Hi there, I'm new to posting on forums about
my IBS and basically would appreciate any insight or directions on getting better. Thanks!
I'm 25 and have probably been dealing with symptoms of IBS for around 6 years, but it wasn't until I was around 21 or so when I realized I wasn't just having a string of bad luck. I recently read some interesting stuff online about
how Accutane may be linked to IBD and IBS. I took it twice during high school for a total of about
a year and a half. That's not too important though, since I already know I've got it :P
I believe I am IBS D or possible IBS A (that's when you have both, right?). Generally the problem is that I go too often and it can be urgent. When I have a BM I generally never feel like I'm completely empty. I feel like I am on a time delay, where foods I eat come out a couple days later, and it's tough to figure out what foods are triggering problems. My stomach often rumbles and grumbles, especially if I lay down.
Stool is never really liquid, but just loose. It usually disintegrates as soon as I flush if it already isn't in tiny pieces. Often there is yellow mucus and it stool floats on particular bad days. Occasionally I can see what appears to be partially digested vegetation - lettuce and tomatoes seem to make it through intact. I fart a lot and it doesn't smell (my friends appreciate this haha!). I'm often bloated.
I went to a GI who did a sigmoidoscopy that checked out as normal. He then just kinda shrugged at me and said "IBS - drink water and take fiber." That's what all my other doctors (who didn't poke my but with a camera) have said! I've done that before and seen no change.
Then I did research online. Read some materials that suggested diets for IBS. For about
8 months I've been minimizing fatty, greasy foods, tried to stay away from major dairy (switched to soy milk), and stayed away from insoluble fiber. Went on recommended fiber, Heather's Tummy Fiber which is Acacia. I've seen some improvement (the situation is maybe 30% better than it has been in the past), but still my stomach can flip out all of a sudden.
I've also started controlling it with immodium. It generally helps if I do it 8 hours or so before I want to go out and do something, but it can also make me majorly backed up for a couple days. Sometimes the dam breaks a couple days later and my stomach is all messed up for a while.
I do think stress can effect my condition, as I've noticed problems when I'm both nervous or excited about
something coming up (taking huge dumps while on a date is not cool!), but in general I don't feel my life or job is extremely stressful and I'm a pretty mellow person. This condition is a big blight on me living my life and it does bum me out quite a bit, but I'll save the sob story since I know you folks know it by heart now.
Sooo...are there any particular things I should pursue, do, do better, ask my doctor? I'm thinking about
giving this doctor one more shot and if he says "more fiber!" again, I'll go elsewhere. I've been reading about
welbutrin and other anti-depressants and how they can help. I didn't really want to do any mood-altering stuff (I'm relatively introverted but recently I've been making good strides in becoming a lot more social), but if that kicks my IBS I'm totally down for that. I've also heard mention of probiotics.
Suggestions? I'm all ears. Thanks so much for your time.
Post Edited (dsizzle) : 11/12/2009 9:48:57 PM (GMT-7)