IBS-C

Posted by flip1949 @flip1949, Jul 5, 2016

I have IBS-C, and trying to find some relief

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@mvestuto

<p>I would like to know if anyone experiences IBS like I do. I either go or don't go to the bathroom. When I do, it usually feels incomplete. Once I start walking around, I often feel the urge to go again. It feels like there's a huge ball pressing down in my rectal area, like pressure, like my rectum is "open". My doctor has me on daily Benefiber to soften stools. I often take Tylenol for pain relief in hopes of shrinking my tissues. Does anyone have any ideas on how to rid myself of this?</p>

Jump to this post

I have IBS with constipation. I've seen specialists and had colonoscopies. They always prescribed fiber supplements which never helped and actually seemed to make things worse. I did some research on line..reputable links like Mayo, WebMD, etc. There I read fiber supplements don't work for everyone. When I pushed the issue with my doctor they told me to start using MiraLAX. It did help but when I first started using it I got cramps before going to the bathroom. That went away after a short time. I now use ClearLAX which is Walmart's version of MiraLAX every night. I also watch what I eat. I can't digest beef well and too much doughy stuff like pizza doesn't go well for me. I can have 1 slice of pizza but if I eat 2 or 3, I feel it within an hour of eating it. I make a LOT of soups with lots of veggies and use chicken or organic chicken broth as a base. I can't eat too much at one time so I graze throughout the day. As for what I can and can't eat..it's different for everyone so you have to experiment. I have to stay away from fiber drinks like Metamucil Psyllium Fiber though. Again..everyone is different but if I use that stuff I feel just like you described. I stick to ClearLAX.

REPLY
@cahnny

I have IBS with constipation. I've seen specialists and had colonoscopies. They always prescribed fiber supplements which never helped and actually seemed to make things worse. I did some research on line..reputable links like Mayo, WebMD, etc. There I read fiber supplements don't work for everyone. When I pushed the issue with my doctor they told me to start using MiraLAX. It did help but when I first started using it I got cramps before going to the bathroom. That went away after a short time. I now use ClearLAX which is Walmart's version of MiraLAX every night. I also watch what I eat. I can't digest beef well and too much doughy stuff like pizza doesn't go well for me. I can have 1 slice of pizza but if I eat 2 or 3, I feel it within an hour of eating it. I make a LOT of soups with lots of veggies and use chicken or organic chicken broth as a base. I can't eat too much at one time so I graze throughout the day. As for what I can and can't eat..it's different for everyone so you have to experiment. I have to stay away from fiber drinks like Metamucil Psyllium Fiber though. Again..everyone is different but if I use that stuff I feel just like you described. I stick to ClearLAX.

Jump to this post

Yup! This pretty well sums it up for me;.always watching what I eat and not too much at one time. I take Benefiber, which helps some, but not all the way.

REPLY
@cahnny

I have IBS with constipation. I've seen specialists and had colonoscopies. They always prescribed fiber supplements which never helped and actually seemed to make things worse. I did some research on line..reputable links like Mayo, WebMD, etc. There I read fiber supplements don't work for everyone. When I pushed the issue with my doctor they told me to start using MiraLAX. It did help but when I first started using it I got cramps before going to the bathroom. That went away after a short time. I now use ClearLAX which is Walmart's version of MiraLAX every night. I also watch what I eat. I can't digest beef well and too much doughy stuff like pizza doesn't go well for me. I can have 1 slice of pizza but if I eat 2 or 3, I feel it within an hour of eating it. I make a LOT of soups with lots of veggies and use chicken or organic chicken broth as a base. I can't eat too much at one time so I graze throughout the day. As for what I can and can't eat..it's different for everyone so you have to experiment. I have to stay away from fiber drinks like Metamucil Psyllium Fiber though. Again..everyone is different but if I use that stuff I feel just like you described. I stick to ClearLAX.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your information/experiences about IBS with constipation. My IBS has developed into this type in the last few years and I, like you, find I feel better and have less digestive issues if I "graze" my way through the day. I've been taking fiber supplements every day, but sometimes don't find them as effective as they use to be....so perhaps MiraLAX/ClearLAX might work better, and a possible replacement for the fiber pills. Thanks again for your post.

REPLY
@cahnny

I have IBS with constipation. I've seen specialists and had colonoscopies. They always prescribed fiber supplements which never helped and actually seemed to make things worse. I did some research on line..reputable links like Mayo, WebMD, etc. There I read fiber supplements don't work for everyone. When I pushed the issue with my doctor they told me to start using MiraLAX. It did help but when I first started using it I got cramps before going to the bathroom. That went away after a short time. I now use ClearLAX which is Walmart's version of MiraLAX every night. I also watch what I eat. I can't digest beef well and too much doughy stuff like pizza doesn't go well for me. I can have 1 slice of pizza but if I eat 2 or 3, I feel it within an hour of eating it. I make a LOT of soups with lots of veggies and use chicken or organic chicken broth as a base. I can't eat too much at one time so I graze throughout the day. As for what I can and can't eat..it's different for everyone so you have to experiment. I have to stay away from fiber drinks like Metamucil Psyllium Fiber though. Again..everyone is different but if I use that stuff I feel just like you described. I stick to ClearLAX.

