[missbonnie]

Hi, I am predominantly IBS-C, but I do get D sometimes, and I would like to know some info about it.OK, so what happens is that I get C for a day or 2, and then all of a sudden, I get a gassy crampy feeling in my lower abdomen (very low usually), and then, BAM! Explosive D, but not watery, just loose. Not like total liquid like when I have stomach flu or something, but more like really loose, needs to come out already type of thing. (Don't mean to be graphic, but need to describe it to an extent)So, my question is, does the body work in such a way that when it is so backed up (to a certain extent) from C, it turns itself around and finally goes into looser D? This happens to me whenever I get C for a couple of days, and I was wondering if there is a reason why. Thanks! ------------------All the best to everyone,Bonnie

 

[mxz583]

([This message has been edited by mxz583 (edited 02-11-2001).]

 

[Guest]

You know, I've had the same thought. The exact same thing happens to me....so I guess it's very important not to get "c" cuz then you'll invariably get the "d". The question is, what exactly works to make us all regular? And I use librax when I get pain or the "d", but I still believe it can cause "c", but my doctor says no. Pain killers can really cause "c", I think even ibuprofin. Not sure though. But it's funny, cuz I was going to bring up the same thing. Especially if you're "c" and then you eat a taboo meal full of fat! (I guess I should know better now).Debbie

 

[ndelacourt]

I can relate, I find when I am really C, I have a slice of cheese pizza and whamo!I have most pain in the left....and then it becomes less to the right side....strange...finally am getting my doctor to send me to GI though....thank God...I have been in 4 weeks of constant pain, lost 10 lbs to date....Anyway, good luck!

 

[Cigarello]

Hi all: it is not inevitable to get D after having C-let me tell you- I never ever everhave a decent BM, never have D unless I have MOM- I am always C and no food, nothing makes me go to the bathroom unless I take a laxative- it is truly awful-would you believe I sometimes wish I would get the stomach flu just to go to the bathroom???

 

[Delta]

Here's a question: what defines C? I often have rabbit peelets inbetween bouts of D but never go more than 36 hours at the longest without a BM. Does that 36 hours count as C if the next few BMs are pellets?In that case am I a D or a C/D?

 

[linr]

I am pretty much the same (C & D ) but I don't know if I am really C. I don't feel uncomfortable and go without 'going'for days . Like sometimes up to 5 . Then it is inevitable that within a day or so I will have a major poop. It starts out like a regular BM and becomes very urgent and then it seems like I just go until I am emptied out ,usually it ends up as D . Sometimes are worse than others.Always worse when mensturating. I have been like this for almost 30 years and have tried all kinds of things to try and have normal BMs to no avail.My doctor said this is classic IBS and that I pretty much have to just live with it . Great.

 

[Guest]

I think one of the classic definitions of constipation is the rabbit pellet thing.

 

[AD]

I am "naturally" always C. I cannot go on my own and rely on milk of magnesia. It does change it to pure liquid, but it is not forceful or violent. Sometimes, it doesn't work as well, especially if I eat a lot of soluble fiber. Other times, it comes in liquid pellets or drops. I guess its a combination of both since it's liquid but not much or with much force. I always feel more needs to come, but I just have to live with it. I consider myself C/D type on milk of magnesia.

 

[rubyIL]

linr--I have exactly the same problem, except I usually don't go more than 3 days without some movement. Most of the time on the other 2 days I feel just fine, no feeling of C or not. I was also wondering if this contitutes D/C or just plain D? Some days though I'll make a number of trips to the toilet throughout the day, each getting progressively worse. I'll start out mildly C, have one or more "normal" BM's, then later have urgency with "loose" bm's and ultimately end up with diarrhea.In the morning I'll be so happy that I'm having a "normal" day, but by later in the day I'm frustrated that I'm having my same old problems.

 

[badfoot]

Reading everyone's posts, I can't help thinking "What a nightmare!" I've had C slight D for 10 years, cannot get to a healthy weight, constantly watching my diet while trying to squeeze in enough calories.I am having a little success with relaxation/visualization tapes, but sometimes its boring and hard to keep up the habit. best of luck to all.

