Zelnorm/IBS

C

clothesminded

Cathlete
For the past 6 months I've had stomach issues. Sometimes so bad that I would curl up in a ball to stop the cramps. After seeing two gasterologist doctors, I would diagnosed with a bacterial infection which caused IBS w/constipation. After taking a very expensive antibiotic med., the bacterial infection seems to be gone. At my checkup visit yesterday, the doctor told me that I would need to keep taking the Zelnorm- forever! He said that a bacterial infection like the one I had (very aggressive) caused damage to my intestines, and even though it's now gone, the damage remains.

I am very against taking any medicine forever. I feel like I am polluting my body. I also thought that Zelnorm was a temp. thing.

Does anyone here take Zelnorm? What are your experiences and duration with it? Should I try slowly decreasing my two doses a day?

Anyone have any tips on treating IBS without medicine? It's unfair that "good" food, such as veggies and wheat cause gas and constipation. I've read that peppermint oil cap. are helpful. Anyone use that? The doctor also suggested charcoal tablets for intestinal gas.

Thanks for your help. After six months of this crap (no pun intended!) I am beyond frustrated.
 
Hi,


www.helpforibs.com

The info on diet and the products sold at this site have
helped me control IBS better than anything else. The site
was started by a woman who has IBS also. I have had IBS most
of my life and I am 45 years old now. The pain and discomfort
doesn't run my life anymore and that is a great feeling.

Best of luck.

Cindy
 
Thanks for the link and your encouragement, Cindy. I've been to that site and have it saved under my "favorites." I guess now I will have to start doing more of those things.

There was an interesting article in the Shape July '06 issue called "8 Reasons Your Stomach Hurts." I found that article had more info. on the things I'd already heard.

The thing is that I never had these problems before the bacterial infection. So, this is all new to me. I even tried to cut out dairy, but that didn't do much good. I've never had a prob. with dairy or wheat. Some veggies and fruits (melons and squash) give me gas, but I try to stay away from those, especially now. I increased the fiber by taking fiber tablets thinking that would help, but the increase in fiber just caused more bloating.

I would hate to have to watch everything I eat for now on, but I'm willing to do what it takes. Having constant gas and being a junior high teacher is NOT a good thing! Wish me luck!
 
This must be a difficult adjustment for you to make and
it is a live and learn process for me.

I found that avoiding dairy has helped me a lot but it did
take several weeks to really notice the difference. Be careful
of the amount and type of fiber you take too, there is a lot of
info about that on the help for IBS web site. There is a
over the counter thing for IBS made by Digestive Advantage that
is supposed to be very helpfull, I haven't found it in any
drugstore yet and Beano can help with the bloat and gas too.

I think I will pick up that July Shape magazine and may learn
something new that will help me. Herbal teas help me a lot too.

Cindy
 
Hi Clothesminded,

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I have had IBS with constipation for over fifteen years and I KNOW the frustration. I know all about the constant bloating, gas, and PAIN that comes along with it. The gas is enough to drive anyone crazy.

I have been taking Zelnorm for about 2 years now and it has helped me tremendously. I still take two pills per day and have found that is the most effective for me. I tried going down to one pill and didn't have succes with that. I am also very careful with my diet and there are a lot of things I just cannot eat anymore. I also have cut out all dairy, any type of raw vegetable and anything with wheat. It's been so hard but it's harder to live with the pain and inconvenience that a flare-up causes if I don't.

The book Eating for IBS by Heather Van Vorous was helpful. Just one example of how the book helped me is I LOVE salads but have trouble with them. In her book she explains that we need to have some coating in our intestines first (usually some type of carb and it does not have to be a large amount) and then we can enjoy a small salad or cooked vegetables afterwards. I used to just eat a huge salad with some protein all the time and really suffer for it.

Now my bouts are fewer and less debilitating so I plan on continuing with the Zelnorm. I couldn't stand the pain (felt like someone stuck their hand in my gut and was wringing my intestines like you would ring out a wet rag). Very, very painful.

I plan on checking out that website for IBS recommended above. Any little bit helps.

In the meantime...I'm sending a great big hug to you. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}} I hope you feel better and find the things that will help you manage your symptoms and pain the best.

IBS really stinks!!!!(no pun intended) x(
 
lisaannjam,

Thanks for the hugs and advice. Cutting out dairy didn't seem to help when I did that earlier to find out if that was the main source of the problem. Later I found out that it was a bacterial infection that wasn't caught with the tests they did. The doctor said that there are so many different types of bacterial infections in the intestines and that tests only check for about 50 of them. Apparently mine was one of the ones NOT tested! :(

The eating the salad last suggestion was interesting. I've always eaten a huge salad before my meal to cut down on the portion size of my entree. Plus, I am addicted to spinach salads and eat huge ones twice a day.

How do you get around not eating wheat? I like the sprouted grain bread, so maybe that will work. Where does your fiber come from? Guess not cereals either! I am not liking the sound of this.

I can really relate to your description of the pain. It is very painful. Really does feel like someone is twisting your intestines. Certainly not the typical stomach pain most people sometimes have. Being so bloated makes it hard to breathe and the gas, well, that is just horrible. Has an effect on relationships, if you get what I mean! Having this has really made me depressed, but I am hopeful that now that the bacterial infection is gone, I can manage. If not having the pain means taking a $50 medicine every month, then so be it.

Any other tips you can give me (or anyone else out there) would be really appreciated. There has to be more people here with IBS since it affects one in five people, with 70% being women.

This website is pretty informative, especially the message board.
http://www.ibsgroup.org/
 
Hi again Clothesminded!

Love your name by the way! I must admit it does get depressing at times, especially when you are doing everything that "works" for you and then all of a sudden a flare-up comes on and you wonder...what the heck?

