What type of IBS do you have?

[Jeffrey Roberts]

Choose the type of IBS which best describes you.

[Lynette]

IBS-C. Bloating and pain are the worst 

[callalily74]

None of them. No Pain at all. Waking at 4 am to defecate, but usually can't. Incomplete evacuation. Serious depression and anxiety. Stools may be hard balls, but no excessive constipation and absolutely NO diarrhea. Just frequency beyond belief.

So, there is no vote that matches my symptoms.

 

[Jeanniebeanie]

I have constipation and sometimes followed by frequent loose bowels with debilitating pains in the my stomach.  I am so desperate and will try anything at this point.  What has helped you with this?  I have tried many natural remedies but they help only for a short time.  I hate to take the Prozac my doctor recommended unless nothing else helps I will resort to that.  

[Ejaybee]

My day starts off in the morning with 2-3 trips to the toilet upon waking up. I often experience really bad stomach cramps throughout the day. I have to carry anti-diarrhea pills with me in my bag at work. This is a product of horrible conditions I experienced in Saudi Arabia in 1990-91, where we had field built out houses (Nicely put) & horrible fly problem. When the flies get to our waste & then get in our food & faces when we were sleep. As I get older my condition has gotten worse. If I eat a food that gives me "Firearreah!!!!!!!," I no longer eat it. Any ideas or how to manage this? Ive asked the VA for something to help my problem for years & I was told to buy over the counter products. 

[lanalou]

I have predominate diarrhea but started taking Dicyclomine before meals.  I still have diarrhea sometimes but mostly I have trouble evacuation my bowls completely.  I don't know if this is a side affect of the drug or if it is just another symptom of the IBS 

[Jeffrey Roberts]

Trouble fully emptying your bowel is usually a symptom of IBS versus a side effect of dicyclomine; however dicyclomine can be constipating.

[Creeklife]

I have IBS-C which had been manageable for several years until last year. Last December I was terribly sick from IBS symptoms! I went on the FODMAP diet for 5 weeks, some improvements, but still gassy and flulike feeling. Went to a naturopath and put on a strict Hypoallergenic diet. Sicker, lost 27 pounds, then felt better (not 100%) and stayed off dairy. Now it’s starting up again with nausea, gas, constipation and occasionally pain. 

[HattiehatesIBS]

On 5/9/2017 at 4:55 AM, Lynette said:

IBS-C. Bloating and pain are the worst 

I have IBSD but get the bloating and pain before I get the trots. It's just horrible. I find buscopan helps tho. Hope you are ok Lynette.

Edited February 15, 2019 by HattiehatesIBS

[HattiehatesIBS]

IBSD- loose motions every morning, sometimes of an evening, and that is when I am well. This has become the "normal" for me as this does not cause me any unwell feelings, but what I call my "episodes" or "bouts"- urgh they are just awful.

I will get bloated, full of wind, and then can feel very nauseated. Often I get the trots with that: every 20 mins or so. I can visit the loo about 10 times in total during an episode which can last all night. It usually starts anytime between 11.30 pm - 8 am. Although today an episode came on at around 4.30 pm with wind shortly after my dinner. It appears to be easing off now as I took a buscopan pill about 40 mins ago.

I

 

 

 

[HattiehatesIBS]

IBSD- loose motions every morning, sometimes of an evening, and that is when I am well. This has become the "normal" for me as this does not cause me any unwell feelings, but what I call my "episodes" or "bouts"- urgh they are just awful.

I will get bloated, full of wind, and then can feel very nauseated. Often I get the trots with that: every 20 mins or so. I can visit the loo about 10 times in total during an episode which can last all night. It usually starts anytime between 11.30 pm - 8 am. Although today an episode came on at around 4.30 pm with wind shortly after my dinner. It appears to be easing off now as I took a buscopan pill about 40 mins ago.

I find that taking Enzymedica bean assist digestive enzymes helps a lot- I get a lot less gas/wind and IBS episodes when I take them, so I take them each time I eat foods that have oligosaccharides in them such as kale,  cauli and broccoli. I have to eat some of these foods because  I'm a veggie so I need to eat them to get vitamins and minerals and have a varied diet.

I have cut out wheat/gluten, white rice, potatoes and starchy white carbs.

I just cannot eat heavy starches.

I can have sweet potatoes and oats.

I think I know my episode trigger this evening: too much fibre in my dinner, and dinner a bit too big ( had things that needed eating up, and I hate food waste) and been anxious over bills lately. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2019 by HattiehatesIBS
typo

[Alissa]

Hello my name is Alissa dirubbo I am 55 years old and he had stomach problems off and on most of my adult life however the last couple months I've been having cramping and bleeding sometimes it would stay sometime it would go away sometimes I would be constipated I still not sure I have IBS but I'm having a colonoscopy on May 31st hopefully they will have the answers for me

[Jeffrey Roberts]

Alissa, have you mentioned to your doctor about bleeding? That could be from many things, but is not typically from IBS unless you are straining or perhaps have hemorrhoids.

It's good that you are scheduled for a colonoscopy soon.

