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[kletendre826]

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Hello all, I am fairly new the forums. I had two stomach viruses back in April and have not returned to normal functioning since. My GI labeled it PI-IBS and thought it would get better on its own within the next couple months (although that may be wishful thinking). I've tried to locate other people and threads specifically with IBS-PI but haven't found much. Is there a certain forum that tends to have more people with my situation?

[katiebabe]

Hi hun,I have post infectious ibs. I've had it for the past 14months. I've looked high and low for information as knowing more deffo helps.I have been coming on here ever since and people now and again post about p- ibs 'often myself!'.I'm no expert and I'm still not recovered but if you want to email me about anything my address isKatiedoubleyou@hotmail.co.uk I will gladly answer anything.I don't think you can put a time on recovery,I'm still undergoing different tests and seeing a new gi for a third opinion.Everyones different- every bowel reacts differently. Kate xx

[refuse to live this way]

I've been suffering with PI-IBS for more then a year now and had contracted c-diff back in 2007 due to an antibiotic although I recovered after a week in the hospital. This time around I've had 3 stays in the hospital and I can't tell you how many ER visits. I have just recently been getting better with a maintenance antibiotic and probiotics as well as anti-nausea and anti-spasmodic medication so I cn actually eat without my stomach bothering me. I am on the 2nd antibiotic dose in as many months and they have a tendancy to make me feel ill as well, but once I get through them I feel better for about 3-4 weeks. I don't feel nearly as bad as I did a year ago, or even 3 months ago for that matter. I feel the probiotics have done the most for me and are hopefully getting my gut flora back to where it should be. If I cn just keep the infection from returning I would be back to at least 90% which is saying a lot. Hopefully you also will get better in time. In the meantime, it is a matter of trial and error to see what will work for you. I would forget about the GI doctors. They don't seem to want to do anything other then run a bunch of routine tests and send you on your way, sick or not. With the money I've spent on them I could have bought a new car. Hang in there and read everything you can on this sight for IBS. You didn't say if you have IBS-D or C, but I'm guessing it's diarrhea. The symptoms of IBS-D are pretty much the same as PI-IBS-D, so you should get plenty of advice on the subject. Best of luck to you.

[Dontgoonholiday]

Hi refuse to live this way,I'm 2 yrs in and feel terrible everyday. Could u comment on what antibiotics and probiotics u use please? Thanks

[Brianmay1975]

I've been having IBS-PI for 4 years now. It didn't get cured, but it does get better. At times, I enter into remission and I can enjoy life fairly normally. However, flares are a common occurence and I'm also more vulnerable to other instances of gastroenteritis/stomach bugs. When I get one of this, it aggravates my symptoms again. I've got one last month, when I was into remission, and it started it all over again. I take antispasmodics daily (now it's mebeverine, but in the past I've also taken trimebutine maleate) as a first-line treatment. The second-line treatment is drotaverine, another antispasmodic very useful for relief of cramps (my main symptom is abdominal pain, but also D). I also take various meds to relieve the other symptoms.If you want to talk about it, PM me.

[Little Hedgehog]

Well, I've heard numerous times that the prognosis for PI-IBS is that it usually resolves or at least decreases over time. For some lucky people it only lasts for a few months, for others it lasts for a few years.But either way, it's very common for PI-IBS to resolve over time or at least to fade.

[kletendre826]

Well, I've heard numerous times that the prognosis for PI-IBS is that it usually resolves or at least decreases over time. For some lucky people it only lasts for a few months, for others it lasts for a few years.But either way, it's very common for PI-IBS to resolve over time or at least to fade.

Hi, I've had post infectious ibs for about 2 months. For the first month and 1/2 or so it was absolutely awful. It has gradually gotten much better already. I see another doctor today for a second opinion. But I feel fairly close to 100 percent. I know it probably doesn't seem like a long time to have post infectious ibs, but progress has been slow. Improvements are like every 2 weeks. I am hoping that is all I have and I can move on in a few weeks.

[kletendre826]

Update: My second opinion ran a couple more blood tests that I should get at the end of the week. He agreed that all of my symptoms sounded like PI-IBS. He said it could heal up in 3 months, 6 months, a year, or over a year. I am praying that I will be on the shorter end of that spectrum. Although this past week I feel like I took a step back with two minor flare ups. Nothing like I had 2-3 weeks ago but still not the same positive direction of last week. Sadly, I worry that this may be an often occurrence for the next few months at least.

