So my parents have recently decided that they don't want me to leave the house due to such severe pain without their supervision or leave town without their supervision because of such bad pain. I don't know why they decided this because it keeps me from doing a lot of things that I could be doing to enjoy my summer. I'm not even supposed to spend the night at friends' houses...they all have to come over here to my house. I wish this were all just a bad dream, but it's not. It's the sad story of what I now hate to call my life. And what's the worst part? Nobody can help me. The doctors have tried everything, but nothing is helping. Why is all of this happening?

Ugh! It's almost 6:00 PM and I haven't left the house due to the pain! My gastroenterologist might cancel the colonoscopy and endoscopy which was going to be done June 30th, 2010 because my insurance company won't pay for it. Everything I eat goes right through me...it's horrible. I have lost OVER 5 pounds in 7 days and I'm turning into a bag of bones. I'm sick and tired of all of this and I'm tired all the time. My immune system has gotten so weak that I get sick so easily. I didn't think IBS could do this to me, but it is.

I got really cocky. Right when I started seeing a gastro doc for my (what I thought was) IBS, I also started taking peppermint capsules, daily. I thought it was a miracle. I thought I was cured. I went ahead and had a colonoscopy, just to make sure, but it turned up no polyps and some signs of diverticulitis -- he said, take fiber caps, and "see ya!"

I did well, for a long time. Almost no D, very little C, hardly any gas, a little heartburn from the peppermint, and the bloating was practically non-existant. That was sometime in April, that I had the colonoscopy. At the end of May (5/20, or so, for the record), the bloating came back.

Today, I'm looking very pregnant.

It's scaring me that, without gastro "symptoms," I can bloat like this. I had my annual ob/gyn appointment scheduled for later in the month, but moved it up to TOMORROW. I'm terrified of ovarian cancer.

Meanwhile -- does anyone know if peppermint STOPS working, after you've taken it a while? Do I need to stop, give it a rest, and try it again later?

Thanks
EmKay

I’m sick of this. It’s 6 in the morning and I haven’t slept. My stomachs cramping really badly, and I have no idea what I’ve done to cause it. On top of my IBS, my legs hurt, my arms hurt, and my hands and fingers feel so stiff that it hurts to type. I’ve been to the drs about this, had some blood tests which have – guess what - all came back normal. I’m not hoping for something terrible but I just want to know what’s wrong with me!! Going to the Drs again today so hopefully they’ll have some idea, although the Dr I saw last admitted she had no idea. I’m beginning to think it really is all in my head …

6-9-2010
21 days left until my colonoscopy/endoscopy procedure in Utah. My IBS has been acting up again, and my specialist at a children's hospital wants to do a second procedure on me. My family and I are going down to Utah June 28th. 29th is when I have to drink the somewhat chalky and disgusting solution and eat no food throughout the day. I can only drink and eat clear liquids. I can eat Jell-O, but not the red Jell-O. The 30th is the day of the procedure and recovery. The 1st of July I have another doctor's appointment, then we come back home later that day. I have a feeling those will be the worst four days of my life.

6-10-2010
20 days left until the procedure and I'm scared as heck. I don't know what to expect this time since I'm getting the procedure done at a different hospital than the first procedure.

6-11-2010
19 days until the procedure. Today was the last day of school and I had a big argument with my friends. Things are REALLY stressing me out right now.

6-12-2010
18 days until the procedure. Going to work today...I'll see how long I can stay there in so much pain...probably not too long.

6-12-2010
So far I've stayed over 2 hours at work. Wow I didn't think I'd be able to make it this long at work in this kind of pain!

That's right! I have stayed on the Align and I do believe it is helping. I have been keeping a very close eye on what I eat as well. I started out eliminating wheat, eggs, dairy, fish, tomatoes, corn, & soy. I tried some eggs a couple of days ago. BAD idea! I can use egg substitute just fine. Wheat I am still steering clear of. I have discovered too that corn is a BIG no no for me. I hate that because I love the stuff. I can tolerate lactose free milk, and cheese in very small amounts. Fish and tomatoes are ok too. I haven't experimented with soy yet, but I don't think it will be a problem. If it is, oh well...I can do without it. I have found greek yogurt, oatmeal and bananas are a BIG help with the D too. I have only taken 4 immodium in the past week. I was able to make it to the concert and the graduation too!

