[Fionamp]

Its been along time since I have posted anything on this board. But now I need to and I help people will come rallying around me. Its all getting too hard, I'm a primary school teacher and I can't cope, I have suffered from urgent b/m in the classroom and have nearly not made it to the bathroom. My poor kids don't know what are happening and I can't leave them without anyone in the room to make sure they are OK. I don't want to leave my job, as I love it too much but I am worried that the children may start to suffer and although my boss is going to get the brochure on Monday I am worried that he's going to suggest that I resign.I haven't been referred to anybody yet and my doctor seems reluctant to do so as his wife has this problem and seems to think he can help me all by himself. I am newly married but I find myself depressed and suicidal...I drive home thinking of ways that I can end it all but realise that I am being selfish... I just don't know what to do and who to see. PLease help me

 

[Elariel]

number 1. have you seen your doctor about the depression yet? seeing a doctor is the most important thing first. if you dont feel comfortable talking with your regular doctor, try to see another one! sometimes it helps if they dont know you as well.in the mean time, maybe try some st john's wort.. this works wonders for my husband who is depressed most of the time without it. it can take a bit to work, so give it a few days.have you tried immodium yet? it might not be the ultimate solution, but it may help you until you find something better. also, tums or another form of calcium carbonate. i was in total misery for over a year until i started taking 2-4 tums a day. if i dont take them now, i go back to the misery! there were a few threads bout the calcium, do a search.dont do anything rash yet.. i know you're worried about your job, but dont forget you need to take care of *you* first!

 

[Elariel]

number 1. have you seen your doctor about the depression yet? seeing a doctor is the most important thing first. if you dont feel comfortable talking with your regular doctor, try to see another one! sometimes it helps if they dont know you as well.in the mean time, maybe try some st john's wort.. this works wonders for my husband who is depressed most of the time without it. it can take a bit to work, so give it a few days.have you tried immodium yet? it might not be the ultimate solution, but it may help you until you find something better. also, tums or another form of calcium carbonate. i was in total misery for over a year until i started taking 2-4 tums a day. if i dont take them now, i go back to the misery! there were a few threads bout the calcium, do a search.dont do anything rash yet.. i know you're worried about your job, but dont forget you need to take care of *you* first!

 

[SophieUK]

Hi,sorry to hear you're having such a bad time - it must be really hard working in a school with IBS. I think you are very brave for sticking at it, and hopefully you can find something that helps you so you can continue with it.I would echo the calcium suggestion - that seems to be one of the big things that helps D sufferers on this board. I think it is called caltrate plus, bought at healthfood stores or chemists etc. The poster called 'LNAPE' posts a lot of helpful info on it, or there is a story on it at my website (below) under the happy stories link I think.Also, have you tried anything else - looking at your diet? Let us know.I would really push your doctor for a referral - it is YOUR life, after all. I know it is hard to do, and I have had some bad experiences with doctors myself, but if you are finding things this hard then you need a good bit of time with a specialist rather than a GP.One final thing to mention is that I remember at my primary school our teacher used to leave the classroom quite often, telling us that the next door teacher was in charge, and we never ran riot or anything - to be honest I don't think we were bothered at all. Looking back I wonder if she had IBS or something, but whatever it was it never harmed our education.I hope things get better for you soon.Ashley

 

[SophieUK]

Hi,sorry to hear you're having such a bad time - it must be really hard working in a school with IBS. I think you are very brave for sticking at it, and hopefully you can find something that helps you so you can continue with it.I would echo the calcium suggestion - that seems to be one of the big things that helps D sufferers on this board. I think it is called caltrate plus, bought at healthfood stores or chemists etc. The poster called 'LNAPE' posts a lot of helpful info on it, or there is a story on it at my website (below) under the happy stories link I think.Also, have you tried anything else - looking at your diet? Let us know.I would really push your doctor for a referral - it is YOUR life, after all. I know it is hard to do, and I have had some bad experiences with doctors myself, but if you are finding things this hard then you need a good bit of time with a specialist rather than a GP.One final thing to mention is that I remember at my primary school our teacher used to leave the classroom quite often, telling us that the next door teacher was in charge, and we never ran riot or anything - to be honest I don't think we were bothered at all. Looking back I wonder if she had IBS or something, but whatever it was it never harmed our education.I hope things get better for you soon.Ashley

 

[Fionamp]

Thanks for your replies. I have tried immodium and lotomil but when i have a severe attack, like on Friday then they don't help. I am taking peppermint capsules and they seem to have eased it abit. But when I had an attack before then I could cope because i had a small amount of warning, but now i don't seem to get anything at all.I have also tried calcium caltrate and although it seemed to work to start with again it didn't take long for it to get back to the same state it was before I started taking it.If i had a classroom that was next to someone elses then i could do as you suggested Ashley but I am in the room furthest away from anywhere.I have managed to get to see my headmaster and deputy head after work tomorrow and we are going to try and sort something out.

I just hope it works!

 

[Fionamp]

Thanks for your replies. I have tried immodium and lotomil but when i have a severe attack, like on Friday then they don't help. I am taking peppermint capsules and they seem to have eased it abit. But when I had an attack before then I could cope because i had a small amount of warning, but now i don't seem to get anything at all.I have also tried calcium caltrate and although it seemed to work to start with again it didn't take long for it to get back to the same state it was before I started taking it.If i had a classroom that was next to someone elses then i could do as you suggested Ashley but I am in the room furthest away from anywhere.I have managed to get to see my headmaster and deputy head after work tomorrow and we are going to try and sort something out.

