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My IBS-C story

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75K views 523 replies 28 participants last post by  flossy 
#1 ·
Hello everyone -

I know it's difficult for a lot of people to talk about their IBS, but this forum is the place for it. I say let it flow and let it go (and that's in more ways than one).

I am a 48 year old male and have been an IBS-C (that's Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Constipation for any newbies out there) sufferer for about 3 years now, give or take. IBS-'D' runs in my family (my mom & younger sister both have it). Lately my father gets constipated too, but he is 78 and I'm not certain it is actually IBS. (Ah, wonderful genetics!)

I also have incomplete bowel movements and typically have to go 'boo-boo' again about an hour after my first bowel movement, pretty much every time I go, which is almost every day… I never feel normally evacuated anymore, like I used to before my IBS hit. It seems like there is always more ick inside me "that does, yet doesn't" want to come out. UNCOMFORTABLE. Not normal. I joke that it feels like I have a dead cat inside me that doesn't want to come out. It sucks. I also have to urinate often because I think there is sometimes fecal matter present in my rectum, pushing against my prostate. Lord have mercy.

On a related note, I have exterior hemorrhoids also, probably due to the fact that it's so hard for me to go to the bathroom and also because it takes me so darn long to go…. I'm sure some of the "ick" is still present inside my rectum after I go when it shouldn't be there anymore and helps inflate the hemorrhoids. Genetics probably also play a role in them too. (I'm quite the package, ain't I? lol)

It wasn't always like this.

A little more background info: I never had constant constipation until about 3 years ago, when I decided to try to switch my diet to mostly fruits & vegetables (still with some meat, but way less than before). Before that? Typical Italian dinners (lots of meat, pretty much every day).

So I bought a pricey Vitamix blender and started making fruit & vegetable smoothies. That's when my IBS started. I used to have about 3 to 4 bowel movements a night, when I worked the night shift. I'd go and IMMEDIATELY have to go again. Seconds. I would often bleed when I went (from hemorrhoids), but it would usually stop after a minute or so.

I had to leave work about 5 or 6 times in about a year-and-a-half's time (or just not even go in that night) because I was so darn uncomfortable… missing and/or leaving work is not like me AT ALL. Just the half-hour ride to work alone would sometimes drive me crazy….I couldn't stand it. I could feel the pressure to go inside my rectum.

Finally, after months and months of this #### (no pun intended) I told my supervisor at work, "This health food is killing me." (Funny but true quote!) I finally gave up my mostly plant-based diet... My body just couldn't take it. I had normal bowel movements for about a week or two after this, but then the same darn thing started again. (Ugh!!!!!)

Note: I don't know what the root cause of IBS is, but my best guess is it's the pesticides they use on and around our fruits & vegetables and the hormones they inject into our livestock we eat. Am I positive about this? No.

I went to a doctor a few times who treats hemorrhoids and he had me buy some fiber powder that he recommended. I tried it and tried it - even less of it then was recommended per day - and it was like a tree branch was stuck up my butt. SLOW movements. I've read a lot about constipation and they always say the same thing: EAT MORE FIBER. But for some of us, that is a recipe for disaster. For me, more fiber = more constipation, harder to move bowel movements and even more puffy/always present hemorrhoids…. Exactly what I DON'T want. To hell with more fiber, it makes things worse. (At least for me it does.)

I got a colonoscopy in December of 2013 to rule out colon cancer (I pretty much have all the symptoms). It was the first one I ever got. (Make sure if you ever get one they put you to sleep before the procedure…. it was REALLY EASY like that, believe it or not.) The results: No cancer, no polyps, just (what else?) hemorrhoids.

I have eliminated certain things from my diet that have helped curtail my IBS somewhat:

-No more coffee. (I used to drink one cup a day, that's it).

-No more Coke. (Occasionally drank one or two Cokes a week. It's the caffeine that bothers my stomach, me thinks.)

