This is the very first time using this kind of tool and I am a little scared at putting my info out there. I am a frustrated, anxious and overwhelmed at this diagnosis. There is so much info on IBS and I am quickly finding out no set rules to follow as everyone is different in their symptoms.

I just need the comfort right now of other people who have this as it is so hard to explain to my loved ones so they understand.

I would appreciate any advice or encouragement if anyone can find the time.

Thanks so much.

Lisa

It's not much. It's not what it was before. I am aware that there is no such thing as "healthy" binging, but last year I binged on chocolate, pastries and the like. It's not so healthy now, either. Mostly carbs, like bread with Philadelphia cream cheese (what I had as an after dinner "snack", among other things...), or bread with light jam, or stuff like that. It's me going around the kitchen opening the fridge and then the cupboard for some bread or crackers, then the fridge again, back and forth.

Alright, that was the description. Now to my thoughts *during* the binging process:
"It had to happen, everything was going so well..."
"Now my therapist will say she doesn't consider it's serious..."
"Great, now I'll pay with my IBS symptoms..."
"Hey, at least these aren't fries...!"
"I've been gassy and bloated for days now, what would be the difference?"

I was thinking yesterday that I secretly want myself to fail when I'm doing great, not binging for days. Also, when my IBS symptoms don't improve after a couple of days, I'm frustrated (who isn't?) and, thus, use food as comfort, consequently making my IBS worse.

It's... well, there's no better way to describe than by saying: it's SICK! I know my IBS symptoms won't improve when I binge, but somehow my subconscious wins and I "indulge".

I want to improve before I go to the US on December. There won't be mommy to run to when I feel sick, no private bedroom to cry alone, no nothing. I'll be surrounded by people, and I don't want to *pretend* I'm okay. I want to *be* okay.

I found this site today because after years of having IBS, lately it has just become unbearable to live with. I am 45 and I've had IBS since I was 17. There have been good days over the years, but mostly bad. I do wonder how I've survived this long with this much suffering and pain. It is a very lonely disease and seems like no one has this embarassing condition. SOme of the worst symptoms are pain, nausea, the constant activity in the gut with loud and obnoxious noises, and the distress and embarassment that goes along with it al., including the unknown of what my happen today with it. People that have regular bms and no digestive disorders are truly blessed. I have no idea what it feels like not to feel discomfort in my abdomen. Lately the most annoying symptom is constant belching. I cannot stand it. I'm a petite and very thin woman, with a very large stomach pain and I am at a loss for what to do. I've had so many tests, meds, etc. SOmetimes I think things like probiotics or enzymes are my answer and then an attack unrelated to this issues will hit. Anymore, it's an every single day issue. I do believe, I'm so caught up in it that my mind produces some of my symptoms. That's it for today. Onward ho............

people always question it when you say you have ibs .. i hate it , its alomost like they think youre over exaggerating or something !!!..if they only knew !!

i had a few good weeks not terrible ds ,quite relaxed really but then had a bad few days and had to have more days off work which now brings me up to about 11 days off in total this year , which doesnt look to good for me but luckily saw a nurse at my work who actually sympathysed and said it may be expected that i have the occasional odd day off due to my ibs which cannot be helped.... which does help me a bit !
am due to go and see the nutrionist in november which seems a while away but at the moment im just happy to have an appointment !!

untill then i have been trying to find some supplements to calm my stomach as im going away in a few weeks and whenevr i go away my rountine seems to get messed up and i end im getting constipated and bloated and then end up having a day stuck in the bathroom !!! not nice.
-but cant seem to find anything, have tried the antispasmodics but they still dont seem to help with the 'd's which is my main problem.

does anyone know of anything herbal that can be recommended? has anyone had luck with peppermint tea ?

Food. It's all I thought about the few months before my IBS symptoms started to show and it's all I can think about now I have it. "Okay, I'll order a Club Sandwich without the tomatoes -gastritis and all, you know-, oh and skip the ham -I don't eat red meat, it's harder to digest!-, and the bacon -too much fat... You know what, I think I'll just have the soup." In this long introductory post, I'll discuss the eating disorder I developed and the complications of having IBS and gastrs.

