[Guest]

My 21 year old son was having various health problems (pains in his chest, weakness in his legs, constipation, infrequent diahrrea, problems with stress) and went to family doctor who referred him to a gastro doc. At one point we rushed him to the hospital because he thought he had appendictis. He didn't. That triggered many tests. After all was said and done, his gastro doc gave him a pamphlet on IBS and told him to follow all the suggestions. He has not been too good about changing his diet but we are trying (21 year olds tend to have full schedules and don't think about their health until they feel bad).That is what puzzles me about his IBS - he doesn't have the very serious complications I've read about on this forum. Mostly, constipation and that is not real frequent but enough to be bothersome. Tonight, he said he really did not feel hungry. He also said he had an overall feeling of just not feeling good which was hard to pin point just what his complaint was. But he does having a general feeling of fatigue particularly weakness in his legs. Is this how someone would feel if they had IBS? I will say that at the age of 3 after beginning potty training, he had a fecal impaction and the doctor had to treat him.It was not a pleasant experience. Any help anyone can give me on this would be most appreciated. I guess I'm trying to find out if this is what an IBS sufferer goes through: Normal days, something causes stress, general feeling of feeling bad, next constipation, not really wanting to eat, with my son he can have a BM and then he is okay. I don't know if IBS gets worse or if you can do things to change your habits and live a normal life. I am very ignorant of this but searching the web for information. thank you, Andy's Mom

 

[Guest]

Andy is going to have to get personally involved in this. There's not a lot you can do for him. None of us on this BBS want to be sick, and if there was something we could do or take to make it go away, we would. The symptoms of IBS run the gamut from a mere annoyance to completely disabling. Ignoring it won't make it go away.

 

[Guest]

Andy is going to have to get personally involved in this. There's not a lot you can do for him. None of us on this BBS want to be sick, and if there was something we could do or take to make it go away, we would. The symptoms of IBS run the gamut from a mere annoyance to completely disabling. Ignoring it won't make it go away.

 

[wanderingstar]

Welcome to the board

I hope your son will be able to join us if he feels like it. There are people of all ages here. ------------------susanIBS D/C type & M.E/CFS

 

[wanderingstar]

Welcome to the board

I hope your son will be able to join us if he feels like it. There are people of all ages here. ------------------susanIBS D/C type & M.E/CFS

 

[UKgirl]

Hi,I'm fairly new to the board and I've had IBS for about two years - I'm 24 by the way. I just wanted to remark that IBS gets everyone differently. Some people on this board have very very severe problems and some "lucky" ones, like me, have a more mild kind.My IBS seems to be a similar kind to your son's. I get stressed (if I have to go to the city for example) then once I relax and have a meal (I never feel like eating when I am out on business) I get bad cramps and gas, which always culminates in a swift visit to the bathroom with D, after which I am usually fine apart from feeling a little bit like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards!Everyone's different though, which is why you won't see a "typical" posting on here, just lots of different probs.I'm really bad about moderating my diet too - just can't resist my favourite foods!Good luck with it all

 

[UKgirl]

Hi,I'm fairly new to the board and I've had IBS for about two years - I'm 24 by the way. I just wanted to remark that IBS gets everyone differently. Some people on this board have very very severe problems and some "lucky" ones, like me, have a more mild kind.My IBS seems to be a similar kind to your son's. I get stressed (if I have to go to the city for example) then once I relax and have a meal (I never feel like eating when I am out on business) I get bad cramps and gas, which always culminates in a swift visit to the bathroom with D, after which I am usually fine apart from feeling a little bit like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards!Everyone's different though, which is why you won't see a "typical" posting on here, just lots of different probs.I'm really bad about moderating my diet too - just can't resist my favourite foods!Good luck with it all

 

[jo-jo]

IBS is not something that you can cure with a miracle diet, we are all different and have to find out for ourselves what works and what doesn't. Your son will have to join you in this search. You've come to the right place for support, this is a great site, very compationate people here. I have ibs-c and don't have weekness in the legs, when i am constipated I do have a general feeling of not feeling good. I take metamucil twice a day and that takes care of the C.For me stress does cause bloating and pain in the intestines which can be severe at times. Good luck to your son, hope he feels better soon and welcome to the BB.

 

[jo-jo]

IBS is not something that you can cure with a miracle diet, we are all different and have to find out for ourselves what works and what doesn't. Your son will have to join you in this search. You've come to the right place for support, this is a great site, very compationate people here. I have ibs-c and don't have weekness in the legs, when i am constipated I do have a general feeling of not feeling good. I take metamucil twice a day and that takes care of the C.For me stress does cause bloating and pain in the intestines which can be severe at times. Good luck to your son, hope he feels better soon and welcome to the BB.

 

[GailSusan]

I haven't heard anyone else complain of weakness in the legs with IBS. I wonder if there should be more diagnostic work with your son. Has MS been ruled out? Some people with IBS also have fibromyalgia, which causes a feeling of general fatigue and joint pains. On what basis are they concluding that he has IBS?