-No more 'Jolt' caffeinated gum. (It helped keep me awake when I worked 3rd shift).

-No more milk. (I used it in cereal and made my coffee with it instead of water. I use soy milk now instead. It helps.)

-No more popcorn. Used to have some like twice a month, just lightly salted, no butter. Popcorn tears me up. I will go to the bathroom 6 or 7 times the next day, until every kernel that was in there seems to come out and I will bleed down there too. It's horrible. Popcorn is roughage and I just can't handle it anymore. Never had this problem before my IBS hit.

-No more raw, unsalted almonds. (My FAV. I miss them!!! They are great for you but they constipate me.)

-No more chocolate. (Oh, hell, no! I had to do it. Chocolate can constipate you too.)

Pizza with lots of cheese on it gives me constipation too, but I love pizza and will deal with that a couple times a month because ….um…. I love pizza!

What foods have helped relieve my IBS?

Last winter I have a bowl of homemade chicken & brown rice soup every morning, right after a bowl of cereal. I barely had any IBS symptoms for two months. I said I BARELY HAD ANY IBS SYMPTOMS FOR NEARLY TWO FREAKIN' WONDERFUL MONTHS! I felt like a new man! (After two months? More IBS, but not quite as bad.) What's in it that I think helps? It's HEAVY on garlic (two ENTIRE cloves of garlic, sectioned and chopped up) and 3 chopped up onions. Other ingredients? Ginger root, sweet potato, thyme, carrots, celery, jalapeno and red peppers, tomatoes, parsley, spinach, sweet corn, lots of oregano, salt & pepper.

Garlic is wonderful, a superfood. You don't want to have a bowl of this and go on a first date, but we gotta do what we gotta do, don't we? Plus it's delicious.

The last several months? IBS ruins me for a few hours each day. I cannot stand it. I just want to be normal again. I've prayed and prayed about this, but (as usual) I haven't gotten a reply. I will admit sometimes I have thoughts of suicide. I have a gun at home. I don't want to live like this every day. I don't want to slowly develop rectal prolapse. My butthole is bad enough and always has that puffy look now (I call it 'labia butt'). I also don't want to kill myself, but how much of this sh*t can one person take? It's way uncomfortable, every day. I hate it. I am a Born Again Christian and I know suicide is obviously not the right thing to do, but sometimes I just feel like giving up... Where is the quality of life when it gets bad?

The things you have to do, like having to tell all your coworkers what is up with you so they don't think your dodging work when you're in the bathroom, struggling to go. It's embarrassing. Or trying to meet someone in the afternoon and having to tell them you might not (or cannot) make it because you have IBS.

The best thing to do is just not to eat, or barely eat, but we must eat to live, but-of-course. Eating as little as possible helps.

I attempted my first fecal transplant Friday morning (7/25/2014) in order to try to rid myself of my IBS-C…. I followed the directions on this thread:

http://www.ibsgroup.org/forums/topic/165423-fecal-bacteriotherapy-for-ibs-d-success/

I also watched this video a couple of times:

"DIY Fecal Transplants to cure yourself of digestive disease"



(The video is a bit long, but still informative.)

I fasted for three of four days beforehand. I also drank prune juice to clean out my clock for the first couple of days. I wanted to make sure there was room for my transplant, because there always seems to be more boo-boo that could come out when I eat normally.

I used one of those rectal syringes - you know, the bulb with the removable slim end on it. (I sometimes use one every few days to help clear me out, but that doesn't always work all the time.)

I gave myself 3 fecal transplant injections with the rectal syringe and each time I will guess it was about 60% full? I tried to get all the air out of it first. The whole process was somewhat messy and smelled pretty darn bad (no surprises).

After my third injection my body rejected the transplant, meaning I couldn't hold it in, even laying on my side. (I might have even started to feel touchy at injection number 2.) I had to evacuate my bowels, and pronto tonto. Gangway! Look out!

