Anyone here suffer from IBS? HELP!

I don't know if I have IBS or not. I seem to get cramping and constipation due to stress. Also that gets me bloated. It normally starts in the morning and not any food in particular seems to set it off. I have started eating more clean and I believe I was getting way to much saturated and trans fat in my diet. Thanks for the site Tina and all the other suggestions. I would rather use herbs than drugs...:)...Carole
 
I have suffered from severe IBS since I was 12 years old (not the greatest thing in the world when you're starting junior high!!) It always affected me in the mornings and I literally missed 2-3 mornings of school each week all the way through jr high and high school. My gastro doctor put me on every IBS medicine that was available and each of them worked for a few months, but my body would build-up a tolerance to each and they would quit working. I also tried Citrucel for a while, but the problem came when I couldn't take it one day for some reason and my body got off of its schedule. I literally suffered for 3 straight days as my digestive system went crazy, so I wouldn't use these to treat IBS.
As I've gotten older (I'm now 24)I've learned a few things to prevent the symptoms, but I've also realized that it will never completely go away. I'm much better now, though! My doctor told me that my main cause of IBS back in 7th grade was stress. (I lived with my mom who had a serious substance abuse problem) The symptoms really started to ease-up when I went away to college and got out of the stressful household. I alsolearned that certain foods, like yogurt, actually help soothe my stomach. I now only have occasional bouts with IBS. I don't take any medicines b/c they just make it worse. I only take some Immodium if I know that I'll be in a stressful situation (like before a flight) where I can't be near a bathroom!
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you must remove any stressors from your life that may be the cause of your IBS. That's the only way to get better. Good luck and take care!!!
ps--exercise also helps prevent it!!!
 
She-Ra,

Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful to removal all stressors from life! Ain't gonna happen. Take it from a 49 year old.

I've suffered from IBS since I was 12 also. What I have noticed is, as I get older, it is not as severe. You can't avoid all stress...but you can learn to deal with it.:7
 
Candi:
Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying that you can remove all the stressors from your life. I WISH!!!! I just know that removing myself from an unhappy household totally changed my life, including IBS symptom relief. It seems that if something can have that much impact on your overall happiness, it can certainly have the same impact on your physical health.
 
Ashley,

Very good point! My father was an alcoholic and so was my first husband. When I decided to divorce #1 after 21 years, my IBS improved tremendously also. I guess the point I was trying to make was that sometimes it's extremely difficult to remove ourselves from life situations because of how engrained we are in them. So, the next best thing is to deal the best we can.

My job is also very stressful so I continue to have bouts from time to time. Luckily, keeping my diet clean and making sure my digestive track is clean works for me.

I wish you the best:7
 
Big, warm, fuzzy hugs to all who suffer from IBS.

I have it too and the sad truth is that the docs have no clue what causes the "disease" and even less of a clue about how to "cure" it. Did you know that it predominantly affects women? I wonder if they would quickly find a cure if it was mostly men who suffered...

Anyway, after all the humiliating tests came back negative, I simply took control of the situation and started experimenting with herbs and supplements. I found peppermint oil capsules (Enzymatic Therapy brand) and the herb valerian helped the pain and cramping. High doses of the mineral magnesium help with constipation and general stress. And I recently discovered a fiber product called Clockwork - you only need to take it every other day and it works great.

Your cycles can also influence the IBS symptoms.

Hope you find something that works well for you.
Tamara
 
Tamara,

I think it's because IBS is catagorized as a somataform type disorder. For some people, the body reacts to stress by headache, backache, etc. For other people, IBS. I tell you what, I am happy to suffer IBS than get migraine headaches based on what some of my friends go through with migraines.

Glad you got your IBS symptoms under control and thanks for the information on stuff you have found to help you.
 
I suffered with it off and on for years before I was "upgraded" to ulcerative colitis. Docs will give you antispasmodics which can relieve the pain and cramping, but don't get at the cause.

I agree that stress plays a huge part. Obviously we can't avoid all stress, but anyone who's in a constantly stressful situation - stressful job, miserable marriage - needs to either take measures to improve the situation or get out of it... if possible. Relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, etc. can help.

Finding a diet that works for you is important, but difficult to do. Keeping a daily food journal noting what you eat and how you felt afterwards can help. Personally, I feel best if I avoid dairy and grains altogether.

Finally, I'd recommend trying probiotics to get your digestive system back in balance. I get mine from customprobiotics.com. I've tried many different brands, with no success, but CP works. I was told I'd never be well again and suffered terribly with UC. Now, I'm healthy again and look and feel better than I ever have.

HTH,

Angela
 
Ms. Lurker comes out.

I have been trying a Digestive Advantage. You can find info here: http://www.rofay.com/products_faqs.asp?pg=products&pid=9. They used to give out free samples, but I don't know if they still do.

It's supposed to help with a broad spectrum of symptoms. It seems to help with the cramping I have after meals. That, bloating, and "frequency" are my issues. It seems to be helping a little, but my system is slow to react to changes, so I think it'll take awhile to see the full effects.

It's interesting how different foods can cause IBS in different people. I can't eat whole grains because the fiber is just too irritating. Same for fruit or veggies except in very small amounts.
 
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