[fedup123]

I guess I'll post here as the most troublesome and common symptom I have is D.I'll start by saying that I have been having troubles for quite a while - I was diagnosed with IBS at 13 but never really took the meds they gave me and then it seemed to clear up and I'd only have the occassional episode of stomach cramps and diarrhea but nothing too bad. I was more constipated that anything but I never really thought much of it - it was probably sue to lack of fiber and not eating much.But here's the problem - over the last 8 months or so I have seen a major deterioration in the health of my stomach. I'm 19 now and recently started college. The first thing that happened was about 7 months ago - I had very bad pain under my rib cage - it lasted about a week and I put it down to indigestion or gas and took some paracetamol and indigestion tablets and eventually it wen away (looking back I was stupid, I should have gone to the doctors within a few days just to see what it was but I never went to the doctors) I then when through a few months of normality again. I went to college and everything was great for about a month but then I got this horrible horrible diarrhea for about 2 months - in the first month about one night a week I would have very watery stool (but no stomach cramps) and then the rest of the days I would have to go to the toilet about 5-6 times and it would be quite soft. I was also gassy and passing mucous. At first I put it down to a stomach infection or the fact that I was eating (unhealthily) and drinking more than normal (I hardly ever drank before) but I think there is something else going on, espcially considering my past experiences with my stomach. The symptoms have gradually subsided - I think in part because I have cut nearly everything out of my diet - dairy, alcohol, caffeine, sweetner, excessive sugar, fried food, salt etc. But for the second month I still found myself going a lot - especially straight after I had a meal. I also often get indigestion type pain and gas.But the last week the symptoms have gone the other way - I now find myself to be constipated. I feel as though I need to go and I feel mild cramps in my stomach but I just can't! The only thing I can think of is that I started taking some calcium tablet a couple of days ago - half twice a day which amounts to 500mg of calcium. This is very long but it's nice to finally have somewhere to write it all and I really appreciate it if anyone reads it all or if anyone recognises the situation. And finally, I'll just add that I am going to get to the doctors as soon as possible but I don't have one around here and need to wait until I'm back home and even then I'll only have a week and I'm not sure that's long enough to diagnose. I'm just trying to work out how to deal with it until then and the liklihood of it being ibs

 

[Kathleen M.]

Calcium supplements tend to be constipating. It can be a good idea to take them with magnesium (the two work together in the body for some things anyway).Typically for most people 1 part magnesium to 2 parts calcium balances out the side effects. Some IBSers are more sensitive to one or the other so they may need a different balance.You might try some peppermint tea for the gotta go after eating thing (an antispasmodic prescription from the doc can do the same thing) or I sometimes use Peppermint Altoids rather than tea (anything strongly peppermint with real peppermint oil can work) although peppermint can make heartburn worse.Take the antispasmodic or peppermint 20-30 minutes before a meal.