One of the effects IBS has had on me is weight loss. Not surprising since I had periods where I couldn’t eat without crippling pain and explosive diarrhoea. I also have to watch when I eat more than most people, making sure I don’t eat too much at once or something that will set off an attack. Cutting the story short, I’m now a size six (UK sizing, US size two) having shrunk from a size ten/twelve (again UK sizing, US size six/eight) fairly rapidly. I have been this size for over a year now, neither gaining nor losing weight (no matter how much I eat.) My weight is not unhealthy, but is in the lower proportion of the healthy weight for my size.

I realise that this particular side-effect of IBS is not universal, and some people struggle to lose weight, however I have spoken to many people with the same complaint.

The real point of my article isn’t to randomly tell you this though; my real point is that I’m fed up of people commenting on my weight. I’m constantly told I’m too thin, or look anorexic when in fact I’m a healthy weight. Not only is this insulting, but these people do not stop to consider that there may, in fact, be outside factors such as a chronic illness that affect my weight instead of thinking I starve myself in my desire to be a size zero. This is even more insulting when it is said by certain people who know that I’m ill, but act like being thin is my own fault. One person has even said to me “I wish I had this IBS-thing so I didn’t put on weight” – yeah, I’d happily swap if I could.

It is pretty much universally recognised that going up to a larger person and saying “who ate all the pies” (or similar) is incredibly rude and shouldn’t be done. Yet it seems perfectly fine to tell a thin person that they need to eat some pies (or similar). There are people who say that “real women have curves” – the reason behind it is generally fine, just larger women complementing each other, but it often results in discrimination against thinner people and saying they look “disgusting”. It also implies that smaller women aren’t “real” – and since I still have a reflection and can’t walk through walls I dislike that implication.

It is often considered unfair and puzzling when we’re blamed for things that aren’t our fault. Being late for a movie after getting stuck in freak traffic may get us snide comments from friends. A student asked to debate on a topic they don’t agree with may nonetheless be treated like this is their own viewpoint for months afterwards. This can be explained by what is known in Psychology as the ‘fundamental attribution error’ or the ‘correspondence bias’. We assume other people’s behaviour is due to their personality rather than other outside influences.

When we look at other people’s weight – when someone is larger or thinner than we call ‘normal’ – we naturally assume that this is because they have some problem with food, not because they have a disorder. The thought barely even enters most people’s heads that anorexia is actually an illness, not the logical decision to starve yourself. This is all because of this error in judgement.

Thankfully all evidence points to this being a cultural thing – Indian Hindus, for example, assume exactly the opposite.
To conclude, we need more tolerance and less judgement. Of course I advocate being a healthy weight, but if somebody isn’t people need to stop and think that there may be a reason for this instead of making a snap decision that that particular person is anorexic or a lazy slob. I couldn’t care less whether a person is a size two or twenty – and neither should you.

I have had terrible ibs for about 4 years which has progressively gotten worse. I have tried everything that my doctor has given me and nothing helps. It was to the point to where when I wanted to take my wife and 2 kids out to eat that I would need to pick a place close to home, because If I didn't go I would just became victim to these terrible pains. Long story short, I ran into a guy where I work who was selling a product from a company called Isagenix. He told me that I could money selling it and to check it out, I didn't for a long time. He didn't know that i had IBS and that his product could actually help me. It's called Isalean Shake. I replaced 2 meals a day with it and after about 3 days I was feeling a lot better, I didn't have to live in the bathroom, I got to my second meal without having to go. I loved this product so much and it changed my lifestyle so much that I actually have attended two Isagenix meetings in Omaha NE, I have found that their are a lot more people that are benifiting from this product, person after person going up in front of a crowd and telling them that their lives have changed, everybody that talked about it was crying by the end because it is such an enormous life changer. I have worked for the same company for the last 7 years as a salesman. This product is such a dream come true for me that I quit my job and I've started working for myself though Isagenix, I am wanting to help as many as I can escape their terrible pain. I also have now recieved a doctors note to take the product I can supply on demand so I use my HSA account (tax free) to by the product.

The products are guarenteed 100% satisfaction guarenteed, try it out!

buckman.isagenix.com (look at the top let of my site and contact me, I would love to talk to anyone about this, their are several doctors that recommend the product i can connect you with.)