It takes time and patience to find what works for you. I totally hear you about the two salads a day and being addicted to spinach salads...me too!! I've had to adjust and have a smaller salad after say a half of a sweet potato. It seems to work.

I can tolerate low suger oatmeal and that helps with my fiber intake. I have to be really careful with fiber. It helps but it can cause havac as well. It's a dance so to speak. Trial and error.

I know what you mean also about it effecting your relationships..haha. It can be embarrassing at times as you really don't have control of the gas. And the Zelnorm helps you pass it more easily which helps but can add to that problem. And try doing ab crunches in the gym...haha. I teach aerobics so I'm always concerned about that as well.

I've gotten around eating wheat from basically cutting it all out for now. At times, I can add things back in slowly but then have to cut them out again. I'm sorry...I know that's not a help but it is what has worked for me.

I know others have posted web sites in the past where you can purchase products that are wheat and gluten free. And the local health food store carries a lot of cereals and things that are wheat and gluten free as well.

I would just say it's good that you've reached out as it's helpful to get support and encouragement from those who know how you feel.

Good luck!! And thanks for the link. Hopefully, we'll get some more feedback to see what has worked or not worked for others.

Try to read Eating for IBS if you get a chance...really, really helpful IMO.

Take good care of your belly!!!:)

Edited to add...I'm really lucky that our insurance covers my Zelnorm. Without insurance it would cost me $170.00 per month. Outrageous, isn't it? With insurance it costs $20.00 per month.
 
Hello!

I have been on Zelnorm for a couple of months now. I just had a colonoscopy where I was diagnosed with IBS and was also told that I had a lazy colon (this makes me laugh). The gas and bloat was worse for me-- not so much the pain. I also tried cutting out dairy but it didn't make a difference.

The zelnorm helps but I also have to take maralax. I'm young (30) to already to be taking this stuff but I'd rather take it than suffer. I was going to the bathroom great and regularly (I get alot of fiber and stuff). However, it just stopped a couple of months ago.

Not sure I gave any advice-- but you aren't alone!
 
I am sorry to hear about your fight to figure out what was going on. I am glad to hear that you found out. One of the difficulties in medicine is that everyone assumes that the docs can figure it out right away, but sometimes it takes a process of trial and error.

I don't have IBS (or at least not diagnosed, anyway), but I TOTALLY know about the cramping and the gas. I figured out in college that I was lactose intolerant (really hard after faithfully drinking a glass of skim milk with every meal). At first it was mild, but now, even indulging in a low sugar/low fat ice cream bar can send me into a fit of cramping and bloating that seems it will never end. The sweetener, Maltitol, does it, too!!! It truly feels like someone reached in and starting twisting!

Hope you can find what works for you and also fits into your lifestyle.
 
Thanks again for the advice you guys suggested.

I did some more research last night and came up with the following things that are supp. to help:
Fennel, ginger, peppermint (capsules-get the enteric-coated ones 200 mg or tea), and charcoal tablets for gas and keeping the intestines working.

Probiotics:
OTC supp. "Culturelle" has lactobacillus GG, which helps to alleviate both acute diarrhea and those associated with antibiotics and OTC supp. "Florastor" has Saccharomyces boulardii, which reduces symptoms of IBS, including diarrhea, stomach pain, and bloating.

I guess the toughest thing for me to get my mind around is that a bacterial infection could have caused IBS, which now requires Zelnorm for life. I didn't have IBS before.

I have learned way more about my digestive system than I ever thought I would. I should have listened better in those biology/science classes!

Thanks again. This forum always offers helpful and caring advice.
The website I mentioned in an earlier post is awesome. Really made me feel better about my situation. After reading other posts, I feel like I am lucky. Seems like mine is not near as horrible as others.
 
Hello again...again..haha.

See don't have to lose your sense of humor with IBS..haha.

Fennel tea is wonderful. I find the peppermint helps as well.

I just wanted to add that maybe since your IBS was triggered by the bacterial infection that maybe you will heal and not have to suffer with chronic IBS. I've had IBS since my teens and I'm 41 now...so I'm hoping and praying that you won't have a chronic problem.

Feel free to e-mail me anytime, okay?:)
 
My IBS started in University, lasted for 12 years and strangely ended during my first pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones slowed down my intestines and allowed them to heal. Now (knock on wood) I haven't had IBS for 6 years.
Everyone's IBS has different triggers. I'd recommend recording the food you eat and figure out what your triggers are. I found I had to eliminate all high fat foods, especially take out pizza from my diet. Grape skins were also a nasty trigger for me. Most fruits, vegetables and whole wheat caused me no problems. I actually had a visit with a nutritionalist when I was first diagnosed with IBS and she helped me identify triggers in my diet. The other trigger for me was stress. I actually found one of the best ways of controlling IBS was daily cardio.
Good luck!
 
lisaannjam and Alhambra- Thanks for more tips.

I just got back from the pharmacy. I asked the pharmacist about charcoal, probiotics, and peppermint. He said that they were all basically scams and that they didn't work, so Gas X (the main ingred.) was created. VERY confusing!! So, I bought some Beano and some more Gas X. Maybe taking them on a regular basis and watching what I eat will help.

I only eat "good" foods, with the occasional birthday cake four times a year. I don't eat fast food or anything fried. Honestly that sort of food grosses me out. I do know that fruit, esp. melons and veggies, such as broc. and cauliflower all don't agree with me.

It may be the wheat or possibly eggs? I do eat a lot of egg whites. I also eat oatmeal daily. I wonder if those two things could be the culprits.

How frustrating even more so when I know that I have a clean diet and workout like I should. Keep your fingers crossed that I will find solutions that work for me. I will share if I do. I believe, after reading about IBS, that people have silently suffered for years with it.
 
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