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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
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If you drink or eat things with artificial sweeteners, that can really charge up abdominal pain and bloating for those with IBS. I try to stay away from artificial sweeteners and it has helped curb pain and bloating. Products like Gas-X or those that have simethicone can be helpful and I always have them on hand and carry them with me wherever I go. Eating yogurt with live/active probiotics (like Activia) every morning and also a bowl of regular, plain old-fashioned oatmeal (not processed, flavored packets) has been beneficial, too. Tight clothing can indeed cause pain and I long ago stopped wearing clothing that wasn't comfortably loose.
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3 Reactions…I try to stay away from artificial sweeteners and it has helped curb pain and bloating. I largely agree. fwiw, I find monk fruit to be the exception.
@hopethereisnothing
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
I share your complaints. I find it very uncomfortable to wear a bra nowadays- quite a few years actually. I have a couple of bras to use for more formal occasions.
I usually wear a camisole- if it has a built in bra like support I find the elastic too tight. I’m not sure why but when I get bloated it reaches uppermost abdomen.
I also avoid clothing with tight waists. I end up rolling down tights and even underwear if it bothers me.
I also had my gallbladder removed- there definitely is abdominal tenderness mid abdomen if I eat fatty foods.
I’m not sure there is a solution- I just try to find clothing that agree with me.
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4 ReactionsSo sorry for your pain and discomfort…
Of course, rule out any physical problem as you are trying to find your way to pain relief.
I was diagnosed with IBS C, and SIBO-had horrible pain and bloating; there is a pricy antibiotic to use with the FODMAP diet.. the diet takes 2-3 months to “starve” the bad bacteria; then you need to slowly add back foods that are potentially yummy food for the bad guys, one at a time, couple days apart. If you have symptoms repeating, stay away from that food for a bit longer.
I wound up eating lots of baby carrots, radishes, cucumbers, squash, etc. Oats, rice. Chicken, roasted chicken, roasted chicken with roasted carrots and baby potatoes. Kosher salt makes a great seasoning when you’re/my favorite garlic and onions are not allowed, even in small bits. (they are the top no-no foods!) become an expert in reading content labels-start from the bottom.
I was so miserable that I was willing to try and stick to anything.
If you don’t have any physical problems that need medical attention, and you follow the diet, you will probably loose weight and not be constipated.
Last Christmas I had a lot of cookies, sugar stuff etc, and had a little flare. Knowing what was happening, I was able to quit the sugar, do the diet for a week or two, and get back on track.
Good luck with all!
Ps you can buy some inexpensive and interesting cook books online that really helped me with some ideas
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2 ReactionsPs…ask your doctor about the best pro and prebiotic they would recommend
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1 ReactionHave exactly the same problem. I have IBS flares. Never had problems with tight clothing when younger, but now in my 70's, giving up on skinny jeans. So glad to see the looser fitting clothing. Some days I can wear them, but others I can't stand anything binding. Bras sometimes cause the same problem you stated. I buy the most comfortable ones I can find. I wonder, do you feel " puffier" when you are having the most discomfort? It could be water retention??I can notice a real difference when I sit down and the soft tissues are squeezed. I am slender by the way, but clothes can feel great until you sit down and they cut in. I really don't know the answer, but am opting out of tight clothes and sizing up....yeah baggy jeans!!! Not just for teens!!!!
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4 ReactionsI have had these problems for years. I cannot stand anything that is tight. It causes nerve pain. If I even try on a pair of pants in the store, and it is not really loose, it will trigger pain that will last for days. And I cannot stand anything binding on my midriff or abdomen. Many leggings and yoga pants have a seam across the middle of the abdomen, where they squeeze you to give a smooth look. That seam causes me extreme pain. It is almost impossible to find pants that stay up but do not cause nerve pain. And vaginal pain from the seams of pants is a terrible problem. I have IBS, interstitial cystitis, and vulvadynia, all of which are related. It is likely a nerve mediated disorder that affects all these areas and causes pain, and intestinal symptoms. I try to wear lightweight, stretchy pants or skirts that do not squeeze too much. And shirts/blouses that are not tight fitting or need to be tucked in, which causes further restriction. Try to find leggings that do not have thick waste bands or suck you in to create a smooth look. it is very difficult, since I am an attorney and need professional clothing. It is a constant problem.
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4 ReactionsIBS is a symptom not a DX (diagnosis) advocate for CT scans and ultrasound to determine or rule out MALs ( median arcuate ligament syndrome) also known as Dunbars Disease sometimes referred to Celiac Compression Syndrome. It's a rare condition that is often overlooked. Good luck. Hope you find relief soon.
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1 ReactionI have similar uncontrollable soft stool & hemroids..what a worrisome embarrassing mess..afraid to eat fruit & veggies. Thinking of taking imodium with each meal. Help
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1 Reaction@sljm2012
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
Have you discussed this with a gastroenterologist?
Are you able to pin down foods that could cause soft stools?
Lactose intolerance can cause it as well as gluten sensitivity and others.
Do you have a problem with stool leaking?