I don't know if the beginnings of an eating disorder were the cause of all this tummy trouble. Probably, right? I first became obsessed with healthy eating (some people like to call it orthorexia. My mum did). I started having whole wheat bread, no longer ate red mead and tried to avoid oils at all costs. I am underweight, so everyone thought I had anorexia or something, but I just wanted a "healthier" diet. Of course, I didn't have the necessary information, just jumped from webpage to webpage.

I think the problem aggravated when I tried to skip dessert. During my whole life, I ALWAYS had something sugary during the day, maybe some Oreos with milk, sometimes a brownie, a tiramisu, etc. My stomach could take it all! And I was skinny, so I just wanted to get rid of the carb obsession, somehow. But after trying that and losing a bit of weight, everyone noticed I was thinner.

People always judge you by how you look, and I think I was pale. "Eat more, you're so thin!" was all I could hear. "Eat the fried chicken, I tell you!" said my mother during the weekends. And I deprived myself, so I started binging every couple of days, especially before dinner. I didn't indulge on fried foods, but I ALWAYS had to had dessert. My beloved dessert that I can't have now.

Then, suddenly, I started getting bloated, I had some stomach pain. The first day, my mum rushed me to the doctor to check if I had appendicitis. Obviously, I didn't. I just had eaten too much for that day, according to the gastroenterologist, which was partly true, 'cos I had binged. But between that diagnosis (October 2008) and the final, awful diagnosis after my endoscopy (February 2009), I kept on binging, I was bloated all the time, I was mildly depressed, I wanted to leave college for good... I just felt like a mess.

My IBS symptoms were mainly being bloated and constipated, the first symptom being horrific for me. Just recently I've been extremely, extremely gassy. I can have the most simple meal (say cooked carrots, peas and potatoes with smoked fish) and still get gas. I get SO uncomfortable at the middle of class... And what to say about going out with friends during the weekend! Extreme no-no, as I'm usually tired and/or gassy.

I binge mainly because of my gastritis. I always thought I was just hungry and ate more bread, more cookies, more bananas, more everything, which worsened the reflux. I'm learning to control the binging. Now I don't binge much, thankfully! I would hardly call it binging and I feel proud of myself. But handling two stomach issues at the same time is hard. I'm over the "Why did I get this, why?! My life is SO over" period.

This next period is dealing with IBS and gastritis while travelling abroad. I'm going to the US of A for three months to work at a small, isolated ski resort in Vermont with people I don't know at all, to have a life changing experience, definitely. I'll share a room and WORK (get payed!) for the first time in my life. It's exciting, indeed, but I'm so worried because of my stomach problems. I really am. I don't know what I'll do when I'm there. Will I binge? Will they give me waffles? I heard it's near the Ben & Jerry's factory, hmm... Will I miss some things? What will my roommates say? What will I do without my family and the docs supporting me?!

Long rant, I know! But phew, I really needed to get this out of my system!

All I can think about is my stomach and how it complicated things. Should I just ignore it, eat anything and be happy? But how can I ignore when I'm leaking gas after meals, not fitting in my pants and all?

I hope I can find out, soon!
Until then,
ViCtoria

I have been doing VERY well since the last time I wrote. No pain... a little discomfort, but could deal with it. I've been on the medicine the OBGYN prescribed...(Lactulose) and have been watching what I eat (a little) ... including a fiber cereal each morning (Mini Wheats) and things have been great. Until today. I made the mistake of ordering Mozzarella Sticks from Applebees... and I really think that shut my system down. I woke up at 4am with bad pain on my left side and of course couldn't go back to sleep. I work this morning at 7am.... to 4pm and there's no way I can call out. NO WAY.

I'm really starting to wonder if I have any protection over keeping my job because of this problem I have. I don't think there is. I've provided a doctors note each time, but another girl I work with, got written up because she had missed 5 days in the course of a year (due to allergies)... and she had had a doctors note each time. I mean... what am I supposed to do?

Anyway... I better get going. Have to get ready for work. Praying that my pain goes away and I don't suffer all day long on my feet. Stupid IBS

Updating..
I went into work at 7am and left at 9:30. The entire time I was there, I was in A LOT of pain. They got me a chair and I tried to hold out, but I had to leave. I came home, took TWO baths, used a heating pad and just felt horrible. I finally broke down and took Vicodin (yes, I'm pregnant and yes.. they prescribed it to me). I've noticed the last couple of times, I will get this HORRIBLE pain hours and hours after suffering, to where I feel like I'm dying.. and after that's over... all of the pain is gone. That's without having a bowel moment.

