Ugh!

**poetgirl** · 05-02-2006, 04:07 AM

My IBS-D is killing me! It seems that nothing I'm doing is helping at all and it is so frustrating.

For the past month or so, in addition to the usual diarrhea and cramping flare-ups (which range from being annoying but manageable to very uncomfortable) I have had painful abdominal bloating and gas. It's horrible -- I don't ever remember having this so persistently before. Just about every evening, I am in some discomfort. Yesterday I did pretty well all day long, but at about 6 p.m. I got really sharp pains in my upper GI tract (which was odd, since they don't usually originate there) and it persisted all night. It would ease up whenever I was laying down, but got worse again as soon as I sat up and started moving around. The pain moved down into my lower GI tract eventually but didn't ease up that much until around midnight.

It doesn't seem to matter what I eat or don't eat (although that does seem to be helping the diarrhea/cramping) or whether or not I take any supplements to help manage the symptoms. If I start to get hungry and don't eat within 30 minutes, it triggers gas symptoms. If I do eat, it triggers gas symptoms. It's sad when a "good day" means you've gone to the bathroom three or less times in 24 hours! (And you know how that cramping tends to kick up bladder spasms...oh joy...)

I started taking Benefiber and that seems to be helping the diarrhea/cramping some, although I don't think my body has acclimated yet to the new extra fiber. I also take Renew Life's Intestinal Bowel Soother and Heather's Peppermint Oil capsules to help with the other symptoms and those work to varying degrees of success. I don't take any medications for it because I've tried Levsin and Donnatol and whatever else they've prescribed over the years for IBS and they had absolutely no effect. I've been trying to modify my diet - cut out dairy for the most part, trying to balance my intake of whole grains and fruits/veggies with sources of soluble fiber and so on and so forth. I'm a vegetarian I try to avoid high fat/fried foods whenever possible. Probiotics didn't make a noticeable difference, and other digestive supplements I've tried which were supposed to provide digestive enzymes only made the gas worse!!

Yoga sometimes helps with the symptoms as does Reiki, but whatever is going on with me is resisting all forms of treatment which is frustrating and depressing. I'm also concerned because I have to travel out of town tomorrow for 5 days (visiting 2 cities) and I don't want this to make my trip a completely miserable experience.

I just called my general doctor to see if I needed to come in to see him for a check-up or if he wants to just refer me to a GI doc. I'm waiting to hear back. I already had a colonoscopy done about 5 years ago, but maybe it's something else besides IBS this time. I just don't know.

**traceann** · 05-02-2006, 04:37 AM

Ugh, I am so sorry to hear that!! I know EXACTLY how you feel... Only for me it was a form of colitis causing it. So, you can imagine my panic whenever my stomach starts to act up - today has been highly annoying, in the potty 3 times so far, ugh. No cramping or anything (thank god) but, not easy when at work. And then I get into a panic, which SO does not help anything at all... I hear you on the gas, ugh, it's been terrible lately. Had me wondering about my bladder (it's been sooo good), but then I have to stop and remind myself that it always feels it when the intestines are being obnoxious....ugh.

Sound like you have done or are doing all that you can for it, grrrr. What about antispasmodics??? (I know I am grasping here, lol) And I am sure the thought of an upcoming trip is just making you more worked up, which is making it worse.... I sure do hope you start feeling better and quick!!!

Hugs!

**poetgirl** · 05-02-2006, 06:40 AM

I'm sure having colitis is no fun at all either.

Is there anything you can do for that either?

I did try some antispasmodics but they really didn't help. By the time I'm in the midst of a flare, it's too late. They're no more effective than peppermint oil and I'd rather take that than some medication that gives me other side effects. (And at least having a cup of hot peppermint tea seems soothing on more than one level...)

Things have been quite "down there" so far today -- perhaps a bit too quiet, which of course has its own set of problems. But the gas doesn't seem to start up until late afternoon/early evening, so the worst if it's gonna come, is still yet to come. It does make me uneasy about traveling, especially because I have some social functions and training to attend. I guess I'll just do what I can...

Thanks for understanding!

**purplekris** · 05-02-2006, 07:19 AM

went to a GI dr today, of course will now be having a scope test. he prescribed an antispasmodic bentyl which i think is supposed to help the gas pains? at least he knew about IC and I get an ultrasound first. should be interesting since i haven't had one in akong time since the endo and pre-preggo.
also i have been trying to start a yoga class where my kids went, she seemed to understand i will have limits on abdominals. any advice there please tell. i hear you about peppermint tea, i just wish i could remmeber to take the time to 'savor'.

**poetgirl** · 05-02-2006, 08:05 AM

Let me know if the bentyl works for you. Bentyl is also known as dicyclomine. I've tried it before and it didn't help me much but like I said, I haven't had much success with meds as far as my IBS goes. Some people do better with them.

As far as yoga goes, some gentle abdominal twists can actually be very good for the gastrointestinal system. You just have to be careful not to put too much force into it. Most core stuff that gets worked in yoga is meant to allow you to hold the poses more effectively, not give you the "ripped, 6-pack" abs. Just go at your own pace and if something feels uncomfortable for you don't go further. Yoga teaches us to respect our body's limits and work as best we can within them.