These statements (appearing on this Web site) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

I’d have to say, without a doubt, my worst IBS symptom is the pain. There’s the I’m-not-going-to-stop-you-doing-anything-but-I’m-going-to-make-you-feel-sore-and-rubbish-all-day pain, the omg-ow-ow-ow-CRAMPS pains, the curled-up-with-a-hot-water-bottle-maxed-out-on-painkillers-crying pain, and quite a few inbetween.

I usually take painkillers, but that’s recently started to worry me because:
1. My body’s getting used to them and I have to take more and more for them to have any effect;
2. I’m slightly worried about the long term effects on my liver; and
3. I take codeine when it’s bad, but it always makes me constipated, making the pain worse the next day.

I have yet to find a medication specifically made for IBS that makes any difference, and the only other thing that makes the pain more bearable is heat. Coupled with that is when the pains bad, you can’t do much stuff so it’s curl up in bed and try not to feel sorry for yourself time.

So, how does everyone else cope with pain? I find distraction the best. If one of my flatmates is in I can go talk to them with them understanding the pain I’m in, and I’ve gone through countless amounts of TV series. I particularly like NCIS and House (but wouldn’t recommend it if you’re the type of person who’s prone to convincing themselves that they’re dying of an exotic illness). If you don’t mind violence and explicit sexual content, Sparticus: Blood and Sand has some pretty sexy gladiators in it. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work if I’m in too much pain to concentrate. I have, however, realised that a patch of my ceiling is in the shape of a ghost because I’ve stared at it so much.

Now, I’m from England, so I don’t know how much the term ‘man up’ is used in the US. However, I find it incredibly insulting when I spend a lot of time in pain and somebody tells me to ‘man up’, especially since they’re usually the type of person who acts like they’re dying when they have a cold (‘man’ flu, anyone?) Seriously. There was a medieval torture which involved putting starving rats in a heated bowl on a person’s stomach – the rats would then chew their way though said person’s stomach to freedom. I’ve often thought this would be a good way of demonstrating my pain to those who tell me to ‘man up’. Unfortunately that particular scene will have to remain in my imagination.

Good morning all, I have been sick for about 10 months now with the horrible symptoms you all have. It truly sucks and I'm sorry so many people are in pain. My Dr diagnosed me on monday with IBS, (D) Im guessing. As I'm finding out after much frustration, pain, time and money invested in stupid tests, he (DR) thinks it's a made up disease or primarily in my head. Im also finding my husband is kind of a doush. He sees money money money from the tests and missed work, dwindling sex life and no proof of illness. How do all of you do it? Damn your tough and braver than me. My Dr has no real advice for me and has not at all talked to me how to make life better ie.. foods, medications etc. I guess Im on my own now. Though I am thankful that I found all of you yesterday, I have to admit you confuse the hell out of me. Every one has so many differnt oppnions on how to controll and treat your affliction. So Im sitting here drinking my coffee with lactose free creamer just knowing that I will be sick in an hour or so. I allready feel my tummy turning. ####, I have given up every thing else these last months trying to feel better as well as the 40+lbs I have lost. (Ok yeah I like it...38 and I look HOT in a bikini again, but at what price?)Will I feel better if I quit coffee???? It's my last creature comfort. So Im sitting here crying and getting salt on the rim.. Makes me thing of all the margaritas I will never drink again.. Ok I do dwell a bit in the dramatics. Anyways do any of you still partake in creature comforts or have you given up absoultely everything you enjoy?
Can you tell me what helps the nausea? I have terrible morning sickness every day (before the coffee)and pain after the coffee(probably my fault, but only one small cup) any tricks of the trade? I would love to hear from you all.
I hope you all have a wonderful painfree day.
Best wishes to all of you and thanks for listening to my pitty party!

