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My turn for a bad couple of days

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 10/27/2005 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
For the last 2 nights I have been getting up with really bad cramps and havign to rush to the toilet which is so bad because I dont even get chance to wake up properly.

This morning I woke up about 4.15am, and the only reason I woke up because because I felt like I was going to break wind, and then very quickly had to get up and rush to the toilet.  I was quite upset by this because I thought if I hadn't woken up then I would definitely have messed the bed (and my husband, which I don't think he would be too happy about!).

I was the same this morning when I officially had to get up for work, and found myself crying in the shower because I felt so drained and like I couldn't take any more.  My husband was quite abrupt with me last night because he was 'in the mood' and I felt like I was going to have a 'toilet incident' at any time.  He turned his back on me without showing any understanding, when all I wanted was a cuddle.  That upset me as well.

I had a bacon sandwich this morning, because right now it doesnt matter what I eat it has the same effect so I might as well have something I like.  I thought I was doing well keeping everything in until lunchtime and then had a really bad dash to the bathroom.  I actually felt relief this time which made me feel better, rather than just the same cramps, but now I'm hungry and I can't face anything. 

I don't know if this is related to anything, but loads of my hair came out on my brush this morning, so that got me a bit worried.  My hair is very fine anwyay, but I've not seen that much come out for a LONG time.  All these little thing, plus the fact I feel like I'm not getting anywhere is really beginning to get me down today.  

Posted 10/27/2005 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Your hair is probably just stress related, so that probably nothing to worry about.

And I know your pain as far as your husband, my wife is the same way; she wants what she wants, and when she doesn't get it, she doesn't care why she just gets upset.

I used to wake up just like that at aroun 4:30 or 5 every morning, it was a killer because I don't sleep well as it is; however, over the past 6 months things have leveled off, my GI gave me tons of antibiotics, and a bunch of other meds to kill all the possible bacteria in my guy, even the good kind. And then we started back with Flora additives. And truthfully, I only once in a while wake up like that in the morning, usually I dont wake up, except when our cats are hungry and decide its time to eat or play :)
Posted 10/27/2005 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
oh, girl i am so sorry...
if you can find some time to rest, do so--i know what it feels like to be so exhausted over your bowels--it feels as though nothing can go right.
i have had my share of embarresments, outside and in my own bedroom, it took a while for me to confide in my husband--but it was necessary for me. he has proven to be my right hand man during all of it. chance is your husband is having a hard time understanding how you feel and feels helpless. tell him how you feel physically and let him know that he hurt your feelings emotionally, it will help clear the air and make you both feel better. and be sure to let him know what you need, boys are kinda dumb sometimes when it comes to hugs... (when i messed the bed we were both silent, and it was about a week before we talked about it...) but also make sure you ask him how he feels about the situation, when a man feels helpless it can hit them hard.
there is someone else on this forum who is having hairloss problems. i find a lot in my hairbrush too-- maybe it has to do with being vitamin deficient, you are getting scoped right? they think you have colitis or chrons (i think i spelled it wrong) right? do you keep a food diary? i have noticed that fatty foods upset my intestines, i understand the idea to eat whatever cause it all comes out the same--i thought about just eating chocolate cake... my husband is all for it. (i love veggies and fruits and, well i do the cooking in the house so he's gotta eat it!) are you taking anything for the cramps?
i have felt as down as you do today--it sucks, but you are not alone... talk to your husband and do something really special for yourself today!! and try to take a nap or go to sleep early... i know it is hard... have you tried just eating rice, bananas, or something like that? sometimes and anti-diarrhea medicine help me, valerian root also helps people sleep and can quiet the intestines--but i am not a professional, but i do occasionally take it and it has helped me.
i will think of you... take care of yourself, and i understand how you feel.
--bunny
(the forum chicks can tell you more, they are smart, i am not--i am an emotional thinker and feel for everyone...well they do too, ok... i got nothing to offer!!!... so i just wanted to let you know that you will be okay... take care!)
thinking of you!!