Jump to this post

Im not sure whats in miralax? I would go for the 100%pure I tried the fiber thing made me worse, you dont want to damage intestinal lining especially small intestines thats where absorption of vitamins minerals proteins ect begin, I read extensively before I put anything in my body I was a medical student because I was concerned about my brother RIP and my health! You know if you have taken too much magnesium it will give you the runs ! Which is a great indicator being constipated is a misrable exsistance !! Just trying to help good luck to you!

REPLY
@cahnny

I have IBS with constipation. I've seen specialists and had colonoscopies. They always prescribed fiber supplements which never helped and actually seemed to make things worse. I did some research on line..reputable links like Mayo, WebMD, etc. There I read fiber supplements don't work for everyone. When I pushed the issue with my doctor they told me to start using MiraLAX. It did help but when I first started using it I got cramps before going to the bathroom. That went away after a short time. I now use ClearLAX which is Walmart's version of MiraLAX every night. I also watch what I eat. I can't digest beef well and too much doughy stuff like pizza doesn't go well for me. I can have 1 slice of pizza but if I eat 2 or 3, I feel it within an hour of eating it. I make a LOT of soups with lots of veggies and use chicken or organic chicken broth as a base. I can't eat too much at one time so I graze throughout the day. As for what I can and can't eat..it's different for everyone so you have to experiment. I have to stay away from fiber drinks like Metamucil Psyllium Fiber though. Again..everyone is different but if I use that stuff I feel just like you described. I stick to ClearLAX.

Jump to this post

I hear you fiber is no good for me either! I live in N.Y. can't help buthave a slice hear and there, I do not feel well with a high fat meal eitherI always eat fruit and vegetables fresh of course or frozen ,But hadproblems with bowl movements for years and was reading one day and cameacross magnesium I am 53 as a child my Sicilian grandmother use to give mea teaspoon of magnesium before I went to bed and found some labs ,bloodwork couple years old I was 1 numeral from being of the charts magnesiumlow! It works great for Many reasons I suggest you Google it first ,fiberdoes un repairable damage causing malnutrition aka malabsorption can'tbelieve the doctors are so far behind well I.actually can just because theyhave a PhD does not make everyone a good Dr! Be well Deena

REPLY
@cahnny

I have IBS with constipation. I've seen specialists and had colonoscopies. They always prescribed fiber supplements which never helped and actually seemed to make things worse. I did some research on line..reputable links like Mayo, WebMD, etc. There I read fiber supplements don't work for everyone. When I pushed the issue with my doctor they told me to start using MiraLAX. It did help but when I first started using it I got cramps before going to the bathroom. That went away after a short time. I now use ClearLAX which is Walmart's version of MiraLAX every night. I also watch what I eat. I can't digest beef well and too much doughy stuff like pizza doesn't go well for me. I can have 1 slice of pizza but if I eat 2 or 3, I feel it within an hour of eating it. I make a LOT of soups with lots of veggies and use chicken or organic chicken broth as a base. I can't eat too much at one time so I graze throughout the day. As for what I can and can't eat..it's different for everyone so you have to experiment. I have to stay away from fiber drinks like Metamucil Psyllium Fiber though. Again..everyone is different but if I use that stuff I feel just like you described. I stick to ClearLAX.

Jump to this post

I had for long time a hiatal hernia for a long time and didn't even know it. I saw a gastroenterologist because of my inability to eat without having the food stuck in my chest. When I went to a surgian to have the hernia fixed he put me on a diet of not eating just three meals a day but six meals a day but smaller portions. So far it seems to help with my IBS as well

REPLY
@safetyshield

I do have IBS I see a gastroenterologist and he has put me on fiber twice a day plus some medication. (That you need to talk to your doctor about). So far my sytoms have gotten better.

Jump to this post

High fiber irritates intentinal lining and I think cortizones aka steriods should be reserved as a last solution ! I have been put on predisone so many times my immune system wont shut off also a steriod used when all else fails for anaphylaxis shock , I swear by magnesium look up foods rich in magnesium for constipation I take in pill form have doctor check your levels with a simple blood test! Spinach and other greens are magnesium rich I take in pill form ! Good luck D