aghrrr! i just wanto scream.
all i ever hear is IBS is controlable, i just wish somebody would tel me how to control it.
i am 17 living in wales and totally fed up with this,
i have had this for about 2 years now, the first year it wasnt much of an inconvinence but this last year has been unbearable, i can hardly leave the house, i am to scared if i have a problem and need a toilet asap!, but obviously its not as simple as that, people have to work have to look after there familys, i just dont see how i can do that.
i used to be very confident, well presented, in collage, and held down a job, i also taught streeet dancing in the local school. but now i am ashamed of who i am and what is wrong with me, i quit collage and my job, and i also had to stop teaching dance witch i really miss! all because i have this stupid inconvinence!!! IBS-D.
i think the hardest part of having this is nobody seems to understand no matter what i tell them, the doctors just seem to brush me off and tell me its copeable (yeah right!) my mum wants me to go back to collage to do well for my self and my little sister is always seeing me in tears.
i find my symptoms alot worse when i do actually leave the house because i get so worried, its not normal for a 17year old to be stuck in all day. i wanto be out with my friends having fun like i used to! i wanto be the bubbly girl always jumping around smiling, i miss her and my family and friends do to!
people keep telling me to cheer up, but i dont see what i have to be happy about!
i have tried plently of medication and had various tests but nothing seems to help,
what am i ment to do now? stay in for the rest of my life?

They say plastic surgery is growing trend in America but plastic surgery is growing trend all around the world. Plastic surgery is deemed as safe in U.S and for the most part if the individual is aware of the risks and knows for certain that the procedure is what they want. In most places around the world and here in Phoenix breast augmentation is the most popular of all cosmetic surgeries. Like most all other plastics surgeries popularity began to rise in the 90s and women anywhere from 20-60 were having breast augmentation. All around the world and in Phoenix Cosmetic surgery has become so popular that girls as young as 14 are seeking out plastic surgeons to perform their procedures. In the U.S most plastic surgeons will not perform cosmetic surgery on anyone under the age of 18. Plastic surgery is also very costly in the U.S in phoenix liposuction will cost more than likely double than what it might cost someone outside of the country. In the US some doctors have performed the lap band surgery on teenagers and after the weight loss these teenagers are now seeking to have a tummy tuck. In most places in the US and in Phoenix tummy tuck surgery is not to be done on anyone under 20 but some surgeons even prefer that their patient be a little older than child bearing age. Therefore the parents of these young girls and boys are taking them out of the country to have their surgeries. This is reoccurring in a lot of countries but in china it has become a bigger issue than most. One through two percent of all plastic surgery in china is botched; because of this majority of the population in china seeking plastic surgery go to South Korea to have cosmetic procedures.

Generally people seek out the cheapest plastic surgery, but not in China. The cost of plastic surgery in Korea is much higher than the cost in china some doctors some say it is because of the expertise of the surgeon, but Surgeons in China and even Korea where tons of Chinese patients are going for surgery are saying that it is a bad idea to go out of the country in which one lives for plastic surgery. When patients go abroad for surgery the well being and health of the patient may not be cared for. In most cases patients don't know the qualifications of their surgeons and might not be going to a skilled surgeon who has their best interest in mind. Patients who leave the U.S to have plastic surgery usually do so because surgeons in the US will not perform on patients with a history of serious medical problems. In other countries they might not look at the patient's medical history and the risk of death has increased for that patient.

A lot of doctors in the US have seen the damage that doctors out side of the country have done to some plastic surgery patients. Some times the damage is too great to fix and other times the damage might be fixable but the scarring will be a lot. Patients that went outside the country to have plastic surgery in order to save money now end up paying at least twice the amount they would have paid the first time having the surgery done by a qualified surgeon in their state.

My major contract with my current client is over in two months. This contract has lasted for 5 years! I remember, when I was working with kpmg as a senior consultant living a miserable live, I vowed to myself that by 30 years old, I have to have my own business. I did and it failed. The reason I failed was because I was young, inexperience, and quit too soon. Afterall none of my friends and family support the idea of instability to start my own business, while I was fortunate enough to work for a prestige firm. Everybody believe flying here and there, living and eating in hotels everyday of my life is a good life.

I quit my job regardless and found myself a contract work. Being an independent contractor works just like a full time employee, except I don't have the benefits of a full time worker and assume all the risk a business owner takes. So I started my business once again while working full time in this contract. So I didn't really satisfy my goal by the time I was 30. I feel like a big loser at that time. Painful episodes are not helping, everything a really painful one comes along, I start thinking really hard.