It really makes me wonder what I have. Like..... colon cancer? I just don't see how being in THIS much PAIN isn't something bigger than IBS. Only a couple more months of this pregnancy, and I'll be able to finally be at peace, hopefully finding an answer through a colonoscopy. I know my dad and his mother have had colon problems in the past, but unfortunately, we're not on speaking terms. I need to find out though... what he's had. It may be the answer to all my pain.

OHH- And I found out, with my two days of calling out sick, and the days I've left early because of my pain, counting today, I've missed 6 days. I really need to decide what to do about work. It's just not fair that I have to suffer with this and don't even have the option of working because of it. I know if I don't quit, they will get rid of me.

Hi everyone, as I wrote on my last entry that the reflexology thingy has helped me a lot during the past few months esp. in reducing my peroid pain and in turn my IBS during that time of the month. So here I've finally gotten the pics drawn -- please excuse the unskilled drawing, my graphic pen is like 10 yrs old and it doesn't work well anymore...

I'm also adding some explanations to the pics. I understand that everyone's body is different and there are a multitude of different reasons for the same symptom, still, I feel it's prolly worth a try if anyone's interested.

In TCM, one of the reasons for pain (as well as for a certain type of insomnia) is obstruction at a tiniest microscopic level. So when this happens the "transportation system" of the body on the microscopic level isn't working smoothly. (This "microscopic level" can't be equated to anything that's discussed in the Euro-American tradition, as it is a description of not only the cells etc but also the workings of various functions in relation to various environments). Anyways, beyond the scope of this blog entry. What's important is, pressing certain points on the body can improve this "transportation system" and makes it less obstructed and therefore reducing pain.

Now one reason for peroid pain is explained in TCM as in lay person's terms "blood flow meeting obstruction" (Note that "blood flow" can't be taken literally, as obviously there's no artery obstruction or anything like that, but rather, it metaphorically refers to a set of inner workings of this function of the body). [A side note, another more widely known reason for period pain in TCM is "coldness of the body", but if you're like me, tried the heating pad and it doesn't work well or even makes it worse, then this is probably not the reason for your pain]. So the pics and explanations below has helped me feel less "obstructed"/bloated and much less painful.

Set 1: Press and rub these two points on both arms and legs for 5 minutes each (no particular order as to which one is first, I usually starts with the arm). These points (esp. the ones on the arm) when you press/rub them, they are so incredibly sore and it takes determinations to go on. If it feels like that, then you've found the right spot! And do make sure you press as hard as you can tolerate and massage. The arm ones feel more toward the outer side than on the inner surface. I personally find I'd rather go through this reflexology pain than the period pain. Pic shown below [Important: I was brain-damanged and made a mistake on the leg on Set 1. This Set 1 Pic has been changed. Please see below]:


Set 2: Same side as Set 1. Inner side of forearm and inner side of leg. They are also supposed to feel very sore. Personally I feel more painful pressing the lower point on the leg than the upper point in Set 1. But everyone's different. Just keep pressing/rubbing for 5 min. on each point and both arms and legs. Pic below:


Set 3: Note that this time for the ones on the feet (should press on both feet), it's the outer side. Again, these should be very sore. And if they feel that way, you've found the right places! Keep on at them for 5 minutes. Pic below:


Now after this whole self-administered session, I typically feel a lot better and much less painful. I'd still be tired and sleepy than if it's not the time of month, but for me it's much better than not being able to sit/lay still or sleep or do anything else. If you could get some sleep after this, it helps even more.

Interestingly this does seem to help my IBS in some way, esp. during my period. My guess is, for me personally, the extreme peroid pain has made the whole lower ab overly irritated including the colon. So when the period cramps get some relief, so does the colon.

And this plus a few other spots are also starting to help my severe chronic insomnia -- I guess I'm a classic example of an obstructed microscopic system, LOL. But hey whatever works

Hehehe, now I realized that this is getting too long. So, I'll end this entry here and anyone who's interested in giving it a try, hope it works well for you, too! (If you can't find the exact points to press/rub because of the poor quality of these drawings, please DO let me know and I'll see if I could get some better ones. Thanks!)

