Hi Merri,
Welchol and Questran are essentially the same thing. The thing with Welchol is that we, here on the board, have noticed little to no side effects. Whereas with Questran, members have experienced gas and bloating.
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
That is interesting. I brought the book to my gastro dr and he poo pooed it. As a nurse might I say this doesnot surprise me too much. A couple of things I've learned along the way: ginger ( it comes in a candy form from the health food store) is good for the nausea that often accompanies an attack, and if any of you get chills with a bad attack, this is from the Vegas nerve which runs down through the digestive system. These are worrisome things to a sufferer and unfortunately not the type of information most doctors give without the patient asking. Of course this information won't cure you but I for one, like to understand what is happening to me. It is impowering I think.( Ginger is also in tea form) Any ideas to combat gas and bloating I surely would like to hear. Merri
Peppermint is good for gas.... As long as you don't have acid reflux.
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
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IBS-D
first time poster, but i know about the "Safe At Home" feeling, its the best feeling ever knowing that the toilet is only a few metres away from me.
i feel for the people who have had IBS since they were in school, luckily i got mine when i was around 19. if i had mine in school who knows what could of happened. the thing i can remember about my IBS first starting was rumbling in the stomach ( i think from not eating all day, i used to do that at school, not eat all day and then pig out at home after school ) then it progessivly got worse to the point where i had my first accident (worst feeling ever) but luckily no one saw it.
At that point i knew something was wrong. i think my IBS stems from the fact that i had real bad anxiety when i was between 16 - 19 (sounds stupid but i was afraid of what people would think of me and my family). My whole family knew that i had some sort of problem with crowds and my sisters always used to give me crap about it, no doubt making it worse. also at the time i had absolutely no friends (i dont know if anyone else knows how alone a person feels when they dont have anyone to talk to) because i broke all ties with friends after finishing school.
then about 2002 i started fighting that anxiety feeling, i made some new friends and started going out and doing stuff with my friends, but the IBS didnt subside, it actually got worse. thats when i thought maybe diet was the reason, ever since i can remember i have been a dairy and pasta eater, other than a few vegetables here and there my main diet was eggs, milk, pasta, cheese and bread. i changed my diet to include more fiber and changed from white to wholemeal bread, i ate more vegetables and less milk and nearly cut out eating eggs. thats didnt help one bit (although im still on this diet now).
my usual day runs like this....
wake up 6.30am - Feel Totally fine
eat breakfast 7am - Feel fine
about 7.30am - start getting the sick feeling in my stomach
7.45am - gas builds really quickly and bloating starts
8.40am - leave for work, about 5 mins into the drive i feel like crapping myself its that bad.
get rid of a lot of the gas before i start work.
just after i eat at lunchtime i get gas 10x worse than in the morning, cramps and bloating set in.
get rid of all that gas
cycle repeats itself until i get home when it magically disappears and im fine.
my girlfriend says why dont you go to the toilet while your at work instead of holding it in till you get home, i answer to that - about 15mins after going to the toilet the gas buildup is about 50x worse than at lunchtime, so its either hold it in or let it out and experince a lot worse pain.
i have tried a few pills, but i really want to try an anxiety one, i havent tried any yet, im currently trialing Yakult, ill be giving that a good 2 months too see if anything changes.
well thats all i wanted to say, maybe a bit too much for a reply but i just wanted to add my 2 cents
first time poster, but i know about the "Safe At Home" feeling, its the best feeling ever knowing that the toilet is only a few metres away from me.
i feel for the people who have had IBS since they were in school, luckily i got mine when i was around 19. if i had mine in school who knows what could of happened. the thing i can remember about my IBS first starting was rumbling in the stomach ( i think from not eating all day, i used to do that at school, not eat all day and then pig out at home after school ) then it progessivly got worse to the point where i had my first accident (worst feeling ever) but luckily no one saw it.
At that point i knew something was wrong. i think my IBS stems from the fact that i had real bad anxiety when i was between 16 - 19 (sounds stupid but i was afraid of what people would think of me and my family). My whole family knew that i had some sort of problem with crowds and my sisters always used to give me crap about it, no doubt making it worse. also at the time i had absolutely no friends (i dont know if anyone else knows how alone a person feels when they dont have anyone to talk to) because i broke all ties with friends after finishing school.
then about 2002 i started fighting that anxiety feeling, i made some new friends and started going out and doing stuff with my friends, but the IBS didnt subside, it actually got worse. thats when i thought maybe diet was the reason, ever since i can remember i have been a dairy and pasta eater, other than a few vegetables here and there my main diet was eggs, milk, pasta, cheese and bread. i changed my diet to include more fiber and changed from white to wholemeal bread, i ate more vegetables and less milk and nearly cut out eating eggs. thats didnt help one bit (although im still on this diet now).
my usual day runs like this....
wake up 6.30am - Feel Totally fine
eat breakfast 7am - Feel fine
about 7.30am - start getting the sick feeling in my stomach
7.45am - gas builds really quickly and bloating starts
8.40am - leave for work, about 5 mins into the drive i feel like crapping myself its that bad.
