IBS and pregnancy

Hello everyone. I'm a newbie here. I had a question for everyone and wondered if I could get some advice. I was diagnosed with IBS at the age of 17. At the age of 28 I had some tests done and the doctors confirmed the cause of my IBS to be overgrowth of bacteria in my small bowel. I have chronic diarreaha and it pretty much controls my life. I have tried treatments, but nothing really works. Recently, I found out I am pregnant. I am only about 3-4 weeks along now. For the last week and a half my problems with diarreaha are worse than ever!!! I go to the bathroom anywhere around 6-12 times a day and it's always diarreaha. I called my OBGYN and they aren't too concerned about it. A friend of mine, who is a nurse, says it may be a surge in hormones causing these problems. I always noticed before right when I was to start my period my IBS would go nuts. Anyways, I wondered if anyone has experienced this same problem when they were pregnant. I am going crazy!!! I feel like my life just isn't in my control. I stay at home all the time and am afraid to go anywhere. I am even uncomfortable in my home sometimes because we only have one bathroom here and when my husband is home I am afraid he will be using it when I need it. Anyways, I hope someone can offer me some advice. I am tired of all this! Thanks for listening.

I haven't been pregnant, but yes, there's definitely a hormonal link! Some women on here have gotten normal (!!!) while pregnant, only to go back to the same old thing after the baby, but then some are like you and get worse. While your doctor may not be concerned with your D right now, she should be if you continue to have it. Make her check your vitamin and mineral levels regularly so that you can make sure that you and the baby are getting everything you need. Pregnancy is depleting enough of those things, but D will make it worse.

What sort of treatments did you have for your bad bacteria problem?

Hi Keriamon. My gastro dr. would put me on a coarse of anti-biotics for my IBS. It never worked very long. A week or two at the most. Getting an appointment with her right now is very hard. Doesn't seem to matter how much trouble I am having. I will also keep in contact with my OBGYN about the diarreaha. Thanks for your advice and also thanks to 7Lil for the nice words.

Bad bacteria is EXTREMELY hard to eradicate. Based on what others on here have gone through, it seems to take a strong antibiotic for weeks, even months, to clear some of it up. I have read about someone being on Cipro, I think it was, for like 6 months! Some antibiotics are better at clearing out the guts than others; not all will work well. Also, did anyone put you onto probiotics? That's good bacteria. You really have to have the combination to have any hope of it sticking. If you put the good bacteria in there after you have wiped your guts clean, they will take up residence and keep the bad stuff pushed out. If you wipe it clean and leave it empty, though, it's easy for a few hidden bad bacteria, or some you pick up, to get in that nice empty space and breed and spread worse than kudzu. They'll take over again.

Might be something you talk to your doctor about trying again after the baby.

Hi there. My IBS-like symptoms have been brought on by having part of my colon removed (rectal cancer) and/or my gall bladder out, 9 years ago. While I've never been officially diagnosed with IBS-D, my symptoms mimic so many of you here and I've been able to find wonderful support on this forum. So please stick around! Warmest congratulations on your pregnancy!

I'm 53 now so my periods are hit or miss, usually 3 months apart. But when I was regular, I noticed loose bm's, long before my IBS issues started. Someone once told me that our periods are nature's way of cleaning us out (bowels too). I could almost predict when I would start because the loose bm's would come. I noticed this connection as far back as my 20s. Many women here on this site have mentioned IBS flares before their periods start.

What I would suggest is eating foods that firm up your stool. Just tackle this increase in D, with a low residue diet (what I still follow, 9 years now). I would concentrate on foods such as bananas, mashed potatoes, applesauce, white bread/bagels/english muffins, chicken, turkey, fish, plain or vanilla flavored yogurt. I would also avoid foods or beverages that increase D - whole wheat products, fresh produce such as berries, pineapple, baby lettuce greens, hot tea, coffee, caffeine, carbonated beverages, etc. Try this for a 24 to 48 hour period and keep a food journal. See if you notice an improvement. If so, ask your OB if you could go on a low residue diet while pregnant or at least for this transitional stage (your GI tract getting used to hormonal surges).

I hope you feel better.....hang in there. You found the right place to vent, etc.

Mary/Marsky

Aunt Issy,
I found that during my pregnancy my IBS went away. I'm sorry that's not the case for you. And I'm sorry about your misscarriage. I had one of those too. Very very heartbreaking. I will keep you in my prayers. May God bless you and your baby.