Hugs,
Cherrie

Yeah, my last entry was May and now it's already September. Been very busy with my second book (translation). And so I was too swamped to come. And in the midst of a frenzied life of an over-worked brain, I grappled with trying to stay reasonably healthy as much as i possibly can so that I could complete the huge work within the pressing deadline.

Sounds daunting. And it was. And so I was so totally very very surprised (but happily surprised) that I've started to get more control of my symptoms (if u exclude the little insomnia backlash the past week after the book's done - prolly b/c of the over-excitement about it being done, LOL)! I know I esp. in the past year or so mainly came here to complain -- but behind the scene the fact is that I was also trying my best to find good ways to manage. Anyways, since I have other reasons to not take antidepressants or antispasmodics and in all, to come off as much meds as possible. I kinda had to find less traditional ways.

As I wrote before, I started experimenting on reflexology and that in turn has gotten me read more about TCM. So, as I submerged myself totally in the book I was translating, getting into the original author's head through her words and becoming the characters in the book, when there's time to briefly re-surface as myself, I re-discovered a whole new world of a drastically different medical (as well as philosophical) tradition.

And through this, I've also learned how to manage my IBS and my general health better. So now, as I just posted in reply to a thread on the forums, my IBS has now changed from moderate with severe episodes to very mild. Although it does act up once or twice a month and I still have to go more than once everyday, but it's formed and most of the time no C or D. The level of pain has dropped a lot -- I still have pain, but it's not daily and not multiple times in a given day anymore. Getting to this point has not been easy and it's a very delicate balancing act to stay on the healthy side. Any teeny-tiny thing or nothing at all can throw it out of balance. I still need to stay on my safe foods (which fortunately at this point is expanding), keep as good a sleep schedule as possible, keep my reflexology sessions every day, and try my best not to over-stretch my luck to avoid the IBS (or any other health issues) acting up. And the season's changing again soon - so I'm resuming my meditation (hopefully daily) to keep myself off the SAD stuff... It's like I'm just so busy maintaining my body than doing anything else, LOL! But hey, if it works most of the time, then it's worth it

One thing that's worth mentioning is that the reflexology thing really does wonders to period pain -- and a large part of my IBS is also hormone related. Just one self-administered session on my first and second day, the pain level drops considerably. I mean, it's still a little painful and still uncomfortable, but I can totally live with and even enjoy life with that level as compared to my previous unbearable extreme pain. And that kinda helped with my bowel in ways I can't explain -- I still get loose and looser than usual, but no watery D anymore. And now I still don't really look forward to my period (as much as I understand it helps to be possitive about it and appreciate it as a symbol of womanhood, lol), but I don't shudder at the very thought of my next period anymore.

It's not easy to put down everything here in this one single entry. I'll prolly write more about where to press and rub on the body to reduce IBS and period pain soon when I get the pics drawn (hard to explain in words, so). It's just too important and worthy to keep it to myself.

Hugs,
Cherrie
(Edited spelling n grammar, lol, u can totally c I'm brain-damanged after the work's done, LOL )

Hi Everyone,
I am desperate for help, I have had IBS since I was very young and I am now 27. I suffer mostly from constipation but the real problem is bloating, it gets so bad I look six months pregnant and ppl have commented on this. It really gets me down and does make me feel quite depressed, I dont go out for meals anymore because I cant be bothered to feel so uncomfortable afterwards. It defines what I wear and what I do. I have been given lots of pills and have tried so many herbal remedies and changing my diet. I am now at the point of despair and am hoping someone may be able to suggest something I have not heard of???
Thanks

I've been off for 3 days now and go back to work tonight. I am so worried that my symptoms will start acting up, but so far so good. It's hard living with something like this when no one really understands how it affects you, why you can't come into work, ya know? I called out on Wednesday and (thankfully) had Thursday and Friday off to what I thought... stay at home and suffer. I felt pretty good those two days though and today... so far so good. I really watched how I ate on Thursday and was really scared to even eat. I was going to a concert that night and I didn't want to be miserable.. and I wasn't! Now I'm not saying how I ate affected that... I just think I got lucky.