I vowed to myself this time, when this contract is over I will be ready to quit and run my real business full time. 2 months, and I am no where near my goal. My business is booming, and I am working non-stop monday to sunday. I start hiring contractors to help out, still I have a lot of work on top of the demand of my current contract. This contract is illed managed, we are working on a 24/7 schedule last month for 2 weeks, this month for 2 weeks, and next month preparing to go live. Not necessarily taking shift since what we do really depends on each other and we only have 3 of us, so pretty much everyone needs to be awake.

My clients from my real business are still happy except for a few, I am trying very hard to keep them happy now. It is very tough when I really don't have time. Like this week with a 24/7 schedule, I am dead tired, having been able to eat the last two days since I don't want to have an episode. Even for the contractors I hire, I still need to manage them, resolve issues with them, communicate expections, etc. I have experience bad managment first hand, I don't want to be a bad manager. While clients care and deliver on time is critical too so I need to baby site all my clients, answer their emails and phone calls takes up a lot of my time. To actually do the work, or need to review them and make sure everything is good before they goes out the door consume a lot of my time too.

I cannot talk to my best friend anymore. He hasn't been my best friend for a long time actually. The reason is simply we are not on the same page anymore. My two best friends, who's mentalty are still trying to fight for promotion on their job. One folking out almost 70K to do an MBA trying to be promoted to senior manager, and the other one are pretty much trying his suck up ways to get there. Since I asked them if they want to come on board with me on this business, and they wanted me to hire them when the business take off and want a title like CEO without willing to contribute anything, I know thats the end of our friendship. We have different goals, but hey, when I am losing steam and stress, when I need somebody to talk to, don't tell me I can join their team and work under them! They know that I help them tremendously whenever they need to my help just because they want a promotion.

That's what they did. Of course both of them has been telling me to get a full time job, thinking I am stupid to have quit my full time job. After all these years they finally promoted to be manager, they start talking to me like I am stupid. I know their skills, and I know their intention. If my business really goes well, I certainly would not hire them, for the simple fact that their goals is to work less and get the highest pay with a title to let them be arragent toward my employees. I cannot afford to hire people who doesn't want to work. Somehow I think there is something about the Chinese man mentalty. As a woman, I don't think they like the idea that I am better then them in terms of career just because I am a woman.

I feel exhaused, and have had a bad episode just a week ago, and feels extremely tired. I feel that I am in a pit that I can never get out.

The procedure, in a nutshell, is this: for one hour after taking coffee and rocking on one’s side, contactions from the proximal colon are induced (and palpable). The above steps are necessary for the cervical traction device (TD) to function. During application of TD, one lies on one’s side while performing neck pulls in order to increase external transmural pressure on the sub-occipital triangle’s muscle spindle afferents. The following analysis of the inputs of the procedure uses known research about how the steps of the procedure work.
Afferent fibers originating from skeletal muscles are activated during exercise and release substance P (SP) in to the NTS (Nucleus of the solitary tract). SP which as will be shown, activates NTS GABAergic (inhibitory ) neurons.
Caffeine,( an Adenosine, A2 receptor antagonist the activates the TMN, which increases histamine projection to the LC, (Locus coeruleus—the originating nucleus of the epinephrine pathway), and activates the LC. The antinociceptive effect of adrenoreceptor stimulation is in its ability to increase SP turnover/release in primary afferent fibers, (projecting to the NTS) and tonically, not deplete SP stores.
The cervical traction device puts pressure on the sub-occipital muscles, which cause the muscles stretch receptors (myofibrils) to project to and activate the ImN (Intermediate Nucleus). The ImN acts to integrate information from the head and neck and relays this information on to the NTS where suitable autonomic responses can be generated. Some intracellular recordings in NTS neurons following stimulation of the InM had both GABAergic (inhibitory) and glutamatergic (excitatory) components. The existence of nitrergic InM neurons which are glutamatergic, corresponded to 45+ 11% of the VGluT2 (vesicular glutmate transporter type 2) population of neurons in the ImN. Fibers labeled for VGluT2 were in close apposition ( an inhibitory configuration) to fibers and neurons labeled for the NK-1 receptor, in the NTS. Therefore, SP acting at its receptor (NK-1) is inhibitory to VGluT2, (glutamatergic), therby only allowing a GABAergic neurotransmitter projection to the NTS, (the SP caused by exercise and coffee).
The effect of GABA in the area of the medial subnucleus of the NTS on gastric motility was studied. Intra-NTS GABAergic signaling between the vagal afferent nerve terminals and inhibitory projection neurons in the NTS that comprise the functionally relevant efferent arm of the vagovagal circuit, (the level of activity in the DMVX (dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus). The activation of DMVX causes decreased cecal contractions. The cecocolonic junction (CCJ) has been suggested to by a sphincter since cecal distention effected a significant CCJ pressure reduction. Therefore a reduction of cecal distension (as described above) would contract the CCJ. The CCJ and ascending colon (AC) showed similar frequency and conduction velocity. The similarity in frequency and conduction velocity of electric waves of the CCJ and AC, denotes that the AC waves are a continuation of those of the CCJ, and that both are evoked by the same motor activity, probably located in the CCJ. The motor pattern of the colon was dominated by rhythmic high-amplitude, low-frequency contractions that were primarily myogenic in origin. These rhythmic contractions were induced by stretch associated with increased tension; the amplitude of the superimposed rhythmic contraction increased with increasing applied tension. This would cause a movement of a bolus of flatus through the proximal colon, reducing proximal distension that inhibits gastric emptying.
Patients with abdominal bloating have impaired gas clearance from the proximal colon. IBS-C patients with delayed transit show greater abdominal distension and bloating than do those with normal transit. Those with delayed colonic and orocecal transits had greater distension compared with those with normal transit. Moreover, distension directly correlated with orocecal and colonic transit times and inversely with stool consistency.

