[cakes1]

Hi all, I have had IBS (alternating D&C) for quite a few years now but recently I seem to be suffering more often than not. This is my first time on this site and I was hoping that maybe someone out there has the same sort of symptoms and could offer me some advice. My symptoms are so varied that it is hard to put into words but here goes:Most of the time my symptoms come in the evening into the wee hours of the morning (many sleepless nights)although, it has bothered me during the day.*nausea*bloating*C and D*chills, shakes (not always, but frequently)*dizziness*churning, burning stomach*cramps*pain (ranging from lower abdomen to ribs to back & sometimes what feels like chest pain)I seem to be okay for a week or two and then my IBS flares up for a week or two or more! (I am currently in week 3, hence, I am here)I am in my early thirties with two young children, I work full time and I don't have time to feel sick all the time. I try to keep going and not let it stop me but that is exhausting. HELP?! What can I try?P.S. My last round of testing showed that I have a hiatus hernia as well.

 

[eric]

welcome to the bb married mom, there are a lot of things to do and try, most successes with IBS are stress reduction and diet changes and finding dietary triggers.Here is a couple good sites to look over. http://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/fgidc/ http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00106&si=1096 http://www.aboutibs.org/ These are accurate IBS sites, so you know.Sorry to hear your having a hard time.

 

[Guest]

Stress can be a trigger. Have you noticed the flare ups corresponding with an increase?

 

[cakes1]

Thanks for responding so quickly! I know stress plays a big role, but "LIFE" is stressful, I can't help that and I try to deal with it the best way I know how. Maybe I should learn how to deal with it better.As for food that triggers, well, I can't really pinpoint it. I can eat something one day and it doesn't bother me, but the next day it will. I take prevacid on a fairly regular basis, but more and more it doesn't seem to be working as well.

 

[overitnow]

I had 10 years of constant daily d, 20+ years of heartburn/indigestion that slowly increased in frequency until it, too, was daily and finally constant. In the last year of this I began to experience midnight reflux which was also increasing in frequency. In 1998 I began to take a flavonoid blend called Provex CV for cardiovascular health and found it relieved the d and eliminated the heartburn. I have never had another ocurrance of reflux. Over time my frequency has gone from 6-8 times a day to urgent to non urgent. I am now once a day and well formed. No cramping, no heartburn, no bowel problems. Regular.If you find nothing to give you that level of relief, drop me a line.Good luck with this.Mark

 

[eric]

MarriedMom, yes life is certainly stressful, especially with IBS.The important thing is learning techniques to change the way we react to stress and to keep our gut brain axis calm.In IBS also emotions can trigger symptoms.Many of us have done HT with success and some CBT, but general relaxation is a major plus. You might want to look over the CBT and HT forum for safe natural treatments.Others have managed the symptoms with antidepressants whcih may also help with pain and anxiety.Or both.There are a lot of different ways to manage IBS, some effective some not. There really isn't any magic piull. Some people do okay on new drugs they have for IBS and you can talk to your doctor about those also.Foods don't cause IBS, but can trigger the symptoms. Fats are a big one and foods that produce gas. Those two are a good start.If your symptoms have recently changed, although seasons can do this and it can wax and wane on its own. It would be a good idea to see a doctor.It also sounds like you may have some upper gi issues.It is also a red flag that this wakes you up from sleep and that the doctor should know about. I would honestly suggest a trip to the doctors at this point.

 

[cakes1]

Thanks to all of you for responding... I wouldn't say that my 'symptoms' are changing too much, just a more frequently. (that could be stress related)I'm sure that you have all heard this before.. but one of the reasons I came to this site is because I am sick of going to the dr for him to say that I just have to live with it. I feel like a broken record. But I should make another appt. My symptoms don't wake me up at night but prevent me from falling asleep. I find something to keep myself busy until it passes, because I know that if I lay down it will get worse. I have had bowel problems since I was a child, and diagnosed with IBS ###18. Mark - thanks for your insight - what works for you may not work for me but at least I know there is hope! And I will try anything at this point!Does anyone know if IBS is hereditary?

 

[overitnow]

Hi Mom-I've learned a couple of things about this condition and human nature since hanging around here:God did not pick me out of the crowd to blight me with this condition nor to redeem me from it. What works for me will not work for everyone, because we all do not have the same "cause"; but what works for me will work for others because neither the condition nor the supplement is magic.If you spend your time looking for the perfect therapy before trying anything, you may never make a choice and the first failure may kill your resolve. There are probably about 5-10 non-prescription approaches to this. Each one of them has helped some people overcome this problem. Assuming that good health is the issue rather than money, it might take you about 6 months to run through enough alternatives to make a decision. (I know Provex comes with a guarantee; I can only assume that these other therapies--Ibsacol, Caltrate, Mike's Tapes, etc.--also do.) Do not let your victimization by this condition colour your judgement. Those of us lucky enough to be on the other side of IBS would like to see as many others join us as possible, whatever the path chosen. Get busy.Mark

 

[LNAPE]