I'm still on Lactulose, per my OB doctor and it's nothing but sugar. Supposedly it's supposed to help, so we'll see. I've also been taking Miralax but have been advised by a friend against that... but I just want anything .... to be normal. To feel normal. To not be in pain, to not miss work, to be a MOM to my kids. Now.. the Miralax hasn't really made me use the bathroom (I've had like half a bowel movement each day, if that makes sense), but I haven't been in pain?

Hoping I continue to feel OKAY today......

IBS completely rules my life. It makes me live my life differently. I lay around many days in severe pain (and have two young kids, I feel like I can't give them all I've got.... because IBS chooses how I am each day). I have been using Yoplait Digestive yogurt for months now, two a day.... and it's worked by keeping me regular, but I think my body gets used to it and it stops working. I've had a part-time job since March 30th, and have went home early twice because of it and have missed one day of work. I know no one understands what I'm going through and it leaves me feeling frustrated. My husband definitely doesn't understand. I get behind on housework and am in need of SOMEONE taking care of me. I haven't had a colonoscopy to rule out anything else. The GI doctor I went to, spent more time listening to me diagnose myself, rather than trying to help me out. What I don't understand is....... having a bowel moment doesn't always make me feel better. I've even used suppositories at my very worst, and it wasn't enough to make me use the bathroom. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I have pain on my left side and on my worst days, I throw up.

I'm a very picky eater, I am pregnant (which makes me even more picky and my symptoms WORSE), I'm a vegetarian and I have IBS. So far in this pregnancy, I am only drawn to breads, cheeses, potatoes... and you can only imagine how bad that affects me.

So, I was reading on this site, and someone recommended taking Altoids mints for IBS relief. I have always heard about the benefits of peppermint, but have never tried it, because I figured it probably wouldn't do a whole lot. Wow, I was wrong! For a few years now, I have been having these horrible attacks of gas. It happens whenever I go too long without eating. Once I do eat, I get very painful gas and bloating. It hurts in my back, collar bone area, and sometimes my chest. My stomach bubbles and twitches from the gas, but I have a hard time getting any of it to pass. My stomach bloats so bad, I look pregnant! Usually the only relief is to lie down on my side and practice relaxation breathing. If I am lucky, I will get a little bit of gas to pass, but it usually takes over night before the pain goes away.

Today, I decided to try the Altoids. I went for too long without eating again, and when I ate I immediately started to feel the gas build up. I wasn't at home, so I finished my work and headed there. When I got home, I was hunched over as I usually get when the pain gets bad. I chewed up 3 Altoids, and took a few sips of water. Then I went to lie down. As soon as I laid down, the gas started to pass. It reminded me of a water jug turned upside down, with the air bubbles rushing to the surface. It took only a few minutes, and I stood up and the pain was gone! I am so excited that I have found something that works, and quick! I will never leave home without my little tin of Altoids again!

Although I am new to this site, I have been suffering from IBS for about 9 years. At first, I didn't know what was wrong with me, and I feared the worst. That in turn triggered my anxiety, which made the IBS worse. I went through all of the fun and sometimes painful tests to rule out everything else so that they could tell me that by process of elimination, they believe I have IBS. Once I got my anxiety diagnosed, and under control, I didn't really have much of the IBS symptoms. It took a few years for that to return. Now I am a type A sufferer.

My IBS causes my anxiety to sometimes rage out of control. I can go several days with very minimal bowel movements, or none at all. Usually, around day 3 of that, it will hit me like a ton of bricks. Either with watery stools, or just very urgent, loose, and frequent stools for a day or so. Then I go back to not being able to go at all. So, when I get to that 3 day mark, I start to get really nervous. I don't want to go anywhere in fear that I will have "an episode" while I am out. During such an episode, I can expect to experience cramps, sweats, shaking, dry mouth, nausea, and fatigue. I am sure a lot of that is due to the anxiety. I start to worry myself into thinking that it's something worse than IBS, and the doctors just didn't catch it. I also feel helpless as I wish I could just live a normal life! It is very frustrating! I am constantly battling with myself. I try to tell myself that a little bit of diarrhea isn't cause for concern, it's normal especially for people with IBS. Somehow, that isn't comforting enough when I am in the middle of an attack.