My husband planned a surprise camping trip for the family this week.....HA HA surprise....I'm not going. I'm not upset about it either. I just don't feel comfortable enough yet to be out like that, even with a bathroom nearby. Some times nearby is not close enough. Besides, it will be good for me to have the house to myself for a few days, and not have to deal with the stress of the grandkids constantly bickering, misbehaving, and being total spiled rotten pains in the a**. He can deal with them on his own. My daughter is visiting her dad and sister for the next 3 weeks, so she's lucky to not have to be here and put up with them.

So i'm completely new to this site and actually have no clue how anything works..

Im sat here at 2:40am in the morning really thinking about how it all started for me and IBS, so id might aswell tell you all to get things started, also I need some way to vent my anger and im hoping this works..

My IBS started approx two years ago when I was in my last year of school during revision times for exam's, I also broke my ankle at this time so you can all imagine the stress that was caused from having to revise everyday for 'the most important exams in my life' (by the way they really weren't I was just caught up in the moment then..) and also being unable to move anywere as I had to be sat with my leg up constantly. This was possibly the most painful time in my life yet, the cramps were unbearable and I was soon wheeled away to hospital to have some checks on what was wrong with me. Unfortunatly for me I had already read up on IBS and new id be told I had IBS, not need my ependix removed like the docotors were all saying. So anyway after those vile tests they simply told me I was suffering from IBS and I was going to be left to go home and it would dissapear in a few days never to return. (The pain lasted a few more days and then went)

A few months later after prom and everything was going amazing again, just about to go off to college my IBS started again on the first day of college. I actually could have screamed and burnt that building to the ground, I was so angry with life and wondering why it always seemed to be me with the bad luck! (I was then faced with toilet problems e.t.c (you all know what im walking about, so I wont go into detail unless im ever somehow asked to, remember I have no clue how anything works on this website).

Anyway! a few weeks into the whole college scene and I met someone, they were great but yet again I was given no luck and they decided to end our relationship and leave me for a close friend. After this I spiraled into depression and had to force myself through my first year of college having to suffer IBS for about 2 weeks every month. The pain with my IBS also seemed to get worse and my stools were constantly changing between hard and soft which was annoying. Also through this whole time I got rejected by more people I found attractive and began to self harm and basically hate everything as nothing in my life was going well for me. Especially this IBS that was constantly getting worse and causing my pain most of the time, filling my life with depression.

I have been given anti-spazmotic tablets such as Colofac and Buscopan, but neither have worked and I wouldnt recommend them to anyone. I also have had to have many blood tests to keep checking for what could be causing it all but as I have a huge phobia of needles I had to endure fainting everytime I went to visit the doctor which was great fun.. not!

Back to my little story. So after my first year in college I had managed to figure out the times and months and everything of when my IBS would flare up and sometimes it seems to be certain things that set it of, such as drinking to much soft drinks on a morning as soon as id woken up, sometimes it seemed to be to much milk, others spicey foods, fatty foods and sometimes practically anything that I did set it off. But the main common thing with my IBS is it seemed to come on the next day after drinking alchohol. So I had another visit to my doctor and I told him I smoke on a daily basis and I drink occassionally, both of which he said would most likely make my IBS worse for me.

Anyway! I keep slowly sliding away from the main story im trying to tell! So yes in my second year of college I thought I had managed to figure out all the tricks my IBS had for me, but no! Everything changed and my IBS was flaring up at different times it normally would (Normally it would be on a morning as soon as I woke up). But I will admit it seemed to be slightly less painful and it wasnt on for as long as it used to.

Oh i forgot to mension! the main thing that seems to get rid of my IBS for the rest of a day is if I go to the toilet and then go in a very hot shower and let the water run across my stomache untill my skin goes red, then stay that way for atleast 15 mins and then the pain normally goes for the rest of the day! I really do recommend that if you suffer from the pain caused by IBS because it has saved my day many times!