 

[GailSusan]

I haven't heard anyone else complain of weakness in the legs with IBS. I wonder if there should be more diagnostic work with your son. Has MS been ruled out? Some people with IBS also have fibromyalgia, which causes a feeling of general fatigue and joint pains. On what basis are they concluding that he has IBS?

 

[lilymaid]

Unless maybe "weakness in the legs" is some kind of emotional reaction... you know, the stress/anxiety reactions that IBSers may get (such as dizziness, shortness of breath, needing to sit down, etc.). But yeah, there *could* be more going on.Andy's Mom: About not being hungry-- I get that way too, and some others on the bb have mentioned that. Some days, you just don't feel like eating. I guess if it gets to be a habit and his weight starts dropping significantly, take him to another doctor. Some people on this bb have discussed wishing that they never had to eat... and wish fulfillment, in this case, could be very harmful.I've had IBS since I was about 16; I'm now 27. I've always been busy with work, school, and activities, and now I'm working and getting a Master's degree. Having IBS (and all the associated things I get) has been a real bummer... sometimes severely curtailing my life. When I have major flares, I'm sick and pretty much barely eat. As it is, I have a very small amount of things I can actually eat. Therefore, I just PLAN AHEAD and used TIME MANAGEMENT. It takes some getting used to, but being busy and in your 20s is no excuse. To get back some semblance of normality, you have to (ironically) live an out-of-the-ordinary existence. Although I think: wow. Some people have very serious, life-threatening illnesses. Damn I am so lucky. And many people have to make some accommodations to their lifestyle, whether for themselves or a loved one. IBS, no matter how torturous at times it can be, just takes some accommodation. My feeling is that you have to make some room for IBS in your life (in that you have to watch your diet, take your medicines, reduce your stress, take time to b-r-e-a-t-h-e), or it'll MAKE the room for you.Please invite your son to just check out this bb... even if he doesn't post immediately, but just starts reading... it might lead to a breakthrough for him. Good luck to both of you... and thanks for being such a caring Mom!!!!!Regards, Lilymaid

 

[lilymaid]

Unless maybe "weakness in the legs" is some kind of emotional reaction... you know, the stress/anxiety reactions that IBSers may get (such as dizziness, shortness of breath, needing to sit down, etc.). But yeah, there *could* be more going on.Andy's Mom: About not being hungry-- I get that way too, and some others on the bb have mentioned that. Some days, you just don't feel like eating. I guess if it gets to be a habit and his weight starts dropping significantly, take him to another doctor. Some people on this bb have discussed wishing that they never had to eat... and wish fulfillment, in this case, could be very harmful.I've had IBS since I was about 16; I'm now 27. I've always been busy with work, school, and activities, and now I'm working and getting a Master's degree. Having IBS (and all the associated things I get) has been a real bummer... sometimes severely curtailing my life. When I have major flares, I'm sick and pretty much barely eat. As it is, I have a very small amount of things I can actually eat. Therefore, I just PLAN AHEAD and used TIME MANAGEMENT. It takes some getting used to, but being busy and in your 20s is no excuse. To get back some semblance of normality, you have to (ironically) live an out-of-the-ordinary existence. Although I think: wow. Some people have very serious, life-threatening illnesses. Damn I am so lucky. And many people have to make some accommodations to their lifestyle, whether for themselves or a loved one. IBS, no matter how torturous at times it can be, just takes some accommodation. My feeling is that you have to make some room for IBS in your life (in that you have to watch your diet, take your medicines, reduce your stress, take time to b-r-e-a-t-h-e), or it'll MAKE the room for you.Please invite your son to just check out this bb... even if he doesn't post immediately, but just starts reading... it might lead to a breakthrough for him. Good luck to both of you... and thanks for being such a caring Mom!!!!!Regards, Lilymaid

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for your words of compassion and wisdom. My son will no doubt visit this site because he does want to help himself. I shudder at the thought of MS and I am not sure if he was tested for that. He had numerous, numerous tests over the past four months. I will bring that up when we see his doctor in two weeks. Meanwhile we will keep on learning. Thank you all again, you are so kind, Diane

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for your words of compassion and wisdom. My son will no doubt visit this site because he does want to help himself. I shudder at the thought of MS and I am not sure if he was tested for that. He had numerous, numerous tests over the past four months. I will bring that up when we see his doctor in two weeks. Meanwhile we will keep on learning. Thank you all again, you are so kind, Diane

 

[lilymaid]

Andy's Mom: You're certainly welcome!!!

Hope your son starts feeling better soon. And, of course, don't forget to take care of yourself... we mustn't neglect to state that IBS can take its toll on loved ones. Stay rested, stay positive... you're on the right track. Good luck.Regards, Lilymaid

 

[lilymaid]

Andy's Mom: You're certainly welcome!!!

Hope your son starts feeling better soon. And, of course, don't forget to take care of yourself... we mustn't neglect to state that IBS can take its toll on loved ones. Stay rested, stay positive... you're on the right track. Good luck.Regards, Lilymaid