My Dad came to visit this week, and I was really worried that my IBS/anxiety would interfere with our fun. The whole time he was here, I was up in my head worrying, praying, trying to assure myself. Although I did ok, I didn't get to enjoy his visit fully since I was always battling with myself inside, and trying to hide it on the outside. I tried drinking coffee every morning because usually that is a sure way to make sure I go at least once in the day. (sometimes that backfires on me and causes me to have frequent, watery stools too). But, the coffee didn't help this time. The last day he was here, the diarrhea hit. I tried to tough it out and get through it. We even went out to dinner that night. After dinner, I finally had to give into my anxiety, and pressed that we all go home. Using the excuse that the kids needed to get home and in bed. Then I got disappointed with myself because I felt like I cut the evening short and ruined everyone else's fun.

So, this is my life with IBS. Maybe someone will read this that is suffering from the same problems I do, and it will help them to know there is someone else out there just like them. I am hoping that by joining this site, I will find the support I need to accept my condition, and stop worrying about it so much.

So I finally had gotten a referral to a gastenterologist and guess what? She cant see me until October 20th! Kind of frustrating, but I have been doing alot of reading and I am going to try acupunture. I have been doing alot of research on it and it shows that there is a huge percentage of ppl who try it and notice results for their IBS. It may not work for everyone but its definately worth trying! I hear that hypnotherapy is supposed to be good but I like the idea of acupunture better. Makes more sense to me. I will let you all know how it goes after my first visit, which is hopefully soon, i have been contacting lots of places so far for prices and i have found one that is about 60 bucks a treatment which isnt bad...theres alot that are 150! Wish me luck!

It seems most peoples attacks happen at certain times, mine does but it is every day, some are worst than others. Getting stuck in the rut of not going out, I am supposed to visit my family- but I don't want to. My cousin has also been diagnosed with ibs- it is no fair! Before I told her of my ibs, she was sympathetic, but now she is empathetic saying she knows how I feel. Though it is comforting to have a close person who understands, I hate that she has it, she deserves better, she already has other illnesses to deal with! Before had you said Ibs exsists it is real, I would have have said it is all in mind, maybe even silly, I suppose that is probably why most people don't understand- their ignorance is not bliss for us! I am starting my second and hopefully last year of college but I want to communicate to people that I have Ibs. Do you guys think this a good idea, have any suggestions? Has anyone told a huge number of people.

Hey, if you are reading my blog. So being 17 and in college IBS couldn't have picked a more perfect time; y'know just when you are at the height of your teenage years, supposedly having fun, being confused about who you are, as if we don't have enough isses to deal with. Constanly anxious and stressed, my body is responding reflexivily to them, that can be in the form of constipation, diarrhea, gas. Everything is horrible, my worst culprit seems to be gas, sometmes I don't even realise I am doing it. It is so humilating! I won't take the bus because I become claustrophobic, hate being in class in silence makes me really panicky, meeting new people, the list never ends. I was already a bit nervous but with the added weight of unkown ibs flare ups, I am out of control, worrying about everything. I don't want to take anti depressants etc because, I believe there has to be a better way around this. A cute guy walks across my eyeline and looks at me, bad reactions- nerves would have just been okay. People talk about me behind my back, instead of asking me what's wrong with me, I would be extremely embarrassed but I would be truthful. Things aren't helped by a 'great' staff body, who makes jokes about you. I hardly went to college last year and it was my first year, I have never really ever skipped education, but the looks and whispers became too much. Despite making it in less than 25% of the time I made it out the year with some c's, which I think is brillant-being average despite low attendance. However, my mind found that voice which said, if you can achieve this without barely turning up, imagine what you could of if you did. I really want to go to university, but I need to be amazing this year, I know I am capable, but I don't know if my mind and body are. Considering taking a year off to control the Ibs more and be calmer, happier, but the parents don't buy that ibs is real, 'it's all in your head' well yes, but continue and risk more damage or realise I need some time. If I ever go to university, I want to study journalism, I love the subject, but it is a stresful job, not eating right, nerve racking suituations constantly- would I be able to handle it? I don't know. I am sick of being ruled by Ibs, I just want to feel the right nerves and shyness, withoutmy body failing me.

