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Dont know if Im going in the right direction....IBS-d

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 5/20/2006 10:43 AM (GMT -6)
OK so I have had a few posts lately on here that have been helpful...a week ago I have started Metamucial to stop my D and cut down on # of times per day I was going...It seems like some days it works good but then I have a day like today where I took it and so far I went 3 times since 9:15am and it is now 12:35pm.Alls I had to eat was toast this morning (plain..yuk) and I just had a bowl of soup and about a 1/2hr after the soup i had to go.I am really trying to watch my eating but I feel like I am starving myself! I am a very athletic guy..220lbs...lift weights everyday and I just cant take the risk to eat alot like I used to due to my new job...no restrooms readily availible..need to go find one when you feel the urge. It seems like since I have been taking the Metamucial my stools have been a brighter color than normal like yellowish and also a little more watery but not to bad but still just alot of pieces although bigger than normal(for me) but still not "normal". Can this be the Metamucial causing this? Should I stay on it longer and see what happens? I also started Calcium yesterday I am hoping when I bump it up to 3 full pills per day(Sunday) this will help. ANy suggestions out there at all?? Im sure this has alot to do with me starting my new job I am very nervous and have been feeling a knot in my stomach all week.I have been at my old job for 18yrs. But as im thinking I know we are going to be working on the road but there is no way I can be the only guy out there that may need to use the bathroom..Im sure everyone needs to go at one time or another.But what do you all think...lose the Metamucial..keep it going...stick with the Calcium only what to do..HELP! Maybe im just not giving this stuff eb=nought time..I have only been taking it for a week now.
Posted 5/20/2006 4:51 PM (GMT -6)
Hi gymrat,
I think you should give the Metamucil and Calcium more time to work. Do you take probiotics too? That might help you as well. Daily I take 1 multi-vitamin, 2 probiotic pills and an Activia yogurt. It works great for me... I'm almost "normal."
I wonder if your problems are also stress/anxiety related. Everytime I jump into something new, or I travel long distances, the anxiety builds and causes my guts to act up. I definitely think you should stick to the Metamucil and give it time to bulk up your stools. Maybe add in probiotics or yogurt too. You can also take Imodium on those REALLY important days you can't afford to have D.
Please keep us posted on how the Calcium works for you. :-)
Posted 5/20/2006 7:19 PM (GMT -6)
yeah I think it is anxiety myself....I have had that weird nervous feeling in my gut all week thinking about this new job. I guessing once I start Monday and get in there I will be fine...thats how usually things go for me. I will stick with the metamucial and calcium and give it a chance though. This may sound funny but Im new to this...what is a probiotic pill?? How will it help me out? Thanks for being so paient with me. Do you think I will start seeing results from the calcium soon...I just started taking full doses today? Oh and for those bad days I have lomotil on standby.  I have never tryed Imodium but I hear it works great! If I do get some is there any certian one I should get for "D"?? and what kind of dose...like once a day or as needed?  Thanks!!!
Posted 5/21/2006 1:53 AM (GMT -6)

Probiotics are "good" bacteria that are needed to help regulate your digestive system.  They will help push out the bad bacteria, help you digest foods and aid in proper bowel function.  I pulled this off a probiotic site:

  • Help reduce the risk of certain diarrheal illnesses
  • Assist lactose intolerant people with lactose digestion
  • Enhance the immune function.

Here is the link for more info:  http://www.usprobiotics.org/

Do you ever eat yogurt?  Probiotics are in yogurt and yogurt smoothies

From what I've heard I think Calcium takes about a week to start to take affect.  After that if you are still having D you can increase the dose (although, I think you shouldn't exceed 3 pills a day - 1800mg).

Imodium is an over the counter med that is called "Imodium"... I think there's only 1 kind. ???  You'll see it at any drug store next to the antacids.  You take it as needed.  DO NOT TAKE IT ON A DAILY BASIS, unless instructed by your doctor.  When I have D usually 1/2 of 1 pill stops it within 15 minutes.  If the D is really bad then I take 1 pill.  Be careful though because it works really well, if you take 1 or more pills, it might leave you constipated for a couple days.

Good luck!!  Keep us posted.

