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I've had D predominant IBS for the past three years, and it's been getting worse. I was finally diagnosed a year ago. I just found this website yesterday - it's good to know I'm not alone.My doctor put me on nortriptline 25mg per day, which really worked and changed my life. It was possible to eat a small bowl of oatmeal in the morning without being doubled over with painful cramps for a half hour! Then I started having side effects - chest pain, rapid heart rate, nausea, and ringing in the ears, so she told me to stop taking it. We're trying dicylomine now, but it doesn't seem to do anything for me. I'm taking some immodium with it - it can plug me up, but I still get extremely bloated and crampy. A very small amount of food or water will cause cramping and D, so I'm hungry a lot but can't eat more than a bite or a sip, and I'm losing weight (not good since I'm already quite thin). I snack every hour durning the day, and I wake up twice at night to snack as well, which seems to help a little (if I go without eating anything for more than three hours during the day, the next thing I eat will trigger a painful marathon 3 hour IBS bout).I wish I could go back to the nortriptyline. Has anyone else had these side effects? Would taking it with a meal instead of right before bed reduce the side effects?Also, does anyone else get really hot during an IBS bout and then get cold and shaky afterward?Has anyone tried alternative stuff? I've never been a big believer, but I'm willing to try anthing that might work. I've started doing yoga, but it hasn't seemed to help.And another question for those of you who have had IBS for a long time - how do you deal with it? The pain is the worst part - I keep ibuprofen by the toilet so I can take a bunch whenever I start to have a bad attack, but the pain can still be horrible. My doctor is so positive and confident every time I talk to her, but I'm really starting to wonder if I'll ever find a way to "manage" IBS and live my life. So does everyone pretty much try one medication after another until hopefully one works? The whole IBS thing is really difficult for me and my fiance, and any suggestions would be appreciated.Thanks!