-I think the mixture was too thick and I might have used too much?

-I think two injections with about 60% of the bulb full should be enough?

Important note: After I quickly evacuated my donor's transplant that was the BEST I'VE FELT IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. IT WAS AWESOME. I FELT LIKE ME AGAIN. This is how it was when I was normal, my pre-IBS-C days. I was happy. My butthole didn't feel knotted up anymore either. (I have a lot of tension down there.) This is how I want to feel every day again.

This makes me think there is definitely something to FMT.

I had a little bit of transplant mixture left over. I added some water and managed to get that inside and hold it in for a few hours, but I don't think it was enough.

I went to the bathroom about 4 hours afterwards. I felt the same I always do. Stomach kinda crampy, anal exit puffy. (I also started to eat again, fast was over.)

I went again about an hour later…. Same thing: Constipation. Lord have mercy.

I went to the bathroom several times the next day and bled a lot. I shouldn't have drank prune juice and took a laxative the night before, but I like that empty feeling. (I'm still blocked up a bit).

So in conclusion, FMT didn't work for me….But I THINK it may work, but I have to get it in way deeper and be able to hold it in. I may try this one more time myself, but I don't know. They also do fecal transplants here at the Cleveland Clinic, but I don't have health coverage right now so that is out.

Feel free to comment if you'd like. I know there are a lot of lurkers here who seldom if ever post anything, as I was one for a long time.

Good luck everyone!
 
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#3 ·
Thanks for sharing. I am not a doctor. Did you take antibiotics before your FMT? Also you said you only took 3 maybe a few more were necessary? You responded very positively to FMT so it leds me to believe that the reason it might have stopped working is because you had an overgrowth of a specific species in your colon. In that case you would need many more FMTs and possibly a week or two course of antibiotics prior to FMT might make them more effective. I would definitely explore FMT a second time.
 
#4 ·
First, thank you for the reply.

Yes, I have been on antibiotics on and off the last five years for my skin (acne). At the time I did my FMT I wasn't on them for a couple of weeks.

I could only hold in the FMT about a minute or two, then as I said it was coming out and it came out in a hurry. It just wasn't in long enough, me thinks.

I definitely want to do it again but I am thinking maybe wait until I have health insurance and have it done at the Cleveland Clinic? It is pretty gross to do and since I'm always clogged up (or so it seems) I think it's best to fast beforehand, so there is room up there for it to go down... or up, depending on which way you are standing.

I'll keep ya posted. IBS-C is a real problem for me. It is driving me crazy. I never thought in a million years I would have this problem, but I do. A problem without an obvious or easy solution (besides just not eating).
 
#5 ·
Flossy,

I know exactly what you mean. If you were to look at me in person you would never guess in a million years that I would be dealing with any debilitating health issues yet hear I am! Never had any health problems before this. Honestly felt invincible but I was wrong.

I recently had a very low point a week or two ago where I felt hopeless. Flossy, I know this is easier said than done, but avoid that mental state as much as you can. I know its hard, but don't give into those thoughts of hopelessness because that's when you sorta wanna give up. I still have IBS but I have hope and that's been my most important coping mechanism. We have to keep on the offensive.

I myself am going to fast for about a day beforehand. Also, you said you could only hold it in for a minute or two and most protocols seem to recommend no less than 30 minutes or an hour to allow the bacteria to establish themselves. I hope you get this figured out I am rooting for you.
 
#7 ·
Thank you for sharing your experience with FMT! Honestly, it's hard to 'hold' anything you put up there so I don't really know how people keep the transplant in all night. I have heard wonderful things about this though. It really must restore bacteria. But you probably have to get it 'high enough' and do it often enough to where it will make a difference. (just like taking probiotics) That's my theory anyway!! I was also on 6 rounds of antibiotics last year and I think it contributed to both my stomach and pelvic floor problems. IF I can relax my pelvic floor, I can have a BM. But it's still a struggle doing that, as my pelvic floor constantly wants to tense. So I find it interesting that your muscles felt looser too. Have you had your pelvic floor checked?

