IBS/nausea

[maxaroni]

Anyone have IBS/nausea? Do you take something on a daily basis for IBS? If so, what do you take. Do you still get bouts of nausea? How do you handle it?

My history, in my early to mid 20s I was getting bouts of nausea. At first I thought I was getting a virus, or ate something that didn’t agree with me. My DH never caught it from me and it would come every few months. Then these bouts started coming more frequently, once per month. At this point, I went to my GP and he did lots of testing, everything was coming up negative. At this point, these episodes were coming every couple of weeks. These episodes would last 2-3 days, also getting very fatigued during this time. Fatigue where I would feel as though I was in a fog. While testing, I was put on antacids, meds for ulcers, etc. Nothing really worked. I was sent to a gastroenterologist, who took all of this information and said he can put me through even more testing but he felt it was IBS. My intestinal tract was not my biggest issue, it was the nausea. He put me on Librax and did very well. No nausea ever. This was the early to mid 80s. I felt great.

Had infertility issues (unrelated) but when trying to become pregnant, I had to be off of the Librax. After many years of infertility, being pregnant and then trying for a 2nd child, off the Librax. When through all of that, I went back to see a gastroenterologist and was told Librax is no longer the drug of choice as it contains Librium. Since “back in the day”, we had no internet or any real way to look things up, it never concerned me it was Librium. I now understand why Librium would not be a drug of choice and am fine with that. However, I was prescribed Bentyl (dicyclomine) which never seemed to help the nausea like the Librax.. I wasn’t getting flare ups all that often but often enough to be annoying. The past few years the nausea has come back more frequently and am sure stress/anxiety contributes to it.

For my anxiety I take lexapro. When these bouts occur, it feels exactly how it did many years ago with the fatigue. I have been prescribed an increased amount of bentyl but can’t say it really helps. When the nausea strikes, I take some pepto can’t say it helps all of the time. Perhaps a little.

Which leads me to my opening questions.

I have seen my doctor and basically, it’s take OTC meds to deal with symptoms along with bentyl. There seems to be meds for IBS w/constipation, IBS w/diarrhea, not IBS w/nausea.

 

[RamblingMad]

I had bad acid reflux. I went to a gastro doc, and he put me on prescription antacids that made me feel terrible. I then started journaling my diet, activity, and medication use. I figured out that fatty foods and mucinex, especially the D variety made it worse. I cut out the fatty foods, and I stopped taking the mucinex. My stomach felt much better. I then took myself off the prescription meds. I felt like I was going to die for about three months. Now, I'm back to normal. I avoid mucinex and fatty foods now.

I recommend starting a journal to figure out what triggers you.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I've had IBS for over 30 years. I suffered a lot until I learned what triggers it and now I seldom have an attack. Certain combinations of food are usually the culprits. I agree with other posters that keeping a record of what you eat and when you get attacks.

 

[Silver saucer]

Zofran. I've been taking it for years.
Best of luck to you.

 

[pxidst119]

DH had IBS for years. He finally committed to the elimination diet. (Tried it before but never fully committed). He found that dairy was his trigger. Then found out that things he never associated with dairy had dairy in it such as some French fries, kielbasa etc. They even put butter over fajitas to make them sizzle when they bring them to the table. Trigger foods are hidden in so many things. It explained so much. Anyway, it has been life changing and he is fine now as long as he avoids ALL dairy. No medication needed. There are some great books on IBS out there that are very eye opening. IBS can be so terrible but you can usually find the triggers. Good luck!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Anyone have IBS/nausea? Do you take something on a daily basis for IBS? If so, what do you take. Do you still get bouts of nausea? How do you handle it?

