[Snuffs]

Hey everyone. I'm new to this board. I have looked it at a few times but only just joined. I am hoping to get some support and advice and maybe one day offer that to other people!!I am 26 years old and have had IBS for 4 years. I was diagnosed a year ago and have so far only tried probiotics and a couple of antispasmodic medications. Before I was just trying to handle things myself but it wasn't working so more recently I have been back to the doctors for more help (I think he is getting sick of the sight of me.Currently I find that my symptoms effect me at least 4 out of 7 days a week if not more. Sometimes it's just diarreoha and sometimes I feel sick, tired and headachie with it too. I ususally try to carry on but every now and then it gets too much and I have to take time off work or college (I'm at uni studying physio).I find my ibs effects everything I do. I am always worried about how it will affect me on a day to day basis and how it will effect me in the long term. It effects my social life as I am always having to pull out of things due to symptoms and 70% of the time when I do go to something I am in discomfort.I love to keep fit but often my my gut feels uncomfortable during exercise or I feel too tiredto do it. Also if I do exercise when I have mild symptoms I get quite anxious about whether it will make me worse.Eating is a nightmare. I am always worried about if what I am eating will make me worse and struggle to eat a balanced diet as I am so worried about trigger foods even though I am not even sure what all my triggers are.I find eating with friends and family stressful because I just come across like a picky eater and they can tell I am anxious a lot when eating. It's so embarrassing. I just want to be happy and relaxed when eating!!I am often uncomfortable whilst at uni and sometimes have to take time off which makes me stressed. I also think I am not a very happy person to be around because I am in discomfort so much of the time. It's hard to remain chirpy!I worry about the future. Will I always have this? How will it affect me when working full time? Will I ever find a partner?I just feel anxious and depressed so much of the time. I find myself crying every few days. My anxiety has spread too. I get nervous in social situations and I worry about money, my coursework and family!I just don't know what to do with myself. I feel miserable and hate being this way. I would give anything to go back to how my life was before this all started!!!

 

[MrBumwe]

Hi Snuffs, I can relate to everything your saying, I am 25 and have had ibs since i was 18,, I struggled to get through uni and work not to mention the impact it has on my social life, I am currently now finished my degree and am looking for work with the added stress of being unreliable due to my health. That said I have found some simple things which allow me to manage my health more effectively although by no means cure. It could be worth trying some calcium vitamins which alot of people have found help with the diareah side of things (theres a thread with details), also not sure if your seeing a gp or a specialist i got some peace of mind seeing a specialist and having a colonoscopy and stuff just to rule out anything more serious, maybe a dietican and recording a food diary could help clarify your trigger foods, or anti-depressents for the anxiety and depression but yeah unfortunetly what helps is unique to everyone but there is a mountain of things you can try,,, hang in there and if you want to chat feel free to message me.

 

[crstar]

i understand exactly how u feel..........i am 57........for the past 7yrs had ibs-d........had many slight episodes all my adult life......... the calcium carbonate may help, it did me for a while........the problem with calcium, is if u get too much for u'r body, the body dumps way too much of it & u can become deficient.......1 telltale is thin, flaky, breakable fingernails..........i found the book: fiber menace, there's also a website by the same name, check it out & try the book........it helped me so very much.........iron was a big help.......reading the book helped me to understand so much of this & the author has alot of good info i didn't find elsewhere........ in any case, u might try reading my other posts on this website.........intestinal stuff is so complicated & there is so much to it........ get educated........even if u do end up with some dr & the many drugs they prescribe, u need to understand the whole process....... knowledge is power........feeling better about what u know about ur body, can only make things easier to handle........it allows u to make educated decisions about ur own body..........that alone made me feel better........when u can understand how things work & u apply them to ur particular symptoms & feelings, then u can come up with a plan of action........if u want more info that i might have, write to me here..........there is something i'd like to say.........prescription drugs r not the answer........every single drug out there, excepting anti-biotics, threat symptoms, they do not cure........& the repercussions of antibiotics r one reason i ended up with this thing.........they kill all of the bacterial that keeps the our innards' working right, that keeps us healthy.........stuff that makes all other facets of our body something we don't have to think about.........cause ibs-d is a living hell.........people who don't have a clue about this horrible disease, can b very condescending & cruel........it ends up running ur life.......everything comes second after D.........it stops all enjoyment..........it sucks........what i did when i needed to learn stuff, i did my research on the net & copied it all out.........that way i could read it laying down or wherever..........it also allows for making notes in the margin & to refer back to.......look for medical articles, first & foremost, not on ibs specifically, but about what happens in a normal intestinal track.........look at the chemicals & elements that come into play, what does what.......it may take some time, but u've had this for awhile, so no time like the present.........also, after the medical stuff, anything else that looks promising........if something sounds like it might help, do research on that thing.........it can come in handy in the research & help things click into place, maybe & take copious notes........not all stuff is sound facts........alot of stuff our there is garbage, but it all goes into understanding what can & what can't help........copy the website down at the top of the pages, that way, if u need to, u can go back.........sometimes after reading a very long article, it gave up nothing.........u just have to keep on till u have it really clear in ur head..........the info helps u to make conclusions..........if u have A & B, then C is the obvious conclusion.........something like that.........well, i've talked enough...........hope u get something out of this.........

 

[blondeoverblue24]

Welcome to the board. I'm 24 years old and I've had IBS-D for the past 5 years. I've been fortunate enough to have been under fairly well control for the last two or three years, but I remember my first two years of IBS being an absolute nightmare. Which antispasmodics have you taken? Were you taking them 15-30 minutes before meals? I find that a lot of doctors do not prescribe antispasmodics correctly and give them on an as needed basis, when really they should be on board prior to eating. Have you ever had a colonoscopy, or did your doctor opt not to do one?I would be very careful about what you read online and weary of supplements. It's important to know who you're getting the information from, as a lot of people with IBS product websites do not have any medical training. Supplements (I'm not talking things like vitamins, but those ones you see at health food stores) are often not regulated by the FDA and it's difficult to know if you're actually getting what's listed on the bottle. Certain vitamins themselves can cause GI upset as well, including magnesium and iron.Prescription medications are a tricky subject around here. My opinion is that if they can help you, that's wonderful. I feel a little safer in knowing that they're regulated by the FDA who has very strict guidelines about what medications can and cannot be used. Antibiotics are also one of those things that fall in the question mark category. Some people have IBS secondary to bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine and antibiotics help relieve their symptoms. Others (even those without IBS) find that antibiotics can disrupt their normal bowel function and many believe that antibiotics started their IBS in the first place. Both of these theories make sense when you do research on IBS and the mechanisms of the GI tract. Basically what it boils down to is trying to stay informed but making sure you get the information from a proper source. And if something doesn't seem right, contact your doctor, because that's what he/she is there for