New to the boards

Hi JustK,
Welcome to HealingWell! 
What sort of tests have you had for your doc to conclude IBS?  The only reason I ask is because vomiting is not common with IBS.  Have you had your gallbladder and appendix checked?
My suggestions would be to eat a low fat diet high in fiber.  Also stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and carbonatation.  I suggest also taking a probiotic or eating yogurt.  Tea is also great for the gut.  Here is a list of teas I mentioned in another post:

Chamomile (soothes the nerves)

Fennel (calms muscles, improves digestion, helps flatulance)

Mint (eases GI trouble, relaxant)

Lemon Grass (antispasmodic, anti-irritant)

Ginger (eases cramping & nausea)

Green (promotes digestion, overall health)

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Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

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Did they scan your gall bladder, though? I know pretty much nothing about exploratory surgery, but it looks to me like they 1) can't go up into the gall bladder itself to see if you have stones and 2) you can't tell it's malfunctioning just by looking at it with the naked eye (er... camera). Lower right side pain isn't typical, but pain can radiate and it can make you hurt along the right side or across your diaphram/ under your ribs, so that could be your problem. As Lil said, vomiting is not usual with IBS, but it is with gall bladder problems.

I think it, though, is also symptomatic of parasites and bad bacteria (such as h. pylori). Have you been checked for those yet?

Unfortuantely that is how they diagnose IBS. when they can' find any other reason. I didn't even know they did exploratory surgery anymore. Did they take your appendix out. I was sick for years and no one knew and it turned out it was my appendix even though all my blood tests were normal. As long as they were there I would think they would have taken it out.

I think it is possible that severe nausea in some people with IBS will cause vomiting. Some people vomit easier. I would feel better sometimes if I could when I get the nausea. Try some ginger capsules for the nausea and see if that helps the vomiting.

Have you had a colonscopy and endoscopy yet? Iwould have thought that would have been before surgery. Have you had CT scans. Exploratory surgery without all these things seems excessive. Your pain must have been really severe as you said as surgery is usually the last resort.