TMI ? for the IBS sufferers

[luna33]

I know this is gross but I think you guys probably know more than my GI doc at this point, so I'm going to ask. I know a lot of people here have IBS. I've had very weird bowel problems for a while now and was wondering if it sounds like IBS. From July to October, I had d*****h about every two days, pretty severe, always in the moring, 4 to 5 bouts, sometimes bloody. That finally stopped but since then the stools have been very painful, like they're filled with glass or something. I've had a sigmoidoscopy (*shudder*) and lots of tests for parasites and bugs and things but everything is normal. Does this sound IBS-ish?

[ChippedAway]

I'd keep persuing what is wrong.


My GI says "IBS" is doctors terms for "we don't know" and I find that to be unacceptable myself. I was diagnosed with IBS two years ago, and the medications they gave me made me gravely sick... I have a condition that is quite the opposite of IBS, and because of stupid doctors I suffered in the hospital.


I don't believe in IBS. Peoples intestines speed up or contractwhen they're under stress or not eating right, that's normal, not a condition. The only reason some people can eat crappy without feeling sick is because they've conditioned themselves to do so. Doctors like to label this a condition because there are some nice spendy medications that they can give to people. I believe the meds can and do help some, but not because they have this mystical disease, just because they are normal and maybe need some extra help.Edited by: ChippedAway

[beadgirl]

I disagree... IBS IS a condition. When I was diagnosed, I did everything my doctor told me which did not include medication. I ate right and tried to lower my stress levels and such. Nothing changed. Please check out this link:


http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/c...es/11/3052_795 .htm


Luna33: People with IBS have a lot of inconsistancies with their bowel movements. For example, recently when I try to go I feel like I am trying to poop out an apple! Its almost like its too big to come out!

[kate1966]

ok....I have had this "IBS" for well over 20 yrs......it started right when i got out of high school.....it started when i was eating alot of fast foods.....ok.....my symptoms are these: massive explosive d....cramps...gas...nausea...indigestion..heartbur n....acid reflux....sometimes constipation....and i am sure there are more....but i just can't think of them right now.....Now I don't know if IBS is a true disease or not...i have never actually had any of the test they recomend for it. I am supposed to go see a gastro on the 13th and I hope they will give me an endoscopy and colonoscopy...i have suffered for so long and so much...that i am willing to try anything now. I take a med called Digestive Advantage /IBS...........and i would say that it works 95% for 98% of the time...it has helped me a great deal.....and maybe you are right...maybe it's just what the docs call all these symptoms as a whole...who knows...but all i know is that this has been going on for soooooooooooooo long and it's so damn frustrating for me....you can't do anything you want to do....can't eat and go shopping b/c you have to know where the bathrooms are at all times...it's just a big inconvience for you. I know that i feel bad all the time....never know when it's going to hit...and how severe it will be. There are many many days that i would rather be dead...i am serious....it feels that bad sometimes.


As far as eating right...that has nothing to do with IBS.....i can eat anything..and it always produces the same result...it can make you sick one time...and not the other....it can be fine one time and make you feel like dying the next...i am serious about that too...for instance...if i eat mashed potatos one day i can tolerate them...the next time i may have explosive d....i don't know how to explain it either...it just happens that way.


As far as stress.....YES that makes it worse...and beleive me...my life is nothing but stress.....so i am sure that has a huge factor in my ibs........but when all this started i was not stressed at all....so where it came from i don't know...but i know it's real and it effects me every single day of my life......


Gina...i respect your opinion...but i have dealt with this mess for so long now....and i know that it's real and it's a real problem for tons and tons of people.....if you visit www.ibshope.com you will see how many people suffer with this....Whether it's an actual disease or just alot of symptoms...it is real and it hurts not only your physical self....it's hurts your mind also......it hurts your self esteem. I cannot express enough how this can be such a burden in your life. I know there are way m ore worse things in life that people have....but IBS is real.


I really don't eat fast food that much...i cook meals every night for my family.....i don't fry foods...i try my best to eat healthy...but it doesn't matter.....it always has the same effect.....like last night we had broiled steak....salad...corn...which i know these 2 items are not on my good list...and no more than 15 mins after eating...i was in the bathroom with d.....at least 3 times...and today i feel like pure t crap. I knew i should not have eaten the salad or the corn....but sometimes we don't do what we are supposed to do.


So, sorry for rambling on so much...it's just that this touched my heart...because i go through so much with ibs everysingle day of my life...and i am sure there are some more people on the site that have the same thing.

[babygap5]

IBS is a condition. I've had it for several years. I can't eat cheese products because of it. It has nothing to do with "conditioning" the body. Get a new doctor with a brain. Plus, there are medical tests to do to see if you have IBS, so, if it doesn't exist, why are there medical tests specifically for it??????Edited by: babygap5