Any IBS sufferers here?

[BWVDenise]

My doctor thinks that is what's causing me pain. I don't know, but yesterday I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital. It's better today, so I'm glad I didn't go.
If you have IBS, is there anything you do/don't do that helps you?

 

[Snoozan]

Denise- I've been told I probably have IBS. For the severe stomach pains(mine comes in "waves"), I find using heat with a heating pad or warmy bag works well for me. I will even keep a warmy bag on my tummy all night. Those nights I do take a Tylenol PM - to help the pain and to help me sleep.

I've determined my IBS "flares up" after a period of being under stress and overtired. I try to keep to a regular sleeping time, but it's hard sometimes as I tend to be an insomniac at times.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

It's a good idea to keep a food journal because certain foods can set IBS off. For me it's fatty foods and cheese. I can deal with most other dairy products but if I have a little bit too much cheese or fat watch out. Stress is also a trigger.

I have found a heating pad helps sometimes. Otherwise I just curl up in a ball and wait for it to pass. It's not any fun.

The first two times I had an attack I did go to the emergency room because I was in sooooo much pain and thought I was going to die or at the very least my insides were going to fall out. I found out after the second time they really can't do anything.

I tried taking some medication but it only made me feel bad all the time.

I have also found that having a steady exercise routine helps.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I've had IBS for about 15 years now, and all of the above things trigger mine. I've learned to just bear with it, since I know how the "cycle" works....It's no fun though, not knowing when it might hit you again. I compare mine to labor pain, it's that intense sometimes. I've seen the ads on t.v. for some medication, but if it makes you feel bad all the time, I think I'd just rather suffer some of the time!

 

[smileybrat]

I've been diagnosed with IBS by a doctor. I take generic Levsin (sorry I don't remember the name right off hand) 1 pill twice a day. It helps but the pain doesn't completely go away. There are also side effects from the medicine. I've also helped the pain by watching what I eat more. Trying to stay away from greasy foods. I also take fiber.

 

[Miss Kelly]

IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome, right? I have been having a lot of pain in my lower right abdomen lately, along with severe headaches. The first time I went to the Doctor, they diagnosed me with a UTI. It got better but now I am hurting again. I am college student with no medical insurance so I don't know if I can afford to go through a lot of tests to determine what I have exactly. So, can someone describe how IBS feels and how often you get it? My mom thinks I may have Endometriosis instead, but I'm not too sure. Do you get headaches with IBS?

Thanks!

 

[BWVDenise]

Kelly, that's a good question. Yesterday I had a migraine to go along with the IBS pain. But I haven't read anything about headaches being associated with IBS. My pain is in the same place as yours. You just have to be careful since pain in the right lower quadrant could be appendicitis, too!
I don't know how often this pain will come, but I had to leave work with it yesterday, it was so bad. I hate to think that will happen frequently!! And my poor dh and dm were so worried, too.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

IBS is awful! I had mine diagonosed after a colonscopy.
There are times it is so painful I just want to curl up into a ball and cry.
I have found that stress can really send it over the edge.
Diet has a lot to do with it as well.
Even with the GBS it can still be a royal pain!

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Can't help with any remedies, sorry. I just wanted to say I hope you're feeling better!

 

[Blondie]

You just have to be careful since pain in the right lower quadrant could be appendicitis, too!

Or an Ovarian Cyst. You really should get check out by a doctor.

 

[Lezah]

I have had IBS for over 20 years now since high school. It is an awful disease. It is very hard to figure out what your triggers are. I agree with another poster that you should keep a diary for about a month to see if you can figure out what triggers your attacks. Some people are triggered by spicy, greasy, cheesy types of food, lactose, stress, etc. I am triggered mostly by stress, lack of sleep etc. I take a medication called Dicetel mostly when I go out, or eat anything spicy, greasy, cheesy etc with my meals. I don't take them at home, but mostly out. There is another medication called Bentylol that I take only when I'm in the middle of a really big flare. I, too, find that a heating pad over my tummy helps a lot when I'm flaring. And I have spent more than one night curled up in a ball in tears with the pain. It is amazing how painful the spasms can be. I hope that some of the information that you've gotten here will help get you the advice you need.