After a while during my second year of college everything seemd to be going fine, my IBS was undercontrol and it seemed as though the pain was slowly becoming easiler to handle and everything was better.

But no. Now just after handing in all of my finished work and I am ready to have a good time during my summer holidays ready to go to University I find myself writing this on here because everything seems to be back to square one again. My IBS at the moment has returned to how it was the first time, the pain is unbearable and im now having to run to the toilet!
I am completely sick of this stupid illness and want rid of it! Nothing seems worth this pain anymore and realising that I may have this for the rest of my life is actually unthinkable! The industry I am going to work in wouldn't allow me to have time off and it definatly wont allow me to have excuses! so Im sat here thinking. Is anything really worth it anymore? Is there any point in me living my life how I want to? and will I ever be able to live a normal life again..

Hi This is my first blog. (IBS-D free and fluoride free) I am 48 and got my fist IBS-D aged 19. My IBS -D had deteriorated rapidly over the last year and a half. To the stage of being frightened to eat or go out because you need a toilet close by. I have had tests done as many of you on this site have had. showing that I have low digestive enzymes.
I was reading blogs on the net trying to get answers when I came across an article on fluoride. How fluoride added to water had caused IBS-D. This article also stated that fluoride in toothpaste and tea both black and green was enough to cause IBS-D. South East Queensland, Australia, where I live, had fluoride added in Dec 08 (around when my IBS started to get out of control). I went down to our water tank collected water, changed my toothpaste, stopped drinking tea. What a difference, with in a day my stomach had stopped churning with that do i stay do i go feeling. My stools were still loose but no urgency, It is now two weeks, my stools are formed, I had chocolate yesterday and cheese today and all is great. All I can say it is worth a try. It is said to take 2 weeks to get the fluoride out of your system.
There is one other thing that causes IBS-D in me and that is food that is (old) anything over 24hrs old i will not eat the rest of the family does not have a problem. Even fruit like a passion-fruit that is getting a bit crinkled and old will give me urgent D's. (my colonoscopy biopsy
showed that i had reduced alkaline phosphates- this enzyme is said to be useful for fighting off bacteria. maybe that is why I can not eat food that has a slightly elevated bacteria count????)
I hope this can help, as people look to find answers on IBS it sure has helped me and i have tried many different things

Ghrelin affects gastric and proximal (ascending) colon motility. Ghrelin causes amplification of the vagus system in the stomach and causes contractions in the proximal colon. Ghrelin levels and their relationship with gastric emptying time were investigated. Abnormally low preprandial (before food) ghrelin levels and absence of a significant postpandial decrease of ghrelin levels are present in dysmotility-like FD(functional dyspepsia patients). The low preprandial ghrelin prevents proximal colon extraction of water and distends the colon, while at the stomach, the low vago-vagal reflexes don't produce nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase) which dilates the pyloric sphincter and allows gastric emptying. After the meal, the increased ghrelin causes proximal colon contractions, when vagal nerves are inhibited by the precedure in my prior post, which extracts water from the stool and decreases its distension of the colon. This overrides proximal colon stretch's block of the vago-vagal reflexes that empty the stomach.

P.S This entry is to be combined with the last entry.

I am 40 and have had IBS for years but only officially diagnosed last year, I often look through the IBS sites to see if any meetings take place in London, but to my surprise cannot find anything. Does anybody know of a group meetup in London? I would be useless at starting a group myself (I know my limits and time restrictions!) Has anyone else started one? If so please contact me, would love to meet others who know what it is like to both laugh and cry at living with IBS. X

I was so excited the day when I started my blog. PFFFFFFTTTT!!!!! Things have gone from BAD to almost OK to WORSE!!!! UGH!!! I was feeling really great on Saturday and when I woke up Sunday morning I felt like the Goodyear Blimp had some how implanted itself in my gut. Horrible pain, needed to go but couldn't. When I was finally able to go it hurt like no other. I decided maybe it's best if I only use the immodium if I'm having a runny day and need to go out. I have been drinking peppermint tea pretty non stop and it is helping. I will continue with the Align, I know it says on the label somewhere one may experience abdominal discomfort for the first few days.....how do I know the difference? I don't but I think it is actually helping me. I was able to eat a bit more today and I think that will help too. I found some very good gluten free bread mix at the store the other day and baked it this morning. It's really not that bad at all. If I xcould only find a way to make the pain go away from all this nonsense, I'd feel much better. I know I can't fix this overnight and there's a lot of trial and error involved. But I will persevere, I had to miss a shopping trip yesterday and that makes me mad. My daughter is graduating from Middle School next week and we had planned a shopping trip for her to buy a new dress, shoes and to have dinner out. Fortunately my husband could take care of it but I really wanted to be there for her. I guess I should just focus right now on being able to go to her choir concert the day after tomorrow and the graduation next week. Onward and upward I guess is the only way to go right?

I am so happy to have found this website. I have been dealing with IBS-D for too many years. I have dealt with all the nonsense: afraid to leave the house, having to throw away undies in public restrooms, having "accidents" even at home. I know now, that I am not alone and have found some very valuable information here. I'm ready to FIGHT back and get this under control. Until 2 days ago, after finding this site I hadn't been out of my house for 3 weeks. I didn't ever think immodium would do any good so I never took it. After reading that so many here rely on it, I decided to give it a try. It helps. I was able to go out for 2 hours on Thursday, and I was out yesterday from 11:30 am until 3:00 pm. I only had to go to the bathroom once ( I was able to make it on time too) and I would have stayed out longer, but I didn't have anything else to do at that point. I bought several items recommended here. I stocked up on several herbal teas, greek yogurt, Align, fiber capsules, Gas- X, immodium and Benadryl. I am starting my journey not only with using those items, but diet modification as well. My local health food store suggested to eliminate wheat, dairy, nuts, eggs, corn, tomatoes, citrus, soy and fish for 2 weeks and then re-intoduce one item at a time every 3 days. I have also put myself back on GABA for anxiety and 5-HTP for depression. I know it's going to take some time, but I have faith I will get through this.

I was diagnosed with IBS in March of this year and I have most of the symptoms under control by diet, exercise and a few natural pills. The only thing that I can't seem to get control of is the bloating of my stomach. I feel like I am going to explode from all the pressure in there. I also get really bad gas, I know attractive right! I have tried Beano and Gas X. The Beano really didn't help at all but the Gas X helps I just have to take about 6 pills a day to stop the flatulence but I still have the bloating of my stomach that will not go away. I have always been skinny but now I have this extended stomach that will not go away. Some days I am fine but I have not be able to track the pattern and/or determine the cause. Anyone have any advice on this?

After being sick for two years and seeing to many doctors to count in so many different towns I have finally been diagnosed. Although the diagnoses is in I still can't believe what I now how to live with. I have been diagnosed with Lactose Intolerance, severe IBS, Diverticular Disease and a very low B12 count. I am in pain majority of the time, and I spend sooo much time in the bathroom. Somedays I can eat, others days whatever I put in comes right back out. I spend so much time being sick, it affects my family life and my job. We have tried food journals to try and find trigger foods, we have found some, but others just decide to happen when ever they feel like it, what's ok one week makes me terribly sick the next. I've lost 70+ pounds since I've been sick. We live in a very small town so doctors are few are far away. I feel as if almost every doctor I've seen has basically blown me off. I am so many different and weekly shots, does anyone have any suggestions on things that help the pain, things that make the symptoms less, any suggestions to feel like my life is mine again? Any thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I'm new to this website and I'm hoping to meet and talk to others who can relate to what I'm going through. Two weeks ago I got hospitalized with severe abdominal pain and bleeding and the doctors came up with nothing. They suspect Ulcerative colitis but I won't know until I get an endoscopy. Since then, the bloating, gas, diarrhea and discomfort has made me feel so fatigued and just not myself. I've tried limiting foods and just sticking to fish and chicken but so far nothing seems to relieve this. I've always been lactose intolerant so having intestinal issues is not a new thing for me. But this last episode was terrible. I wish someone could just tell me what I should do, what I should eat, and what medications would work so I can at least start feeling better. Another weird thing happening to me is it seems after I eat even the slightest thing (piece of toast for example) I just can't seem to focus on anything, its like my concentration is gone. My blood sugars are fine so I know it's not related to that. I'm only 38 years old and I'm starting to feel like I'm 80. Having to be in bed by 8:00pm and doing even the simplist tasks like folding laundry takes away all my energy. I'm sick of feeling sick. I want to take control of what's happening to my body and fight it and learn everything I can so I can empower myself with strategies to feel good again.