**traceann** · 05-02-2006, 08:17 AM

The only thing I had to different for that bout of colitis (supposedly the form I had is just the basic generic term for an inflamed colon, it was on the microscopic level, not the Ulcerative Colitis that is life long, supposedly I say, lol) was to take Prednisone - YUCK! I never want to take steroids again!!! It was ok for awhile until I started gaining weight...ugh. I did love the anti-D that they gave me an Rx for - Lomotil. Wow, really helped.

I have not had much luck with Bentyl myself, but hyoscyamine (I believe commercial name is Levsin) worked pretty well for me. I too guzzle down the peppermint tea, lol. I tried making homemade fennel tea (with fennel seeds and a tea ball) - one word - YUCK. LOL I couldn't choke it down, I tried, I really did.... gag spit gag, lol

I know how worrying about having to do something can aggrivate things - just by being wound up, ugh. I too used to panic when things were "too quiet", lol, that like you said had it's own problems.... But hopefully things are just starting to settle down for you and that's all!!

Hugs!

**Annie2** · 05-02-2006, 08:28 AM

I certainly do empathize with you. Last summer I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Fortunately, mine is mild, so far anyway. Even if it is mild, it's a royal pain in the backside and other tender areas! It sounds as though you are trying all the self-help tricks I know about.

As yucky as it is, if it has been 5 yrs since your colonoscopy, it may well be time for another "look around". Not fun, but it is important to know exactly what is going on. I think you are on the right track contacting your doctor.

One med that has helped my severe IBS-D/mild UC is Colazal. I don't know if it would be appropriate for you, but it is something to ask your doctor about. Mine has been flaring the past few weeks so I just saw my gastro on Friday and he has added Librax to my med list. Haven't started it yet so I don't know whether or not it will help.

Wish I could be of more help!

**poetgirl** · 05-02-2006, 10:01 AM

Thanks Annie! Unfortunately I think you're right -- they may want to do another colonoscopy to rule out possible new issues. I haven't heard back yet from my doctor so we'll see.

The other thing that has occurred to me is that I was overseas for a couple of weeks in India earlier this year and although I didn't get dysentery or anything like that, it is always possible to get some strain of intestinal parasites or some weird bacterial overgrowth. I noticed my symptoms got worse not long after I returned and that never happened on my previous trips there.

I also stopped taking Elmiron and Elavil not long after I returned and it's possible my body is not used to having the extra help. Not that my IBS-D was any better while I was on them (about the same as it's been for years) but maybe going off the meds shocked my system a bit. (Can't win for trying, huh?)

I'll ask about those meds -- trying to stay away from taking meds but I may not have a choice.

**July** · 05-02-2006, 10:40 AM

Ughh....that can be so miserable, and the addominal pain and cramping is so painful. I hope you feel better soon. I'll keep you in my prayers.

**CaliAnn** · 05-02-2006, 10:44 AM

I suffer from horrible gas pains too (have ibs-d). Tried lots of things for it too (both natural and rx's) and the thing that helps the most, oddly enough, is mylanta. I know others that have tried it and they say the same. Have you tried taking mylanta? Maybe it will help you too?

**emilyrose197377** · 05-02-2006, 11:35 AM

I hope you feel better soon.

**poetgirl** · 05-18-2006, 02:45 AM

Well, I'm off to my primary care doc today to see about trying to deal with this. (I have to see the primary care doc in order to get a referral to a GI doc.)

I've been taking Benefiber and Heather's Peppermint Oil capsules and they do help somewhat. I've had a few decent or good days in the past couple of weeks, but I can't say that it's been "normal." I have to be careful how much Benefiber I take, because otherwise I become constipated.

I'm also having a hard time sticking to the IBS diet right now too -- the food choices for me are very limited and I travel almost weekly for work, which makes finding good meals rather difficult (especially at catered working lunches or team dinners at restaurants others pick out - I'm lucky if I can get halfway decent vegetarian options, much less anything my GI tract can handle.)

Keep your fingers crossed that I can get some answers and help...

**traceann** · 05-18-2006, 06:21 AM

Keep us posted as to what you find out!!! I may have to check into Heather's peppermint oil caps...hmmmmm......

**poetgirl** · 05-18-2006, 09:40 AM

Went to the doc and he was very sympathetic. He didn't really have any answers for me, but sent me to the lab to get the containers for stool samples (I made a visit to a third-world country earlier this year and the IBS has been worse since then) and is also giving me a referral to a G.I. doc. It's been 5 years since my last colonoscopy (how time flies...) so I have the feeling I may be due for another one.

The peppermint oil capsules are good. Just make sure you take them on an empty stomach (between meals) with as little water as possible. The enteric coating is designed to withstand stomach acid and dissolve once it gets to your G.I. tract but if you have too much water, it will dissolve the coating too soon and can cause some reflux. I think Heather recently reformulated her capsules to add more enteric coating, so it should not be much of a problem. The other plus is that if you don't like the taste of fennel, but like how it works, you don't have to drink fennel tea or chew on the seeds.