basic IBS questions

Unless you are experiencing chronic D, I would stay away from Immodium.  It is quite common with IBS to alternate between both C and D (sometimes within the same day!) and treating these symptoms prematurely with either something like Immodium or, in the case of occasional C, laxatives can sometimes exacerbate everything.

If you are taking a fiber supplement, you might want to try a higher dose or another brand.  If your main issue is loose stool, a bulking fiber should help to absorb the excess fluid in your colon.

Anti-spasmodics are mainly used for, well, spasms.  The side effects are pretty nasty and include drowsiness, very, very dry mouth, and C.  I won't take them, no matter how great the pain.  If you are not experiencing physical pain and discomfort, I would avoid these as well.

You can also include some complex carbs into your diet which might help with bulking the stool.  Foods like brown rice, whole grain breads, whole grain pasta, and some of the kashi cereals would certainly help firm things up!

Damo, it sounds like you are doing pretty good without adding anything else. You may always have a touch of IBS as it is a functional problem and each of us functions differently.

I use the antispasmotics because just tend to sort of lock up and gas can't go up or down. I have no side effects and it helps relieve the pressure in my esophagous and stomach. Others take them for more intestinal spasms. This whole IBS thing is trial and error. What helps one person can make another person worse which explains why there is no real cure.

Some people have loose stools normally. I happen to know my stepfather does.

I can have a carbonated drink, but I'm not prone to gas, as many IBSers are. It's generally recommended that people with a gas problem avoid carbonated drinks. Personally, I cannot have any caffeine, so that pretty much curtails all of my carbonated drinking anyways. So you might have a problem with either or both.

You might try a calcium supplement, such as Caltrate w/ vitamin D. That's known to absorb excess water in the intestines. As you are just barely loose, I'd start with just one pill a day and see what that gets you. Bananas, if you can eat them, are also constipating, so they may provide that last bit of balance for you. Otherwise I'd not try anything too radical, lest you move yourself too far to the left and get C.

damo123 said...
Thanks for that.

I have no symtpoms of IBS nor IBD now except for my BM starting off perfect and maybe finishing a bit loose. Maybe I shld just go with this and stop looking for perfection? All my urgency is now gone and I never had pain. Should I start experimenting or just call Time Out. If IBS is a functional disorder does that mean that the poor quality BM isnt damaging my colon?

Does anyone have problems with carbonated drinks. It seems to give me a lot of gas and it seems to be the one food source that turns my stool "looser".

I appreciate all your help.

PLEASE don't do anything!  This doesn't even sound like a problem to me AT ALL.  Stool consistency varies from time to time.  Many of us can testify that once you start intervening when it's really not necessary, you can absolutely CREATE problems that might start you down a very dark road.

Just leave yourself alone.  You have no pain and no symtoms.  Sounds like perfection to me!