get rid of a lot of the gas before i start work.
just after i eat at lunchtime i get gas 10x worse than in the morning, cramps and bloating set in.
get rid of all that gas
cycle repeats itself until i get home when it magically disappears and im fine.
my girlfriend says why dont you go to the toilet while your at work instead of holding it in till you get home, i answer to that - about 15mins after going to the toilet the gas buildup is about 50x worse than at lunchtime, so its either hold it in or let it out and experince a lot worse pain.
i have tried a few pills, but i really want to try an anxiety one, i havent tried any yet, im currently trialing Yakult, ill be giving that a good 2 months too see if anything changes.
well thats all i wanted to say, maybe a bit too much for a reply but i just wanted to add my 2 cents
Hi Copy Right R,
I just wanted to welcome you to Healing Well
and than you for sharing your story.
I think that many people will relate to what you go through. If you have tried all of the commercial gas reliefs (gas X, beano, etc) and you are still having problems, you may want to try the charcoal that is usually right next to it. It can help when the gas is bad. There are many others here that have their own way of dealing with it so hopefully you can get some tips. Beano seems to work well for me, but not so much for others.
You may also want to start a new thread so your post doesn't get overlooked.
If you are having anxiety than it can make your IBS worse. I'm on Klonopin for my anxiety and notice when I'm not so anxious, my whole body feels better.
Take Care
I just wanted to welcome you to Healing Well
and than you for sharing your story. I think that many people will relate to what you go through. If you have tried all of the commercial gas reliefs (gas X, beano, etc) and you are still having problems, you may want to try the charcoal that is usually right next to it. It can help when the gas is bad. There are many others here that have their own way of dealing with it so hopefully you can get some tips. Beano seems to work well for me, but not so much for others.
You may also want to start a new thread so your post doesn't get overlooked.
If you are having anxiety than it can make your IBS worse. I'm on Klonopin for my anxiety and notice when I'm not so anxious, my whole body feels better.
Take Care
"Des"
Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum
Dx: IBS 1989, Diverticulosis 2004, Idiopathic Acute Colitis 2006, UCTD 2007
Meds: Plaquenil 400mg, Chlorzoxazone 500mg, Lyrica 50mg, Protonix 40mg, Naproxen 1000mg, Klonopin 2mg/day (tapering to PRN), Miralax 17g, Supplements
http://www.healingwell.com/donate
Dx: IBS 1989, Diverticulosis 2004, Idiopathic Acute Colitis 2006, UCTD 2007
Meds: Plaquenil 400mg, Chlorzoxazone 500mg, Lyrica 50mg, Protonix 40mg, Naproxen 1000mg, Klonopin 2mg/day (tapering to PRN), Miralax 17g, Supplements
http://www.healingwell.com/donate
OMG, I thought I was the only one with this problem ! My IBS was finally linked to stress, not diet. We travel a lot and my worst time is when I'm in the car on the way to the airport because I worry that I won't find a bathroom in time. Sometimes it is a self fulfilling profacy. The night before a flight I take 2 Immodium and 2 more in the morning. Then I take a Lorazapam to control my anxiety. Oh, I also wear a Depends just for the confidence. All of these things help me. I also do Yoga breathing while in the car. Before I did all of these things, I can't tell you how many times and places I messed myself. As other posters wrote, I also take an Immodium when I know I have to go out, just to be safe. My doctor says they won't hurt me. The worse time for me is mornings.
I actually just was diagnosed with IBS this morning. Though I know I've had it for 5 years now. I never really said anything. I know exactly what you mean about feeling great at home. It was torture in high school because i had a class where my teacher wouldn't let anyone leave the room to use the bathroom. So i asked to go to the nurse a LOT. My IBS gets the worst when I'm supposed to hang out with people I'm not acquainted to, in a car I'm not familiar with, when i go somewhere with a lot of people, or when I have to go driving a long distance and don't know where the bathrooms are. I was prescribed dicyclomine. Does anyone know if it helps?
i cant tell u how much it helps to hear that others have anxiety based ibs! ive always known this was mostly in my head, but everyone said that was not possible. My ibs started right after i graduated high school when I started taking birth control pills in conjunction with a very emotionally damaging relationship. I began have D and pain every night. I would stay up all night long pacing, watching tv and waking my parents in a panic telling them i was going throw up, but never did. My mom decided i was having IBS with a panic attack. It was awful. It got to the point where i was scared to leave the house or be alone.
I finally bit the bullet, stopped taking the pills and moved away from home to Charleston, SC for school. I was very very happy there and in no time flat the IBS and anxiety disappeared completely during my entire three year stay there. Shortly after I moved back home, I started taking the pills again for polyscystic ovaries and all the symptoms started again except this time it was worse. I couldn't leave the house and developed a paralyzing fear of throwing up. This time when I stopped the pills, the ibs and anxiety never went away completely. For a few short years the symptoms went away when I was activley involved in a church that made me very very happy.