 

[Delta]

So is the definition of Constipation not going for a few days? Or is it having hard rabbit pellets? Do you have to have both or only one......?I have rabbit pellets but never considered it C because I rarely miss a day. Often have several rabbit pellet movements in one day.Is that constipation or not? So confusing.....................

 

[linr]

I would also like to know what is D ? I mean I know what the real thing is but what about when you HAVE to go and go and go but it isn't liquid (sorry)but sort of formed but it just keeps coming and you have to be near a toilet and don't know when it will stop. Is this considered D or what? I know things could be worse but I really think this will drive me crazy some day.All of those people who can go to the bathroom normally don't know how lucky they are.

 

[Clair]

Hi guys,I'm also a C/D type and have the same experience of rabbit pellets then following two days of constipation/difficulty going then D which is loose but not completely runny.I've found that taking Calcium and Magnesium Oxide supplements as well as taking a bulk laxative such as flax/golden linseed has helped to eradicate the D but I'm still getting C all the time.It is difficult to control diet because if you take too much fibre you get D and too little your left with C. I've also read in studies by Addenbrookes Hospital, England that the main contributors to C are Milk, Wheat and Tea - so perhaps cutting down on those may help.Just wondering generally do you experience discomfort in the left handside of your colon when your C? I seem to get that all the time.

 

[Guest]

I do, Claire, that is exactly where my discomfort is; (left hand side0 however, very often it's just downright pain. And that is usually the main symptom of my IBS. Pain. I also don't know what consititutes d or c "by the book", but I sure know we're not in the normal bowel movement area, for sure!

 

[karoe]

The chain of events that many of you describe here-- C and then a progression to D- I have experienced it and I always think of the way the large intestine works. It is a drying tank, so the stuff that has been hanging around the longest is going to get the dryest-- so your first BM after a few days of not going will be hard/dry, and the next less so, and then of course with all that activity after several days of quiet, the upper part of the intestine will start to release its contents which may not have been around a long time at all-- and voila, you have C turning to D over a period of a few days, or hours if you are really unlucky.Does this make sense?

 

[beth_crocker1]

Ive always wondered about the c and d thing myself. Mine isnt really c but not really d either. I go every day, usually only once, sometimes its real loose, other times its formed and real soft looking. Then once in a while i get the pellets. I also have had started out with constipating bowel movement then it turns into d-like. Its just usually always really wierd looking, it never looks normal. I guess thats one of the joys of ibs.

 

[plm123]

Linr, I have the same problems as you do. I think I mostly have the C treated but not always. I have been using aloe vera juice, Acidophilus and gas reducers like Gas-X and Beano and usually I go normally or its closer to D. If completely untreated I definitely have C and can go a week or two without going to the bathroom. Then I get bloated and gassy in extreme pain, eventually go until it becomes D. Since the Aloe and other drugs, I'm not in nearly as much pain but I still have urgency issues and I vacillate between C & D. I don't know if I like this arrangement better or not. The pain is less but the IBS issues are more frequent just at lesser severity.Mine is also much worse a few days before my period as well. The shedding of the lining causes cramping that aggravates my IBS.I still consider myself IBS-C because left untreated, I definitely am, but now I'm wondering if I should revise my classification.P.

 

[linr]

plm123: Crazy isn't it ? I can always count on at least 2 episodes of D when I have my period. I have tried probiotics and felt somewhat better but every morning I had the urgency thing off and on for about an hour then I would have unformed ,messy bms (sorry) for another hour .It drove me crazy. I was going to try Aloe but then read a negative article about it so I decided not to.I've tried Caltrate,fiber,meds.You name it. But who knows? what works for one person may not work for someone else. Don't you wish we could find one thing that would help us all ?

 

[Guest]

I am very unsure about this myself. My pattern (other than when I have my period - then I'm D) is this:-Wake up - usually with cramps-Try and put off BM - rarely works-Starts with either rabbit pellets or normally formed stool and then progresses to a lot of soft stool.-No BM for the rest of the day, but on occasion might have a small formed one in the afternoon, but feel C trying to evacuate. That has only happened a couple of times in the afternoon. Mostly, I only go once in the morning, but then the next morning, the urgency and same scenario starts again.I wish I could just wake up and lie in bed for a little while like normal people, but this is rare now. I hate that feeling of urgency first thing in the morning, and then all the anxiety that goes with it.