I had another bad "attack" this morning. It was very very painful. Started at around 4am, woke up in pain. Got up, ate a fiber bar. Yesterday, I had a BM like 3-4 times........ so I figured I didn't want to add to that by incoorporating fiber into my diet for the day, but to be on the safe side, I ate a bowel of Fiber One cereal before bed. Take note, my problem is constipation.... and I MUST at least eat two fiber bars and a cup of fiber cereal a day... to stay SOMEWHAT normal MOST of the TIME. Anyway, woke up in pain at 4am this morning and thought I would just DIE of pain. I got up, ate a fiber bar.... and got the heating pad and went to lay on the couch. Got up twice, had a BM each time, still in soooooooooooo much pain. Got up for the third time and threw up. Still pain. I woke my hubby up (at 6am) and asked if he could call into work, so that I could focus on getting better all day while he watched the kids. He said yes and I went to get in the bathtub, hoping that would take my mind off of the pain. Pretty much as soon as I got in there, the pain was gone. It's now 7:44am and still feeling like that painful episode never happened. He went onto work, since I didn't need him here. Hoping it doesn't start up again.

[font="Century Gothic"][/font][size="2"][/size]This is something new for me. I thought since some of my family memebers dont support me and think that I'm lying about this . I thought maybe trying to reach out to others that are going threw what Im am might make things easier on myself. I have had IBS for 2 years that Ive known & was finally diagnosed this last Dec. My doctor hasnt helped me at all so Ive been doing research on my own and trying different things that Ive read on other websites. Ive been missing out on alot of work which isnt good because I need the money to pay for my wedding. Does anyone know if exercise works for any of you? That was gona be the next thing that I was going to try! Wish me luck!

[font="Comic Sans MS"][/font]I have been dealing with IBS for 4 years now. I am on a beradge of pills to keep it undercontrol. I have been reading that people are using Effexor to controle their IBS symptoms. I wasn't given Effexor for my IBS and it's never helped with any of the symptoms nor changed any of them. Now that I am coming off of the Effexor my IBS is really screwed up. I'm sorry if I am grafic but I feel I need to be to get help. So now I am having diarhia then constipation within the same day, stomic cramping, and fowl smelling stool/farts/burps. I don't know what to do I feel like if I go out in public I am going to embarres myself from the smell. Has anyone else delt with this too? This is just so irritating and I'm so freaking done with being sick.

Do any of you deal with random sharp pain at your butt? Or also... pressure at your butt bone?

