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IBS challenges

Posted by Barb @amberpep, Aug 8, 2017

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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Profile picture for hopethereisnothing
hopethereisnothing | @hopethereisnothing | Jul 15, 2024
In reply to @brubakerd "Have you ever heard of Sibo. It took me months to get a diagnosis but I..." + (show)
Profile picture for brubakerd @brubakerd

Have you ever heard of Sibo. It took me months to get a diagnosis but I have had IBS for years and I have other complications, The food Map diet helps me.

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I actually thought of having SIBO. The test for it is not available where I live but I got to have 2 courses of antibiotics for it, including rifaximin, with no improvement. What helped me at some point was intermittent fasting as I was trying it for insulin resistance and prediabetes. The pain became milder and less frequent and the bowel movements became more regular, and as the weather is getting very hot and I wear looser fitting clothes ( no need for tight warming pants) I rarely have this symptom now.

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cgper | @cgper | Jul 16, 2024
In reply to @hopethereisnothing "Hello everyone.I have been suffering from digestive symptoms for more than a year. Started with excessive..." + (show)
Profile picture for hopethereisnothing @hopethereisnothing

Hello everyone.I have been suffering from digestive symptoms for more than a year. Started with excessive gas, diarrhea, burping and abdominal pain. I had all types of investigations : blood tests, stool tests, CT, MRI, gastroscopy and colonoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound, all came back clear. I was given the diagnosis of IBS. Tried low FODMAP diet for a short period of time but it didn't help and gave me constipation. My symptoms improved a bit with exercising and reducing food intake (as I was attempting weight loss). I stopped exercising more than a month. Now I have all my symptoms back in addition to severe cramping/squeezing abdominal pain whenever I wear tight clothes. Even the normal bra strap causes severe pain in the region.I can't wear a bra anymore at home. Pain goes away or gets better when I remove the tight clothing. I don't know if this could be related to IBS or something else and if there is something that helps with this symptom.

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I was diagnosed IBS in 2014 for symptoms I’ve had as long as I remember. Constipation since I was a young child and abdominal pain since I probably was 20. Then depression was added when I was about 45, even though I think it started earlier.

I have found this blog from Dr. Mark Hayman
Feeling Bloated and Anxious? Discover the Connection to Leaky Gut, SIBO, and SIFO.

I feel it worth to take a look at what he says.

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brubakerd | @brubakerd | Jul 16, 2024
In reply to @hopethereisnothing "I actually thought of having SIBO. The test for it is not available where I live..." + (show)
Profile picture for hopethereisnothing @hopethereisnothing

I actually thought of having SIBO. The test for it is not available where I live but I got to have 2 courses of antibiotics for it, including rifaximin, with no improvement. What helped me at some point was intermittent fasting as I was trying it for insulin resistance and prediabetes. The pain became milder and less frequent and the bowel movements became more regular, and as the weather is getting very hot and I wear looser fitting clothes ( no need for tight warming pants) I rarely have this symptom now.

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Thats Great! Thanks for sharing.

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faye0707 | @faye0707 | Mar 8 4:16pm

I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started having daily diarrhea and bowel incontinence. I have been through tons of tests and the doctors haven’t found anything. My doctor hasn’t tested me for any cause of the incontinence yet he has been focusing on any other cause of the diarrhea besides my IBS. My quality of life has gone from active to housebound unless I take4 Imodium I can go out for the day but I can’t do this but once a week because it causes bad stomach pain. Hoping there are others out there who might offer help.

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Margo42 | @margo42 | Mar 9 7:57am
In reply to @faye0707 "I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started..." + (show)
Profile picture for faye0707 @faye0707

I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started having daily diarrhea and bowel incontinence. I have been through tons of tests and the doctors haven’t found anything. My doctor hasn’t tested me for any cause of the incontinence yet he has been focusing on any other cause of the diarrhea besides my IBS. My quality of life has gone from active to housebound unless I take4 Imodium I can go out for the day but I can’t do this but once a week because it causes bad stomach pain. Hoping there are others out there who might offer help.

