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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 1/20/2006 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
I was just wondering how everyone's first attack of IBS came about. I know most of us have had at least mild IBS for most of our lives. But, at some point, it got bad enough that we all seeked medical attention. What was it for you all? An illness, stress?

For example, my big IBS problems started a month after my wedding, a month after all the planning and constant distraction was gone. I had nothing big to focus my energy on. I got a pain in my side that came back once or twice in a week period and suddenly it was there all the time. Then the D started and I've had symptoms since. I've been a hypochondriac for as long as I can remember so it's no surprise a simple side pain consumed my energy so completely.

Anyways, I thought it might be interesting to hear other people's stories. Thanks!

Posted 1/20/2006 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
I started having symptoms in my early teens. I don't remember anything starting it and I really don't remember when it actually started but I remember the suffering. I was dx'd at 16 after I finally broke down and told my family that I had a problem. Turned out that my family had GI problems too and it was just something that never really was talked about. I have changed that LOL. My grandmother, mother and I can sit down and have a conversation about our bowels. Clears a room pretty fast though LOL. Good topic, thanks for sharing your experience. Stress sounds like the main factor in the beginning for you. This is all too common.
Posted 1/20/2006 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
 I have a fairly large family. None of them ever had IBS or Colitis or Crhons. I have ONE cousin with Crohns, but she go it from her dads side of the family, not related to us at all. I have 5 brothers and sister, whom NONE had bowel problems!! Just Me

Posted 1/20/2006 8:02 AM (GMT 0)
I started having bowel issues in high school. I noticed I would get D when I was nervous or anxious. I thought this was pretty common... nervous stomach... lots of people are like that. Then it started happening sometimes after eating. My dad is like this so I just figured 'no big deal, I have a sensitive stomach, it is so sporatic I can handle a little D every now and then.' After several years it progressed. I broke up with my man, got a new job, started commuting, and my bills were piling up. Stress, stress, stress. That's when I started having D at least once a week. After this continued over several months I decided I had a problem and needed to seek help. It took another few months to get a diagnosis. "You have IBS and we can't fix it. Eat lots of fiber, read this pamphlet and good luck."
Posted 1/20/2006 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
with me it got really bad with the "urgency" and i starting having accidents-- even so i waited about a year to go see a doctor. it came when i was stressed out and really active...
but i always noticed when i was nervous i would get diarrhea, but the extreme urgency didn't come until over a year ago--and has since stopped-- (and i have more stress now...)

who knows?
--bunny
Posted 1/20/2006 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
My father has Chron's and my grandfather I think has Ulcerative Colitis, plus other members of that side have GI trouble once in a while, especially with travel.  Anyway, I had bulimia that I eventually recovered from but never with any type of therapy.  Once I completely recovered (no relapses) I started with this.  I think it's because I never got the chance to learn how to deal with stress b/c I dealt with it through food.  Also this probably harmed the function of my digestive system. Now it goes straight to my gut.  But obviously, the family component played a huge role.  Plenty of people have stress, but it turns to headaches or ulcers, etc.  So you can't say stress causes this (like some doctors like to say).  Once I started to have problems with C, bloating, and pain once in a while, I was afraid it would happen when I was on vacation, during volleyball, etc.  That's when it just got worse and worse.  The more you think about it the worse it gets but how do you not think about it when you haven't gone to the bathroom in days, you can't fit into you clothes, and you're doubled over in pain.  You can't just block that out, especially when most of your days are like that.
Posted 1/20/2006 7:28 PM (GMT 0)

If what I have is IBS, it started very insidiously.  I had a major parasitic infection about five years ago, another one two years ago (ah, the joys of traveling in the developing world), with D 30x/day and raging fevers and oh, the most unimaginable pain, but then they subsided with treatment.  Then last year, I just started noticing I was losing a little weight.  Then I noticed I had some hemorrhoid-like weirdness.  Then I started realizing that I was having D about 15-20x/week and thought, "Hmm, I wonder if my parasites are back." I thought for sure that's what it was.  Then came the D 20x/day and bleeding and fevers again, but this was markedly different than the infections I had. 