Also great to hear Cleveland Clinic is now doing this. How great! They really are ahead of the curve. I went to Mayo Clinic instead. They were able to diagnose my pelvic floor dyssynergia and I have heard that sometimes Cleveland will take out colons even without 'fully' checking the pelvic floor. (in other words, having biofeedback specialists access instead of just going off of testing) Then everyone runs to Mayo afterwards and gets the pelvic floor diagnosis, only to feel 'slighted' and like that couldn't possibly be the problem. It is very much my problem. Though I do wonder if a change in the system (antibiotics - the killing of important bacteria's that we can't replace) can cause pelvic floor dysfunction. I think Mayo believes it is entirely behavioral but sometimes I question that. They weren't able to explain away my intense stomach pain so that sure was disheartening.
 
#8 ·
Honestly? I don't even know what my pelvic floor is.

- I had a hard time being elevated with my butt up in the air, trying to keep the FMT in. 2 minutes felt like 20 minutes. (I used the directions in the link on my original post.)

- I thought about what a good idea it would be to use those gravity inversion boots for a FMT. Remember those? Hanging by your ankles, have someone administer a fecal transplant, have gravity work for you. To be honest the best place to get one would be OUTSIDE, where the mess could just be rinsed (yes, hosed) away. And outside would lesson the odor. Could you imagine someone giving these to people in their yard? THEIR FRONT YARD!!! lol!!! All jokes set aside I really feel that outside and inverted would be the best way.

"What's going on there?!? What are they doing, those perverts!" lol

-I made a big pot of chicken & brown rice soup today, even though it's 80 degrees out.... It's the only thing that curtails my IBS (it worked for about 2 months). Hopefully it will work again. I need a friggin' break from it.

Keep me posted if and when you do your FMT, Dreamcatcher.

Note:

MAKE SURE your donor will actually donate. I asked someone (a relative) and they slowly but surely backed out.

"I just found out I have a meeting that day."

"I have a meeting the next day too, but I want to do it for you." No you don't.

The person I eventually got was more than happy to do it.
 
#9 ·
Flossy,

Sorry you had a hard time getting a relative to help you out. That sucks. They should be very willing to help us in these situations.

I think hanging upside down may help you retain the FMT longer. I may do that next week. I wish I had a big yard to do it in but I am up here in NJ in the city so lack of any yards is commonplace. Guess I will try not to make a mess!
 
#10 ·
Please post the results here or if you start a new thread, let me know by posting that here. I'm very curious as to how it will turn out.

For me, it turned out to be more of a mess than I thought.

I breathed through my mouth the whole time. IT HELPS.

Good luck!!!!
 
#11 ·
Will do Flossy. Also for future reference, submit posts like this to the Fecal Microbiota Transplant subforum on this site. That page is lacking much content and this story would have made a good addition and more suitable there. You can check there for any updates about my transplant when I perform it.

Here is the link to the forum: http://www.ibsgroup.org/forums/forum/100-fecal-microbiota-transplantation-fmt/
 
#13 ·
Honestly? I don't even know what my pelvic floor is.

- I had a hard time being elevated with my butt up in the air, trying to keep the FMT in. 2 minutes felt like 20 minutes. (I used the directions in the link on my original post.)

- I thought about what a good idea it would be to use those gravity inversion boots for a FMT. Remember those? Hanging by your ankles, have someone administer a fecal transplant, have gravity work for you. To be honest the best place to get one would be OUTSIDE, where the mess could just be rinsed (yes, hosed) away. And outside would lesson the odor. Could you imagine someone giving these to people in their yard? THEIR FRONT YARD!!! lol!!! All jokes set aside I really feel that outside and inverted would be the best way.