Unfortunately, I had to leave that church and ever since the anxiety and ibs come back from time to time. I can go from IBS-C at times to IBS-D, sometimes I will go normally in the AM and then get cramping and poop at night or later on but not full out D. I am pertrified of vomiting when the cramping starts and feel so alone. My parents don't really understand, though they try. I use levbid for pain which helps some but not always completely. I too fear leaving the house and going places, but am sometimes just as scared at home. A heating pad helps some, but it oftne won't stay hot long enough.
I currrently have a lot of stress in my life. My father has a terminal pulmonary disease and my mother has a broken foot. I am in a very difficult relationship as well. I have no siblings, really close friends I can rely on or husband. The doctor wants to put me on Lexapro but i am petrieid of nausea side effects and weight gain. I just lost 20pds and don't want to gain them back. the doc also gave me vailum, but am scared of side effects there too as well as being knocked out and having one of my parents need me.
I hate this "disease" it controls you even when you aren't sick. I wish i could afford hypnotherapy, but can't b/c im not working to be at home and help take care of my parents. Im so tired. Any advice anyone?
Always grateful for the blessings I do have!
I finally bit the bullet, stopped taking the pills and moved away from home to Charleston, SC for school. I was very very happy there and in no time flat the IBS and anxiety disappeared completely during my entire three year stay there. Shortly after I moved back home, I started taking the pills again for polyscystic ovaries and all the symptoms started again except this time it was worse. I couldn't leave the house and developed a paralyzing fear of throwing up. This time when I stopped the pills, the ibs and anxiety never went away completely. For a few short years the symptoms went away when I was activley involved in a church that made me very very happy.
Unfortunately, I had to leave that church and ever since the anxiety and ibs come back from time to time. I can go from IBS-C at times to IBS-D, sometimes I will go normally in the AM and then get cramping and poop at night or later on but not full out D. I am pertrified of vomiting when the cramping starts and feel so alone. My parents don't really understand, though they try. I use levbid for pain which helps some but not always completely. I too fear leaving the house and going places, but am sometimes just as scared at home. A heating pad helps some, but it oftne won't stay hot long enough.
I currrently have a lot of stress in my life. My father has a terminal pulmonary disease and my mother has a broken foot. I am in a very difficult relationship as well. I have no siblings, really close friends I can rely on or husband. The doctor wants to put me on Lexapro but i am petrieid of nausea side effects and weight gain. I just lost 20pds and don't want to gain them back. the doc also gave me vailum, but am scared of side effects there too as well as being knocked out and having one of my parents need me.
I hate this "disease" it controls you even when you aren't sick. I wish i could afford hypnotherapy, but can't b/c im not working to be at home and help take care of my parents. Im so tired. Any advice anyone?
Always grateful for the blessings I do have!
I have crohns but lurk here as well. Rather than being afraid of throwing up, think of the "positive" side of it. It is a lot more socially acceptable to be seen puking on the side of the road next to your car than it is to be bare bummed, flashing traffic, pooping... right? You can throw up anywhere!!! In a bag, a trashcan, side of the road, out a window, in a toilet, in the sink... and you can do it around just about anybody and they will think awww poor sick girl/guy... not as accepted to just start pooping in a bag on a plane right? Planes have air sick bags for a reason!! Carry around a bag with you as a security blanket. If you end up throwing up, whats the worst that can happen?? Im not trying to belittle your anxiety, just trying to help you make it managable.
25 Year old married female. Diagnosed w/ CD 2 years ago, IBS for over 10 years before that, which was probably the CD.
25 Year old married female. Diagnosed w/ CD 2 years ago, IBS for over 10 years before that, which was probably the CD.
I started getting a ton of junkmail after putting my myspace profile link on here. Im taking it off but if you want to contact me just email me and Ill give you a link to my myspace. Sorry!
Emetophobia is the scientific word for fear of vomiting or being around someone who is vomiting. It is so common that it is the 5th most common phobia out of all the phobias. I don't have a fear of vomiting myself however I am very uncomfortable being around people who are sick, all except for my son (I guess its a mother thing). People with emetophobia actually can suppress the need to vomit by controlling it psychologically. Another words if you haven't vomited in many, many years; you may just be subconsciously suppressing it.
"Des"
Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum
Dx: IBS 1989, Diverticulosis 2004, Idiopathic Acute Colitis 2006, UCTD 2007
Meds: Plaquenil 400mg, Chlorzoxazone 500mg, Lyrica 50mg, Protonix 40mg, Naproxen 1000mg, Klonopin 2mg/day (tapering to PRN), Miralax 17g, Supplements
http://www.healingwell.com/donate
Dx: IBS 1989, Diverticulosis 2004, Idiopathic Acute Colitis 2006, UCTD 2007
Meds: Plaquenil 400mg, Chlorzoxazone 500mg, Lyrica 50mg, Protonix 40mg, Naproxen 1000mg, Klonopin 2mg/day (tapering to PRN), Miralax 17g, Supplements
http://www.healingwell.com/donate