I just hope it works!

 

[admflo]

I take ginger root caps for pain, gas and bloating and it stopped it immediately. I don't know if it will work on diarrhea or not but if I was in your boat I would sure try. They are in the health food section of the grocery or a health food store. Take two in the morning, two at night. Pls. let us know what happens.

 

[admflo]

I take ginger root caps for pain, gas and bloating and it stopped it immediately. I don't know if it will work on diarrhea or not but if I was in your boat I would sure try. They are in the health food section of the grocery or a health food store. Take two in the morning, two at night. Pls. let us know what happens.

 

[Fionamp]

Thanks for the reply but I find that ginger root tends to make my D worse not better. But tanks for trying to help.

 

[Fionamp]

Thanks for the reply but I find that ginger root tends to make my D worse not better. But tanks for trying to help.

 

[Marier]

Fiona - if teachers are in high demand in the UK like they are here in the US, then I am confident that your headmaster will try to accomodate you as best they can. Think positively

Do they have teacher aides there or student teachers? In the US, student teachers will come during their last semester in school to gain experience; not every teacher gets a s.t. but perhaps due to the circumstances..... Good luck!

 

[Marier]

Fiona - if teachers are in high demand in the UK like they are here in the US, then I am confident that your headmaster will try to accomodate you as best they can. Think positively

Do they have teacher aides there or student teachers? In the US, student teachers will come during their last semester in school to gain experience; not every teacher gets a s.t. but perhaps due to the circumstances..... Good luck!

 

[Lizbec]

Fiona - first of all, (((((hugs)))))) - I'm so sorry you're having such a bad time.Second,your headteacher can't force you to resign and I would say he/she has a duty to support you in the same way they would have to support any other kind of disability. Presumably your skills as a teacher are not in question!I agree that you should, if you feel able , insist that your gp refers you on. I know it's hard to be that assertive - I think a lot of people with ibs find this hard. Could your husband go to the surgery with you, or a friend, for moral support?You should find a lot of info. on this BB regarding remedies. I find that immodium helps on days when I simply cannot afford to have D!Finally, my heart goes out to you. I left my job a few months ago because I could no longer cope with the constant anxiety of juggling awful D with the responsibilities of work. As a teacher, I realise you are under a lot of stress - deadlines, hoops to jusmp through - more now perhaps than ever before. You can email me if you need to vent!good luckhugsliz

 

[Lizbec]

Fiona - first of all, (((((hugs)))))) - I'm so sorry you're having such a bad time.Second,your headteacher can't force you to resign and I would say he/she has a duty to support you in the same way they would have to support any other kind of disability. Presumably your skills as a teacher are not in question!I agree that you should, if you feel able , insist that your gp refers you on. I know it's hard to be that assertive - I think a lot of people with ibs find this hard. Could your husband go to the surgery with you, or a friend, for moral support?You should find a lot of info. on this BB regarding remedies. I find that immodium helps on days when I simply cannot afford to have D!Finally, my heart goes out to you. I left my job a few months ago because I could no longer cope with the constant anxiety of juggling awful D with the responsibilities of work. As a teacher, I realise you are under a lot of stress - deadlines, hoops to jusmp through - more now perhaps than ever before. You can email me if you need to vent!good luckhugsliz

 

[Fionamp]

Thanks for all your advice.Liz...my husband did go with me this morning and we are going to be referred to a specialist in the gut area. However there is a 6 week waitigng list for it

but he siad we could go private and pay the extra if we want to be seen earlier so we are going to phone the gastroentologist tomorrow to see what is best.Thanks again.LOveFi

 

[Fionamp]

Thanks for all your advice.Liz...my husband did go with me this morning and we are going to be referred to a specialist in the gut area. However there is a 6 week waitigng list for it

but he siad we could go private and pay the extra if we want to be seen earlier so we are going to phone the gastroentologist tomorrow to see what is best.Thanks again.LOveFi

 

[LotronexLover]

Why not kill 2 birds with one stone? I take 45 mgs of Remeron. This a non-addictive anti-depressant. It also blocks the 5ht3 receptor (like Lotronex) which controls seratonin. Seratonin is what caused gut reaction (or D). You may want to ask your doctor about it. I had terrible IBS D for 15 years this was the only drug ever to help me besides Lotronex (one of it's sister drugs).

 

[LotronexLover]

Why not kill 2 birds with one stone? I take 45 mgs of Remeron. This a non-addictive anti-depressant. It also blocks the 5ht3 receptor (like Lotronex) which controls seratonin. Seratonin is what caused gut reaction (or D). You may want to ask your doctor about it. I had terrible IBS D for 15 years this was the only drug ever to help me besides Lotronex (one of it's sister drugs).

 

[Nikki]

6 Weeks is nothing! I had to wait 3 months to see the specialist! You should think your self lucky!Don't be too quick to jump into taking an anti depressant for it, there are other ways than drugs to try and fix things. I must admit, i reply on immodium for a normal existance right now. Sometimes counselling couldhelp you talk through your worries and depression. I do Hypnothreapy. I am hoping its going to help me a lot, as it has done a lot of people on the BB. Eric, for example. If you want to find ot more about it post a messge to Mike, Eric or Cookie4Marilyn on the Hypno and CBT forum.Good LUck.