"What's going on there?!? What are they doing, those perverts!" lol

-I made a big pot of chicken & brown rice soup today, even though it's 80 degrees out.... It's the only thing that curtails my IBS (it worked for about 2 months). Hopefully it will work again. I need a friggin' break from it.

Keep me posted if and when you do your FMT, Dreamcatcher.

Note:

MAKE SURE your donor will actually donate. I asked someone (a relative) and they slowly but surely backed out.

"I just found out I have a meeting that day."

"I have a meeting the next day too, but I want to do it for you." No you don't.

The person I eventually got was more than happy to do it.
50% of those with constipation have pelvic floor tension and I scream this all over the boards. I'm sure everyone is sick of it. But your pelvic floor is the absolute CORE of your body. It holds everything in place (bowel, bladder, etc) and is extremely delicate. If your pelvic floor is too tight you will not be able to a) get an urge to go or b) have a bowel movement very easily (you will have to strain)

Haha! It sounds like this really would be better to just do outside where you don't have to pollute your house with those smells (the thought of THAT is making me feel reluctant). This makes me wish I lived in the country where I actually could and no one would see me! I wonder what they do at Cleveland Clinic to get the solution as high up as possible? Maybe they use a 'hose' type thing that goes all the way up through your colon? If they don't, they probably should.
 
#16 ·
I bought a bottle of fish oil suppliments. I have taken them before, in my pre-IBS-C days (the good ol' days!) and I couldn't stop going boo-boo, so I stopped.

I said to myself, maybe now they would help me be less constipated? I'LL TRY 'EM AGAIN! (roll the horror soundtrack)

Well, same thing happened: About a good half dozen bowel movements that next day. Very rough on my "exist zone" down there. I can't handle them.

It was worth a try.
 
#17 ·
I just went to the bathroom and thought to myself that I haven't had a normal bowel movement in well over a year. It just won't come out normally and I cannot evacuate like a normal person anymore.

WTF?

I even fasted for 3 days straight - just juice - just so I wouldn't have to deal with this for a few days.

I wish prayer would help... but for this problem nothing seems to work (sighs).
 
#18 ·
Hi flossy, Thanks for posting. I have the exact same problem as you for about eight years. Got all sorts of diagnosis ibs, pelvic floor dysnergia, prolapsed bladder, weak pelvic floor muscles. I am like you in that I have prayed to everyone up there for help, but never got a solution either, and the only thing that seems to help is to keep having hope and not get depressed (very hard at times). I thought if I could only get a proper diagnosis it would help, but I do think it's more a pelvic floor disorder as Dreamcatcher said that is causing it than any foods I eat or don't eat. It helps me sometimes to try kegel exercises as everything seems to sag in my abdomen. I think when you keep going back to the toilet thinking you need to go and it will not come out, that situation is caused by getting into wrong toilet habits and straining and getting tensed pushing downwards to try and empty, rather than taking a deep breath inwards instead. I think when we strain it knocks our sensations down there haywire. I have also got internal hemmerhoids, so was thinking also that they may be giving a false signal to go when I don't, hence thinking I need to go again, and again, and again, after only having a bowel movement shortly before, but it's so uncomfortable and I wish I had some help to offer you. Have you ever had anything to help with the hemmerhoids or pelvic floor? Thanks for sharing with us, and I wish you all the best. Mary.
 
#19 ·
Hi -

I don't really understand the pelvic floor scenario.... I am a male, do I even have one? I don't mean to sound stupid. lol

I'm at the point where I think when I have to have another bowel movement - usually about an hour later after the first one - "it" just needs to come out.... I don't think I'm imagining anything.... I don't push or anything like that, as it doesn't help. It's like it's right on the cusp of coming out "like it used to" (THE GOOD OL' DAYS!!!), but it doesn't. It sits in there like a towel. "Stuff" does come out, eventually, and not just a little. So I guess what I'm saying is I really do have to go more.