Yesterday my mom and I went for a 2 hour drive up to a casino...Thankfully I made it, but my stomach was still in knots the whole way there and back. I was happy to make the drive without the need to pull over, I tried to focus on keeping my mind busy by talking constantly for the drive and it seemed to help. While I was at the casino my stomach issues went away...somewhat, i just felt constipated, which is sometimes better then running constantly to the bathroom. I called into my doctors office and asked for a referral to a Gasterentrologist. I got one! I called to make the appointment and they said they needed to review the referral and call me back with a time allotted to me. Seems good, I am hoping to get in soon but am worried because this fri - thurs i work everyday, so no real way to squeeze in that appointment. I could always try to talk to my manager and yet again explain my IBS...FUN! But we will see what I can get to happen. I cant wait to get into the specialist though! I want to do the blood work, even though im not sure what it would show...xrays and ultrasound sound good to me too....Im am nervous about getting a colonoscopy, just doesnt sound all the fun to me...but if thats all thats left and the doc recommends it then Ill do it...LAST RESORT!!! Ill update again later today, I am going to get a massage!!! It normally really helps me for a couple days, i think because it relaxes my whole body! Try it if you never have, only thing is its expensive, but so worth it!!

Every morning I wake up to that urge...Sometimes it likes to wait till RIGHT before I walk out the door, or when I am half way to my destination where this is NO WHERE to run! Sometimes, like today, it almost makes me late for work and think about calling in. I have been at my current job (animal tech) for 2 years and I am now known as the "girl who calls out alot." I do have alot of young drama seekers at my work so this doesnt surprise me but I am a very punctual person and hate to look bad when I am in a job. My manager knows that I have IBS, by this I mean she has heard me say "I have IBS, some days are really hard" and she gives me the "oh, that sucks" response...Which is somewhat better then the "your making things worse then they are" or "its all in your head."

Today I started work at 7am and I almost didnt make it....at 6:23am, on the toilet with phone in hand, I comtemplated what I would say today on the answering machine for work. No one would believe me anyway. SO do I use the sore throat excuse? really bad headache? stomach ache....understatement. I decided that I could make it through this every day issue and got off my ass (literally) and did the short drive to my work (5 min).

**NOw I dont have a key to my works door and this isnt good because I am always early...Imagine as Im sure you can easily, sitting in your car, outside a building you cant get in and have 10-15min before someone shows up...AHHH!!!! Ya, this is my life. I have had to alter my great punctuality to being RIGHT on time or after people get there WHICH KILLS ME! I hate being LATE!**

Back to the story -- I make it to work and THANKFULLY someones there! I get inside and begin my day. I walk to the back of the hospital and notice we have NOTHING in the hospital to do and decide to make coffee...Smart. That of course goes right through me and I have to explain that its my IBS to my co-worker..Thankfully she is only one of the employees there who actually somewhat understands and doesnt give me a hard time.

I make it through the day with only using the bathroom 2 times at work. my doctor (who doesnt help me that much and I need to find a new one, ha) says my IBS is all stress related and only gave me anti anxiety meds - which didnt work, probiotics didnt work, and therapy sort of helped. I am very easily stressed and think way too much about everything and anything. So the stupid drama that follows once I leave work gave more fuel to the tummy...Like I said before, my work is full of young people who are all about drama. I left work at 3, got home and got a text around 310 from a co-working asking if i knew I was supposed to be off at 330. Obviously I didnt know this or else I wouldnt have left. So I told her this and she continues to make me feel like she is insinuating that i left work early KNOWING I was off later..not likely...now this may seem little to you but to my stomach, not so much. I am always overthinking things and making things worse then there are so this is no surprise to me. I hate confrontations and I have been having many of these with the boss' daughter...dont get me started. Anyways, since I have been home I have been in the bathroom 2 more times...4 total today and the days not over!

Tomorrow my mom wants me to go with her on a 2 hour drive to the casino...sounds like fun except for the stuck in a car for 2 hours part and in the AM!! I am not looking forward to the inevidable pull over breaks making the 2 hour drive to the 3-4 hour drive. haha. I am really getting to the point where I feel like there is no answer to my problems...My doctor says not to do any other tests, "it will only prove the diagnosis of IBS" and frankly I cant imagine the sticking stuff up my butt...lol I can only remember 1 month within the past 5-6 years where i was somewhat IBS free and I miss it, oh do i miss it...More so when trips like these come up. My sister set up a trip to Vegas in Nov and she told me afterwards "no stomach issues while we are there" like I can control it. Oh I wish I could....Ill post again tomorrow after my trip, if I make it. Sure there will be lots to tell. I have to tell you though. This site has made me feel sooo much better that there are others out there!