Posted 5/21/2006 8:26 AM (GMT -6)
Ok thanks....1 more thing...you say you take probiotic pills everyday...where can i get them...are they OTC or no?
Posted 5/21/2006 11:21 AM (GMT -6)
Yes, probiotics are OTC. There are many kinds... Acidophilus is the most common (at almost all drug stores). If you want more of a variety I suggest going to a nutrition store (GNC, etc.). I take Acidophilus, Kyo-Dophilus and Phyto Pharmica Probiotic Pearls. The last 2 mentioned are pills that have a combination of several probiotics in them. I personally believe that a probiotic pill with a combination of more than 1 string is best. Also, which ever you choose, try picking one that needs to be refrigerated and has at least 1 billion cultures per dose.
IF you buy the Acidophilus, be aware that it might cause gas at first. Also, if you get the Acidophilus, don't start with more than 2 billion cultures per dose. I bought an Acidophilus pill with 5 billion per dose and I had gas cramps and D right away. Start with a smaller dose and work your way up (just like fiber!).
Last thing... Most probiotic "pearls" are enteric coated. This means the pill will not be digested in your stomach but will open in your intestines. This is ideal. You want the good bacteria to hit your intestines where the bad resides. Lots of the "good bacteria" from regular pills don't quite make it to your intestines because they get digested in your stomach. If you're willing to pay the money look for enteric pills. OR, spend the money on the refrigerated kinds of probiotics.
Keep us posted. :-)
Posted 5/21/2006 4:22 PM (GMT -6)
Ok then maybe I will pick some of those probiotics up today or tomorrow. Now a question about these...You say do not start over 2 bilion cultures per dose and pearls are not digested in your stomach but they "open up your intestines" which is good. Now when you start taking these if you follow the normal doses will they actually make you go more at the beginning? Another thing Lil...I dont know if you remembered I was questioning if me taking metamucial was the right move..I really dont know what to do with this..I have been taking it for a week now...and it seems like it has cut down (at times) the urgerncy to go and when I do go its not as much by far at all as I was going before...just a few little kind of formed pieces(sorry about this) they are brown but seems like the liquid I have is alot brigter since I started taking the metamucial.Seems like syptons are worse 1st thing in the morning...I usually go like as soon as I wake up and then within and hour of the 1st time again..the rest of the day isnt to bad.

Posted 5/21/2006 4:25 PM (GMT -6)

Hang in there...I'd keep trying the metamucil.  It took me about a week and a half to see a slow down in the "d".  LIke I said, I've had loose stools/D for over 2 months straight now and I was going anywhere from 4-8 times a day at first.  I am going only 1-2 times a day now. 

Have you been to the Dr. yet??  Have you been tested for parasites or bacteria??

 

Posted 5/21/2006 4:36 PM (GMT -6)
Hey Shelly...how r u? when you 1st started the metamucial did you also feel how I am? Like kind of bloated and grumbling in your stomach and alot of times i think its all in my head that I need to have a BM and when I got to the toilet its nothing.How many times per day were yout aking the metamucial...I am taking it 1st thing in the morning and at lunchtime but calcium breakfast lunch and dinner.maybe Im just expecting changes to fast I only started metamucial 1 week ago today and Calcium this Friday. I will for sure have a lomotil on hand tomorrow for my 1st day of work.Nope Drs appoint. I need to reschedule it for next week and I dont know about parasites or bacteria I have been dealing with this for a few years now.Is it possible IM lactose intolerant and not IBS...how would I know? because I have very bad bouts when I eat ice cream and stuff like that milk,,etc. but the more i listen to people symptons Im not as bad as "D" to where I cant leave the house or anything like that...I usually go a few times and then i should be ok unless I get nerved up or anything. Would the metamucial and calcium still bulk things up weather I have IBS or not? Like alchol,pasta sauce and things like that dont bug me all the time but I normally do need to go after I eat.??I think im getting confused!!  sorry! You guys and this site are a HUGE help to me though!
Posted 5/21/2006 7:14 PM (GMT -6)
The easiest way to find out about the lactose intoreance is to just stay away from all dairy for a week. You can eat your cereal with rice milk, almond milk or soy or use that for other things. I have been harping about that to a friend of mine and finally he did it and said his whole life had changed. He had no more trouble. Dairy is the first thing my Dr. took me off. he said it is not just the lactose but our stomachs are lacking other enzymes necessary to digest milk products. It doesn't matter that you weren't this way before. Also, if you have had this that long you should be tested for parasites and other bacterial problems. these are simple tests adn should be the first thing done when you see a Dr.
Posted 5/22/2006 3:58 AM (GMT -6)
if they do test for parasites and bacterial problems how would it be treated and if treated could it be possible I would go back to normal or would I still be like this? What kind of tests would they do? If it were para. or bacterial would the D still be brought on by stress and anxiety?
Posted 5/22/2006 4:31 AM (GMT -6)
Hi all,

Are bacterial tests done via a faeces test? Or is it done by blood? Reason I ask is, because i've had loose stools for about 6 months now. I've done the faeces test before and nothing... hadn't done a blood test though.

Currently starting metamucil.. hoping it'll do some good.

Keep you all in the loop.

Cheers
Posted 5/22/2006 8:49 AM (GMT -6)
Parasite tests are done with a stool sample, but they're supposed to do three over the course of several bowel movements because the little buggers don't always come out with every BM.

They also check for c. difficile (bad bacteria) with a stool sample, but I'm not sure if they can detect other types of bad bactiera that way too. There's supposed to be abreath analyzer test that should determine if you have a bacterial overgrowth. Sometimes you just can't find out until you try probiotics and if they work, then that's how you know it was probably just a bacteria problem.
Posted 5/22/2006 4:47 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks Keriamon, well i'm off to drop my sample in. (Tests requested : Faecal OCP MCTS Clostridum Diltiude(spell?) toxic)
Posted 5/22/2006 5:06 PM (GMT -6)
so I should just go ahead and give the probiotics a try then...cant hurt right? I was thinking about trying Kyo-Dophilus or Phyto pharmica probiotics pearls. If I do start these how long do these take to start seeing a difference if they are going to work? It wont make me go more at the beginning will it??
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