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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 10/19/2005 8:24 AM (GMT -7)
I'm hoping to get some feedback here.  I'm fairly new to this and think this is what I have.  I'm a 41 yo female and have had problems with IBS about once a year for about 10 years.  Here the last several months I have went the other route and had the big D.  I was taking Bentyl but was having heart palpatations with it so was changed to different medicine yesterday.  I also have been extremely stressed since about late August.  I also have GED (generalized anxiety disorder) that I haven't been taking medicine for lately.  I went to the dr. yesterday and she advised me to start on my anxiety medicine to see if that would help.  Of course, with anxiety I worry about my health all the time and I can't help but wonder if it's cancer.  I guess my question is, is this normally how IBS works?  Sorry for the long post.

 

Posted 10/19/2005 9:06 AM (GMT -7)
Hi msand,
Welcome to the IBS forum :)

So you are experiencing IBS once a year? Is this during high stress times for you... possibly during the holidays? Stress is a big trigger for many that suffer with IBS. I have anxiety also and anti-depressants are becoming more and more popular in treating IBS. Many believe that the serotonin in the meds is what helps the bowel. I don't have D as much as I have C so I can't really say from experience since it is suggested to help with D. You may want to give it a try, we have had posts here before claiming that these meds help with the IBS symptoms.
Posted 10/19/2005 9:08 AM (GMT -7)
Hi msand,
Welcome! Please give us a little more information... You have been seeing a doctor that prescribed Bentyl but didn't give you an IBS diagnosis??? Have you had tests? Do you see a GI specialist? What does you doc say you have?
Big D is common for IBS sufferers and so is anxiety. The anxiety is usually associated with the bathroom... being away from one, having an accident, or always having to go when away from home.
I hope that helps some. Please tell us more about you.
Posted 10/19/2005 9:21 AM (GMT -7)
hi and welcome.
i was on bentyl for a long while it did not help me. but i have found that stress stirs up "attacks" or episodes with me. (i am a diarrhea chick). i have found some relief with a food journal, and reading and asking lots of questions.
i am not on any anti depressants--but i imagine they could work. take care.
--bunny
Posted 10/19/2005 9:23 AM (GMT -7)
I have not seen a specialist.  The doctor that prescribed Bentyl was several years ago and I really didn't have any tests then but just listening to my symptoms he felt that was what it was.  I took the meds for about 2 weeks and it cleared up.  I usually have a flare up about once a year not at any specific time, though.  I stopped taking my anxiety medicine this year so I'm wondering if the stress and my not taking my meds was having an effect on it.  The doctor I see now said that I should get back on my BuSpar with the other IBS meds she gave me and see what happens.  If I don't see any change then she will send me for tests.  One of my big anxiety issues is health so now I'm freaking out.
Posted 10/19/2005 9:34 AM (GMT -7)

It's hard not to worry about your health when you're on the toilet 293847 times a day.  But, it is a very common occurrence, even for "normal" people, to get a bout of diarrhea that lasts several days every so often.  Do you have any other symptoms, like severe abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, etc.?  This can often give you a clue as to the severity of the episode.  How long does your D usually last?

And, welcome to the forum!

Posted 10/19/2005 11:41 AM (GMT -7)
The D usually is once or twice a day and has been for about a month.  Usually after I use the bathroom I have immediate relief.  I don't have fever, weight loss, just some times a dull ache in my lower stomach.
Posted 10/19/2005 1:23 PM (GMT -7)
1-2 bouts of diarrhea daily without accompanying symptoms such as weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or severe abdominal pain would not appear too urgent or concerning to a medical professional.  It could definitely be related to stress or different foods you may be eating, and, since you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, that would be my first guess.  High-stress periods can do a number on anyone's gastrointestinal system.  However, if you are concerned about it, you should see a gastroenterologist, who may do a scoping to rule out any major conditions, such as cancer (especially as you get older).  For a person who has a family history of colorectal cancer, it might be prudent to get a scoping just for baseline in case you need to have one down the road with more major symptoms.  Do you have a history of GI issues in your family?
Posted 10/19/2005 2:00 PM (GMT -7)
No one in my family has an cancer history.  I'm getting ready to leave for a short vacation so maybe this will help with my problem.  I really think it is anxiety and stress related after I have read some different articles on the net.  Thanks for your help!

Posted 10/19/2005 2:25 PM (GMT -7)
It may be anxiety-related, but have you examined what you eat? With only a small change in bowel movements, it almost sounds like you're expelling what bothered you and then you're okay.

You don't eat sugar-free products do you (i.e. sugar alcohols)?
Posted 10/19/2005 6:43 PM (GMT -7)

msand said...
No one in my family has an cancer history.  I'm getting ready to leave for a short vacation so maybe this will help with my problem.  I really think it is anxiety and stress related after I have read some different articles on the net.  Thanks for your help!

Hi msand,

Its not really necessary for family members to have cancer for you to be at risk.  They found polyps in my mother when they did her first colonoscopy in her 30's.  I am tested every 2-3 years that started in my mid 20's because of family history of polyps which most doctors think are just as important.  My last colonosocpy at 29, they found and removed 3 polyps so its best that you really understand your family history.  I mean, what average person would suspect polyps at age 29?  I never would have.

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