[refuse to live this way]

Responding to your request of what I have taken to feel better. The antibiotic is Cipro, it makes me nauseated and sometimes gives me diarrhea, but if I can make it through the regimen I usually feel better for a few weeks. What has helped the most is the probiotic Florastor. My doctor's nurse recommended it and gave me samples. I am having a hard time finding it in the drugstores so I am going to order it on-line when I need more. I also have added Ultra Flora that I got at Walgreens. It has 8 strains and 15 billion, I figured it couldn't hurt. I went to see a Homeopathic Doc yesterday and he gave me some enzymes called Digest-All. I took them before dinner last night but did get up this morning feeling bad and 3 bouts of semi-diarrhea bms. The last time I tried enzymes (when my GI was playing guinea pig with me) they made me feel like I had a brick in my stomach and these are doing the same thing. I only have 4 samples, so I think I'll finish them and see how I feel. They are supposed to help with the bloating and gas, we'll see.Do try the probiotics, they were like miracle workers in a short time after starting. Actually felt back to normal for the first time in a year and a half. Hope they help you as well. Here's wishing you the best.

[kletendre826]

Responding to your request of what I have taken to feel better. The antibiotic is Cipro, it makes me nauseated and sometimes gives me diarrhea, but if I can make it through the regimen I usually feel better for a few weeks. What has helped the most is the probiotic Florastor. My doctor's nurse recommended it and gave me samples. I am having a hard time finding it in the drugstores so I am going to order it on-line when I need more. I also have added Ultra Flora that I got at Walgreens. It has 8 strains and 15 billion, I figured it couldn't hurt. I went to see a Homeopathic Doc yesterday and he gave me some enzymes called Digest-All. I took them before dinner last night but did get up this morning feeling bad and 3 bouts of semi-diarrhea bms. The last time I tried enzymes (when my GI was playing guinea pig with me) they made me feel like I had a brick in my stomach and these are doing the same thing. I only have 4 samples, so I think I'll finish them and see how I feel. They are supposed to help with the bloating and gas, we'll see.Do try the probiotics, they were like miracle workers in a short time after starting. Actually felt back to normal for the first time in a year and a half. Hope they help you as well. Here's wishing you the best.

I have been taking digestive advantage intensive bowel support for about a month and a half. I also have walgreen's version of align though I haven't tried that yet. Right now I am only taking one digestive advantage. Not sure if I should try the walgreen probiotic or just keep doing what I am doing. Still get abdominal pain and once in awhile I'll have a bad day if I had a little bit of something that irritates me. Part of me wants to take both probiotic daily and see what happens but I haven't talked to my doctor.

[refuse to live this way]

The probiotics shouldn't hurt a thing, I would go ahead and try whatever you have. I'm presently taking 4 different kinds with different strains and it seems to be doing me a whole lot of good. Feel normal most days, just a bad morning on occasion which I'll take and cherish the good ones. I hope I'm on my way back to full recovery. Best of luck to you for a speedy recovery.

[jmc09]

I've been having IBS-PI for 4 years now. It didn't get cured, but it does get better. At times, I enter into remission and I can enjoy life fairly normally. However, flares are a common occurence and I'm also more vulnerable to other instances of gastroenteritis/stomach bugs. When I get one of this, it aggravates my symptoms again. I've got one last month, when I was into remission, and it started it all over again. I take antispasmodics daily (now it's mebeverine, but in the past I've also taken trimebutine maleate) as a first-line treatment. The second-line treatment is drotaverine, another antispasmodic very useful for relief of cramps (my main symptom is abdominal pain, but also D). I also take various meds to relieve the other symptoms.If you want to talk about it, PM me.

Hi Brian.How did you find Trimebutin treated you,were they helpful?Ive read about that drug because its available all across Europe but not available here in the UK.

[kletendre826]

The probiotics shouldn't hurt a thing, I would go ahead and try whatever you have. I'm presently taking 4 different kinds with different strains and it seems to be doing me a whole lot of good. Feel normal most days, just a bad morning on occasion which I'll take and cherish the good ones. I hope I'm on my way back to full recovery. Best of luck to you for a speedy recovery.

Thank you Refuse, to you as well. How long have you had PI IBS for? What are you on currently other than the 4 probiotics?

[kletendre826]

Still been hard to find people on here with similar symptoms as us. I wonder if a lot of people who have PI IBS has left the forum after it has healed or got much better. My doctor told me it usually heals in a matter of months or years. He was from one of the better GI departments in the country. He said it could be 3 months, 6 months, a year, or certainly over a year. It is clear everyone is different and with different circumstances. I have had pi ibs after most likely a viral infection almost 3 months ago. My symptoms are significantly better than they were even after a month or two. It sounds like mine isn't as serious as a lot of people on here but it still is possible it may linger for awhile more. My biggest symptoms are abdominal pain which has gotten significantly better but very gradually, and diarrhea. My abdominal discomfort is at a point now where it is very dull and there are times in the day I can't even feel it. My diarrhea is more so just loose or very soft stools. I have a BM every morning within an hour at most then usually have another a couple hours or later. Today I had three which isn't that uncommon. When I was normal is was just one though. I also can be gassy and have some stomach gurgling after I eat at times. I take digestive advantage and walgreens version of align. I also take a calcium supplement. I hope more people will respond to me as well as tell their story since we don't have our own forum on the site.