It is very old and I didn't expect that at all. After Sunday's severe episode, I felt all tired out and exhausted, I decided to call in sick and stay home for a day. Just as I thought I was able to relax, the night didn't come good. I had a few non-salted plain crackers during the day, and I have plain congee with 3 very little piece of beef from my hubby's bbq steak. I didn't even eat the time pieces of meat, they are just for taste. I didn't finish the congee, even before that my stomach just doesn't feel well. May be it is anxiety. On Sunday episode, I sweat, I have chest pain and I had shortness of breath. I really thought my heart cannot take the pain anymore! After the episode, I have these tickle tummy feeling on and off. Last night it was the same feeling, tickle tummy and not feeling good at all. I went to bed early, however I finally woke up because of a sharp pain around 2am in the morning. After a couple minutes the sharp pain subsided, I have a BM and it was diarrhea. Having been constipating for so many years it was a surprise for me. The pain was mild after and I was able to sleep till the morning and go to work. I am exhausted.

Yesterday was a very painful day. The pain came at around 3pm from mild to excruciating pain to mild pain again till around 9pm, usually the pain goes away but not this time. Everytime I move around my sweat and pain comes back, and that last till 12am. The very severe shape pain last for about 2 hours. And I vomited very badly during the 2 hours. I sweat profusely. That afternoon my I had bbq chicken and some scallop potatoes we bought from Metro, and I had a small bowl of food cocktail after.

Time seems to go very slowly when in pain. It makes me think about life a lot. Moderate episodes have been creeping on me for the last few months. Stress level was very high since the beginning of the year. Work was and has been very stressful. I also get mad a lot at Doug. For the fact that he has not been working for years now and I am tired. Everyone is telling me I can do better, he is not for me, he is taking the easy way, etc. Last night, I feel I am very thankful to have him. I was thinking about our relationship which I wasn't satisifed, and it was getting worse over the past months. On Friday, we drove to get some groceries, and saw the carnival is opened in the parking lot of a mall. We have been busy (or I have been busy working) so we haven't have done anything together for a long time. He said let's go there and maybe he can win some teddies for me. Well, we didn't go because we were busy doing lawn work on Saturday, and Sunday he has back pain, I was aching everywhere plus my episode. It was sweet that he even thought about going to the carnival with me. While maybe he is lazy, who aren't. It is all the little things over the years that make me love me so much. Although there are a lot of other little things that frustrate me, but all the little sweet moment we have has outweight the little bad things. We are almost middle age, and we still hold hands walking our dog. He is one of the most patient man I have known, everytime we are mad (or maybe I was mad) at something, he is always the one who made up. He take a lot of attitude from me and I know he got pissed off, but somehow anger doesn't seem to consume him more than a hour. I never see he mad before bed. After so many years living together he still kiss me good night and say i love you from time to time. Despite his muscle pain, he still take care of me. It was smelly and gross when I vomit, he clean it up without complaint or annoyance but concern. He put on my favourite jazz station. I guess coming from an abuse childhood, and didn't really see much of love in my own family, I feel blessed. Afterall, is money and constantly working to support me more important than the value of little acts of love?

I remember, when I got out from my last relationship, I pray to have a decide man who is honesty and have a loving heart. God has answered my prayer, and this is not the only prayer he answered.