I have ibs-c and ibs-d. I have chronically severe stomach cramps/pains constantly. if they go away for any length of time, i am left feeling like i was hit in the stomach with a baseball bat or that I am recovering from recent stomach surgery. I have tried every antispasam med but bentyl, i am on lexpro, donntal, levbid, and librax - with no help. has anyone have any suggestions for relief. I have tried fiber meds, but my ibs-d gets uncontrolable. i try and take imodium but my ibs-c gets extremely bad. has anyone found any gentle fiber meds or things that have helped them? I am at my wits end!! Thanks!

It's hard having a condition that nobody acknowledges. We're in pain, like people suffering with major illnesses.... we're unable to live normal lives and there isn't any research to my knowledge... I can't take pain pills, because I have children to care for... and I need to be WITH it. It's just annoying!

BUT, this week has been GOOD. NO pain. And actually not really any discomfort, either. I've been eating two fiber bars a day and like a cup and a half of fiber cereal. And on Sunday, not-even-thinking-of-my-condition, me and the family went out for lunch and I ordered cheese ravioli with baked cheese on top. Basically, an overkill of cheese. But, I stayed with my fiber and I didn't have a problem.

I'm just glad something is working RIGHT now, ya know? Just worried about the right now part.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

I'm starting this blog because I've seen, from other stories here and on other websites, that the fight against IBS can be a long one, and often doesn't follow a straight line...

I have a lousy memory, so I want to use this both to get feedback from others, and to keep track of where I've been in my fight against my "gut issues," so that I have a better idea of where I should go.

After years of having periods of severe bloat, and what is probably IBS-D (or the alternating variety -- is that called IBS-A?), I finally went to a gastro doc with the intention of resolving it. In the past, just when I'd start to think it was bad enough to need doctoring, it'd get better. I've never been able to pin down what sets off my problems (bloat, D, C, farting like crazy, and psycho-sounding gut sounds), and also have never been able to point to what's made them go away.

Right before my first doc visit, I finally tried enteric Peppermint. It was like a miracle cure. I felt so much better that I almost cancelled the appointment. But I didn't, and I told the doc about them, and he said that it's a known fact that peppermint can often REALLY help some people. He said to watch out for the peppermint causing GERD, though -- and, shortly after, I started experiencing a 'metal' taste in my mouth, which I think is GERD, so I've started taking generic Pepcid, too.

The doc set me up for a celiac test, hydrogen breath test for SIBO, and a colonoscopy. The breath test was disappointing -- I suffered NO symptoms, so I knew that ruled that out. The celiac also came back negative (every negative test is a BAD thing, because it makes it less likely I'll get a diagnosis, I think). My colonoscopy's not until next month. I had my last one about 3 years ago, and I believe that they did find some polyps, so I"m nervous about colon cancer.

The weirdest thing is the way the peppermint is acting. I think I forgot to take it for a couple of days, on the weekend. I was feeling so good, that I just didn't think about it. Then I noticed my symptoms coming back - BAD. I started doubling up and taking 2 caps a day (about 3 days ago) but, even though the peppermint seemed to have an almost immediate and miraculous effect when I started it, it's not kicking back in like I hoped. Almost as thought stopping it has messed up my system enough that it won't help me anymore? I hope not...

For my own purposes, I'm going to always try to close with a summary:
MARCH 2010
Celia - NO
SIBO - NO
Peppermint helps, but not if you don't take it consistently?
Colonoscopy coming up...

hi ive had ibs for nearly 20 years most of that 20 yrs i have sufferd from needing to go to the toilet about 5 times a day and not being able to go far from home and when i do go anywhere i have to take atleast 4 imodium before hand. i always need to know where the toilets are when i do get out and about. The past 4 days i have had a lot of pain on my right side of my stomach which tends to be up and around my stomach and i have alot of gas and constipation can any body give me any tips on how to relieve this pain please. thank you for reading this.

