New IBS member & desperate

327 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by moldie, Aug 8, 1999

Discussion Starter · Aug 8, 1999

I have suffered continually from constipation for years and it has caused me no end of distress - then the sharp pains began and I feared the worst - cancer. Recent tests show "nothing wrong" and so I was told it was IBS. I checked out all the information I can find on the subject and it would seem that's what I've got. My question is what do I do about the constipation - I'm on a high fibre diet, take metamucil twice a day and (on Doctors instructions) cut out all starches. Nothing is working - I'm in less pain, but continually constipated and suffer from bloating too. Several years ago my Family Doctor told me to take Sennakot-S and never told me to quit. It's the ONLY way now I can deal with the constipation and the Gastroenterologist, has basically told me to continue with it, if it works! I don't want to be dependant on the laxatives. The whole point of going to the Gastroenterologist was because my Family Doctor didn't know what else to suggest and wanted me off the Sennakot-S - but it seems the "Specialist" is happy for me to continue taking them. If anyone has any answers to this problem PLEASE let me know. Neither the Family Doctor or the Gastroenterogist have been much help so far. I'm getting desperate.

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LindaB

· #2 · Aug 8, 1999

Hi, Cassy and welcome to this great place.My primary care doc and gastroenterologist both said Milk of Magnesia for constipation because it isn't a purgative, more like a super stool softner. I used the liquid MOM, Cherry Flavor, and took 1 to 3 Tablespoons per night as needed. However after almost two years of agonizing Constipation made worse by fiber of any kind, we finally discovered that my gallbladder was not functioning because it was stuck down with abdominal adhesions. Once I got rid of that critter I haven't really had many problems with C.Use the Search utility at the top of this board and look for posts by Charlie or Heykate with keyword "Gallbladder" or "CCK-HIDA Scan" and you will find good info. I now take 2 Peppermint Plus brand enteric coated capsules of peppermint and 2 PB8 brand Acidolphilus capsules at bedtime to avoid Constipation problems caused by Diverticulosis/itis. That problem was brought on by the constant constipation while the doctors finally decided to remove my gallbladder.Also check out posts on Oregamax brand oil of oregano capsules. I use those as an alternative to antibiotics, which always give me big problems. ------------------LindaB (Retired)Those who laugh, last!

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 8, 1999

LindaBThank you for the advice and will certainly look into the other bulletin board messages. However, it's a case of "been there, done that" when it comes to the stool softeners. Tried the MOM, Surfak, something called MiraLax (given to me by my Gastroenterologist - I was in pain and constipated for a week, before I decided to quit!) and a couple of other "over the counter" products. It just won't budge!!

) However, that gallbladder thingy interests me - I don't even know what it does, but will look into it. Do you suffer from really bad bloating? There are times when I can't wear anything unless it's baggy, even the slighest pressure, around my middle, can be uncomfortable.

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moldie

· #4 · Aug 8, 1999

Welcome UKCassy, Your doctor mentioned starches, but are you cuttiing out all sugars? If you are still drinking fruit juices, sodas, coffee, and alcohol, and dairy with high milk sugars- try stopping these. That helped my bloating problem immensely. I had cut all the elastic on my waste-bands to relieve the pressure. Now I no longer have to do that. I'm afraid that leaves pretty much filtered water and tea. You can eat some fresh fruit though. When you cut out the starches, don't cut out your wholegrains, unless you think they are really the problem. Instead of the Metamucil, you could try ground flax seed meal mixed in with your hot cereal in the morning; or eat a dish of hot oat bran cereal. Follow this with a nice warm cup of herbal tea. Really works wonders for my "C". Don't forget to drink a lot of water throughout the day when you are taking fiber, otherwise it'll sit in your colon like a lump! If your stool is hard and constipated, instead of the sennecot, try some cascara (a natural stool softener) to get you over the hump until hopefully your diet works for you. Perhaps adding some of the heart-healthy oils in your diet could help too.------------------

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