HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

IBS-D need help/encouragement

Support Forums
>
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/6/2012 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have been suffering from what I suspect to be IBS for roughly 6 years. I have long periods (sometimes up to a year) of no symptoms. But then, like recently, it will attack me with a vengeance.

Symptoms:
-Bloating (usually in late afternoon/evening)
-Burping (usually in late afternoon/evening)
-Bad gas (usually in late afternoon/evening)
-Diarrhea (usually after eating fatty/cheesy/greasy foods)

Up until recently, I knew what foods to stay away from. Pizza, french fries, soda, etc. However, lately, I can't pin point anything. Over the last few days, I've had extremely watery diarrhea, usually late in the day or first thing in the morning. However, last night, I began having watery diarrhea from 10:00 in the evening until 9:00am the next morning. I was up all night, every hour or so. I usually take PEPTO to control symptoms, but lately that hasn't worked. THis morning, I took Immodium and that did the trick. I actually went to the doctor today (for the first time ever about this) and she suspects IBS, but ordered blood work and stool samples. I've been feeling good most of the day, but just a little while ago, the watery diarrhea returned. Took another Immodium and that seemed to help.

I've never experienced several days, and especially all night diarrhea like this, unless sick with the flu (which I'm not). Has anyone else experienced this? It scares and worries me.

Add to that anxiety, and I'm a mess right now. I'm a worrier by default, and whenever I start having diarrhea, I just have these thoughts that it will never end, I'll end up in the hospital, etc.

Any help/encouragement welcomed. Thanks for listening.

Post Edited (aclark414) : 6/6/2012 2:03:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/6/2012 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Having blood work and stool samples done is a good first step. If you start to see any blood it will be time to go see a Gastroenterologist. Have you been on any medications lately other than the immodium?
Posted 6/6/2012 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. No, I never have any blood or mucous. I've never been on any medications, other than the occasional antibiotic when I was a kid.

The doctor didn't really say much other than, it's probably IBS and there's nothing you can really do to get rid of it. She didn't offer many suggestions on diet changes.

I can't help but feel that so many of us suffer from it because of the horrible diet that Americans are on. Processed foods are accepted as such a normal part of our diets.

Is there anyone else out there that questions the average doctor's "it is what it is" attitude with IBS?
Posted 6/6/2012 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Your topic reminds me of Elisabeth Hasselbeck's experience. In fact she wrote a book about her health condition, she was a contestant on the second season of Survivor. Prior the game, she had IBS like symptoms, but while playing, GI-wise, she never felt better. All she was eating was white rice. She joked she was allergic to our processed western diet (her season was filmed in Australia, although players still eat white rice). Long story short, she determined she was sensitive to gluten and decided to write a book about her experiences. I believe the title is the G-free diet. It's an easy read. Not saying you are sensitive to gluten, I'm not, I was tested but her book does shed light on bowel disorders and for nothing else, it makes you realize you are not alone. Far from it.
Posted 6/6/2012 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
I will have to check that book out. Thank you! I'm curious if anyone has seen improvement with IBS by ditching the American diet of sugar, gluten, processed foods, etc.
Posted 6/7/2012 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
I've started putting on weight recently and my middle is getting too thick (handing over my waistband), when I've never had that trouble before, I'm 57 now. Recently I started cutting out all sugar and not drinking soda's. I started having less dumping episodes and GI gas and upset. I'm in a different camp than you are though, I struggle because I'm missing the lower 1/3 of the colon, due to cancer and now have multiple bm's per day (nowhere internally for stool to collect and back up). It's hard to eliminate sugar though, you naturally just want to add a teaspoon to tea or coffee, or crack open a can of soda. Or when making iced tea, I usually like to add sugar when the water is hot. I can't imagine sugar and processed foods are all that good for us. You could simply try eating fresh produce, high fiber (although I find low fiber helps me greatly), fewer frozen or prepared foods, skip mixes such as mac and cheese, make your own if you're so inclined. When I was on that no sugar kick, I sliced a variety of fresh veggies - carrots, yellow and red peppers, zuchinni, yellow squash, cucumbers and kept them in a large bowl. I'd munch on them at night, about 1 cup dipped in fresh hummus. I felt clean inside afterwards, if that any sense! But have I continued to do this....oh no, that's part of my problem - being consistent!

Good luck to you.
Posted 6/7/2012 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Marsky, thanks for the reply. I will try cutting out sugar, though that's going to be a tough challenge for me.
Posted 6/8/2012 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
My nutritionist helped me after using several medications with mixed results by taking me off everything white (flour, dairy & sugar) and no processed foods. Then she had me take a kit called 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) kit' that had a Healthy Bowel product with probiotics and prebiotics (she said they should be taken together) and a liquid homeopathic called IBS Support that seemed to help with my bowels right away. Since then things have substantially improved and unless I mess up with my diet (no one's perfect!) I feel like I'm in remission...and hope to stay that way!
Posted 6/8/2012 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
Great to hear that you are feeling better. I am more and more convinced that processed foods just tear up our Digestive systems. Would you mind sharing what a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner look like for you? I am struggling with what to eat and get enough calories.
Posted 6/8/2012 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'd be interested in someone walking us through a typical no-processed, whole foods daily diet. Just tell what you are eating for each meal for a day or two, I'm trying to imagine it as well.

While a low residue diet seems to soothe my touchy gut, I am more and more introducing fresh produce into this diet, but continuing to consume white rice, cottage cheese, chicken, turkey. And of course white breads (which I know are out for many of you).

Side note and something I can't shake this morning - that CNN article about how they keep breeding pigs in tiny cages on their sides their entire lives breaks my heart today. I can't even read it, but my husband read it and I saw a picture. He said that factory farm has the adult breeding pigs' cages stacked tall and they can't even roll over. They lie on one side their entire lives. That truly breaks my heart and when it comes to food, I want to just eat a banana or carrot stick. I don't even eat pork but after that article has been posted, I will never eat pork, etc. ever again. Poor pigs.
Posted 6/8/2012 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, that is disgustingly sad. I eat meat, but we always try to buy cage free. I am really struggling with what to eat, and not loose more weight. I am 30, Male, and have lost 30 lbs over the last year because I just don't know what to eat. I've gained 8 lbs back, but that's while eating crap (red meats, ice cream, chips, etc.). But then I'm right back to IBS attacks. I know it's a misconception, but I just feel like I get no substance or calories when eating healthy.
Posted 6/10/2012 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I started taking probiotics because they're supposedly supposed to help with IBS, but all they did was make my symptoms worse and cause me to have to take Imodium which I've never had to take before. You could always try probiotics, but if it doesn't help after 5 days I'd say stop because I stopped taking mine and I didn't have any problems yesterday.
Posted 6/12/2012 9:26 AM (GMT 0)
Most diets for IBS usually chicken or turkey in various ways but stay away from fry food may harm worst.

Eggs whites, bread - either tosts or bagel.

Red meat: can be various except for pork was more fatty.

dessert :jello, or low calories ice cream some may have yogurt flavores

drinks: usually water or gatorade, once the while giner ale

Those that drink coffee may be better off with decaffiene

I take multi enzyme and Betaine Hydochloride, suppose to help break down the sugar and food intake. found that probitics have cause problems doesn't help.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply