New here and scared...

 Hello all. Your stories have really inspired, helped me to cope with, and made me realize I am not the only person suffering like I a.

I have had problems with my stomach since 1998 when I was a junior in college. The stress of triple majoring, family issues, financial issues, etc. made me unable to eat and I had my first real ulcer and reflux attacks. I finally got on a good medicine and life seemed fine. Then, I was ... assaulted ... in 2000 and after that my life changed. Migraines, despressed, severe anxiety and panic disorder, etc.

The IBS hit in the last few years. I have been seeing a gastroenterologist and have had stool samples, etc. No actual damage is showing and no blood. We did track the IBS (C) to bouts of IBS (D) before it happened, eating fatty type foods, and high stress. The doc keeps telling me 'not to stress' so much. That doesn't work so much. I remember worrying as a child about things that are silly to me now. I worry about /everything/. So just 'not' worrying isn't a real issue.

I had some relief while eating the probiotic yoghurts every day. Last night was a really really bad attack. I hadn't been in a few days (sorry TMI) and I had eaten bad, then my grandfather called and needed 911. All this stuff together caused the odd feelings that come before an IBS (D) attack. I started feeling cold, then all hot and sweaty, the cramps started and then the 'D'. It lasted from about 9pm to 3am off and on and I sipped water, prayed, rocked, cried, looked up infor, and finally took some D medicine.

Problem is that I'm scared to even eat today. I feel like if I don't eat I won't have the problems and that kills any real desire to have solid foods. I usually get the attacks a few times a month. Once I had one so bad while I was out of state at a hotel that I couldn't make it to the bathroom. Oddly enough, I've had this for years. But, it only started scaring me and making me semi-agoraphobic after a particularly bad stomach virus that made me go to th ER for fluids. I'm not sure if this is linked in my mind and what is making me so very scard to leave the house. I hate this. I hate the pain, sweating, cramping, D, C, an the changes it has made in my life. I am a teacher... but I can't work right now. I can' t stand the thought of m just running out of class for an 'episode'.

Any help would be appreciated... thank you in advance...  

Activa is for both and I can tell you it really helped me.

I would go 3 days of no BM and then 3 days of D. It was horrible. My body was not digesting food properly. THe docs said I had IBS/Ibd, and the gave me prescription pills for the pain and cramping I would have every single time I ate. I suffered for almost 2 years. Every meal I ate felt like I was food poisened. could not eat much for food. Everything had to be bland. Like white rice and baked chicken for the last 2 years.

I tryed Activa and the first 3-5 days I did not notice a difference. BM were still loose. I still ate one everyday and now I have been on it for 1 month. I feel like a million bucks!!!! I go the same time everyday now and its normal and there is no pain associated with it. My mood has improved and I am ten times happier then I've ever been. I can finally go out to restaraunt with my boyfriend and eat from the menu without worring. Just only regret I tried this sooner so I would not have to suffer.

And I can eat anything I want now. I might gain alot of weight at this rate. The foods that I would have to avoid before I can now eat with ease....

Like Pizza, ice cream, soda, chocolate, pudding, chips, sandwiches, an occasional beer OMG the list goes on.....