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Have you had a colonoscopy with biopsies to test for microscopic colitis?

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frannee | @frannee | Mar 9 11:14am
In reply to @faye0707 "I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started..." + (show)
Profile picture for faye0707 @faye0707

I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started having daily diarrhea and bowel incontinence. I have been through tons of tests and the doctors haven’t found anything. My doctor hasn’t tested me for any cause of the incontinence yet he has been focusing on any other cause of the diarrhea besides my IBS. My quality of life has gone from active to housebound unless I take4 Imodium I can go out for the day but I can’t do this but once a week because it causes bad stomach pain. Hoping there are others out there who might offer help.

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Get tested for EPI (Endocrine pancreatic insufficiency). I was like you for years until finally a new Dr had me have a stool test and came back that I have moderate EPI. There is medicine for this and I am like new now.

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1 reply
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mrsflutterby | @mrsflutterby | Mar 9 1:25pm
In reply to @faye0707 "I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started..." + (show)
Profile picture for faye0707 @faye0707

I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started having daily diarrhea and bowel incontinence. I have been through tons of tests and the doctors haven’t found anything. My doctor hasn’t tested me for any cause of the incontinence yet he has been focusing on any other cause of the diarrhea besides my IBS. My quality of life has gone from active to housebound unless I take4 Imodium I can go out for the day but I can’t do this but once a week because it causes bad stomach pain. Hoping there are others out there who might offer help.

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Make sure and get the breath test for SIBO (small intestine bacterial overload.) My incontinence turned out to be a Hydrogen Sulfide overload and once treated, I’m back to almost normal!

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2 replies
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rashida | @rashida | Mar 10 6:43am
In reply to @faye0707 "I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started..." + (show)
Profile picture for faye0707 @faye0707

I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started having daily diarrhea and bowel incontinence. I have been through tons of tests and the doctors haven’t found anything. My doctor hasn’t tested me for any cause of the incontinence yet he has been focusing on any other cause of the diarrhea besides my IBS. My quality of life has gone from active to housebound unless I take4 Imodium I can go out for the day but I can’t do this but once a week because it causes bad stomach pain. Hoping there are others out there who might offer help.

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@faye0707 I have been having stomach cramps and diarrhea lately - although not to the point of incontinence - and my doctor told me it was irritable bowel syndrome (I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy last April). She has suggested that I take peppermint oil capsules since I am reluctant to take prescription medications.

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1 reply
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linda82 | @linda82 | Mar 10 8:12am
In reply to @faye0707 "I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started..." + (show)
Profile picture for faye0707 @faye0707

I am 62 and have suffered from IBS for about 35 years. This year I started having daily diarrhea and bowel incontinence. I have been through tons of tests and the doctors haven’t found anything. My doctor hasn’t tested me for any cause of the incontinence yet he has been focusing on any other cause of the diarrhea besides my IBS. My quality of life has gone from active to housebound unless I take4 Imodium I can go out for the day but I can’t do this but once a week because it causes bad stomach pain. Hoping there are others out there who might offer help.

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Hate that for you! Have you had a colonoscopy?
I lived like you about the same time. I was the Pepto queen!
I was always told you have IBS. But, interesting after I had colon surgery last year it is gone.
IBS is a reaction and not a diagnosis.
Keep investigating!

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1 reply
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jeepgrl | @jeepgrl | Mar 10 1:03pm
In reply to @linda82 "Hate that for you! Have you had a colonoscopy? I lived like you about the same..." + (show)
Profile picture for linda82 @linda82

Hate that for you! Have you had a colonoscopy?
I lived like you about the same time. I was the Pepto queen!
I was always told you have IBS. But, interesting after I had colon surgery last year it is gone.
IBS is a reaction and not a diagnosis.
Keep investigating!

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I think we have to be reminded that IBS is a symptom and not a diagnosis!

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