I've been diagnosed with IBS-C for lack of finding anything else wrong with me. I also was told to take Nexium even though I didn't have major heart burn symptoms but I did have chest pain (I think was related to being constipated and having a lot of trapped gas in my system). I am taking zelnorm and hyoscyamine for the IBS but I think the nexium and hyoscyamine cause constipation as a side effect. Short of living on laxatives is there anything else I can do not to be constipated all the time? I have tried powdered fiber supplements, prunes, and prune juice. Most fresh vegies and fruits aggravated the gas issue so I try to stay away from them. I don't want to become dependent on laxatives, I would just like to have a couple of bm's a week.
A high fiber diet! Study up on the two types, soluble and insoluble. Drinking lots of fluids also helps constipation although warm ones are better than cold. Not sure on this one but I don't think you can get addicted to laxatives such as Fibercon or Metamucil because even though soluble fiber supplements are often marketed as laxatives - they are NOT. They will relieve and prevent constipation, but they are just as effective at treating diarrhea, and they will not compromise normal bowel function at all once your IBS is under control - they'll simply keep things normal. Soluble fiber works to keep your GI tract running smoothly, comfortably, and pain-free on a day-to-day basis.
I was diagnosed with IBS-D and my gastro doc put me on a solubule fiber regime to be taken everyday. I was puzzled because I thought they were just laxatives for constipation but he clarified and confirmed what I just wrote above.
I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said, "That cannot be true. You haven't met everyone yet!"
I was diagnosed with IBS-D and my gastro doc put me on a solubule fiber regime to be taken everyday. I was puzzled because I thought they were just laxatives for constipation but he clarified and confirmed what I just wrote above.
I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said, "That cannot be true. You haven't met everyone yet!"
Have you looked into aloe vera gel or pills?
Do you drink enough water and get plenty of exercise?
If you haven't already tried it you can take Beano before a meal to help with the gas.... It should do the trick when you're eating veggies.
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Do you drink enough water and get plenty of exercise?
If you haven't already tried it you can take Beano before a meal to help with the gas.... It should do the trick when you're eating veggies.
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
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I take something called psyllium husks from holland and barrett health food store
cherish all your happy moments....they make a fine cushion for old age
cherish all your happy moments....they make a fine cushion for old age
Victoria,
My doc recommended Psyllium... How does it come? Pill? Liquid? You say husk and I picture you chewing on wood.
My doc recommended Psyllium... How does it come? Pill? Liquid? You say husk and I picture you chewing on wood.
Do you like it?
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Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
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Aloe Vera pills do what? I try to drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water a day and ride a stationary bike between 45 and 90 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Maybe I am lacking sufficient fiber, but it seems like the majority of the calories I consume in a day are soluable fiber. How many servings of fiber foods should I be eating. I have tried beano but I think it gives me asthma (unless it is the excess gas in my system causing me shortness of breath). I took 3 senokot pills last night with no success so this morning I used 2 suppositories, finally some small relief, but I really want to regulate my body without the harsh stimulant laxatives as they are giving me gas troubles as well. Is there something I can use that will totally clean out my system and start anew?
Aloe Vera is supposed to regulate digestion. It's good for the hair too.
You can go out and get yourself a prep kit (prep used before a colonoscopy). My doc instructed me to get the Phosphosoda, kit included six small bottles which are to be mixed with 8-10oz glasses of liquid each. It's much easier than drinking a gallon of the Golytly.
Because you've been taking laxatives and suppositories already, I would talk to your doc about the "clean out" before you do it. Or at least talk to a pharmacist and see if s/he can give you a little insight.
Weird what you mentioned about Beano. I wonder if you're allergic to something in it. Have you tried Gas-X?
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
You can go out and get yourself a prep kit (prep used before a colonoscopy). My doc instructed me to get the Phosphosoda, kit included six small bottles which are to be mixed with 8-10oz glasses of liquid each. It's much easier than drinking a gallon of the Golytly.
Because you've been taking laxatives and suppositories already, I would talk to your doc about the "clean out" before you do it. Or at least talk to a pharmacist and see if s/he can give you a little insight.
Weird what you mentioned about Beano. I wonder if you're allergic to something in it. Have you tried Gas-X?
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I have been using gas x for 20 years and it just doesn't seem to work any more. When I get the trapped gas it feels like a heart attack (big family history of that) then I end up in the er to make sure it's not. This is costing me a small fortune. Is phosphosoda carbonated?
Hmmm... That's right, I remember you mentioning the Gas-X. Sorry for my bad memory. I guess all I can think of is to stay away from gaseous foods, carbonation and alcohol. Mint tea and fennel tea both help me when I'm having gas. ???