[Sheila]

I have had IBSd since I was a little girl.  I remember in the 4th grade having to leave class quickly with horrible cramping.  I would sit on the toilet until I had explosive diarrhea.  After about 45 minutes it would subside and I could return to whatever I was doing albeit rather exhausted.  I have had all the tests and nothing proves positive.  I tried going gluten free but not sure that is really the problem and hate to be without wheat if there is no need.  I am not allergic to wheat.  When I went off wheat for about 3 weeks I had no IBSd and then I added a bit back and seemed to react.  However, I still can't say with 100% certainty that wheat is my trigger as I have been off it now for 1 week and still having gas and periodic diarrhea.  I just started peppermint oil (3 days ago) and that seems to be calming my gut.  I am a very anxious person, anything can trigger it.  Making a meeting on time (I am always early), going to the airport, making any type of meeting arrangement.  I am so discouraged.

[Sheila]

On 2/15/2019 at 11:44 AM, HattiehatesIBS said:

IBSD- loose motions every morning, sometimes of an evening, and that is when I am well. This has become the "normal" for me as this does not cause me any unwell feelings, but what I call my "episodes" or "bouts"- urgh they are just awful.

I will get bloated, full of wind, and then can feel very nauseated. Often I get the trots with that: every 20 mins or so. I can visit the loo about 10 times in total during an episode which can last all night. It usually starts anytime between 11.30 pm - 8 am. Although today an episode came on at around 4.30 pm with wind shortly after my dinner. It appears to be easing off now as I took a buscopan pill about 40 mins ago.

I find that taking Enzymedica bean assist digestive enzymes helps a lot- I get a lot less gas/wind and IBS episodes when I take them, so I take them each time I eat foods that have oligosaccharides in them such as kale,  cauli and broccoli. I have to eat some of these foods because  I'm a veggie so I need to eat them to get vitamins and minerals and have a varied diet.

I have cut out wheat/gluten, white rice, potatoes and starchy white carbs.

I just cannot eat heavy starches.

I can have sweet potatoes and oats.

I think I know my episode trigger this evening: too much fibre in my dinner, and dinner a bit too big ( had things that needed eating up, and I hate food waste) and been anxious over bills lately. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sheila]

I too get my episodes during the middle of the night.  Not sure why?  Perhaps I am most relaxed?  It's horrible though because the next day I am exhausted from no sleep AND diarrhea.

[dreamwriter38]

I have IBSD . I've searched for this group out of dispair. I'm glad I have found a support group that deals with this subject. I've been going threw just about every test my GI doctor can think of to help me. Thursday he told me to just triple my medication and to stick to my diet of NO fiber, dairy, fresh fruits or vegetables, nothing fried or greasy, cooked greens and no caffeine. That leaves me with just starches and lean meats just about.

This is unfortunate since I am also quite over weight and need to loose it for my back and joints. He tried to get me in to see a nutritionist but my insurance won't pay for it so it's all up to me. I'm so frustrated.

Some days I feel like a prisoner of my bathroom. I buy bleach by the gallon in case I don't make it to the toilet. Its all so disgusting and makes me feel less then feminine. I've stopped dating all together. I just feel like a sickly old woman and I'm only 55yrs. Its just me, my cat Oscar and the toilet.

I'm sorry for being such a downer but after my doctors visit on Thursday I'm just sad. I'm hoping that doing something proactive like joining this group will be a step in the right direction. I see my psychologist on Monday and hopefully she can help me too.

Thank you all for having this support group. Have a blessed day.🌹

[Lola McClane]

I have the mixed diarrhea/constipation IBS.  I go to specialists and they give me medication for the diarrhea.  I become constipated.  Go back and they give me medicine for the constipation.  I have diarrhea.  I don't seem to get any help and I seem to go in a cycle.  A couple days of going every time I go to the bathroom; always more to come.  Then I go through a couple days where I have diarrhea.  It affects my day's activities, it's so bad.  Then I have a couple days where I have a very ordinary bowel movement and it goes back into the cycle.  Just don't know what to do.  Just listened to the 1MD Complete Probiotics Platinum video and am going to try a jar of those.  At least it's a 90-day guarantee in case it don't work.  Wishing us all luck in these debilitating circumstances. 

[Lola McClane]

On 5/4/2019 at 2:00 PM, Lola McClane said:

I have the mixed diarrhea/constipation IBS.  I go to specialists and they give me medication for the diarrhea.  I become constipated.  Go back and they give me medicine for the constipation.  I have diarrhea.  I don't seem to get any help and I seem to go in a cycle.  A couple days of going every time I go to the bathroom; always more to come.  Then I go through a couple days where I have diarrhea.  It affects my day's activities, it's so bad.  Then I have a couple days where I have a very ordinary bowel movement and it goes back into the cycle.  Just don't know what to do.  Just listened to the 1MD Complete Probiotics Platinum video and am going to try a jar of those.  At least it's a 90-day guarantee in case it don't work.  Wishing us all luck in these debilitating circumstances. 

