Title: Guest

Member ID: RON48

I saw the message from our guest about headaches. I took get a sort of headache also when bloated. Its not a painful one but a tired, listless, draggy feeling in my head.

Fri May 31 21:21:46 1996 EST
Title: Teenage daughter with IBS?

Member ID: GUEST

Any comments or ideas who, how and best way to deal with IBS?

Mon Jun 3 20:46:22 1996 EST
Title: cytomegalovirus

Member ID: GUEST

Which is the relation between IBS and high titles of IGg against Citomegalovirus and cfs and depression ? My e-mail : clima@zaitek.com.br

Wed Nov 6 12:34:40 1996 EST
Title: i want someone 15-19 to talk to

Member ID: GUEST

rd&oa.snell@xtra.co.nz I need someon to share experiences so that I can compare what I am going through so that I have someone who understands what it's like No one understands what I feel Some one 15-19 possibly slightly older/younger I live in NZ I have had a hemicolectomy but still have pain and trouble eating Getting a little **@!!ed off that people look at me and think I'm anorexic Please email

Thu Dec 12 05:33:24 1996 EST
Title: My Story

Member ID: GUEST

If you have IBS I'm sure that you'll know what I mean when I say that IBS is one of most frustrating and embarrassing as well as scary things that I have had to deal with. Put it this way, "farts" are just not socially acceptable, having "the runs" is not convenient and cramps can put a damper on an otherwise good day. The worst thing is going to the doctor when you've had a horrible bout with diarrhoea, are extremely weak and think that there must be something seriously wrong only to be told to wait for a while to see if the problem clears up on its own. It's just not the kind of thing that you talk to people about either - not unless you know them very well. I've found that most of the time I've just got to suffer in silence.
My own personal experience with IBS symptoms began about a year and a half ago with them becoming more pronounced about a year ago and severe last October. I had been suffering classic IBS symptoms but just filled myself up with Gas-X, Immodium and Pepto Bismol. I pretty much was denying that my diarrhoea and gas were much more than occasional. Then I had some events in my life that caused me a great deal of stress including a death in the family, a bout of pneumonia, major changes in both my job and relationships and problems with too many commitments. My problems with gas, stomach/abdominal pain, and diarrhoea became worse over the months. Finally, in October I became very ill. I couldn't eat and what I did eat caused great discomfort. I ended up on a diet of pretty much baby food (that is when I did eat). Oddly enough, I ate next to nothing but couldn't walk ten steps without having gas. I lost weight very rapidly, found I was having trouble functioning at work and was told almost everyday that I looked very "unwell". Being a person who is reluctant to go to a doctor, I let this go on for a while before I made a visit to my doctor's office. When she saw me she felt that I had gastroenteritis. At that point I was denying that although my symptoms were very severe, they weren't exactly new to me. I had some x-rays and ultrasound and there didn't seem to be anything wrong. I didn't worry much about it in the week after that initial visit.
Soon November rolled around and I found myself continuing to be ill. This warranted another trip to the doctor. I did discover that I am lactose intolerant. I found that drastically reducing the lactose in my diet significantly reduced the gas problem. I also had done some research on my own and learned more about about intestinal problems. >From my reading I picked up some tips on being careful regarding stress levels and diet. By Christmas I found that I had brought my symptoms under control but did not eliminate them. My doctor concluded that I suffered from IBS and suggested that I "not worry" about it unless there was a change in my symptoms.
So in the past six months I have been gradually adjusting to and accepting that I have IBS symptoms on a daily basis. I had some additional difficult times within that six month period and I began to experience new symptoms. While I previously experienced small amounts of rectal bleeding, I now have regularly bloody stools. While I had some back pain, I now have a very sharp back pain and throbbing ache on my left side. I've also lost nearly half of my hair and have had a sudden change in my eyesight. I returned to my doctor six weeks ago and there is some concern that these symptoms indicate something more than IBS. Within the next week I will be seeing a gastroenterologist and probably getting a colonoscopy. I am a bit frustrated that this should happen just when I was beginning to deal with what was diagnosed as IBS. I am back in the situation where I am scared about why this is happening to my body. After starting to deal with having IBS, am I now going to be told that I have IBD?
I know that other people have suffered from IBS for years. This is still rather new to me. I would appreciate hearing if others have experienced any of these health problems and how others have learned to deal with having problematic symptoms.

Thu May 30 13:34:36 1996 EST
Title: My Story

Member ID: GUEST

I have had numerous flare ups of GI symptoms over the past 5 years; waxing and waning pain in lower right abdomen sometimes with gas lasting for several weeks at a time. I usually have been able to associate the episodes with either lengthy stressful situations (work or personal situations), periods of dieting (radical dietary change), or sickness (usually stomach flu with fever).
During my first bout, and after several weeks of on-and-off mild and moderate pain, my doctor diagnosed IBS. He had performed X-rays, blood tests and other proceedures and had observed my mental/emotional condition over the previous weeks visits. He recommended exercise, fiber therapy, and anti-anxiety medication for occaisional use only. Seemed to work at the time. I am not sure exactly what caused the symptoms to abate but they finally did. The emotional tailspin that gets seeded by the onset of symptoms only aggravates the condition and delays recovery (it seems), that is where the exercise plays an important role.
I am currently experiencing symptoms which have been present on and off for about a week`s duration, taking activated charcoal capsules seems to cause the symptoms to abate. It was recommended as a homeopathic remedy for gas symptoms, food poisioning etc... I imaging that this latest bout is a result of roughly 4 weeks of dieting. The change from morning doughnuts to mangos and papayas as well as lunchtime ham and cheese and french fries to spinach salad with turkey chunks has appeared to done a number on any GI stability that I had been previously enjoying.
The information on your page has helped me to better understand this unwelcome and annoying companion that blows in and out of our lives. GI termoil.

Mon Jun 3 09:19:01 1996 EST