I've spent the last three days in PAIN.. and today isn't getting off to a good start either. I've been eating MORE FIBER, I cut caffeine out. The pain has been BAD. Took a vicodin the first day and have just been suffering the other days. The pain moves and I assume it's as the food is moving along in my intestines and through my colon. My insides are SO sore. I haven't had an episode like this since October and I sure hadn't been missing them. I don't know what brought it on? I went ONE day without purposely incorporating fiber in my diet (I had no fiber bars and was sick of oatmeal!) ((BUT ONLY DRANK WATER AND ORANGE JUICE THAT DAY) and that night I ran out to the store for fiber bars and the next day went all to hell. I was miserable. Kind of amusing.. the gastro doctors office called that day and asked how I was "doing." He had left a message for me to report back and a week and let them know if things had changed. I knew there was no reason to do that, so I didn't bother. WELL, they called me. I told the girl I was still having problems... but the high fiber might be helping a bit and she said something along the lines of.... I WAS diagnosed with IBS.... there's not going to be a miracle for me...... I'm always going to have problems. Uh.... exactly... that's why I wasn't planning on calling back with a "report." Over the last three days, I can't tell you how many bowel movements I had, but it was quite a bit. And I am IBS-C. I spent 11 minutes in the bathroom, probably using it constantly for 7 minutes. There was so much pain/pressure yesterday, that it felt as if my uterus was going to fall out everytime I stood up.

I'm just really struggling. It's hard for me to give into IBS and only eat what IT wants me to eat. That won't be anything I want to eat. I've read and read on IBS and they say IBS IS NOT CAUSED BY WHAT YOU EAT. But WHAT YOU EAT, CAN EFFECT YOU. So how do I just go from one day I can eat whatever I want (over two years ago) to now eating NOTHING that I want, just so that I feel like a normal person. Stupid stupid IBS!

My husband REALLY wants me to try a colon cleanser. Has ANYONE did this? To me, I don't see a reason. I have a problem with my insides, they don't like food. Sure a colon cleanser will clear me out but then I'll just get backed up again. My body does NOT know how to handle food anymore! I'm breastfeeding right now, so I don't think it's even an option for me right now, SO my husband suggested an all fresh fruit/veggies for a colon cleansing. And I don't know if I'm just stubborn or what, but I don't feel like I can do that. What... will I fix meals for the kids and him and then chow down on something just blah? While watching them eat? IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got IBS 11/23/09, so I am trying to learn everything I can about it. I have read a few blogs and I am now starting to get scared. Am I going to be in pain all my life? Will I ever get better. I know there is no cure for it but there has to be something to help it? Please if anyone can help thanks so much.

I am trying my best not to feel silly, but I really need a place to complain, vent, and maybe even yell a bit. I've had IBS-C for two years now. I have figured out what my stomach/colon needs and can't stand. I know this alone means I'm doing better than many people. My struggle is with my weight. I can't eat the way I use to, which means I can't manage my weight in the manner that I used to. When I can devote time to organizing my food intake, I'm fine. I can loose and maintain by weight. But I'm also in school working on my PhD. This is stressful and time consuming and doesn't allow much time for focusing on what's best for me. It's gotten better and then it's gotten worse. Just wish I could figure it out.

I don't really anticipate answers with this blog. I just need a place to vent frustrations.

I had my flex sig two days ago. I was SO nervous. The worst part was the two stupid suppositories I had to do. My butt was just SORE. So, after I did an enema at the office, the nurses kept indirectly telling me to do it without sedation. That I would have to pump and dump for 24 hours (doctor said differently, and even pediatrician said differently). After them trying to make the sedation decision for me, I disregarded what they said and went with sedation ANYWAY. They took me into the procedure room and asked my name and birthdate... I told them, they were just rude. I expect nurses to be compassionate, they were anything but. And I almost started bawling on the bed. I mean, here I'm going through with some nerve wracking, something humiliating, something that I'd rather not do-but am tired of 2 years of PAIN and discomfort... and all they give me is shitty attitudes... how dare them! ANYWAYS..... So the doctor comes in, asked me my symptoms and next thing I know... someone askes me what I want to drink........ soda or applejuice. Then they wheel me out of the room, take me back to the room I started in and I asked for my husband. I didn't realize it at that time, but I was messed up. I didn't even think I had fallen asleep for the procedure. I was confused. The doctor came in at that time, told me he didn't see any polyps but that my colon was inflamed and they took a biopsy, I should hear from them in a couple of days.

Well I did today. I don't have coalitis so i've been AGAIN diagnosed with IRRITABLE BOWEL. He told me to STOP caffeine and dairy products and to start a HIGH FIBER DIET.

WE'LL SEE HOW THIS GOES...