-I sometimes use a variation of a Squatty Potty (called a "Step and Go") that elevates your feet up when one poops. I heard about it on the Howard Stern show. Interesting concept, but it kinda puts a lot of pressure on my - how shall we call it? My 'exist zone.' I think the concept is a good idea, but I don't know for certain if it helps or not. I've had mine for about 5 months now, sometimes I use it. Even one leg elevated seems to help... i think.

I have been to a doctor for my hemorrhoids here in Ohio (http://www.sensitivecare.com/) but he just treats internal hemorrhoids, not external. Dr. Gutman. I have seen him about a good half dozen times. Very likeable. He has told me more than once that I shouldn't get exterior hemorrhoidal surgery unless it is "absolutely necessary" because it is or can be a bloody mess and takes like 3 weeks to heal. Yes he used those words.....I have heard the same thing on the radio and with internet searches.

There is a cosmetic surgeon/doctor in Minnesota (http://www.shucosmeticsurgery.com/treatments/anal-tag-faq/) who treats this condition with a laser instead of the usual method (I'm guessing a scalpel). Dr. Gutman told me about him.... I might fly out there sometime and get this done. I would obviously have to stay at a hotel for I don't know how long and of course actually find the place (I have no sense of direction), but this is an advanced treatment and this is what I will probably end up doing. Note: There is also this doctor in Los Angeles (http://www.lacolonrectalsurgeon.com/additional-specialties/anal-rejuvenation.php) who does it the same way, I believe.

...Moving right along, I had the craving for a darn cup of coffee all day! I haven't had any in several months. God, it would be GOOD. (I call coffee a "cup of mud" because that's what it reminds me of.)

I still remember throwing away my instant coffee several months ago. Seems silly to buy more, but....
 
#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
Flossy--just to answer your question--and heavens no, you don't sound stupid--it's a great question
smile.png
. a lot of people think pelvic floor dysfunction is only a woman's problem and/or that it's only a problem for older women or those who have had children--none of which is true. the only reason i know anything about pfd is because i have it.

we all have pelvic floor muscles and anyone, regardless of sex, age or childbearing status can have problems with it--where the pelvic floor muscles do not relax and coordinate properly to allow an easy evacuation of stool.

here's a couple good links explaining it all:

http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/pelvic/faq/pelvic-floor-disorders.html

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/pelvic_disorders/hic_pelvic_floor_dysfunction.aspx

and oh yes, you're right--using a foot stool, squatty potty etc helps a lot of us. it straightens out the anorectal angle and allows for a more complete evacuation. it does take some experimenting to figure out just what height works best, one foot up or two etc.....sounds like howard stern is right on top of things--lol
 
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#21 ·
Mary2001---hi Mary---so sorry you're still having problems. yes, it's hard isn't it. especially when it all goes on and on for such a long long time. you have been through so much for so long and have tried so many different things.

and yes, you are right--hard as it is, it does help to keep having hope...."hope springs eternal" is my motto...

you're right--straining doesn't help. it just locks those muscles up so they don't work at all. the reverse kegels do help--the gentle squeeze and relax...i do those and practice with my home biofeedback machine. it helps a little and at least it keeps me from getting worse
smile.png


we are strong, and hard as it is, we do get manage to get through this, one day at a time....

i do hope that somehow you can find some relief. please do take good care. annie xx
 
#22 ·
Hi Annie, thanks for sending that website link for Flossie, and I read it too, so it does mention the bowel difficulty with pelvic floor dysfunction and it's effects on men or women, and how it effects bowel function where we think we keep needing to go and go and go to empty bowels, (well that is what happens me, and I keep straining) and I don't think I need to be going half the time. It is such a difficult problem to live with, but yes hope is such a great thing to have and I think God probably answers our prayers in other ways as I don't feel as depressed about this problem as I used to, and have come to a sort of acceptance that it's going to be there all the time and some days will be good and some not so good. By thinking that way I have stopped setting myself up for disappointments when things don't work out and expecting solutions all the time that don't happen, as that mindset was causing me a lot of unhappiness, and I find now that I have more peace about it, and try to enjoy the good days. Pelvic floor exercises help a bit sometimes. I think feel good factor is a help as it stops tension building in the pelvic floor. I also try diaphram breathing and relaxation, so it's small improvements I suppose.
Hope you are feeling good now and you had a rough time last summer so I'm glad you are doing well and thanks for all your help on the boards. I haven't been here for a while, but do read up the posts from time to time. I hope Flossie will soon feel better and find hope and peace and things work out.
 