but remember to take care of your emotional self too---just as important!
Posted 10/27/2005 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
by "forum chicks" i mean moderators.... told you i was dumb...
--bunny
Posted 10/27/2005 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Evie, am I so sorry everything is hitting you at once and getting you down. (((HUGS)))
I agree with Magoo and Bunny... try to relax, talk to your husband, and the hair is probably stress. I am the one on this forum with the hair loss. My doc thinks it is a bunch of things that factor into it for me. I will list them to see if any ring a bell for you: I put my hair up everyday, I put it up tight, I put it up wet (huge no-no), my Vitamin B12 & Folic Acids are low (I'm on a supplement), I haven't switched shampoos in years, and I'm a stress-case. If any of those can be applied to you then you may want to try and correct it. But, since you have only noticed this recently it is probably stress. Just in case you are worried you can try massaging Rosemary oil into your hair (I heard that here - thank you!), try Aloe Vera (either drink it or buy shampoo with it in it), and lastly you can take a multi-vitamin for your Hair (I take the Avon kind).
Moving on....
Evie, have you tried Calcium to control your D? How about taking Beano before every meal? You should probably also stay away from those bacon sandwiches and most anything that is greasy. I know it will come out anyway, BUT it may just come out with less pain and frequency if you eat better. Did your doc mention Imodium... can you take it? I take it on special occasions. Maybe you could do that when you are feeling REALLY down about all this. (Imodium is probably best taken in ½ doses for us IBSers.)
OK, I think that is it for now. Take care of yourself today... spoil yourself. Get plenty of rest and try to relax (stress is a huge trigger for IBS).
Posted 10/27/2005 3:42 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you all.  You've helped cheer me up a little anyway!

I'm finishing work in just over 30 minutes, so Ive decided when I get home I'm going to get in bed for an hour and have a good rest before the other half comes home from work.  I had some lunch earlier on, and I got some ginger ale which has either eased my cramps or I'm just lucky!  I have started with heartbrn a little bit as well so I will make sure I get something for it when i get home.

I have tried Immodium when the d wasn't so bad a couple of weeks ago but it didn't help, and the doctor has told me that I should try and steer clear of taking anything for the time being. Unless it starts to get really bad I'll just do what they say for now.

The next thing is trying to persuade my boss to take me off a training course next week.  I would have to get the train into Manchester, and I dont fancy having to stand about waiting for trains and being cramped up in a little carriage where i wont be able to sit down.  I don't think it will be a problem, but I'm not prepared to risk an accident somewhere that I am totally unfamiliar with.

I have been thinking today about times over the last 10 years or so when i have been ill, and the more I think about it the more I think I have suffered with this for years.  When I was 18 I was ill for around 2 weeks and had to take time off work.  I had pretty much the same symptoms as I have now, but the doctor put it down to a bug.

Earlier than that, I was on holiday in FLorida with my family, and one night after a big meal we were driving home and I HAD to go to the toilet.  My mum stopped to ge petrol, and I was prepared to kill her to get home so I could go to the toilet.  I was grasping onto the car seat so tight I thought I would break my fingers, and the relief of getting to the bathroom was out of this world!  None of this is really relevant to me today, but I have been thinking and I think this could have been going on a lot longer than I thought - just maybe it has taken this long to flare up again?

Posted 10/27/2005 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor told me that IBS comes and goes depended at what stage you are in life. IBS started for me about 10 years ago when I was in high school. After high school I seem OK for a few years when I had a stress-free job and a fabulous home life with a great boyfriend. My doc said that when you are "happy" your IBS will get better. Then, I got a stress job, long commute and my boyfriend and I broke up. My world seemed to be caving in on me. I don't know how many days and nights I spent crying on the pot, in the shower, in bed and to my family. Now after over a year of battling this I am finally learning (still learning) how to control it.
Evie, it will get better. Start learning what to eat and what you can do to help. Read a lot... I have a ton of IBS books. "Knowledge is power."
Posted 10/27/2005 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Evie :-) Sorry to hear about your interrupted nights. I've experienced the embarrassment of a few sharts now :-(

I too have the hair loss problem. I asked a dr. friend of mine the other night and he said it can be calcium or magnesium deficiency, thyroid problems, estrogen problems, stress... so if it continues you might want to bring it up with your dr.
Posted 10/27/2005 7:28 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone!

After everything today I have had a nice talk with my husband tonight and although it might take a while, he is finally beginning to understand that things are a little bit different at the moment.

I got home from work, had a shower and got in bed and watched a DVD, and now I feel a little better.  Even though I have had some pain tonight, I feel a bit more able to deal wth it now I have taken a couple of hours to myself.