Whatever "it" is is disappearing as slowly as it came on.  It's very bizarre.  Exactly a year ago this started and now it seems to be wrapping itself up.  I love that it's slipping away, back to the darkness where it belongs!

Posted 1/22/2006 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Ive been constipated for most of the 15 years of my life (especially when I was younger, around 7 or 8, I would have horrible pains that sent me curled up in a ball on the floor screaming because it felt like someone was taking my intestines and smashing them in their hand.) then, around middle school it subsided a bit, I was more regular and didnt really have much to worry about. But then it happened. I got mono in the summer between 8th and 9th grade and my mono was awful. for those who havent had it, imagine not being able to walk from room to room without collapsing in fatigue, not being able to eat, headahces, fever, and feeling like your going to throw up for two months straight. It sucked. Except for the fact I lost 15 pounds in two weeks, it was basically the best diet ever, but it wasnt healthy. Well, I already had emetophobia (fear of vomiting) and the mono totally made it wayy worse. So I developed stress-related acid reflux. (my i had it slightly all my life, I had an ulcer when I was 9 from it...plus my dad has it.) My emet was also so bad that I was in therapy for about 6 months. Finally, I got my anxiety under control, and then, the wonderful D came along, and I've had alternating D and C ever since, and developed new food allergies! Sorry for the long post, I just know people might listen on here while others wouldnt.
Posted 1/22/2006 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Dear blondie, It is my feeling that IBS is totally stress related. No one else in my family has it as far as I know. I have always been the sensitive high strung type, unlike other family members. I had it diagnosed in the 80's. I remember getting a really hansome proctologist which embarrested me no end. LOL. I was on medication for a long time but do not have much trouble with it now. Sometimes I get that pain in my side letting me know that the IBS is still there. I have GERD too and asthma. It seems that my whole system is a mess but I look fine and feel okay. I think there is a definite connection between all of this stuff. Anxiety is really bad and I still get it now and then, especially at work. I take 1/4 10 mg Valium when needed for the anxiety. I had such bad anxiety a few years ago that I got shingles. That was no fun. I cannot wait til I can retire. lol. Take care of yourself. As for food allergies I have none but ham seems to not like me so I do not eat it. I am lactose intolerant. I just use a non dairy creamer. Marianita
Posted 1/23/2006 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
I agree. I have also always been a huge worrier, especially when I was younger, ( they said your intelligence has alot to do with anxiety..the smarter you are, the more prone you are the worrying. espeically when you are developing, like in elementary school. the ulcer i had when i was 9 was from stress, worrying about random things. ) When im stressed or even excited about a good thing, I usually get bad nausea with my bad anxiety, and diarrhea with my good excitedness!! ahh its crappy! I was on 5mg prozac for a while but it made me feel just AWFUL so i stopped taking it. food allergies are a doozy tho...especially artificial sweetners and preservatives. they are in about everything!! im glad you've found a way to cope with everything!

hey, girls, does anyone have anything suggestive to help deal with the nausea that comes from birth control pills? mine make me feel really sick the first week..kinda a morning-sickness feeling. Crackers help but i dont want all the extra calories...
Posted 1/23/2006 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Blondie, I suggest talking to your OB/GYN about the nausea. Maybe s/he can prescribe another pill.
Posted 1/23/2006 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
blondie,
I also cannot tolerate the pill for the same reason. My ob/gyn had me on the lowest estrogen pill available and still had the extreme nausea. I now use the NuvaRing bc and have no nausea from it whatsoever. My doc says its because it puts the hormones where they go and not through your digestive system. Some people are a little squeamish about the putting it in and taking it out and I thought I would be at first but it really doesn't bother me. I know I have talked about it before and don't mean to sound like a commercial but I really like the fact that I have no nausea caused by a pill.
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