[refuse to live this way]

I had my first bout in 2007 and then after antibiotic treatment last April it all started all over again. I was in the hospital 3 times last year. Besides the probiotics (Florastor, and Ultimate Flora) I'm back on a low dose antibiotic to try and keep the infection at bay. I will take these (10 days worth) for the next 4 months to see if it will finally rid me of the infection. I've also had a sinus infection at the same time which we are hoping will also be cured by the low dose antibiotic. I'll let you guys know if it helps. I also take an anti-spasmodic when my stomach starts rumbing and rolling, and Calcium D3 which helps diarrhea as well as your bones. Hope this helps. Best of luck to you both.

[kletendre826]

I had my first bout in 2007 and then after antibiotic treatment last April it all started all over again. I was in the hospital 3 times last year. Besides the probiotics (Florastor, and Ultimate Flora) I'm back on a low dose antibiotic to try and keep the infection at bay. I will take these (10 days worth) for the next 4 months to see if it will finally rid me of the infection. I've also had a sinus infection at the same time which we are hoping will also be cured by the low dose antibiotic. I'll let you guys know if it helps. I also take an anti-spasmodic when my stomach starts rumbing and rolling, and Calcium D3 which helps diarrhea as well as your bones. Hope this helps. Best of luck to you both.

What started your IBS symptoms back in 2007? Did you get CDiff or anything like that this year to bring it all back? Were you pretty much healed before then?

[refuse to live this way]

An antibiotic (clendamycin) gave me c-diff in 2007. 5 days in the hospital for treatment and I was back to 100% in about a week. Another antibiotic (Levaquin) did it to me this last time. 3 different stays in the hospital in May, Aug, and Sep and I'm still fighting it. I feel much better today then I was back then. I felt like I was going to die, or wished I had, it was that bad. I'm still fighting bad gas, bloating (I look like I'm pregnant) and nausea on occasion and have been having an attach about once a week, but nothing like it was. I'm hoping this maintenance antibiotic will get rid of it once and for all. The probiotics have helped me tremendously. Funny how none of the doctors even recommended it

[kletendre826]

An antibiotic (clendamycin) gave me c-diff in 2007. 5 days in the hospital for treatment and I was back to 100% in about a week. Another antibiotic (Levaquin) did it to me this last time. 3 different stays in the hospital in May, Aug, and Sep and I'm still fighting it. I feel much better today then I was back then. I felt like I was going to die, or wished I had, it was that bad. I'm still fighting bad gas, bloating (I look like I'm pregnant) and nausea on occasion and have been having an attach about once a week, but nothing like it was. I'm hoping this maintenance antibiotic will get rid of it once and for all. The probiotics have helped me tremendously. Funny how none of the doctors even recommended it

Interesting, I am glad you are feeling better though. I had a little bit of a flare up yesterday after doing fairly well for almost 2 weeks. Boy is this depressing. Went to the bathroom 4 times, when I am usually two times, sometimes one lately. I also felt warm and tired for the first time in awhile because of the pain. I am starting to think I need to see a therapist.

[katiebabe]

I just can't seem to be able to eat out ever!Its hard enuff trying to pick things without egg and milk 'dieticans orders' whatever I eat when I'm out dosent agree with me. Its the bloating-swelling inflamed sore feeling inside- its super frustrating 15months on still.Small meals are deffo the best way forward!!! Little and often.A near average size meal has me then laying on the couch all night in deiscomfort. And the heartburn is awful.Also after a few hours on my feet at work I am garunteed swollen and sore.I want to understand why moving and activity can aggravate things. Its a mystery that's for sure, and it seems doctors are guessing along with us!I don't think things will ever be the same again for me, but for things to keep improving is all I ask.As for the gurgling- my stomach does this everyday. Its so loud after my tea I have taped it so my consultant can listen to it. its never stops gurgling. My bowel comes up and then goes down again all the time 'mainly on evening'.I've found its very difficult to get sympathy from people who haven't been through it themselves as they find it impossible to understand.Xx

[kletendre826]

Never hear too much from the pi ibs crowd. Is there anyone who has recovered or is doing tremendously better than they were before? If not does anyone know of someone who is doing well or much better? I know this site probably accumulates mostly people who get it bad but I am disappointed I never really hear from people doing well. I admit on good days I don't usually visit the site. I have had pi ibs for over 4 months. It feels like it will never end sometimes but I still can't believe that I will most likely have this for a year, 2 years, or more. Disappointed.