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What can I do?

Question:

Hi, I’ve been told by my doc that I have IBS since nothing was detected during several of the following tests: upper and lower g.i. series, sigmoidoscopy.  I don’t have the common symptoms of diarrhea and constipation.  The problem is that I have to "go" all the time.  Anything and everything I eat seems to trigger bloating and eventually a trip to the bathroom.  This results in several trips a day.  I often find that I "go" only feeling the urge to "go" again only 5 minutes later.  It’s horrible. The sad fact is that I feel "normal" for perhaps 1 hour per day.  I’ve tried to keep a food calendar, but to no avail.  I haven’t been able to link this problem to any food in particular.  I do know, however, that greasy, heavy foods aggravate the situation. The bloating and discomfort is always in the same place:  in the lower left quadrant of my colon.  It’s so bad that I can actually press the area and feel the gas.  I have some other symptoms and I have no idea if they are connected with the aformentioned details.  Those symptoms are:  both of my feet are swollen (all the time), I’m dizzy a lot and get off balance easily, and I am soooo tired.  I lack the energy to do anything.  It’s hard for me to get up in the morning and off to work.  (It’s a major production!!)  I just wish I could get some relief.  I shouldn’t feel like this because I’m still young and I’ve been suffering with these symptoms for 17 years!!  (I can’t believe it myself)  I’d appreciate any advice or help from any of you as I am desperate for some relief.  I’m TIRED of dealing with this. Thank you!!! con…@aol.com

Response:

< I had my gall bladder removed in 1976 and from that time on I had suffered urgent attacks of diarrhea.  Went through a lot of test but nothing else could be found.  I took many of the meds for bowel spasms and cramps over the years but nothing ever seemed to help.  I started to take a calcium supplement to help prevent bone loss in later years and from the first day I felt relief.  I was pretty much a prisoner to the bathroom or had to go without eating to be able to leave the house.  I must take 1 tablet with each meal and the diarrhea does not come back if I miss taking it I get diarrhea.  The way it works is the calcium carbonate it a binder and when you take it only about 40% of the calcium gets to the bones and the rest is gotten rid of in our waste.  During the process it gets to the intestines and soaks up excess bile and water and helps give a more solid BM.  Now that you have no gall bladder the bile fluid goes directly into the intestines and causes irritation and diarrhea.  The calcium carbonate soaks this up and no more diarrhea.  It works great for a lot of us and you just have to take the calcium regularly and do not miss.    I started with Caltrate 600 Plus with vitamin d and minerals and it does seem to make a difference in the ingredients of calcium… This one seems to do the best job for most.  You can buy other store brands of calcium with the same ingredients that work just as well but they need to have the same ingredients. I get Member’s Mark Brand from Sam’s Club you get 300 tablets for 8.99.  Let me know if you need more help.  You won’t be sorry if you try it.  I suggest starting with 1/2 tablet with each meal at first this may be enough to control the diarrhea if not in a few days up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal.  The side effect is constipation so if you feel it coming on just cut the dose.  It is important to use a calcium that is as much alike as the Caltrate brand. Let me list the ingredients:  Vitamin D 200 IU  Calcium 500 or 600 MG (This should be calcium carbonate form)  Magnesium 40 MG (No more than this amount because magnesium will cause you to have diarrhea but because calcium is constipating the magnesium helps to counter act that effect)  Zinc 7.5 MG  Copper 1 MG  Manganese 1.8 MG  Boron 250 MCG.  There are other brands with the same ingredients so get something as close as you can.  Then start with 1/2 tablet with each meal and in a few days if this is not enough to control your diarrhea then up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal.  If you feel you are becoming constipated the cut back on the dose.    It has been working since the first day I started taking it July 1998 and as long as I take 3 a day (this is the amount I must take it may be different for you) I remain diarrhea free.  No cramps, bloating or diarrhea.  Check out the www.ibsgroup.org message board for more info.  Linda >>

Response:

There are several treatments for IBS.  If the doctor who has tested you isn’t working with you to find medications/treatments that work (not everything works for everybody) then it is time to find another doctor who will.   www.iffgd.org  is an organization that studies functional bowel disorders (IBS is one of them)  They have an advisory list and they have doctors all over the place.  If there isn’t one near you, you might contact one near you that can recommend a local doctor.  Most doctors did not recieve anything approaching adequate training in dealing with IBS when they were in medical school.  And not everyone is a up-to-date as they should be. IBS is caused by something being wrong with the nerves that control the gut or send sensations from the gut up to the brain.  Antispasmodic medications can make the painful spasms less.  Using Immodium (available over the counter) can be used daily to control IBS as long as you’ve been checked out completely.  For some people fiber is helpful in controlling symptoms.  Some people find that simethecone containing products (Gas-X etc that are available OTC) are helpful for bloating from gas and some people find that taking digestive enzymes (I liked the brand from GNC) can help with the bloated feeling that comes with eating.   Calcium supplements help some people. Several treatments are aimed at the nerves of the gut.   There is a new drug just approved this year in the US (Lotronex). It has been approved for woman with diarrhea predominate IBS.  (It works better in woman so that what got the initial approval and it is being retested in men).  This drug effects serotonin receptors.  There are a large number of drugs that aslo affect serotoning receptors  (antidepressants, mostly the tricyclic antidepressants and the newer serotonin uptake inhibitors, and one of the antianxiety drugs called Buspar).  One clinc tracked the patients they tried on antidepressant therapy and found that 60% of patients got complete relief. Including these people, over 90% of patients got some relief.  Some people had to try more than one drug to find the one that worked for them. Usually these drugs are taken at the low end of the dosage range (tricyclics are often effective at doses lower than those that affect depression). There are a lot of connections between the brain and the gut.  For some people they can retrain how the brain deals with the signals that the gut is sending so the symptoms are less bothersome, or so the brain stops annoying the gut so much.  I did Cognitive Behavoral Therapy and it helped me greatly reduce my reliance on medications (taking Levbid a long acting  antispasmodic and Buspar).  And today  I feel basically normal.  Like you the problem wasn’t so much stool consistancy, but more of a pain, discomfort, and urgency problem. There is a book out called Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired (it’s available, and a new edition is coming out at any of the online book stores, I don’t recal the authors off hand). It talks about what people go through when they have chronic problems like IBS  and how to deal with it. HTH K. ********************************************************* Failure is not an option, it comes packaged with the software kmot…@aol.com

Response:

Sorry to hear of all your problems.  Other than all the scope tests, have they run a general blood panel to see if you have any other problems that might be contributing?  Sounds like a complete physical would be in order. I too have the diarrhea-prone version of IBS.  I found that a dose of a tricyclic antidepressant (for me Tofranil-imipramine) has "drying up" effects on my bowels. Sometimes that drug has the added benefit of actually changing  your mood a bit for the positive and doing a great deal for the depression that the condition causes. I would also try psyllium seed in the form of Metamucil, just a little bit at a time, then more as you tolerate it.  Metamucil and its other forms like Citrucel, are "bulk formers."  They take the water out of your stool and tend to harden it up. I also take Imodium liberally, regularly, and my gastroenterologist encourages that.  It is of great help and can be purchased over the counter. Good luck, but I’d get that thorough physical first and a second opinion from a good gastroenterologist second. Bruce – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Conset wrote: > Hi, > I’ve been told by my doc that I have IBS since nothing was detected during > several of the following tests: upper and lower g.i. series, sigmoidoscopy.  I > don’t have the common symptoms of diarrhea and constipation.  The problem is > that I have to "go" all the time.  Anything and everything I eat seems to > trigger bloating and eventually a trip to the bathroom.  This results in > several trips a day.  I often find that I "go" only feeling the urge to "go" > again only 5 minutes later.  It’s horrible. The sad fact is that I feel > "normal" for perhaps 1 hour per day.  I’ve tried to keep a food calendar, but > to no avail.  I haven’t been able to link this problem to any food in > particular.  I do know, however, that greasy, heavy foods aggravate the > situation. The bloating and discomfort is always in the same place:  in the > lower left quadrant of my colon.  It’s so bad that I can actually press the > area and feel the gas.  I have some other symptoms and I have no idea if they > are connected with the aformentioned details.  Those symptoms are:  both of my > feet are swollen (all the time), I’m dizzy a lot and get off balance easily, > and I am soooo tired.  I lack the energy to do anything.  It’s hard for me to > get up in the morning and off to work.  (It’s a major production!!)  I just > wish I could get some relief.  I shouldn’t feel like this because I’m still > young and I’ve been suffering with these symptoms for 17 years!!  (I can’t > believe it myself)  I’d appreciate any advice or help from any of you as I am > desperate for some relief.  I’m TIRED of dealing with this. Thank you!!! > con…@aol.com

Response:

In article <20000729101046.02692.00003…@nso-fh.aol.com>,   kmot…@aol.comspamtrap (KMottus) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> There are several treatments for IBS.  If the doctor who has > tested you isn’t working with you to find medications/treatments > that work (not everything works for everybody) then it is time > to find another doctor who will. > www.iffgd.org  is an organization that studies functional bowel > disorders (IBS is one of them)  They have an advisory list > and they have doctors all over the place.  If there isn’t one > near you, you might contact one near you that can recommend > a local doctor.  Most doctors did not recieve anything approaching > adequate training in dealing with IBS when they were in > medical school.  And not everyone is a up-to-date as they > should be. > IBS is caused by something being wrong with the nerves that > control the gut or send sensations from the gut up to the > brain.  Antispasmodic medications can make the painful > spasms less.  Using Immodium (available over the counter) > can be used daily to control IBS as long as you’ve been > checked out completely.  For some people fiber is helpful > in controlling symptoms.  Some people find that simethecone > containing products (Gas-X etc that are available OTC) > are helpful for bloating from gas and some people find that > taking digestive enzymes (I liked the brand from GNC) can > help with the bloated feeling that comes with eating. > Calcium supplements help some people. > Several treatments are aimed at the nerves of the gut.   There > is a new drug just approved this year in the US (Lotronex). > It has been approved for woman with diarrhea predominate > IBS.  (It works better in woman so that what got the initial > approval and it is being retested in men).  This drug effects > serotonin receptors.  There are a large number of drugs that > aslo affect serotoning receptors  (antidepressants, mostly > the tricyclic antidepressants and the newer serotonin > uptake inhibitors, and one of the antianxiety drugs called > Buspar).  One clinc tracked the patients they tried on > antidepressant therapy and found that 60% of patients > got complete relief. Including these people, over 90% > of patients got some relief.  Some people had to try > more than one drug to find the one that worked for them. > Usually these drugs are taken at the low end of the dosage > range (tricyclics are often effective at doses lower than > those that affect depression). > There are a lot of connections between the brain and the > gut.  For some people they can retrain how the brain > deals with the signals that the gut is sending so the > symptoms are less bothersome, or so the brain stops > annoying the gut so much.  I did Cognitive Behavoral > Therapy and it helped me greatly reduce my reliance > on medications (taking Levbid a long acting  antispasmodic > and Buspar).  And today  I feel basically normal.  Like you > the problem wasn’t so much stool consistancy, but more > of a pain, discomfort, and urgency problem. > There is a book out called Sick and Tired of Being Sick and > Tired (it’s available, and a new edition is coming out at any > of the online book stores, I don’t recal the authors off hand). > It talks about what people go through when they have chronic > problems like IBS  and how to deal with it. > HTH > K. > ********************************************************* > Failure is not an option, it comes packaged with > the software > kmot…@aol.com

Which anti-depressant is the preferred one for IBS? I take Zoloft which I think is aggravating it. Bonnie Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

My 21 year old friend has been getting a lot of blood mixed in with her stools. She’s been pleaded with by freinds, family and doctors to have an Endoscopy because of the risk she may have cancer. She is refusing to go and has missed several urgent hospital appointments. My mum had one last year and explained how simple and painless the procedure was. She won’t listen to anyone. Is 21 too young to get this kind of cancer? Can you suggest what I could do to make her see sence? She even has two young children. One of 6 the other 3. I’m so scared of the consiqeunces. Thanks in advance, Julie.

Response:

IF she has occult blood in the stool – then she really needs a colonoscopy.  It really could be alot of things – eating alot of red meat for example, or raw fruit and veggies, can irritate the lining of the colon and cause a little bleeding maybe.  Generally, when doing home occult blood tests, you’re supposed to avoid eating these things.  If she has done these tests under these controlled conditions and continues to test positive, she def should undergo further examination. Even though older people are at increased risk and should have regular colonoscopies, no one is too young to get this kind of cancer, but also, blood in the stool like that doesn’t always mean cancer either. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Fri, 1 Sep 2000, Julie Huggins wrote: > My 21 year old friend has been getting a lot of blood mixed in with her > stools. She’s been pleaded with by freinds, family and doctors to have an > Endoscopy because of the risk she may have cancer. She is refusing to go and > has missed several urgent hospital appointments. My mum had one last year > and explained how simple and painless the procedure was. She won’t listen to > anyone. > Is 21 too young to get this kind of cancer? Can you suggest what I could do > to make her see sence? She even has two young children. One of 6 the other > 3. I’m so scared of the consiqeunces. > Thanks in advance, Julie.

Response:

21 is awfully young for colon cancer, but is a prime age for having an Inflamatory Bowel Disease.  They are caused by an auto-immune response and woman in their 20’s are prime candidates for this kind of thing.  The two main IBD’s are Ulcerative Colitis and Chron’s disease. You might want to look up some information on them for her. They are treatable, but noticable blood loss in the stool is life threatening.  A friend of mine had internal bleeding from a vascular growth in her small intestine and had no idea she had lost that much blood.  Her blood counts were lower than a lot of dead people by the time she got to the hospital.  She was very lucky, and to her she didn’t think she had lost that much blood…it looked like she had food poisoning and was bleeding a bit from that. You may need to be very blunt. Personally I would sit her down someplace private and explain to her that whatever she has is treatable, and if she refuses to go get that treatment it is time to prepare for what is going to happen if she dies from NOT getting treatment,  sooner or later she will bleed to death without getting it taken care of.  Then when it is time for her next appointment someone needs to be with her to make sure she goes.  Personally I’d find out from the doctor what the prep he/she wants her to do is, go get the things from the pharmacy (or the doctor)   This usually needs to be done the night before, so I’d spend the night with her, make her drink/do whatever prep they want done and drive her to the doctor the next day… and stand outside the office door and make sure she doesn’t bolt. But that’s just me. HTH K. ********************************************************* Failure is not an option, it comes packaged with the software kmot…@aol.com

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