Please can anyone help? I am so down and can't see a light at the end of the tunnel. I have had IBS for 11yrs now, the onset came after the caesarean birth of my son. Looking back over my childhood I probably had a form of it then also, as I used to spend the morning in the toilet before school. I have not had any tests as such but the doctors I have visited incuding one Gastro all agree it is IBS. In the last two years it has got so much worse. I have had mebeverine(colofac), Colpermin(peppermint oil capsules),Buscopan, Alverine Citrate, Fybrogel and resource Benefiber, over the years all to no avail. My doctor has just prescribed Amytriptlene 25mg, for me to try. I feel so alone and do not have a life as such anymore. I feel like giving up, if you know what I mean. I am so tired of every single day waking up with crippling stomach pain, horrific flatulance and running in and out of toilets all day. It never gets any better just worse. How am I going to ever get better? I really worry if when I'm out I don't make it to a toilet, as sometimes my stomach just goes into a spasm and I need there and then I,ve nearly had one accident. Sorry if I sound negative and depressing.
Is there anything else I can try?
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Cat welcome to the bb on this website and my webpage there are lists of IBS information sites you might want to take a look at. I would post the links seperately, but am pressed for time at the moment. Take some time and read over the different forums and links and they will help you.Sorry your suffering. There are things to try and do and you will find a way.
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Welcome, and sorry you are so alone with your suffering.It might be a good idea to consider going to a GI specialist who will give you some tests - colonoscopy, upper/lower GI series. It's always a good idea.I learned more on this BB than from five GI Doctors (a good one is hard to find!) so I suggest, if you haven't done so already, going thru as many posts as you can. Not just those on Page 1.Good luck to you.O
After 30 years as a sufferer I have had an amazing 6 months in which I have been almost pain free. There are two things I think may contribute to it.1. I drink copious amounts of water. When dehydrated, I suffer what I crudely call my "sticky ****." I suppose others have their pet names for it but it comes down to an incomplete bowel movement. With greater intake of water this does not occur as often. More water has had the added effect of curing cronic headaches which would have been caused by being dehydrated all the time. It has also helped that I no longer drink red wine every day, which tended to further add to dehydration.2. I get up earlier in the morning. I have found that if I sleep in, my bowel movement is delayed and sometimes does not occur at all. This could also tie in with the fact that my most serious attacks occured on weekends when I was more likely to sleep in.
Wekcome and you may want to try calcium to help with the diarrhea.This is what has helped me for more than 4 years with almost daily attacks of urgent DIARRHEA. Calcium is known to be constipating so if you are that IBS type do not take it. Here is the what and how to take the calcium information if you suffer from DIARRHEACalcium is an OTC supplement we all do not usually get enough of. No Rx needed to purchase this.When you take calcium about 40% of the dose gets to the bones the rest is eliminated in our waste. The calcium goes to the intestines and soaks up excess fluids and binds them together and they are gotten rid of in our waste.This is a process that can be continued by taking the calcium carbonate on a regular basis thus giving a more formed BM.There is calcium carbonate which helps us with DIARRHEA and there is calcium citrate which is more easily absorbed by the body and gets to the bones.A lot of the calcium supplements contain a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. Magnesium is not helpful for us with DIARRHEA only causing more in most cases. So do not purchase this combination. It will only make things worse.The dose to take is different for everyone. I must take 3 a day one at each meal and it does not make a difference if I take it before during or after just take it regularly.The most success has come for using any formula of calcium supplement that is like Calcium Carbonate 600 mg with Vitamin D and Minerals.I hope this will help anyone wishing to try it and I am always here to answer any questions for you. I have a lot of feed back form many users.There are other things to consider. If you take any other meds check the side effects and also check with the pharmacist to see it taking calcium will interfere with you other medications and how you might take them.The only side effect is at the beginning of taking the calcium you may have some gas or indigestion but this usually goes away soon after taking a regular dose for a few days as your body adjusts to the added calcium.Starting with 1/2 tablet doses with each meal will lessen this problem and it may be enough to control the DIARRHEA attacks without making you constipated. Constipation can be a problem so be careful not to take too much.I had my gall bladder removed in 1976 and from that time on I had suffered urgent attacks of DIARRHEA. Went through a lot of test but nothing else could be found.I took many of the meds for bowel spasms and cramps over the years but nothing ever seemed to help. I started to take a calcium supplement to help prevent bone loss in later years and from the first day I felt relief. I was pretty much a prisoner to the bathroom or had to go without eating to be able to leave the house.I must take 1 tablet with each meal and the DIARRHEA does not come back if I miss taking it I get DIARRHEA.The way it works is the calcium carbonate it a binder and when you take it only about 40% of the calcium gets to the bones and the rest is gotten rid of in our waste. During the process it gets to the intestines and soaks up excess bile and water and helps give a more solid BM. Now that you have no gall bladder the bile fluid goes directly into the intestines and causes irritation and DIARRHEA. The calcium carbonate soaks this up and no more DIARRHEA. It works great for a lot of us and you just have to take the calcium regularly and do not miss. I started with Calcium carbonate 600 mg with Vitamin D and Minerals and it does seem to make a difference in the ingredients of calcium... This one seems to do the best job for most. You can buy other store brands of calcium with the same ingredients that work just as well but they need to have the same ingredients. I get Member's Mark Brand from Sam's Club you get 300 tablets for 8.99.Let me know if you need more help.You won't be sorry if you try it. I suggest starting with 1/2 tablet with each meal at first this may be enough to control the diarrhea if not in a few days up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal. The side effect is constipation so if you feel it coming on just cut the dose.It is important to use a calcium that is as much like what I have listed below.Let me list the ingredients:Vitamin D 200 IU (Vitamin D helps to get the calcium absorbed into the bones).Calcium 500 or 600 MG (This should be calcium carbonate form. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Calcium is vital to muscle and nerve function, blood clotting and metabolism).Magnesium 40 MG (No more than this amount because magnesium will cause you to have DIARRHEA but because calcium is constipating the magnesium helps to counter act that effect. Magnesium is essential to build bones and in needed for muscle function, energy metabolism, trans-mission of nerve impulses and to make genetic material and protein).Zinc 7.5 MG (Zinc is necessary for some metabolic processes, normal growth and sexual development, and proper immune system functions).Copper 1 MG (Copper promotes iron absorption and is essential to red blood cells, connective tissue, nerve fibers and skin pigmentation).Manganese 1.8 MG ( Manganese plays an important role in metabolism and is also needed to build bones and tendons).Boron 250 MCG. (In post-menopausal females who are magnesium deficient, it has been scientifically demonstrated that 3 milligrams of boron a day added to the diet resulted in: improvements in both calcium and magnesium retention, elevations in circulation serum concentrations of testosterone, and elevations in circulating serum concentrations of 17-beta-estradiol (a form of estrogen). Similar improvements can also be seen in Vitamin D deficient post-menopausal females. There are other brands with the same ingredients so get something as close as you can. Then start with 1/2 tablet with each meal and in a few days if this is not enough to control your DIARRHEA then up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal. If you feel you are becoming constipated the cut back on the dose. It has been working since the first day I started taking it July 1998 and as long as I take 3 a day (this is the amount I must take it may be different for you) I remain DIARRHEA free. No cramps, bloating or DIARRHEA.The dose you take with each meal is not the dose that is helping you at that meal it is the prior ones that have time to works their way through you system to soak up excess bile and water in the intestines.It also works for those of you who still have the gall bladder.It is worth a try and I have been getting some good feedback from Lotronex users who are getting some help with the calcium. Some worry about getting Kidney stones if you take a calcium supplement this has been shown not to be true. Taking calcium actually helps to prevent stones. Kidney stones are cause by oxilates in the body and the calcium helps to soak up the oxilates and get rid of them and thus helping to prevent stones.Take Care,Linda
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