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Anyone ever have their IBS go from IBS-C to IBS-D?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 5/17/2007 4:46 PM (GMT 0)

I have suffered with IBS-C for my entire adult life (35 yrs).  My chronic constipation issues finally led up to my becoming laxative dependant, and for several years now I've had to rely on phosphosoda (yuk!) once a week to have a BM.  I was also Dx with UC 4 years ago.  Six wks ago, however, I developed unbelievable diarrhea (8-12 wattery poops/day) apart from any UC symptoms... until about 5 days ago, that is.  Now I'm having a typical flare and still having the diarrhea.  Prior to my UC flare, my doc ordered a bunch of stool tests, all of which came back negative with the exception of red/white blood cells in my stool.  Has anyone else out there experienced anything like this?  I'm scheduled for a colonscopy next month, but in the meantime, I'm a little concerned about what might be going on.

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Posted 5/18/2007 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi jbara,
It isn't too uncommon to go from IBS-D to IBS-C. Actually, this is called IBS-A (alternating). I have it and so do a couple other members. It is definitely hard to control. When I get D I want nothing more than to stop it, same goes for when I'm C. BUT, I don't want to take any med for either of them for fear of setting off the other extreme. It's a balancing act that eventually you get the hang of. I must say, however, I have no experience with UC. I wouldn't have the slightest clue how to tell you to cope.
Are you on probiotics and/or fiber? Both of those are wonderful for managing IBS... I would think they are for UC too.
Posted 5/18/2007 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your response 7Lil. I knew that IBS could go back and forth between C and D; however, I thought people with IBS-A were constantly going back and forth between the two, not 35 years of one and then 6 wks (and still going) of the other. I too am afraid of taking anything for the D for fear of sending myself into C. I did try Immodium a few times out of necessity and I just didn't feel well, plus it didn't seem to work anyway. I got a few responses on the UC side that make me think my symptoms aren't terribly uncommon to UC.

In answer to your probiotics question, I was on them for a period of time and they didn't seem to do anything for me. The only thing that ever helped my C was taking Glycolax while being on a vegetarian diet. Glycolax all by itself did nothing for me.
Posted 5/18/2007 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
I went from about 25 years of strictly IBS-D to IBS-A (more C than D). It seemed like it happened overnight too.

I take Miralax (Glycolax) everyday with fiber and I mostly eat fruits and veggies, although I eat meat daily for my protein and addtional vitamins. I have been great for the past year or so and my symptoms have pretty much stabalized. I do have times that aren't so great but that's usually because I tend to eat the wrong thing here or there.

Do you think that the increase in D could be a result of your UC flaring and not necessarily the IBS? Alternating is usually a few days of C and a few days of D, and so on so. If you have gone IBS-D, then that's probably where you are now. Its not uncommon.
Posted 5/18/2007 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for that Des. I'm hoping the colonoscopy I'm scheduled for next month will be telling.
Posted 5/18/2007 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Great... I hope you get some answers. Let us know how it goes.

Take Care
Posted 5/18/2007 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Des... I will.
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