I have just read a few of these posts and my heart really goes out to everyone that is still suffering.

Im 62 and in very good shape through eating right foods and exercising, yet, I still got this *&^%!!!!!!

Doctors were absolutely no help and it didn't matter what I ate or drank, made me look like I was 6 months pregnant (I am sosososo way over that) was very tired and really didn't feel like to a darn thing

Also, it turned out that my 37 year old daughter was suffering the same way, yet, she had doctors tell her one thing one moment and another the next......and she was far worst then me

So we went on an education rampage to find out what was going on and what we found, in time, solved our issues and now we understood how this developed

This takes years and years to develope so just dont think that it was an over night thing and it wont reverse it self overnight either.

You can get back into eating regular food and drinks, but, hopefully then, you can have the education of not getting in to the same situation again

I have my daughters story at www.ibsthecure.com and I am sure that it will be very similar to yours, dont suffer with this, understand why it happened and then know how to care for it and heal yourself

This is alternative medicine!!!!

Good Luck!!!

Hey everyone,
I want to thank everyone that has been responding to my posts, it really helps to know that I am not the only one going through all this. Well, I have had another attack that sent me to the hospital this time in an ambulance it was so bad. The attack came out of no where and the next thing I know I was sitting on the toilet in excruciating pain double over in a cold sweat dripping with abdominal pain and back pain to the point I thought I was dying. My body had started to go numb and I thought for sure I was about to pass out! I made my mom call 911 at that point, cause I thought there was something seriously wrong since my other attacks had never felt like that. My mom had given me hyomax which is an antispasmodic I was given the last time I left the hospital and thank god it had started to kick in before the EMTS had gotten there. In other words I probably didn't need to go to the hospital however I still went and got checked out and was released 3 hours later. Since than I saw the gatstro doctor again And after all the millions of tests he has run and with everything coming out negative he has officially said it looks like that I have severe IBS. He is totally perplexed since nothing is coming out positive. Now every time I start to have the pain he said I should talk pepto and the hyomax, and that should take care of it. He did not want to put me on any other meds since I am already on cymbalta and paxil and both of those are supposed to help with IBS as well. He also has me on nexium and prevalite which keeps my stools formed.

As of right now I am completely living in fear of leaving the house and totally have become a shut in. My mom is so fed up with me that I am not fighting this illness and that I won't go out, my relationship with her is becoming strained. I made her cancel her vacation plans because she was driving 12 hours away and I was scared to be alone with her that far away in case I have another attack. Whenever she is home she is running errands and is never home home, and I hate being home alone, since I always am I get so lonely. I have isolated myself from friends that I only have about 1 or 2 that call me still even though I say no to going out. BY the way they know my problem and what is going on. However I do not think that anyone that does not have this disorder personally can really understand what it is like to live with it.

Others seem to ask themselves why she can't just move on with her life. So what she had an attack now move on. BUT I CAN'T!!!!!! I had to drop out of an amazing nursing school for the fall because of all the health issues I have been having and am so depressed about that. People that have graduated high school with me are now graduating with their masters degree's and I have not even gotten through my undergrad yet!!! It's so embarrassing and annoying since I have not stopped taking classes this whole time. I have so many credits but none in one single area to get a degree since I was doing nursing, and no other nursing school will take any other nursing school's classes for credit.


Stress definitely makes IBS worse. When I start to get the attacks I have to try to calm myself down or I start to have a panic attack. I have been given Xanax to take when needed, and that totally zonks me out. I am making an appt. to see a nutritionist, to get a list of what I can and can not eat or what will make an attack come on and what is safe.


I am also seeing my gyno at the end of this month and am going to talk to her about checking me for endometriosis. I am on birth control because I use to get really bad periods and now I do not get my period at all because of the type of birth control that I am on. My mom seems to think that it has something to do with not getting my period that I am getting these attacks since they seem to come once a month. I have read that IBS symptoms are the same as endometriosis, so we will see. However I am so scared of the gyno because even having a regular exam is extremely painful for me, so to ask her to look into endo or other causes that might be giving me the attacks is petrifying!!!!!!!!


I WILL UPDATE SOON...........UNTIL THEN HOPE EVERYONE FEELS BETTER

FUTURENURSEWITHIBS