REPLY

Gracious sakes alive, I don't care what they call it.. squatty, potty, sp, squat pot or "the thing you can't live without".. it works! My physical therapist told me about it. I swear, that man knows me more than I know myself and he was talking to me one day all about this professional development class he took where he learned all about it. Naturally, I had to have one. Whatever that fella says, you can take to the bank so I figured if he said it, it would work. Course, he talked about it with great class whereas I, being an elementary teacher, brought it down to reality and funny when I realized it involved poop. Well now, it was great until I realized I'd have to go into a store to buy it. I found it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond (though smart folks get it online and save themselves from the embarrassing trip to the store). Me though.. I hadn't thought it through until the moment I had it in my arms marching like a confident person to the cash register. The confidence zip left me and on the fly, I came up with a great story about how I was buying it for the local nursing home. The lady who checked me out had that smirk of a look that says "uh-huh, right you are". Sheepishly I took it home and after experiencing it 1-1, I was so impressed, I bought one for each of my siblings and my nieces. Yup, for their Christmas gifts to boot. Nobody would tell me what they wanted for Christmas, and I was plumb wore out from asking so I decided to be the "I'm gonna save your colon lady" and got every single person one. That was over 5 years ago and to this day, I get Christmas lists from everyone a good month before Christmas. Imagine that! This thing works so well though, I splurged and got the fancy-looking version - you know, the type that says "I know I'm a squatty potty but I want to be too stylish to admit it". Then, when I realized I had to travel, as in leave my house to go to another city for medical appointments, I bought the travel version. With no shame now, I tell every single living soul about this gift from heaven. No longer do I lecture folks on food, nutrition, and exercise, but now I start off with my love version of that miracle called the squatty potty. Yup, they laugh too but I swear, I've had neighbors come to my house asking if I had extra ones they could have. Truth. And low and behold, just take a wild guess what you can find in all of my sibling's bathrooms and my niece's bathrooms too... Be a smart person though and use it in addition to proper exercising and great nutrition. This thing is wonderful but there are limits to its miracle power and you eating naughty and not consistently exercising and yet expecting a miracle from this thing is gonna test the limits of its miracle power. Just sayin.

REPLY
@livefully

Gracious sakes alive, I don't care what they call it.. squatty, potty, sp, squat pot or "the thing you can't live without".. it works! My physical therapist told me about it. I swear, that man knows me more than I know myself and he was talking to me one day all about this professional development class he took where he learned all about it. Naturally, I had to have one. Whatever that fella says, you can take to the bank so I figured if he said it, it would work. Course, he talked about it with great class whereas I, being an elementary teacher, brought it down to reality and funny when I realized it involved poop. Well now, it was great until I realized I'd have to go into a store to buy it. I found it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond (though smart folks get it online and save themselves from the embarrassing trip to the store). Me though.. I hadn't thought it through until the moment I had it in my arms marching like a confident person to the cash register. The confidence zip left me and on the fly, I came up with a great story about how I was buying it for the local nursing home. The lady who checked me out had that smirk of a look that says "uh-huh, right you are". Sheepishly I took it home and after experiencing it 1-1, I was so impressed, I bought one for each of my siblings and my nieces. Yup, for their Christmas gifts to boot. Nobody would tell me what they wanted for Christmas, and I was plumb wore out from asking so I decided to be the "I'm gonna save your colon lady" and got every single person one. That was over 5 years ago and to this day, I get Christmas lists from everyone a good month before Christmas. Imagine that! This thing works so well though, I splurged and got the fancy-looking version - you know, the type that says "I know I'm a squatty potty but I want to be too stylish to admit it". Then, when I realized I had to travel, as in leave my house to go to another city for medical appointments, I bought the travel version. With no shame now, I tell every single living soul about this gift from heaven. No longer do I lecture folks on food, nutrition, and exercise, but now I start off with my love version of that miracle called the squatty potty. Yup, they laugh too but I swear, I've had neighbors come to my house asking if I had extra ones they could have. Truth. And low and behold, just take a wild guess what you can find in all of my sibling's bathrooms and my niece's bathrooms too... Be a smart person though and use it in addition to proper exercising and great nutrition. This thing is wonderful but there are limits to its miracle power and you eating naughty and not consistently exercising and yet expecting a miracle from this thing is gonna test the limits of its miracle power. Just sayin.

Jump to this post

@livefully OMG. I’m dying!!! This is one of the funniest endorsements for a product I’ve ever seen! I read it out loud to my visiting family members and we applauded your writing and creativity and obviously happy colon!

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I hope we see more of you here. Do you have IBS-C (irritable bowel syndrome with constitution for those not ‘in the know’…or ‘in the go’)?

What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect? Were you searching for a particular subject?
There are over 70 Groups in our wonderful community. We’re not medical professionals but people just like you who Connect with others. We share our stories, experiences and journeys to provide answers, encouragement or support for each other.

Here’s a link to some good tips for getting starting using the forum. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/
Do you have any questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate to pop back in.
With great enjoyment, Lori

REPLY

Hello @livefully, I do agree with Lori, @loribmt, about your laugh-out-loud post about the squatty potty. It was really delightful!

I went to a pelvic floor therapist and heard about it from her. I didn't have the courage to go buy it. Maybe I'll do the online order.

Here is a link where you can find other discussion groups on Connect, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/groups. I hope you can find some other discussions to be a participant in.

Thanks again for joining Connect. If you care to share: what brought you to Connect?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.