No, phosphosoda is not carbonated. I mixed it with water - but you can mix it with gatorade, juice, or whatever. Since you're not going in for the scope you can even mix it with red Kool Aid.
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No, phosphosoda is not carbonated. I mixed it with water - but you can mix it with gatorade, juice, or whatever. Since you're not going in for the scope you can even mix it with red Kool Aid.
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Magnesium supplements are the only thing that works for me that isn't harsh or habit forum.
I take anywhere from 800mg to 1600mg early in the evening to have a bm the next a.m..
I was doing ok with zelnorm 2 times a day and fiber supplements (konstyl). They are not laxatives and they help a lot. I also eat kashi cereal, the high fiber kind and lots of fruits and vegetables, drink lots of liquids, too, including water and sun herbal tea.
Carefate for my bleeding ulcer is a known constipate. I had severe bowels cramps from it. I hope to get my ibs "back on track" as times goes by as I am no longer taking carefate.
Hope it all works out for you.
Carefate for my bleeding ulcer is a known constipate. I had severe bowels cramps from it. I hope to get my ibs "back on track" as times goes by as I am no longer taking carefate.
Hope it all works out for you.
I think I might try the phosphosoda to clean out my system to begin with then I'll try some of the other fiber options since what I am using doesn't seem to be working. What can I expect the phosphosoda to do to me and in what time frame?
Phosphosoda will get you started pooping between 1 and 3 hours of taking it, depending on how constipated you are. It's meant to be used over the course of one day, prior to colonoscopy, and get you completely cleaned out for it. Be prepared to stay home because you'll poop for several hours, at least, if you take a full course of it. Others with C have said that after a major purge like that, they are symptom free for two-four days afterwards before the constipation problems come back. I don't think they poop normally in that time, but it takes that long for it to build back up to the point it's a problem.
Lil - sorry for late reply. Psyllium husk comes in capsule or powder form
I have the powder which you mix with water or squash
cherish all your happy moments....they make a fine cushion for old age
hi i also suffer from nearly same symptons, it sucks!! i can go weeks with out going, longest was 3 weesk and the pain was ridulous!!had to take bout 8 laxs to shift it a lillte needless rto say ened up with serve d and in a and but i went!! despertarion had set in!!
i aslo eat loads of veg and fruit and drink enough!i was on the fibre supplenmenbts but did nothing!!
i take du-lax and it can work well but also need to tkae bout 4 of them, it works by lossen stolls so need to be by toilet in th emoring if you take it at night!
i had a colonic irrigation twice that emptyed my bowles slighty, it i felt more empty for bout a week bit stopped going and couildnt eat as feared being filled up again!
where do u get
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Phosphosoda from? im form the UK so may be diffferent, but if it emptys u then it sounds great!!as at times it get so bad i have to be sick to not be so fill and bloated nad in pain. im having a transic study to see how lomg takes me to digest food and then they will try to retrain my bowles, but a balloon tech that sounds horrible but if works will let u no , but tkaes bout a year!! bascally i feel your pain, and will keep u poseted on any thing that works!! try and keep smiling i no its hard!! mads |
Unless I was desperate I would not use the phospho soda. It is ugly. There are other laxatives on the market which can do a pretty complete job without resorting to that. Talk to the pharmacist and maybe they can come up with something. I take a couple Dulcolax when I get that bad. I think it calls for 2 or 3 but at most I take 2. 3 would probably really clean you out.
As for the Gas-x not working. You might try a higher Simethicone mg like Phazyme or the store brand. I take it right after I eat now and it helps a lot with the gas trapping which is a big problem with me.
I have tried to take dulcolax, philips chewables, stool softeners, and exlax. Obviously not all at the same time and it seems as if most laxatives make the gas problem worse and I usually end up with more liquid than stool coming out. This past week I have been eating a bowl of raisin bran for breakfast, 100 oz. of water, 3tsp of fiber powder, and 3 stool softeners a day. This seems to get me one small bm a day, which is better than last week. Some nights I throw in one chocolate exlax for security. I still have an excess of gas floating around but I have been able to belch. I have a huge business trip next week and I am scared to death I'll end up with a full blown IBS attack while I'm away. Maybe I ought to resort to the rice and soluable fiber diet I use when the IBS flares up, just to be on the safe side. I'm sure the anxiety alone will bring on an attack. God I hate this disease. It is a constant thought every single day. I'm begining not to be able to remember what it was like not to be sick and on daily meds. Thanks everyone for all of your care, concern and help.