I'm prepared for an interrupted night, so I'm going o have a really early night to try and get as much as sleep as possible earlier on.  I'm so looking forward to it being Friday tomorrow, and I intend to spend my entire weekend doing as little as possible - watching a few films and enjoying the quiet time.  And I actually feel really positive tonight!

Posted 10/27/2005 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
From your grammar and the mention of Manchester (although we have "Manchesters" a lot over here in the States) I take it you're in England. I myself love bacon sandwiches. I don't know if you can get it over there, but here we have bacon made from turkey. They alternate white and dark meet to make it look like striped bacon, but unlike pork bacon, there's no fat to have to pull off (yuck!). My mother switched us to it years ago because it's healthier and I've been eating it so long I can't stand the greasiness of old-fashioned pork bacon. It cooks wonderfully in the microwave and comes out so crisp you can hold it out straight and it won't flop over. I introduced my fiance to it and he eats it by choice now too.

Even if you can't get the turkey bacon, you can "degrease" your regular bacon by cooking it on a bacon tray or, if you can't find one or afford one, fold up a couple of paper towels, lay them on a plate, then add the bacon to the top and microwave it. The towels will soak up a lot of the grease. Be sure and dab the bacon on top when it comes out too (you can cook with a towel on top of the bacon, but depending on the towel, it may stick to the bacon and then you have to scrape it off!). The turkey bacon doesn't really need the paper towel method, but you can do it anyways to soak up that little bit extra.
Posted 10/27/2005 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Evie, I'm so glad you are feeling better. It is important to take time for yourself. I too have MANY of those weekends where I do as little as possible. After the long work week I really need those couple days to relax and watch movies.
Keep talking to your husband and help him understand how you are feeling. I have a link here with a "brochure" for people who don't have IBS, to try and help them understand it. Show it to your husband.
http://www.ibsgroup.org/main/brochure.html


This is from another IBS support website.

Posted 10/28/2005 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Evie,
It helps a lot to just veg out and relax as much as possible. IBS or IBD, stress just makes matters worse so if you have the opportunity to just take it easy, you will notice the symptoms are not as bad.

My hubby has finally come to terms with my problems. He is very prim and proper and used to just ignore the fact that I was sick a lot. He didn't ever want to talk bathroom talk and didn't understand that what I was going through was real. I faced my pain and problems on my own except for a couple of friends that I could confide in but did so sparingly. (Us IBSers don't mind, but how many normal people want to hear about how many times you went to the bathroom or that you were throwing up because the cramps were just too bad?, Sometimes I just had to have my own pity party, invitation for one) That is why HW has helped me sooo much and has been such a godsend to me.

My hubby has changed so much (much more so after his gallbladder was removed and he was having D issues himself), and we reguarly throw out the bathroom jokes which would have been out of the question before. I'm glad that your husband is finally seeing that you are sick and that you need him more than ever now.

Take Care
Posted 10/28/2005 10:58 AM (GMT 0)
Morning everyone..

After my evening of positivity is rapidly turned against me.  I made my husband something to eat, and half way through cooking I could barely move because the urge to go to the bathroom was that bad that if I had taken once step there would have been a serious cleaning up episode.

I managed to get upstairs and felt better afterwards, but I was cold and fetl terrible.  I went to bed early in a little bit of pain, but luckily not enough to stop me from falling asleep. As expected, I was awake at 2.50am, so I went to the bathroom - came back to bed and had the most disgusting pain that it made me start crying.  It was mainly out of desperation at not being able to do anything - then I started feeling sick.  I had a drink of water and this just made it worse, so back to the bathroom I went, groaning at the pain I was having.  I seemed to get a bit of relief and managed to get back in bed and fall asleep, but it's just draining me so much now.

Keriamon, you're right I am from England.  I tend to make my own bacon sandwiches on my George Foreman grill, and then put the bacon on kitchen paper and get rid of any excess fat that way.  I just love them!  We get turkey rashers here, and if I can find them I try and get them because they are much better.  That's just my one treat, because other than that there isn't much that I want.  At the moment I tend to be eating out of necessity rather than enjoying what I'm having.

I'm really tired today but looking forward to having a relaxing weekend and I can;t wait for it to get here!

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