D., Welcome and be sure to look at the multitude of threads and topics available to you on this forum. Since this seems new for you as a diagnosis, I should point out that IBS is a "rule-out" diagnosis meaning that you have been TESTED for just about everything else under the sun. Tests should have included blood and stool(three in row) to test for bacteria, bugs and parasites, perhaps an upper and lower GI with samples of tissue and fluid and even a small bowel scan. These are just the basics to be sure you did not catch something or have a disease. The stool tests and I mean TESTS would have been critical!!! Things like severe pain, bloody diarrhea, fever could indicate something besides IBS and demand more extensive GI studies. Now the good news: If you do indeed have IBS-D and you keep reading and trying things, eventually some combination will control your symptoms enough to go out and get your life back. People with IBS-D have found relief from probotics, dietary changes/elimination of dairy or wheat or other food groups/fake sugars; or taking antibiotics, antispasmodics, antidepressants, using biofeedback, finding and taking supplements such as calcium and vit D, and a host of strange and common herbals too long to list here. I personally have IBS-D with SIBO (bacterial overgrowth). I take a specialized probotic with only the bifiobactrium strains because my stool sampleS were found to be missing this important gut flora entirely. I take antibiotics for one week every month because my small bowel does not clean itself properly. Aside from that I have taken antispasmodics and antidepressants when I've been really bad. Also, I take Imodium, Calcium and a very high D supplement since I am deficient and I eat all organic everything. So, long story short, if you have not had more tests, you may need them since diarrhea for SIX months that came on suddenly is cause for a doctor to dig deeper than saying it is IBS-D. I am not a doctor but I do have this conditon and I work in healthcare. The STOOL tests would be critical!!! If you are not getting the medical care you deserve, find someone more aggressive who will be your partner in health!
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