[Fiona 123]

HiI have been told I have IBS-C, and had it since sept 09. I have had all tests - endoscope, CT scan, Small bowel meal, colonoscope,and thankfully nothing has shown up. But when the cramping gets bad I carnt beleive that its IBS and not some growth. I'm om Nortripyline 20mg and spasmonal and buspar.I have been off work since September 09.How do people cope with IBS in there lives.?At the Mo, I just carnt see me every getting better, and just want to be pain free. I was wondering how long it will take before the Nort will start to work.any advice fiona

 

[thelibertine]

It can take a while for medications to start working, also sometimes it might not be the best one for you and you may have to try different ones to help.IBS is something that you get more used to and therefore more used to the pain and are able to put up with it and carry on. It's important to have people around you that are understanding, friends, family etc. do not suffer in silence it will make your condition worse! try to distract your brain and that usually helps as well.I've had it for 3 or so years and I try my best to cope, it is not always easy, sometimes it is damn right impossible and I do crash but I have those people around me, even people on this forum, who can offer some comfort, even if not physical.For pain: have you tried hot water bottles or packs? I use a hot water bottle almost daily, which is somewhat bad for my skin but it really is the only thing I've found to help, apart from codiene which will not help you as you are ISB c and it constipates.

 

[Yukie]

Personally, it's been a year now and I still haven't cope. I get angry when I think about how energic I use to be, how I loved to cook and go out with friend. It guess it depends of how strong willed your are and if you have supportive friends.

 

[Kathleen M.]

I know it can be hard to believe that "nothing" hurts as bad as IBS does.Usually tumors and other growths mostly start hurting only when they are big enough they start pushing on other things, or disrupting the function of other things so the nerve pain of IBS is actually a lot more likely to hurt than a "something".When nerves go off because they are damaged rather than for "some good reason" often they cause more pain and it doesn't really have much of an "off" button like when a cut heals or anything you are used to when the "something" goes away and the pain stops.Now nerves do sometimes get back in sync with the rest of the nervous system and stop making the inappropriate pain signals, and the kind of drugs you are taking can also with a bit of time (I'd give it a month or so, and it may not be completely relief but enough relief you can work and stuff) calm the nerves down enough.Sometimes the pain drops off gradually and people think it isn't working, but may notice the difference if they quit too soon. So try to be patient with the drugs, and it may take a bit of experimentation for the doctor to find the right one/right combination for you. So sometimes the first trial doesn't work, but another drug will, so try to be patient.

 

[pukka]

I was diagnosed with IBS-C in 2002. I had a really hard time 2007-2008. I was having a lot of pelvic pain and found out that I had endometriosis. I had surgery and the pain continued, went to endo specialist and he told me the pain came from the IBS not the edno. I was having terrible periods, so had I another surgery (endometrial abaltion) where they burn off the lining of uterus (minimally invasive) and I have not had pain ever since. I dealt with pelvic pain for one year and I refused to take meds for the pain. I do have bloating from time to time, but not as bad as before. I believe there is a link between IBS and the menstral cycle. I still get a periods, but very little (1 day). I have all my parts (did not have a hysterectomy). I got diagnosed with Candida in Nov 2009 and am now trying to deal with that problem. My IBS is there. As I said before, I do get bloating from time to time, but I have no pain. Except now that I started the treatment for Candida, I am getting a bit of abdominal pain. I belive it is part of the die-off period with Candida. I survived the worse year of my life. You will survive IBS. Btw, one thing that helps my IBS-C termendously is coffee and at night (it has to be 1-2 hours before bed) I have a probiotic yogurt with benefiber and 5-6 prunes. In the morning I have coffee and my C is gone. This has been the only thing that works for me. When things get bad (too much bloating) I take a rubinol for a few days and then back to normal.

 

[Fiona 123]

Thanks for all your replies.

I know I have to be patient. The thing is I have tried Mebeverine, Buscopan, Colpermin, all didnt really work. Now on Spasmonal, and I fear if this doesnt stop the cramping , I have nothing else to try. These seem the only ones in the UK.Hopefully the nortripline will work with the nerves. I will give them a month or so, and god willing they will help.Realy wish I could go to the loo, thou. Thanks for the coffee tip,I'll try it!Fiona x

 

[nrep]

Hi there,Just wanted to add my two cents. Nortritaline is a tricylcic and a side effect of the tricyclics is constipation. Yes, it should help with pain, but I would wonder if it also further complicates the situation. Other types of antidepressants such ass SSRI's do not share this same constipating effect, and can many times even help with constipation.I wish you luck on this road to recovery, or more realistically management.all best!

 

[chrissy456]

I honestly have no idea how anyone can cope and be happy with this problem. I have pretty much given up and everything in life since my life is nothing but being bloated and full of poop. All I really have to keep me going is the face that if I died there would be noone to take care of my cats and I love them.I think anyone who can cope with this doesn't have it as bad as others and are very lucky.

 

[BQ]

Chrissy I don't think ANYone is "happy" with IBS. Everybody on the planet has weaknesses with their bodies somewhere. Everyone has something.. we have this. It is a matetr lf learning to manage our symptoms. Most people find.. through trial & error.. that a combination of treatments used in concert is what helps the most.By the way.. have you seen this advice essay by our Dr. Bolen? You might find it helpful...http://www.ibsgroup.org/node/515All the best

 

[chrissy456]

I've tried so many different things and different combinations of things and nothing helps at all. I really don't know what else there is to try. Also I would give almost anything to be free of this and have another problem that didn't ruin and control my life 100% of the time.

 

[BQ]

Chrissy it seems you suffer most from constiaption. I know you said in a prior post that you do not want to take laxatives... but maybe it is time to take SOMEthing on a daily basis to help prevent the constipation. I know you said you have tried diet.. but have you added anything like some prune juice to your regime? Well why don't you post and tell us everything you have tried so maybe we can guide you better.You might want to post your own thread about it though.

 

[thelibertine]

Have you thought about osmotic laxatives? They work by increasing water to the bowel and are a gentle none dangerous laxative.

 

[bigguns]

I have had IBS - C/D for about 5 yrs, I've been through most of the stories, pains, inconveniences that you can read on this forum.. it has affected me in every field of my life: health, job, relationship etc, to the point of distability, depression etc.Until the day I happened to view a channel on Yoga and started practising - 'Kapal Bhati Pranayama': a special breathing technique that guides the 'life force energy' to different internal organs & parts of the physical body. The abdomen organs get massaged internally and are supplied with plenty of oxygen. The technique also enables the release of endorphins too that act as anti-depressants. The feeling of anxiety that triggers IBS symptoms gets eliminated too.It takes only a few weeks to notice the change and upliftment. Practising under the guidance of a competent yoga master is important, it takes about 3 - 6 months for severe IBS patients to eliminate almost all symptoms of IBS. In my case I stopped my medication from the first month only after starting the breathing technique called 'Kapal Bhati Pranayam', which had stabilised my symptoms. I could eat anything like any normal person, even spicy foods and any drinks.Please check the site for the breathing techniques by Swami Ramdev (A very famous Yoga teacher who revived the ancient Yoga practices to help cure millions in India and the rest of the world) for more information:http://knowyoga.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=4It is really worth doing Pranayam with a trained and competent teacher.. whatever couldn't be cured by medicines for me for years got cured in a few months by the breath only.I have followed advanced Yoga courses last year to become a Yoga teacher and I volunteer for a charitable, non-profit, humanitarian NGO today and I reach out to those requiring help with their health, together with a group of world wide teachers.All the best.

 

[annie7]

bigguns--thanks for the link. i practice breath meditation and a little yoga and this link is quite helpful--a good review and a good shot in the arm, so to speak.

 

[TummyDepressed]

Chrissy... I really feel for you. It is horrible to think you are so depressed and only have cats to live for.I can understand, though, how IBS could take over you life to the point where you exclude everything. It is just easier that way.The problem is though, whilst this lets you cope in your own way, you can get in a cycle where IBS is the beginning and end of everything.Are there TV shows you enjoy? Do you EVER feel relaxed? It sounds like your anxiety levels are through the roof.Do you exercise at all? That is my biggest lift. I can feel normal after a gym session. I think if you shared with us it would really help.

 

[bigguns]

Thanks Annie7, another link everyone can try, which has useful demonstrations & tips:http://www.ipranayam.com/(Please note that these practices should be done with empty stomachs only)Fiona 123, chrissy456, we don't have to let IBS take control of our life and be unhappy when there is a way out.It's good to note that NHS (UK) has started to work with NGOs for teaching, practicing and prescription of Yoga and Pranayam to patients. You can also search on the net for medical research reports conducted by american universities together with 'Patanjali Yog Peeth' concerning IBS on the positive results and considerable health improvement of patients who practiced breathing exercises.Take care.

 

[Janei]

Hi Fiona,Welcome! I am in Leeds-so not to far away from you and am feeling just like you are right now!Was diagnosed in Sept 09 too and seem to have got worse since then, which I think is down to my worrying about it too much.Am mostly C and can't seem to get my diet right...what about you??If you want to email me then would love to hear from you - [email protected] careJane x