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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 10/18/2008 9:24 PM (GMT -8)
Hi I am a 46 female new here and would really like to talk with someone who is experiencing the same problems cause it is scaring me and I am new with this IBS thing.  I am having a bad day today and found this site with some hope to helping me cause what I am experiencing I am not sure if it is related to this IBS or not and maybe someone can give me some insight.  I have a couple strange symptoms that come on but not all the time...this is over and above my regular bouts of D...btw my IBS is D...ok here it goes.

Sometimes I get this feeling coming over me and it starts with a little cramping in my stomach and then my whole body starts to get weak and I know I have to make it to a bathroom or else I won't be able to move..when I get to the washroom I sit there literally getting weaker and weaker, sweating and feeling these awful cramping pains but the worst is that I am so weak I cannot even lift my head or talk and I am sweating big time and this will last until I am purged and then the feeling subsides and I have to go lay down and sleep cause it has totally exhausted my whole body.  It worries me alot because you almost feel like ur dying because it is draining absolutley every drop of energy I have and it last from 30 min to an hour.  While this is happening there is no way I could even move...my body is totally weak and my breathing even becomes laboured..I sweat so much that my hair is soaked..if someone knocked on the door to ask if I am ok it would be a very very great effort to get the word "yes" out cause I feel just short of passing out, I have never passed out but sure feel like I could while going through it. 

Does this sound strange to IBS? am I the only one experiencing this? can someone help me?

Thank you

justme 

Posted 10/19/2008 6:45 AM (GMT -8)
Hello justme7 and welcome to the board!

I think the feelings you are describing - weakness, sweating, cramping, total annihilation after a particularly rough bout in the bathroom - is actually not that uncommon for many IBSers. Your nervous system has two main parts, the parasympathetic and the sympathetic system, and when you're having diarrhea your parasympathetic system is working in overdrive...and this can cause the blood pressure to drop, which can increase your pulse, make you feel dizzy and weak, etc. It's an icky feeling for sure and one many of us are familiar with.

One thing you should do to keep your blood pressure up is to drink plenty of electrolyte-containing fluids, things like Gatorade or even Pedialyte. Maybe after the "episode" you could have a banana on hand to munch on (gently, slowly) as well. Have you seen a doctor about getting an anti-spasmodic that you can use for symptomatic relief? These drugs - hyoscyamine and dicyclomine are popular - can help slow down those waves of peristalsis (the natural waves of contraction through your gut) that give you the cramping sensations and might make you feel a bit calmer too.

Keep a cold compress on hand to use on your head, neck, and pulse points...that will help decrease the sweating too.
Posted 10/19/2008 9:09 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you so much Sarita for that information, its nice to know that I am not alone with this one and that it is related to my IBS. I don't get those really bad bouts that often but when I do its horrifying. I am trying to figure out what brings those bad bouts on like that...must be something triggering it to do that. I was given some meds from my Doctor called "Buscopan" she said take them when I feel bloated and cramping. I sometimes get a dry mouth and a nervous type feeling ...kinda hard to explain but that is when I usually take them or when my stomach is bloated ..which is often, I usually always feel bloated unless I totally just quit eating but we can't do that soooo am stuck with it. I am really starting to think that this IBS is tied in with the nervous system and maybe that is what I need to be treating. I sure would like to talk with people who have the same problem and maybe give me some tips and insight to help me. I dont eat properly and I dont sleep properly so I guess that doesnt help me. If anyone has any advice, knowledge, experience...anything to help I would love to hear from you as I am new to this and seeking all information I can. Thank You
Posted 10/19/2008 9:15 PM (GMT -8)
Pretty extreme symptoms though...I hope you talk to your doc about them...be well soon.

:)
Posted 10/20/2008 10:14 AM (GMT -8)
Hi and welcome :-)

I have similiar symptoms on my "bathroom days" that come out of the blue and the only thing I can link mine to is when I haven't been going to the bathroom regularly.  I will get extremely bloated then I will get hot flashes and my whole gut area will start to cramp.  After a few minutes it's off to the bathroom where this continues along with horrible toe curling spasms.  I often feel nauseous throughout this.  This will continue until there is nothing left in me and I always feel completely drained after one of these episodes.  The only good thing is that my stomach return to its flat self smilewinkgrin

Does this happen to you randomly or have you noticed a connection between gluten or dairy or any other food?  What about stress?  I know when I eat gluten I swell up and trying to eat as little gluten as possible.  Hope you can figure it out.

