[m_m_forth]

I don't know where to begin. I think I have IBS, and I am getting worse, despite all my efforts. About 6 months ago I started getting diarrhea once/week. Prior to this I suffered from a dull-aching tummy infrequently and gas and bloating every day. This went on for about 9 years. My doctor at the time diagnosed me with IBS after an upper GI series and blood work for Celiac's. My recent Doctor carried out further testing (fecal occult blood ect). I have tried Dicetel, and Modulon, and am now trying Buscopan. None have worked so far. For quite some time I have been taking a soluble fiber supplement (first Metamucil, then Citrucel). Lately I decided to adopt the dietary approach and I am getting worse! I haven't even gone a week this time. I just don't understand why the sudden change? I have tried to explore all the possibilities of things I may have changed but everything has come up nil. I am feeling so frustrated and depressed. I cannot live my life! Today I got Heather Van Vorous' book, the first year. I have been reading up on the IBS diet for a while and always thought that the triggers didn't apply to me. 99% of the time dairy is fine for me, and I can eat red meat. I have always watched fat consumption because I've always been a health nut so anything I eat is rather lean. Can some people with IBS eat dairy? I can't eat soy, so I don't know what to do if I have to give up dairy. I don't know what to do or try. I have been eating a lot of soluble fiber and it doesn't seem to have made a difference. My specialist appointment is so far away (Feb. 25th). Any advice or insight is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[eric]

Realist sorry to hear your having a hard time.When was the last time you say a doctor?Also you have to realize foods do not cause IBS, yes they can trigger it but so can many other things. A lot of times it is a combination of things that trigger IBS also."Can some people with IBS eat dairy"YesThis is also something to read just for the sake of it.Chronic Diarrhea: Could It Have an Everyday Cause? http://www.aboutibs.org/Publications/chronicdiarrhea.html This is information on fiber also. IF you did not gradually add fiber it maybe the culprit. It can create more gas and the gas puts pressure on the nerves in the colon and hence more pain.Fiber info http://www.parkviewpub.com/fiber.html Some people they know now don't do as well with fiber, but you have to add it slowly to find out and it can takes up to 8 weeks.For some it does help and for others they sometimes give up before they find out.Also I know very much so how IBS can depress a person, but the negative feelings make the IBS much worse. Its a chemical thing where your thoughts can change the chemistry and make the IBS worse.Negative thoughts make it worse and positive relaxing ones make it better, especially pain, but also d.So the stress reduction and working on anxiety is super super important. You cannot say this enough.Hope this helps.PS have you read all the hypnotherapy studies for IBS? It is argueable the most effective treatment for IBS and for global symptoms at this time through IBS research.

 

[nmwinter]

realist I don't beleive that diet is the only answer. For some, dietary changes make a world of difference but for others, like me, they aren't the answer. If I am doing well, then I can eat just about anything. If I'm not, then I ave to baby my system but even then I never know.I have no problem with dairy in term of IBS. I am lactose intolerant but as long as I take lactase enzyme, dairy is not a problem. Since you say 99% of the time you're fine, it's probably something other than dairy.BY the way, I also second what eric says about hypnosis. He knows far more but as a user, I can not recommend it highly enough. I also use calcium to help out to avoid D although have to be careful that I don't get constipated from it.nancy

 

[m_m_forth]

Thanks so much for the replys Eric and Nancy. It means so much to me.

I think you are both right. I am disappointed in myself as a student in psychology, being so resistant to acknowledge the role of the mind in all this. Last night, when I couldn't sleep I finally remembered when my D problem began. I have always been under a lot of stress, mostly due to school, but since April I guess I have put the icing on the cake. Starting in February, I travelled across Canada in a very short time checking out graduate programs and meeting people, then I had to decide where I was going to go, then we had to find my fiance a job where I was going, then we had to sell his house and find a place, then we had to move. After we moved, I had an emergency hemorroidectomy (an ER thing went wrong), and since then I have been behind and stressed that I will have another episode. Now I am stuck in a self-perpetuating cycle. How do I get out of it? I also used to take martial arts, but stopped around the time I started getting D. That was very relaxing for me (it was traditional, about uniting the mind, body and spirit, not just Jackie Chan stuff). Anyway, can you guys control your symptoms with hypnosis? Have you gotten better? I am guessing you have in some way, or you wouldn't do it. I am not a proponent for hypnosis, but I will try anything at this point. I think some form of stress management is in order. Does anyone have any other suggestions or stories? Nancy, how do you know when you are in a better place and don't have to baby yourself? Eric, can you eat dairy? I so badly want to get back to where I was, but I don't know if that's possible. I guess I should be happy if I don'

t get worse. Compared to many other people here, I am still lucky. Thanks again.

 

[SophieUK]

Hi,sorry to hear you're having a hard time. From my personal point of view dietary changes have helped a lot, but cutting out gluten rather than dairy, and also being careful about things like caffeine. I have tried hypnosis and it didn't seem to help my IBS, but it did make me very relaxed!Probably the message is, unfortunately for us IBS types, this is quite a complicated syndrome and there is no one answer for everyone. It's more of a trial and error thing until you find something that helps you, be it diet or hypnosis or whatever.Good luck!