#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi Mary---oh yes you are so right. i do so agree with all that you have said.

it is so good --and such a relief--to be able to come to a sort of acceptance about all this. acceptance means we don't have to struggle any more and yes, it can give us peace---peace, despite the discomfort and pain.

and of course, acceptance does not mean giving up--we still try things that we think might help. but you're right--when things don't work out or we're having a bad day, we can handle that with a sort of equanimity without becoming depressed...

and oh yes we do enjoy the good days..

i try every day to just take myself as i am and live my life the way it is...

and oh yes, thanks--feeling better than i was last summer, that's for sure!
smile.png


take care....
 
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#24 ·
A certain level of acceptance is good, just to help to keep sane. I used to blame myself a lot for this condition, going over in my head all the things that I did wrong. But then I thought - other people do the same things - eat a starchy diet, drink a bit heavily, but don't have IBS so it's important not to blame yourself. I think there's definitely a genetic cause as my father spent a long time in the loo as well. There should be a picture of high fibre veges with a red cross through it on this board to warn people. Beware of fibre! It's interesting how just a sudden intake of too much fibre can cause IBS. I don't think it's necessary to limit food intake though - it's not much fun being hungry. It's finding the right balance of fibre that's tricky. Some people go too far the other way and think if fibre is harmful for them then they'll just fill up on white rice and bread etc but these foods are constipating. You have to identify the constipating foods and try to exclude these. Fibre taken in excess can be constipating in a really bad way that can eventually cause serious complications like volvulus or a twisted colon. But we need a certain amount of fibre to push things through. I've found the safest foods tend to be well-cooked low FODMAP veges like potato, pumpkin, carrot, green beans, zuchhini. Not too much meat and moderate healthy fats. It's a very boring diet and hard to stick to but I think it's the best diet there is. Also it's possible gas leads to constipation and this causes IBS. My diet is low-flatulogenic and for me the less gas the easier the bowel evacuation the next day.
 
#25 ·
For anyone who might be following this thread and has wonderful exterior hemorrhoids like myself, a bit of wiping advice:

Probably the worst thing is wiping with regular toilet paper. I know some of you probably have wised up and use baby wipes, which is good.

What do I use? When I'm home I use toilet paper with several squirts of 'Fruit of the Earth' 100% Aloe Vera Gel, pre-mixed with a bit of cocoa butter moisturizing lotion (about 20%) and water (about 30%). The actual toilet paper never touches my exit zone, only the lotion. Nothing to irritate an already irritated area.

I also clean that area up 100% after wiping with lotion and water. To me, it's better than wipes.

...Sometimes I think to myself, good God, what has my life become? It's funny and sad at the same time, but normally my overall mood is usually good/positive, even though my bowels and exit zone are often not operating like they should. Broken down.

I pray and pray for God to fix me or give me guidance on this, but for some reason He never does - so I come here instead and also scour the Internet for help...
 
#26 ·
I broke down today and bought some instant coffee, whole milk (I use it instead of water for the instant coffee) and chocolate-flavored cereal. After about 6 to 8 months of none of that I was dying for some, so I'm throwing caution to the wind at the moment.

The chocolate-flavored cereal definitely hits that pleasure center in my brain!!! lol!

Good grief.... I miss the days when I didn't have to deal with IBS and I was normal.
 
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