My history, in my early to mid 20s I was getting bouts of nausea. At first I thought I was getting a virus, or ate something that didn’t agree with me. My DH never caught it from me and it would come every few months. Then these bouts started coming more frequently, once per month. At this point, I went to my GP and he did lots of testing, everything was coming up negative. At this point, these episodes were coming every couple of weeks. These episodes would last 2-3 days, also getting very fatigued during this time. Fatigue where I would feel as though I was in a fog. While testing, I was put on antacids, meds for ulcers, etc. Nothing really worked. I was sent to a gastroenterologist, who took all of this information and said he can put me through even more testing but he felt it was IBS. My intestinal tract was not my biggest issue, it was the nausea. He put me on Librax and did very well. No nausea ever. This was the early to mid 80s. I felt great.

Had infertility issues (unrelated) but when trying to become pregnant, I had to be off of the Librax. After many years of infertility, being pregnant and then trying for a 2nd child, off the Librax. When through all of that, I went back to see a gastroenterologist and was told Librax is no longer the drug of choice as it contains Librium. Since “back in the day”, we had no internet or any real way to look things up, it never concerned me it was Librium. I now understand why Librium would not be a drug of choice and am fine with that. However, I was prescribed Bentyl (dicyclomine) which never seemed to help the nausea like the Librax.. I wasn’t getting flare ups all that often but often enough to be annoying. The past few years the nausea has come back more frequently and am sure stress/anxiety contributes to it.

For my anxiety I take lexapro. When these bouts occur, it feels exactly how it did many years ago with the fatigue. I have been prescribed an increased amount of bentyl but can’t say it really helps. When the nausea strikes, I take some pepto can’t say it helps all of the time. Perhaps a little.

Which leads me to my opening questions.

I have seen my doctor and basically, it’s take OTC meds to deal with symptoms along with bentyl. There seems to be meds for IBS w/constipation, IBS w/diarrhea, not IBS w/nausea.

Crazy question, I know, but do you actually have regular/frequent episodes of constipation or diarrhea? Or are you more regular? In other words ( going by your last sentence) are these a problem for you, or just the nausea? What about when you were first diagnosed with IBS? And how do you describe the nausea?

 

[maxaroni]

Thanks for the replies. It’s hard to figure out a trigger food, but will start keeping a food journal. From there, I guess to start looking at what, if anything, they have in common. Such as hidden things in food, like the butter.

My DS27 was diagnosed with IBS s few years ago, his symptoms are very different than mine. He also deals with anxiety. DH was diagnosed in his 60s with IBS. According to his doctor, it is not common at all to be diagnosed so late in life. His was fully tested for everything under the sun And does not have anxiety. His symptoms are different than DS & myself.

My future daughter in law has anxiety, doesn’t seem to have IBS but does have occasional GI issues.

Not sure if anxiety plays a role into IBS or not.

 

[maxaroni]

Crazy question, I know, but do you actually have regular/frequent episodes of constipation or diarrhea? Or are you more regular? In other words ( going by your last sentence) are thise a problem for you, or just the nausea? What about when you were first diagnosed with IBS? And how do you describe the nausea?

For me, I can go between hard & soft stool in a week. Although, I usually only “go” once per day when it is soft. It can be a couple of days of not “going” and still be hard but passes. Then a few days of very soft, but formed.
DH has IBS and he would be more diarrhea, several times per day. He’s on something for IBS w/diarrhea

The nausea is not where I feel like I am going to vomit. I can usually still eat, although not always starving to eat at meal time. It’s more queasy but can come on stronger or fade a bit during the day.

 

[isabellea]

I was also diagnosed with IBS in my late teens in the 90s and finally figured out what gives me cramps and nausea... bovine products. Dairy, beef or veal. Even the 'juice' of a steak touching my meal will trigger them. Since I cut off all bovine products I no longer have cramps, nausea or feel bloated.

Good luck!

 

[monkeydawn]

Have you had a colonoscopy? Id press for one if you havent. It could be IBS or it could be Crohns or other ailments.

In my bouts with Crohns Ive had times where the nausea lead to vomiting so consistently that I avoided eating and as much food smells as possible (could not go in restaurants, near mall food courts, etc.). I survived on sodas, white bread and cookies and would keep them down as long as possible. But Ive also had relapses where the nausea never progressed to vomiting. Thats a different kind of misery but at least I could eat a little better.