 

[ead79]

I was diagnosed with IBS after a long-lasting stomach virus about 6 years ago. My primary problem is severe stomach cramping, so I have generic Levsin SL which I take as needed. Unfortunately it used to work a bit better than it does now. I know some of my triggers are garlic and cooked onions, so I avoid them. I am not positive, but I think my IBS also sometimes flares up in line with my cycle around the times when I ovulate or have PMS. I recently started birth control pills, which seem to be helping with that. I also tend to have acid reflux which is occasionally severe, so I take Zantac for that (over the counter).

 

[iluvdisney]

I've been living with IBS for 23+ years - now it has a name and more people seem to suffer from it nowadays. Watching what I eat definitely has helped over the years so I have become familiar with what will aggravate it. Walking regularly and light exercise definitely helps too. Alcohol does seem to aggravate it also. I have learned to live wth it but I do find that tylenol helps with some of the pain.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

ead79, it is very likely your cycle has something to do with the flare ups. It often plays into mine too (and I am on BC). It has to do with hormones during that time.

There are also herbal things you can try like Peppermint Oil, vitamin e, and some others. There is information on the Internet if you do a search or go to your local health food store, they usually information there as well.

Maybe we should start a support group.

 

[ead79]

Thanks Miss Jasmine for all the helpful info. I'm so glad the birth control pills seem to be helping.

 

[fkj2]

Mine's associated with stress, and I take the hyoscyamine(generic Levsin) too, but not as regularly as I had to 2 1/2 years ago. I would have this pain, felt like a horrendous bruise, on my left side, when I would exit a car from the driver's side, and in my lower back. The diarrhea would seem uncontrollable but Immodium helped with that and I avoid coffee at times when things get overstimulated. It's not a cure, just a management.

 

[crazelion]

I have IBS it has clear up. Once I start watching what i eat and stay away from popcorn, milk, eggs, and onions. I used to have servere diarrhea and could not eat anything. But now since I learned the triggers I avoid them.

My mom on the other hand just been diagose with IBS is having trouble going to the bathroom. She would not listen to her daughter that had it all her life and needs watch what she eats.

 

[Feralpeg]

My 15 year old DD has IBS. She was diagnosed after a colonoscopy. If possible, you should have a colonoscopy to rule out other possible causes for your pain (such as an ovarian cyst, chrone's disease, endometriosis, fibroyd tumor). I had a hysterectomy a year ago due to a condition that mimicked IBS pain, but was actually adenomyosis. Unless you have some tests done, you won't really know the best treatment.

DD is not on any medication for her IBS other than birth control pills. She does watch her diet somewhat and has been told to take fiber. She has never mentioned headaches associated with her IBS attacks. You headaches could be the result of the stress that is also triggering the IBS attack.

For your sake, I hope it isn't IBS. IBS is a life long condition. Hopefully, it is just a gastric upset caused by something that will clear up soon. Whatever it is, don't let it go on too long without getting checked by a doctor. I don't want to scare you, but pain is a signal that something is wrong. The sooner you find out what it is and get treatment, the better. I hope everything works out okay!

 

[Sonya]

I have had it for 8 years and it has gotten better. Pregnancy has seemed to help a bit. I can now eat foods that I haven't in years. Fried foods are the biggest problem, or extra greesy things, and cafeine too. So I just don't eat them! I lost a lot of weight. No more hamburgers, pizza, french fries, alfredo sauce, doughnuts, coke. I can't eat fiborous fruits and veggies either, so no apples or salads. Bummer. I took hyoscyamine and had no side effects, it worked OK. Also I take gas pills with every meal and fiber every day.

When I have a flare up it lasts for at least a day so I eat rice or yogurt. Warm things help and so does minty things, like mint tea or sucking on hard mints. 7UP seems to help too.

Food is my biggest trigger but stress doesn't help, but usually I flare after the stress is gone. When I flare I feel like I'm getting the flu, fevorish, aches all over, stomach cramps, running to the loo.

 

[smileybrat]

Originally posted by Miss Kelly
Do you get headaches with IBS?

Yes, I get headaches from my IBS. The medicine I take, hyoscyamine (generic Levsin), helps them somewhat.