He has been telling me to relax since the beginning of the year, well actually he has always been telling me so. And I was irate because I think he is too relax. Well, I guess it takes a painful episode to remind me I do need to relax, and put me in a perspective to see what I have, not what I don't have. For people who thinks he is not for me, they don't know the value of our relationship.

I just ate my powdery fibre thingy and some oatmeal, then I had my Restora pilla and now I'm hoping I'll have a good day at school. I have not eaten any of my tricker foods in a long time. My tricker foods are, red meat, eggs, any kind of sauce and sweets. And the no sweets thing? Suuuhuuuucks.
I have this little routine befor school. I wake up really early, like two hours befor I have to be at school. The first thing I do is eat breakfast, my powdery fiber thingy (called "husk" in Danish, don't know the English name) and my oatmeal. Then I wait about 10 minuates. When the 10 minutes are over I take a walk that takes me about 15 minutes. I do that so that I'm sure to use the bathroom befor I have to go to school. Then I shower and get ready for school.
I'm usually at school til 3 pm so I have to eat my lunch there, but I always make sure to eat something at 10 (a banana or something) and then one slize of bread without butter for lunch. If I'm home around 1 pm, I eat my lunch at home. That usually works for me... well not if I get a full on attack though.

I'm very positive about getting rid of my IBS, after I started exercising I feel so much better. Like I said I take a 15 minute walk EVERY day and then I go running 3 times a week and I ride my bike to school and back (like 5 km to my school). That alone has been a lifesaver. And when I found out my tricker foods? The was amazing.

Having IBS made me not want to go out or do anything. The first 2 months after I was diagnosed I didn't leave my apartment for other than school. And at school I was in such agony, by pain and stressing about when and where I had to go to the bathroom. Today, even though my IBS isn't gone yet I do go out like I used to. I wont let it make my body suffer and my social life. I have some tricks though when I go out. I always have extra underwear and pants (or leggings) with me. I know it sounds a bit drastic, but an "accident" has happenden, which was mortifying, but I'm not gonna let that stop me! I'm bringing a pair of undies and pants with me! Suck on that IBS! And then I always have toiletpaper in my bag, if I'm in a car or whatever and can't go to the bathroom, I can always go behind a bush. And I know, I know... but I'm living with IBS and I'm always preperad.

And my IBS is so much better after I startet DOING what I'm supposed to. It is very important that we do all those things that make us better, not KINDA do it but DO IT! My IBS isn't gone, but I'm having much more good days than bad days. I even booket a ticket to Iceland to see my family! I'm so ready to travel again.

And we have to remember not to stress our selves. When ever I feel an attack coming when I'm in puplic I always have this monolog with myself "I controle my body, I controle my body". Hahaha, you must think I'm crazy with all my little "tricks" and stuff. But it works for me!

Well good luck in your struggle fellow IBS'ers!

Yours truly,

Elísabet

Depression, it is become so common nowadays that almost everyone face these days.Nowadays, people are so busy in their hectic schedule that they hardly get time to take rest. Due to this busy schedule, their mind remains busy always and this stress makes them fall pray to many diseases.

Topmost among these diseases is depression. It is spreading like fire even among youngsters. To get relaxed from this continuous depression, people are trying out many medicines. Some are going for herbal treatment also. But one important medication which mostly doctors prescribe is provigil and depression. This is proved very effective for treating depression.

It is always advisable to take provigil because it directly reaches the nervous system of the person and the affects are very apparent after taking it.

Good Morning I have never done this but here goes it. I have a doctors apointment today very neverous did not sleep well I want to make sure I let her know all the problems I have and not forget any made my list. I have had IBS for over six years and have had several test all negative . I have read so much on the boards and books . I have been on a gluten free diet for some time notice some diffence and diary free no caffeine and no beef thinking this all help. I'm so ready for some answers I have a amzing husband so very kind but this is effecting my everyday life I work at a grocery store all eight hour shifts and I can not tell you how hard it is to work when you feel bloated. I'm a very passive person and I know I need to stand up for myself more. My main reason for this apointment is I have you use a enamas once a week to funtion and feel worse afterward : . Thank you so much for listening I'm crying as I write this it is so hard!!!!!!!!!![