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?  I was thinking of seeing a nutritionist.  I feel like I need to be concentrating more on my food intake.  Is there some doctor or doctor-like person I could see;  someone who won't just write me a prescription or send me to a gastroenterologist?

[Creeklife]

I suggest a Naturopath! I found a Naturopath made a huge difference for me. Food can make you miserable and is so easy to alter! 

[Quilty]

I have IBS-D. Explosive diarrhea being the worst symptom,  stomach(rather all gut area) spasms that literally move my entire upper body involuntarily, and noises and gurgling being the next most discouraging symptoms. The pain and cramping are not fun but I can deal with that. What I can't deal with is the social, professional impact of the symptoms listed above. Impossible to hide and I haven't mastered the art of being relaxed and cool about communicating my condition when it arises due to the stigma and shame surrounding this. I developped avoidance then anxiety as a teen trying to deal with it. Depressive states have come up at different periods but haven't felt the need for medication for those impacts of my IBS-D Changed my career path to something less stressful than my dream career allowed, as well as a bit more forgiving for personal time and needs. Living balanced and exercising regularly have helped my physical symptoms which in turn help my mental symptoms. 

[Kara]

I'm new to this site and from what I can tell from reading i have Type D as mine involves loose stools unless I take immodium in which case my stools are formed but still soft, and frequent at times.  I take the immodium only when necessary 1/4 to 1/2 pill at a time, and that usually stops the loose stools for up to a week at a time.  I don't want to overdue the medication as I'm afraid it will stop working.  I'm also taking a high powereed probiotic daily to keep my good bacteria restored.  I've ha problems off and on over the years, but it became chronic last year after a trip to Alaska, and since that time I've had tests for C diff, a colonoscopy which was normal except for diverticulitis, which has never flared up.  My problems are mostly in the morning which means I don't do much of anything until noon, and some days it's difficult to leave the house at all.  I'm 79 years old, so probably lucky that I went this long without problems.  I'm trying to recognize trigger foods that make this worse and eliminate them from my diet.  So far it seems to be very fatty foods, any kind of junk food, some dairy and so on.  I'm hoping that this site will provide me the support I need to get through this latest challenge.  My aunt had this and also two of my children suffer from some form of IBS so it must be somewhat heriditary.

[Kara]

On 5/4/2019 at 3:19 PM, dreamwriter38 said:

I have IBSD . I've searched for this group out of dispair. I'm glad I have found a support group that deals with this subject. I've been going threw just about every test my GI doctor can think of to help me. Thursday he told me to just triple my medication and to stick to my diet of NO fiber, dairy, fresh fruits or vegetables, nothing fried or greasy, cooked greens and no caffeine. That leaves me with just starches and lean meats just about.

This is unfortunate since I am also quite over weight and need to loose it for my back and joints. He tried to get me in to see a nutritionist but my insurance won't pay for it so it's all up to me. I'm so frustrated.

Some days I feel like a prisoner of my bathroom. I buy bleach by the gallon in case I don't make it to the toilet. Its all so disgusting and makes me feel less then feminine. I've stopped dating all together. I just feel like a sickly old woman and I'm only 55yrs. Its just me, my cat Oscar and the toilet.

I'm sorry for being such a downer but after my doctors visit on Thursday I'm just sad. I'm hoping that doing something proactive like joining this group will be a step in the right direction. I see my psychologist on Monday and hopefully she can help me too.

Thank you all for having this support group. Have a blessed day.🌹

Have you tried using Immodium to control your symptoms?  I do that and at least I'm able to function somewhat normally.  I only take enough to stop the loose bowel movements so I don't have to be concerned about making it to a toilet, plus I only go places where I know I can find a bathroom easily.  It's a challenge, but I refuse to give in to it....even at 79 years old!

[Lena Galindo]

Hi, I was doing research on line and found this Forum.  I always had IBS, after my gallbladder removal in 2005, but it was managed.  Lately, it has become more frequent gas and bloating and diarehea. of course with  stress it has increased.  It seems that many foods trigger a bowel movement.  Went to the doctor and she gave me Dicyclomine to delay the trigger and taking Probiotic.  but still having bathroom visits.  not sure where to begin.  My liver enzyme test was a bit elevated, so I will have a test on Monday.  I stopped dairy, wheat and fat. Any suggestions.

[Kansas Minion]

Hello, I was told by my doctor to find a support group so here I am.  I am not in a very good state of mind, I am quite upset with all of this.  I have dealt with this for YEARS, my friend told me that it was my gallbladder so I never went to the doctor about it since I did not have insurance.  I got insurance and had a new doctor since I had moved and he said, you have IBS-D take Vebrizi, you will be fine, so I did.  It seemed to help.  Well I am again without insurance and I ran out of the meds and it took a while to get started on the medication assistance program yet I started the Vebrizi about a month ago.  It has helped some, yet also not so much.  I am so tired of being chained to my toilet.  I am tired of going to the bathroom so much my butt feels like it is on fire.  I am tired of feeling afraid to go pee because it could cause me to have another bowl movement.  I am tired of spending the majority of my day on the toilet.  I am also upset that I did not make my then doctor send me for tests instead of just taking a pill to fix my problem.