Connect
IBS challenges
Hi .... I don't think there's a group for this, so I thought I'd try you all. I have been prone to IBS with constipation since my divorce 12 years ago - we were married for 40 years and I felt as though I'd been thrown away. My gastro-intestinal doctor suggested Metamucil, which seemed to work. Between then and now I've had 3 moves, one about 4 hours from where I'd lived for 30 years, a TKR and also a revision, am on several psychotropic medications for cyclothymia, and just feel awful. Well, I'm 73 and have had my teeth removed in order to get dentures .... there's been quite a harang with this and it's been over a year since I've been eating soft and pureed foods .... cream of wheat, soups (pureed), pureed spaghetti, if I do eat a piece of fruit it has to be pureed, but I try not to. It's been a long haul. Well, now I'm packing to move to a low-income apartment closer to my girls, and the IBS has become the diahrrhea form ..... OMG, it's awful. I'm afraid to go out. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm new down here and only have an Internist, but with moving that will have to change. I need the name of a good gastro-enterologist at the hospital I will be using. In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm forced to use pads right now "just in case" ..... I know this is anxiety and tension, but it's got to stop.
Thanks much,
abby
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Connect
I've always been told insoluble fiber is the important kind when it comes to pooping. No? I've already started the ground flaxseed so I'm going to stick with that for at least a while - but I apprciate the info about chia seeds. What are the benefits of soluble fiber? I'll definitely check out Full Plate Living - thanks for commenting!
400-600 mg of Mag Citrate daily has been a game changer for me. Not gassy, not bloated, just regular and non-hard stool. Good luck. So frustrating having to spend so much time pooping - and thinking about pooping!
@mikayla68 -
I don’t tolerate high fiber either- and so many doctors have tried to force me to try it again. Makes me sick. Many don’t understand.
You may be on the right path now if the flaxseed works plus the fissure surgery you had.
Do you think using a glycerin suppository first thing in the am would make the mornings easier?
Sorry you’re suffering so much. Have you ever worked with a dietitian or a naturopathic provider? I’m thinking outside the box. I presume you’re Medicare age and have been thru the wringer with your gut.
Hi nice to hear from you again! It helps to hear that you can't do high fiber either.
I have glycerin suppositories ready to go if I need one, but they make me feel pretty sick for an hour or two so I'm avoiding them. Once or twice I used a Fleet saline enema post surgery to avoid straining, which I'm supposed to not do. It's hurting tonight and am kinda mad at myself cuz I think I strained this afternoon - I find it's hard to know exactly what to do, and my sensations in that area tend to be confused, like I can't reliably know what I'm feeling, probably from that old surgery. Thanks again.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsHi and thanks for commenting. I worked with a dietician to work my way through low FODMAP eating. It's a complex way of eating and you need to go through the process of elimination, so my answer is yes. I also did the Nerva app - a system of hypnotic relaxation for the gut and IBS. And yes, I've been thru the wringer with my gut, thanks for recognizing that! This is corny, but sometimes I talk to it and apologize.
I did find that there is a speciality in GI medicine under the heading naturopathic providers. I don’t know where you reside but if you search I bet you can find an MD or DO who is also trained in naturopathic medicine. And also look into large teaching hospitals with Alternative Medicine programs where you might find this too. Good luck but I earn out of suggestions.
Both are good. Both provide bulk and prebiotics. Soluble makes stool softer so it's easier to pass.
Thanks. I've been trying to find the right dose of mag citrate that doesn't result in diarrhea.
I cannot say I have had large BM's, but I had C Diff twice last year. I got it in the hospital during an outpatient stay (just overnight) for my cervical fusion in 2021. I didn't know my surgeon gave me a prophylactic dose of the antibiotic Ancef (a 2nd generation cephlasporin which is often connected with C Diff infections). My GI doc tried me on Flayly and Vancomycin first for the C Diff and neither worked. He got me approved for Dificid and it kicked it's butt temporarily, but apparently it did not get rid of all of the C Diff and I tested positive for C Diff 3 months after finishing the initial Dificid. My GI doc then had me take 2 rounds of Dificid when it came back after the first go-round. (Flagyl and Vancomycin did not work for me.) I think it is important to note that I also had IBS-D for 10 years prior to contracting the C Diff and I still do. I understand there is a condition called post-infection IBS following a C Diff infection and that it can take up to 2 years for your colon to heal after a C Diff infection. I have found that soluble fiber works the best for me in normalizing my stool. Metamucil was too fibrous for me. Citrucil and Miralax were no better either. I have used Heather's Senegal Acacia Fiber for years even prior to the C Diff infection. I take 1 rounded tablespoon in the morning and 1 rounded tablespoon in the evening. Acacia fiber becomes a gel-like substance in your colon and helps to keep your stool solid but soft. It is very important to gradually build up to the amount of acacia fiber taken over a period of weeks until you get to the amount that works best for you. The last thing you want to do is flood your system with fiber. That will only cause constipation. You might want to read the reviews on Heather's Acacia Fiber. They sell it on Amazon or visit Heather's Tummy Care website and read what she has to say about her product and how it helps with IBS. She also struggled with IBS for many years. Just a suggestion that has helped me a great deal. I wish you luck. C Diff is a terrible disease and I now understand the real problem - C Diff is an antibiotic resistant bacteria. Doctor's need to be educated on the unnecessary use of antibiotics. I know this is a lot more than you asked for, but I understand Acacia Fiber is also good for constipation. You just have to work up to a greater amount of it to work for chronic constipation.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions