Is IBS only cinstipation?

[Michelle in KC]

Seriously, I live on Immodium lately. Is IBS only constipation??

[Katrina]

NO IBS is not only constipation.....but some people may have mainly constipation as others may hardly have any. I don't consider myself an expert here but I know other symptoms are diarrhea and pain throughout your GI track. That doesn't mean you have to have all the symptoms to have IBS though.

Recently I have talked to other ICers that say their IBS is the diarrhea kind.

You should probably talk to a doctor since you may have something else or as well.

Take Care

[felineperson3]

Seriously, I live on Immodium lately. Is IBS only constipation??

I was diagnosed with IBS several years ago and mine has always been in the form of diarrhea which I can usually stop by taking the RX Lomotil. Immodium helps, but it usually doesn't work as quickly as the Lomotil, at least for me. My understanding is IBS can be manifested in either form (diarrhea or constipation) or it can even alternate between the two.

I don't know if this answers your question or not--Of course, your physician is always the best one to find out a more detailed answer from as he is familiar with your particular condition.

Hugs & blessings to you--:cat:

[gypsyjoy]

Carley, I couldn't have said it better. You can also have both.....I know this sound impossible but it is true. I have both and sometimes it is at the same time.
JOY

[Katrina]

Joy you are the first person other than myself I have heard say you have both at the same time. I thought that was a problem unique to me with having both colitis and IBS......I so hate that.

I hope we all get relief from this.

[Sarojini]

My IBS is the diarrhea kind, mostly. Although, there have been a few times where I've been constipated, passed some small hard stool (which my husband calls "rabbit poop"... sorry :) ) and then it turns immediately to diarrhea within 5 seconds, during the same bowel movement.

Lately, though, my IBS has been pretty good... I have had fairly normal movements for a while now because I figured out some major diet triggers. However, from Sept. to Dec. last year, I think I had diarrhea every other day, and horrible pain.

Immodium works ok for me.... sometimes better than others!

[plaedes]

well, i don't know about everyone else but i have the alternating kind. one week i have constipation and the next it's diahrrea. i'm fairly used to it seeing as how i have had it all of my life. my mom says i was that way in diapers! i can't really say that it is anywhere near the worst of my problems. the IC is much worse and the IBS only irritates it at times. I have found that a steady diet of frosted mini-wheats keeps me on track. I'm sorry you having this problem. just thought i'd throw mine out there too i guess. because this runs in my family and everyone that has it has the alternating kind. i wouldn't know how to act if i only had to deal with one symptom. the week of my period is the worst too. always diahrrea, lots of cramps and sends me into an IC flare. Ain't life grand?! Good luck with your problem. i find that Immodium Advanced works better than the rest of them.

[DanaG]

I have both as well and for the life of me I cannot figure it out. For the most part I have the constipation which really doesn't seem to bother me (I've actually had to take note when the last time it was that I had a BM b/c I can't even remember), but then all of a sudden out of nowhere, for like 3 days, everything I eat will go right through me. My doc put me on Zelnorm and I'm also taking psyllium husk pills. I have to get back into the routine of taking these pills to see if it works (I stopped b/c I take so many pills for different things that I couldn't take it!). When I started, I did feel that I did go to the bathroom more often, but it still wasn't where it should be (which they say is once a day). Right now I'm happy if I go once a week!

Has anyone who suffers from constipation who has found things that help, found that it helped their bladder as well? My physical therapist told me that my intestines are lying on top of my bladder and if they are not emptied regularly, it could be causing pressure on my bladder and in turn causing frequency.

Just curious....

Dana

[Donna L]

I go back and forth just as others have described, I found this web address http://www.healingwell.com/library/ibs/info1.asp to have valid onfo which backs up what has been posted........For me, just as with IC, diet and stress are key issues. Sadly the diets do not compliment each other, so I usually eat what I can, rather than what I like.When I just can't stand it and HAVE to eat something I LOVE but shouldn't I have found that "beano" like prelief and Imodium help. (I'm a walking drugstore!!)
I hope you find what works for you.......Donna L

[Donna L]

I go back and forth just as others have described, I found this web address http://www.healingwell.com/library/ibs/info1.asp to have valid onfo which backs up what has been posted........For me, just as with IC, diet and stress are key issues. Sadly the diets do not compliment each other, so I usually eat what I can, rather than what I like.When I just can't stand it and HAVE to eat something I LOVE but shouldn't I have found that "beano" like prelief and Imodium help. (I'm a walking drugstore!!)
I hope you find what works for you.......Donna L

[yvette]

IBS can be constipation diarrhea or combos of both (good grief!) When I first got my first bout with it in '97 (the day after I got my belly pierced) I dropped 40 lbs in 2 months...:yikes: I had no idea what was wrong, and I was panicked at the thought it may be cancer or something horrible like that....I couldn't keep food in. Michelle maybe in your case you need to keep extra fiber in your diet to keep things *moving along*..water water water, salad, veggies, dried fruit, bran....Julie told me about bran buds by Kellogg's ...I'm going to try them on my yogurt. :D