[Guest]

Somebody please help me. I am really confused. I saw my family doctor today and she says I have IBS. I don't know how to begin dealing with this. Several questions:1. Should I see a specialist?2. What foods should I avoid, and which ones will help me?3. What medicines should I take? (She gave me Symax to take as needed, but I have heard others mentioned here).4. Can I still exercise? I have always been very active.5. How can I get my fiance to understand what I am feeling? I appreciate any advice you all can offer. Please tell me what has helped you. I would like to avoid endless and expensive tests if possible. I believe I have had this for several years, but it has been worse this past year than ever. I am under a great deal of stress, and realize that is probably aggravating it. Please advise.

 

[Guest]

I am sorry you are experiencing IBS. I can answer some of your questions. First of all, I recommend you see a specialist, a gastroenterologist. They take care of the GI track and can help you figure out what will help you. Many of us take different medications, depending on what is happening. Do you have cramping and diarrhea, alternating with constipation? My gastroenterologist tells me (and this is important) to drink at least 8 full glasses of water a day (to keep the GI track going).Also, exercise daily. Good for you! Also,avoid caffeine, chocolate, fatty foods, sugars. Try to eat food with fiber. I use Citricul (one tablespoon twice a day) for daily fiber. I also take a few different prescription medications. One is Doxepin, another Librax. As far as your fiance is concerned, you must let him know that IBS is something beyond your control and alot of people have it. Some people do well, carry on and find comfortable lifestyles (diet, exercise, etc.) to help alleviate the symptoms. Others require more extensive medications and develop complications that require hospitalization. But don't despair, it doesn't have to be that bad for you. My advice (and I've had IBS for l0 yrs.) is find a specialist you are comfortable with.Sometimes relief is as easy as a prescription medication. Good luck! Chloe

 

[Guest]

Hi. I am sorry you have this illness but I definitely agree with Chloe, you should go to a specialist. They are very experienced in dealing with this. MD's are doctors but the digestive tract is not their specialty. You will probably have good days and bad days, sometimes the good lasts for months. But the more knowledge you get about IBS does help. This BB is a wonderful place to share Helpful hints, new studies, knowledge and just knowing you are not alone. As time goes by, you will learn to live more comforably with IBS. A lot is trial and error. What helps others may not help you but sometimes it is worth a shot. Good luck and it does get easier once you get over the shock. Take Care.

 

[Guest]

Hi Well one good thing is you have a word for what you have. You absolutely need to see a GI Dr. and maybe even more than one. Try to do one thing at atime as far as information, if you stress your self out your symptoms can sometimes be worse. Eat right, no fried food, junk food, lots of water, prayer and some people who understand like on this web page. And remember your not alone, and when your scared jump on this page and talk about it so you don't have to be alone. Take Care and do the foot work the Dr. wont.Dawn

 

[Guest]

Don't dispair -the advice that you have been given here on the bulletin board are excellent. You might get Dr. Salt's book IBS & the Mind-Body Brain-Gut Connection.If you follow the 8 steps that he outlines it can be very helpful.