I wanted to tell my story after reading some very disheartening stories from very young plus older people.

I'm 62 yrs old and was diagnosed with IBS-D about two years ago. Although I know I have had this disease for the last 20 to 30 years of my life but didn't relate it to what is now happening.

In the last two years I have had 3 Colonoscopies and have had two infections one
on Christmas Eve 2008 and one in October 2009 (hospitalized for 5 days on that one)

I have gone through the cramping stomach, diarrhea 10-15 times a day, aniexty, stress, weight loss, not knowing what to eat, afraid to go out of my house and its not fun. Any meds for cramping had such bad side effects worse than the IBS.

I'm a small bone woman who usually weighs about 104 to 108 lbs, 5'2". I also have Diverticulosis and cannot have any sugar or fruit.

In the past two years my weight has gone down to 92 lbs, up to 94, up to 99, back to 94 and back to 99. I'm happy to say my last Dr. appt. in Feb 2010 I weighed 101. For some that might not feel exciting but when you go from a healthy 108 and down to 92 along with diarrhea and your still eating everyday it starts to feel like your getting malnourished and you get scared out of your mind.

After being on the internet for 2 yrs day and night and trying to figure out why I'm losing weight and trying to control this I have learned a great deal.

It has a lot to do with what you eat and the order you eat your food.

I use Metamucil or Equate Fiber Therapy from wal-mart, Slippery Elm herb (it helps to soothe the colon, Probiotics for good bacteria, Flax Seed Oil, Multi Vitamin,
Stool softeners occasionally and a Cal-Mag Tablet.

I also drink lots of water and eat only Soluble and Insoluble Fiber Foods.

What has helped me is getting on a certain schedule with food, water and fiber.
I have completely stopped eating Red Meat, Dairy, Fried Foods, Margarine, Butter,
popcorn and nuts due to Diverticulosis and stick to Turkey, Chicken, Fish, White Rice (better for colon) flour tortillas, Greens such as Broccoli, Green Beans, Asparagus, Avocados, Potatoes, Pasta, Noodles.

I take two Fiber tablets in the morning with a big glass of water, eat toasted french bread, oatmeal with cinnamon and a little spot of 2% organic milk.

At lunch I take two fiber tablets with big glass of water, baked lays chips or baked corn chips, turkey and avocado sandwich with a little best foods mayo. Or I will have a tuna sandwich with chips.

Dinner two fiber tablets with lots of water, a white roll with smart balance butter, white rice or mashed potatoes, a green veg (broccoli) and a piece of Cod
with lemon or Chicken or Turkey.

I bake the cod in the oven with butter and lemon and barbecue the Chicken and Turkey and Salmon instead of Cod sometimes.

The fiber helps the bowel form and the water and food push it through and the diarrhea should stop.

By staying away from the fried foods, diary (cheese, milk) red meats, pizza, bacon, etc it helps my body to digest better and get on a regular routine.

I was tired of stressing because I didn't know if I could go out of my house and travel or go into town which is 20 miles one way without having an accident. (I carry TP in my car and will pull over and go behind a tree if I have to, if you gotta go you gotta go.

Also by doing things like reading, painting, walking, bike riding, socializing your mind is not constantly on the IBS.

A book that really helped me out and everyone should read is IBS The First Year by Heather Van Vorous. I learned a lot from this book on what to put into your stomach first when your eating. Always eat starchy things first, then your vegetables and then your meat or fish.

There is also a Brochure called What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome written by a woman named Molly. You can find it on www.ibsgroup.org. Its very cute and would be something to give your friends and family so they better understand what your going through.

All I know is I'm not letting this control my life, I'm going to be in control of it. You can still travel, (I take rice cakes, baked chips, oatmeal) with me and you can still eat occasional mexican food or red meat if you eat soluble fibers first such as a roll,white rice, flour tortillas, bread. I still try an occassional Steak, Ribs, Mexican Food, Eggs but not very often but I always eat Soluble food first before I eat these foods. Snacks into between meals should be Rice Cakes, Cornbread, Nuts and Popcorn (if you don't have Diverticulosis) Corn Chips and Potato Chips (make sure they are Baked) The book will show all kinds of soluble and insoluble foods and the dangerous foods to avoid or eat very rarely.

If any of this information helps one person I will be happy. You don't have to let IBS control you, you can rise above it. If I get an accident for one day it is usually because there was something I ate that I shouldn't have. Don't let that discourage you just get back on the safe foods and continue on living.

By: Control It