IBS-C

hi i also have the same prob, every time i eat even if a little i get really bloated nad gases, i can go weeks with out having any bowle movments,
it got so bad i had a colonic irrigation!which at the time was really good, very pianful but lady said if had nornmal bowels then it doesnt hurt at all!! but it did mean i got rid of some waste!! only prob is i didnt wnat to eat after to aviod being full againg, so whan finally ate solid food, took a week(not v sensible tho) i blow out like 8 months preg and didnt go loo for 2weeks, but none the less i had anoyther one and it was abit better, just good to feel empty for a day!!
i also use Dulco-lax to heklp movement, i tend to take abit more then reccomended but my view is my bowles are not normal so need alittle more hlep!! they do work , but be carefull took 1 too many nad couldnt loeave toliet all day!!
as for food, i have no idea what to eat yet, ive cut out dairy, im also a veggie, so eat lots of veg etc, i try to eat wheat free crackers,rice cakes and bread, but bread is my weakness nad helps reduce mt stomach acid!but still i get v bloated if i eat moer then a few mouthfuls, sorry not to b much help, if u have any new ideas let us no to!!
oh yeah my partber forced prune juice down me and that helped a little, not the nicest but wortth a go!
ive got meeting with GI doc tues will let u no what he suggets if anything, also my dietticen has given me a elemination diet that cuts out loads of food and u reintroduce them weekly to see what effects u most, am starting it after GI doc! but its v restictive, ie rice cakes, no diary, fried food, meet, wheat, yeast etc!! but will give it ago!!
sorry not tp be more help
dont get to dis heartened!!
mads

A handful of members here have had success with rx Miralax.  Here's a link to some info: http://www.miralax.com/

Dbab, the other Forum Moderator, has had great success with it.

The best thing for gas (for me) is Gas-X or peppermint capsules.  Mint tea and fennel tea work pretty well too.

Have you been tested for Celiac's Disease? That is an allergy to gluten, which is found in all grains and the vast majority of processed foods. I noticed you said grain products make you worse. I was thinking that Celiac's Disease gave you diarrhea, but it may go either way. And, as always, people's guts react differently to different things. It will certainly make you gassy and feel terrible.

It's always a good idea to get tested for food allergies when you have gut problems because that's easy enough to fix if it's the culprit. When you don't eat what you're allergic to, your guts are fine. Some people don't have full-blown allergies, but rather an intolerence, which generally means the more of something they consume, the worse it affects them. So if you are gluten intolerant you can still consume it, but only in small amounts and not on a daily basis, because the more you eat and the more often you eat, the more you will aggrevate your guts. People with an allergy eat a small amount and immediately and always have a reaction.

Are you on hormone replacement therapy now that you don't have a uterus? We have a lot of women on here with IBS who have some sort of problem with their reproductive tract, and I can't help but think that a hormonal imbalance messes up the guts too since they are controlled by hormones also.

The didn't put my mother on any hormones after her hysterectomy because they left her ovaries in. No one thought to check to make sure that her ovaries were functioning normally. But in addition to her endometriosis, she also had overaian cysts and other problems and basically her ovaries weren't producing anywhere near the level of hormones she actually needed. They ended up taking them out about 10 years later for other reasons, and then they put her on hormone replacements. When they got her combination figured out, she said she felt better than she ever had in her life; she had been having to live with insuffcient hormones for ages when she didn't need to be.

Gosh Debra, sounds like you went through lots of pain... so glad that you are feeling much better after your hyst and thats one less thing for you to worry about.

They do have a blood test for Estrogen production called a FSH test. Maybe that is how.

Hi Ladies,
Yes I had it rough, but the hyst was worth it !!
As for testing hormone levels...you should be seen by a Endocrinologist. But if you are on the BC Pill, the tests realy dont work. Some hormone levels can be normal yet you still have symptoms regarding your ovaries. There are different variations. I am still confused with the whole thing.

I know I always suffered with bad Diahreah during my period. Then it got continuess for a whole year(not just during my period) along with some constipation. That is when everything came to a head with my severe pain and massive and clusters of cysts. I had cvysts as big as 8cm to clusters of cysts where both my ovaries were loaded with them. They kept changing my pill and nothing worked. I changed my OB and ended up with a Laparoscopy and finaly got some answers. Over a month after that I ended up with the hyst, and during the surgery the doc at the last minuet decided to take the ovaries out. He was concerened because of my age, but relized when he saw how big my ovaries were there wasnt any other option.

I have to say once everything came to a head is when the IBS realy started to pick up.