This is what has helped me for more than 5 years with almost daily attacks of urgent diarrhea after having my Gall Bladder removed. Calcium is known to be constipating so if you are that IBS type do not take it. All calcium is not the same. Here is the what and how to take the calcium information if you suffer from diarrhea.Calcium is an OTC supplement we all do not usually get enough of. No Rx is needed to purchase this.When you take calcium about 40% of the dose gets to the bones the rest is eliminated in our waste. The calcium goes to the intestines and soaks up excess fluids and binds them together and they are gotten rid of in our waste.This is a process that can be continued by taking the calcium carbonate on a daily basis thus giving a more formed BM.There is calcium carbonate which helps us with diarrhea and there is calcium citrate which is more easily absorbed by the body and gets to the bones but is not as helpful in controlling diarrhea.A lot of the calcium supplements contain a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. Magnesium is not helpful for us with diarrhea only causing more in most cases. So, do not purchase this combination. It will only make things worse. Also if you are taking a multi vitamin with magnesium this may be a source of some of the problem if you are having diarrhea. Also for me vitamin C and E seemed to cause me stomach upset.The dose to take is different for everyone. I must take 3 a day one at each meal and it does not make a difference if I take it before during or after just take it regularly. Taking them at least 4 or 5 hours apart is also necessary so the calcium has time to go through the system and soak up excess bile and water. Sometimes, because of the long number of hours between dinner and breakfast it may be necessary to adjust your timing to taking one at bedtime with a small snack to get better results if you are a person who usually suffers from diarrhea in the mornings.The most success has come from using any formula of calcium supplement that is like Caltrate 600 Plus with Vitamin D and Minerals in the purple and white box. This information is from the many users that have sent me emails and of the posters on the web site. I hope this will help anyone wishing to try it and I am always here to answer any questions for you. I have a lot of feed back form many users.You must also have some testing done to be sure you are not dealing with anything more serious. This is most important.There are other things to consider. If you take any other meds check the side effects and also check with the Doctor or Pharmacist to see if taking calcium will interfere with your other medications and how you might take them. I know if you take thyroid meds it is important not to take the calcium at the same time but maybe 4 hours apart. The calcium will soak up the thyroid medication and you will not be getting the benefit from it. You should also look at the side effects of any other meds you may be on this can contribute to the success or failure of using calcium to help to control your diarrhea. You may also consider if you are constipated and taking calcium this may be the reason for your constipation. You can most likely switch to another form of calcium to relieve this also.The only side effect is at the beginning of taking the calcium, you may have some gas or indigestion but this usually goes away soon after taking a regular dose for a few days as your body adjusts to the added calcium.Starting with 1/2 tablet doses with each meal will lessen this problem and it may be enough to control the diarrhea attacks without making you constipated.Constipation can be a problem so be careful not to take too much. It is safe for most of us to take 1800 mg a day as long as your body processes calcium correctly and you do not have some underlying problem. Check with your Doctor.I had my gall bladder removed in 1976 and from that time on I had suffered urgent attacks of diarrhea. Went through a lot of test but nothing else could be found. I took many of the meds for bowel spasms and cramps over the years but nothing ever seemed to help. I started to take a calcium supplement to help prevent bone loss in later years and from the first day I felt relief. I was pretty much a prisoner to the bathroom or had to go without eating to be able to leave the house.I must take 1 tablet with each meal and the diarrhea does not come back if I miss taking it I get diarrhea. It is a trial and error situation to find the right amount that may help you.The way it works is the calcium carbonate it a binder and when you take it only about 40% of the calcium gets to the bones and the rest is gotten rid of in our waste. During that process it gets to the intestines and soaks up excess bile and water and helps give a more solid BM. Now that you have no gall bladder the bile fluid goes directly into the intestines and causes irritation and diarrhea. The calcium carbonate soaks this up and no more diarrhea. It works great for a lot of us and you just have to take the calcium regularly and do not miss.I started with Caltrate 600 Plus with vitamin D and minerals and it does seem to make a difference in the ingredients of calcium... This one seems to do the best job for most. You can buy other store brands of calcium with the same ingredients that work just as well but they need to have the same ingredients. I get Member's Mark Brand from Sam's Club you get 300 tablets for 8.99. Let me know if you need more help. You won't be sorry if you try it.I suggest starting with 1/2 tablet with each meal at first this may be enough to control the diarrhea if not in a few days up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal or any combination there of. The side effect is constipation so if you feel it coming on just cut the dose. It is important to use a calcium that is as much alike as the Caltrate brand from the feedback I have gotten.Let me list the ingredients:Vitamin D 200 IU (The sunshine vitamin needed to help the body absorb calcium)Calcium 500 or 600 MG (This should be calcium carbonate form) (Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Calcium is vital to muscle and nerve function, blood clotting and metabolism.)Magnesium 40 MG (No more than this amount because magnesium will cause you to have diarrhea but because calcium is constipating the magnesium helps to counter act that effect) (Magnesium is essential to build bones and is needed for muscle function, energy metabolism, trans-mission of nerve impulses and to make genetic material and protein.)Zinc 7.5 MG (Zinc is necessary for some metabolic processes, normal growth and sexual development, and proper immune system functions.)Copper 1 MG (Copper promotes iron absorption and is essential to red blood cells, connective tissue, fibers and skin pigmentation.)Manganese 1.8 MG (Maganese plays an important role in metabolism and is also needed to build bones and tendons.)Boron 250 MCG. (Improves calcium and magnesium retention. Similar improvements can also be seen in Vitamin D deficient post-menopausal females.)There are other brands with the same ingredients so get something as close as you can. Then start with 1/2 tablet with each meal and in a few days if this is not enough to control your diarrhea then up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal. If you feel you are becoming constipated then cut back on the dose. You may have to stop the calcium completely then start back after you have a BM at a lower dose.It has been working since the first day I started taking it July 1998 and as long as I take 3 a day (this is the amount I must take it may be different for you) I remain diarrhea free. No cramps, bloating or diarrhea.The dose you take with each meal is not the dose that is helping you at that meal it is the prior ones that have time to works their way through you system to soak up excess bile and water in the intestines.It also works for those of you who still have the gall bladder.It is worth a try and I have been getting some good feedback from Lotronex users who are getting some help with the calcium. You may want to read some of the post on www.ibsgroup.org message board about how much it has helped so many.Take Care,LindaOthers who have also had success with calcium: http://www.ibsgroup.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php...c;f=42;t=000001 LNAPE###AOL.COM