IBS: Any other ladies here suffer from this?
 

I suffer from IBS with constipation.

I have been dealing with this my entire life. My problem is that I will go days, sometimes even up to 2 weeks without a BM and I deal with constant and very uncomfortable bloating.

I have tried altering my diet, exercise, fiber supplements, and Zelnorm-- all with no success. I have just started Miralax, so I'll will see how that goes. I have an appointment next month to discuss this latest treatment and if things still aren't better I will have to have another scope done to try to figure out what is wrong with me.

I have had IBS all my life just about. I am also lactose intolerant-not sure if that is related. Certain foods and ailments irritate it; cola is horrible for me, specially with food, so if I want any, I only have it at home. Too much beef is another food that makes it worse-luckily, beef prices are too high to now worry about having 'too much'. I had really bad endometriosis, which also affected my IBS; later surgery found that my uterus and colon had been fused with endometriosis and once it was removed and they were seperated, it eased up a bit.
Along with IBS, you might have what's called "Dumping Syndrome", which is silly name, but pretty self-explanatory. You eat and your body literally dumps the meal almost immediately; it bypasses the small intestine and accelerates your digestive process so much you're running to a bathroom before the dishes get taken away.
Keep notes of what you've eaten and what they do. If you suffer from severe menstrual cramps and bloating and get diarrhea along with your period, you may have endometriosis affecting your colon.
There's charcoal capsules that will help with the diarrhea bouts and since they aren't a medicine, they have no physical effects. Eat bland then too-chicken, rice some unadulterated veggies. Stay away from milk products-even if you aren't lactose intolerant, they are mucus makers and irritate the colon.
Have the doctor check for Crohn's Disease-sometimes it is mistaken in its early stages for IBS.
Good luck.

I have an IBD, ulcerative colitis, which isn't quite the same, but has similar symptoms. I am also lactose intolerant. Certain foods also affect it, coke, spicy foods, very rich foods, fried foods, and dairy products are on my list of irritants. Also have a bit of alternating constiaption and diarrhea, during period times this is more evident. DFon't get very bad period cramps though, just mild. The worse part is that I bleed every so often and then have to take corticosteroids.

I have learned to live with it, I can't really say that anything has worked entirely for me ever, diet, medications, but I take Salofalk pills and occasionally aero-om for bloating and gas, and though I will eat some of the foods that seem to affect me, I eat a little of everything in moderation. Sometimes I have found that even though I am steering clear of the foods that seem to make it worse, it seems to like it when I go back to those foods. So I have decided not to exclude anything from my diet, choosing to eat the things that make it worse less often than all the other things I can eat without problems. I also have some pills to take when I drink straight milk, for the lactose. I find it only flares up if I'm having milk with nothing else, and not with other dairy products.

All you can do is live with it and try and gradually understand what triggers it and then try and avoid doing that. It will always come back - at least in my case.

I was just reading an article last night... and the basic gist of the article was if you think you have IBS - then get tested for Celiac disease - Celiac takes about 6 years for it to be properly diagnosed as the symptoms are identical to IBS -- but the root cause is different...

I get IBS when I'm very stressed. Given that I also have severe acid reflux disease (GERD), it doesn't make for good times, especially at times when I need to be healthy and accomplishing things. Essentially, I lost a term's worth of university to these health problems. for me, the biggest fix was diet, and eliminating as much of the stress from my life as I possibly could. If stress isn't an issue for you, I don't know what else to suggest.

I've had IBS for about ten years and have learned what triggers it and how to avoid it in some ways. My triggers are spicy foods, heavily fried foods, and as I've noticed recently, alcohol. Stress also triggers it. I'm somewhat lactose intolerant...I can eat small amounts of dairy but anything more than a bowl of cereal or a cup of yogurt upsets my stomach. I rarely have bouts that are because of food...it's almost always stress. I have very painful cramps as well.. I've never considered it could be related to my IBS. I'll have to mention it to my doctor when I go for my yearly exam soon.

a gentleman caller volunteers:

That "dumping syndrome" sounds exactly like me. Sometimes I will eat something, usually from a restaurant, and not something I have prepared myself, and I can't finish it because for whatever reason I lose my appetite, and then within maybe ten to twenty minutes I am running to the bathroom, and left feeling famished. My husband always says "theres no way your digestive system can be that fast!" I've been lactose intollerant since childhood, and so severly so that they tested me for many other
diseases before one kind nurse suggested that maybe I stay away from dairy.
So... if you're looking for sympathy... you got it! I have, on several occasions, had constipation and diarreah at the same time, which is wildly uncomfortable.

I have suffered from IBS with extreme bouts of diarrhea for about 4 years now. I lost over 45 pounds in about 2 months....with no help from doctors. I have leardned thru trial and error which foods affect me and what ones don't. Also, stress is an ABSOLOUTE trigger to IBS problems. Imodium is NOT a good thing for me when the diarrhea starts...it actually caused me to 4 days without a BM. And on any given normal day I still have at least 3 BMs. "So... if you're looking for sympathy... you got it! I have, on several occasions, had constipation and diarreah at the same time, which is wildly uncomfortable----I DEFINITELY HAVE EXPERIENCED AND AGREE!!!

I've been suffering from this from as far back as I can remember. I'm sure it's my diet and my over indulgence of coffee and lack of water. I'll be getting checked out. Thanks girls!

Ahhh, I so can relate to what most everyone on here has posted. I personally have just learned to deal with my IBS, and try and live normally. It can be very difficult at times, when I dont have quick access to a private washroom (I usually have BM 3-4 times a day). I also find I have a problem with gas. My tummy always hurts so much... filled with gas that I cant seem to release. That in turn often causes heartburn and indigestion. My doc is an idiot and said there is really ntohing she can do for me as I have an "over active bowel".

Don't ever accept that as an answer... that's absolutely ridiculous... you are the customer - if you aren't getting satisfaction... get your behind to another doctor...

Just a little addendum: IBS should be the diagnosis, not a guess. Crohn's Disease in early stages mimics IBS-my nephew was told he had either IBS or 'stomach flu' off and on for 3 years before they did testing-by then most of his digestive system had been affected and he has an atrophied portion of colon.
Crohn's attacks from any age, mostly adolescence to young adulthood, but can show up even in your 30's.
If you have diarrhea for days, lose weight, are exhausted, experience pain, specially from hard to digest foods, please PLEASE see a gastroenterologist. My family found out the hard way just how devastating this disease can be.
IBS is an inconvenience-Crohn's is life changing and in very rare instances, fatal.

Ng, you're absolutely right--don't self-diagnose IBS. Get it checked out. There are lots of things that have similar symptoms but are far more complicated. Same with other digestive problems. Things like chronic heartburn can lead to acid reflux disease and a permanently damaged esophagus, even cancer. Don't take chances. Go see the doctor. And if your doctor is an idiot, get a new one. An overactive bowel can have a myriad of causes, and having 3-4 BMs daily is not normal.

Oh I totally agree and would love a new doc. The problem is the MAJOR shortage of family doctors in Calgary. I have been on a waiting list for a new doctor for about 5 months already!