Hey Nancy, good advice on the meds. I swing both ways myself with IBS and am glad there are others out there. Since coming on the boards, I notice it leans more toward those with only D. When you have a bout with D and then you are constipated for a week and then the next time you go again, its D again, its hard to find meds that help or anything that helps. So, us, alternaters need to stick together.I did find the calicum very helpful. After reading about it on the boards, I decided to try it for the debilitating D that I have been having lately. After only 2 days, the bad bouts stopped. Yes, now I'm constipated even worse but I'd rather strain a little than be doubled over in pain with the D. I need to get some magnisium and maybe I can even out. Welcome Lafunk, I'm glad you brought this up. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one going back and forth with this. I didn't get this "condition" from anything that I know of, I was born with it. Laxatives are BAD news, so don't do that anymore. Once in a blue moon is okay if you are blocked but other than that, stay away.