 

Posted 10/20/2008 7:16 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Softy and thank you
This happens randomly, it could be months and months and then I get one of those attacks ..thats what I call them. I haven't figured what brings them on but I do know that Milk does not agree with me..if I have milk in the morning I am feeling terrible all day. I havent really experienced to much with food yet ..am just starting to do that now. A couple years ago I was very very ill and the Doc's were trying to find out what was wrong ..I had blood work and scoped from both ends and they told me I had a spastic colon and they also found out I had Hashimoto disease ...more people know that as underactive thyroid and I believe the length of time I went before they noticed a thyroid problem brought on my IBS...at that time I was in a very abusive relationship..not physical abuse but mental abuse and the stress of that didnt help so I might have got IBS from that...he is gone now THANK GOD (I met him on the internet) things have gotten alot better stress wise when he left but now I am saddled with this and I think its here to stay. I have my thyroid under control with meds but the IBS is another story...it has a mind of its own. Has anyone out there taken Buscopan? the Doctor has put me on this for my bloating and spasms...its suppose to relax the colon. I only take it when needed, haven't taken it long enough to find if it works or not but it seems to. It's nothin some days for me to have a bowel movement 4 or 5 times before noon...never thought I could have that much *crap* in me lol ahhhhhhhhhh where does it all come from cause I don't each much. Thanks for the concern and am so glad I found this site *sigh*
Posted 10/21/2008 1:21 AM (GMT -8)

It sounds a bit like Dumping Syndrome to me. Have you had any gastric or gall bladder surgery? Here is a definition by Wikipedia.

Gastric dumping syndrome, or rapid gastric emptying, happens when the lower end of the small intestine fills too quickly with undigested food from the stomach. "Early" dumping begins during or right after a meal. Symptoms of early dumping include nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness and fatigue. "Late" dumping happens 1 to 3 hours after eating. Symptoms of late dumping include weakness, sweating, and dizziness. Many people have both types.

It is speculated that "early" dumping is associated with difficulty digesting fats while "late" dumping is associated with carbohydrates.

Posted 10/22/2008 10:29 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Bo Peep
I had my gallbladder out in 1994 shortly after my son was born. I didnt have any problems then other than my gallbladder but I do remember always being the type of person with loose stools but it never bothered me, no cramps, bloating or pain just when I had to go like normal it was usually loose. The symptoms now though are different. I think I will look into that gastric dumping a bit more cause you might be on to something there..Thanks and tc
Posted 10/23/2008 5:37 AM (GMT -8)
Hi

I had been an IBS sufferer for 34 yrs. Gastro Dr's and med's did little for me as my IBS grew worse. By accident, I stumbled upon a product that God Bless, after 3 decades of IBS-D, took away all my symptoms. The website kickibsinthebutt.com came up when I googled IBS + hypnosis, and I purchased the IBS Audio Program 100.
I told my sister, also a 30 yr IBS sufferer about it. After being only 66% thru the course, she is also relieved of all symptoms. She is now off her Paxil and her imodium and she can actually fly on a plance with no bathrooms!
My only regret is it took me 34 years before I discovered how a home based hynotherapy program can stop my mind from controlling my body. My life now has never been better. Good luck to you.
Posted 10/23/2008 2:05 PM (GMT -8)
Michael, I think that is wonderful that you found something to control the IBS but isn't that based on the fact that IBS is not a functional problem but a anxiety or mental problem. I can see where diahrea at the wrong time could be something that you mind could affect. My husband had it when he got anxious but in my case I never have IBS D but rather IBS C. I am not a text book case as I have no pain but I have stomach problems such as gas and bloating. Could you tell us a little more about the plan and how it worked for you and your sister? Thanks
Posted 10/23/2008 7:41 PM (GMT -8)
After I went through many tests, I was diagnosed with IBS last month. Actually I'm going through it this week. Mine is anxiety based IBS.Taking meds to control my stomach and colon along with anxiety meds. Are there someone out there with anxiety related IBS?

                                                                                                                                                     azian925

 

Posted 10/23/2008 10:59 PM (GMT -8)
Hi azian, my IBS acts up with anxiety also cause sometimes I get dry mouth with a nervous feeling and my stomach starts to feel a little off then everything starts. I experience different symptoms with my IBS ..it doesnt always act the same. I don't live with it everyday, mine comes and goes. I have solid stools also.
Posted 10/24/2008 4:13 PM (GMT -8)
Hi justme7. Thanks for your reply. Ya mine comes and goes also. so far it's happening once a month lasting a week to a week and a half. All my life I've had a consitipation problem but then starting about Feburuary of this year I started having diarrhea and not until this september I did not havean axiety problem. I was worried about my health though...I didn't understand why I was having diarrhea so often. I really thought something was seriously wrong with me and i was so afraid to go to see my doctor to find out what I got. I guess all the worries and anxiety since feburuary took a toll on me. Well, it really sucks having IBS. It really made my life and my families a hell. This is some of my IBS story and i'll share some more later. take care.

                                                                                                              Azian925

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