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How many have fibro and bad IBS?

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Posted 1/17/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
I pretty much follow the diet I found on the IBS forum here - lots of starches, less of everything else...definitely not what we've been taught is healthy, but it has helped me quite a bit. 

I'm SO sick of always having to weigh the pros and cons of everything I stick in my mouth.  I always have to make sure I take some rice cakes or something similar with me when I go anywhere.  I've lost weight without wanting to (which is ok as long as it doesn't go further) but it's really taken away a lot of the pleasure of eating.  Pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation are always ready to strike if I eat half a chocolate cookie or too many bites of salad.   mad   What's worse, my daughters have similar issues, and they're only in their 20s!  I'm HOPING they don't have fibro, but I see possible signs - not that I tell them that. 

I know IBS and fibro often go together, I just wonder if it's bad enough to be a dominant factor in a lot of your lives?  

Debbie  

Posted 1/17/2011 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
IBS symptoms are a symptom of fibro and many here have that.  I started with what I thought was ulcerative colitis and then found out I had Crohn's disease.  Whether or not fibro had anything to do with this, I don't know.  I do have other family members with Crohn's. 

 

I'm glad you are following the IBS diet.  I had to do that for years...no fresh veggies or fresh fruit.  But you can have canned.  Stay away from corn, peas, things that have like an outer "shell".  Of course you can eat the fattening things like pasta.  But, I was thrilled I could have potatoes...my favorite food. 

 

Maybe when things settle down for you, you can try a little of the "forbidden" foods and see what happens.  Stress can cause IBS, also, as well as things like lactose intolerance.  Have you checked that out?  I had a neighbor that had problems with IBS but as soon as she eliminated dairy from her diet, she was fine.  Hope this helps.

Sherrine 

Posted 1/17/2011 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
i have both ulcerative colitis and Fibro.
i flare with both and this is no picnic .
last week a friend told me about Culterelle
i bought it and i have been taking it for 8 day's
now , what a change no more running to the bathroom.

maybe you should check it out for yourself.

LG Monika
Posted 1/17/2011 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I do, I do......lucky me LOL
Posted 1/17/2011 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie, I have had bouts of IBS, and do have a few diverticuli in my colon. I guess I lucked out...when I started taking Methotrexate, the symptoms went away. It was a good side effect of being on an immunosuppressant I'm for the MCTD.

Hope your symptoms go away. I know that it is no fun!!!

Hugs, Robin
Posted 1/17/2011 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie, IBS is one of the symptoms that I got with the Fibro. I had a few years of lactose intolerance that I grew out of, but no other problems before that. I also have a few diverticuli like Robin, it is assumed that it is a result of the IBS. Like you, I am having to be VERY careful about what I eat due to it acting up at the moment. I can't eat fruits or vegetables without paying the price. I also have lost a lot of weight as a result. I go to the GI at the beginning of February just to make sure nothing else is going on.

To add to the boringness of a bland diet I am also having the burning mouth so I have to stay away from strong flavors as to not aggravate that too much.

I certainly hope your daughters do not get Fibro. Unfortunately I do think there is a genetic link as my father has RSD/CRPS another chronic pain condition also believed to be from a messed up nervous system. I think that genetically the predisposition is there and whether or not there is a trigger is the difference. I have 2 siblings and neither of them have any of the problems I have. I know a lot of young people that have digestive problems though - IBS, Chrons, Ulcerative Collitis... Either it's becoming more prominent or it's being diagnosed more now.

Fibro is so fun isn't it... Are we all having fun yet?
Posted 1/18/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, me too. I have ulcerative colitis (though gastro says possibly Crohn's instead), plus IBS and of course recently diagnosed FMS. Have not tried the diet yet. For now my UC is under control. My IBS is improved on amitriptyline (the first reason it was prescribed). Had sigmoid colon removed (thought it was endometriosis in the colon, but was UC)...

I do test highly allergic (delayed response IGG?) to cow's milk. I try to limit my intake, makes my IBS worse with more dairy.

When my sigmoid colon was removed, there was diverticulitis noted too. Have sister and mother with colon issues - sister with UC, mother with IBS, etc... plus both have FMS.
Posted 1/18/2011 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Well, that answered my question! A lot of us have this issue, and other digestive issues, too (why am I not surprised?) More and more I realize how tough we are, whether we appear that way to the world or not - because we have to be!!

Debbie
Posted 1/18/2011 9:19 PM (GMT 0)

I do too, but I seem to have the other form, I can't seem to stay regular or on track, if I don't take something everyday, I have really bad bouts with constipation. And narcotic medications, do not help me

Posted 1/18/2011 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hopegirl,

With me it tends more towards constipation, too...has for most of my life...but at least I used to be able to eat!! I tried going gluten-free a few months ago, thinking that might help, and it made it 10 times worse! (go figure - so much for that idea)

So in addition to the IBS diet, I take Miralax in the morning and Citrucel in the evening - dr's orders. And I'm better that way, but I just have such an unsettled feeling in my guts. I know what you mean about narcotics.

Debbie
Posted 1/19/2011 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie,

 

Wow, I thought about the Glut Free, but never did. Glad I did not.....Yes, I too have to take Miralax or Citrucel-for me I need to take it once a day, if I don't take it....back to the whole process again of not going. I had surgery 2 months ago for hemorriods from it all.

Posted 1/19/2011 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hopegirl,

The gluten-free thing is a mystery to me. I have a friend who has the full-blown gluten problem, one grain of bread and she's sick for a week. She was very surprised to hear that the diet made me more constipated, so I think that's rare. Who knows...?

Did the hemorrhoid surgery help? I've heard that's very painful.

Debbie
Posted 1/20/2011 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie,

 

It did help, I had a hemorroid that had a blod clot and it was out side, large and very painful. So it has helped that. However, cry it's been almost 3 months, and I'm still not healed because I still backslide with problems and straining. So I think it helped, but I also think I have another one that will soon need to be removed also...

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