, did until I was diagnosed with IC and found out it bothers me! If you can tolerate it, give it a try.

[crkshnks79]

My IBS started when I was 19 or 20 and it came with SEVERE stress. Out of nowher I had horrible diarrhea to the point I couldnt make it to the bathroom ! ANd the cramps and pain were ungodly !! ,Id rather give birth !! It lasted like this for a couple months with no rhyme or reason . I lost 12 lbs ( first off Im only 4ft11inches so thats a lot of weight for me ) I was 20 yrs old and weighed only 82 pounds , it was disgusting !!!!!! And then it just stopped ! Weird . since then I mostly have problems w constipation , straining ,never really feeling as though Ive finished and as a result of that and children hemroids UGH I also have alot of gas alot of the time . [I] also have upper Gi problems such as GERD and my stomach is usually very acidic even when Im on prilosec . It sucks !! But they are "anti cramping " meds that they can give you ( honestly I forget the names of them Im sorry !!) that help when you have the diarhea and cramps . I hoped this help you!! PS My primary / general care doctor diagnosed me based off my symptoms . i hope you feel better !!!