So I think for the past few weeks I have been experiencing symptoms of IBS: bloating, gas, stomach aches, cramps, constipation and diarrhea (but mostly constipation), and burping. I have tried to help it with fiber supplements, but I heard that can just add to the gas problem. I can press on my stomach right now and move the gas around, not so fun! I also notice that when I'm stressing (I have anxiety) that my stomach starts to hurt, it never did that before. And to make things worse, apples are my favorite fruit, and now when I eat them I get pretty bad stomach pains and cramping. I read online that apples are a no-no food for gas and bloating :( So since this is just seeming to start, what kinds of things can I do before it gets really bad? And does this sound like IBS? I do not like this full feeling I have in my abdomen, I feel like I need to pass gas or burp and my body won't let me!!!
ali
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"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." - Marie Curie
"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - WinstonChurchill
Welcome to IBS, Hopeful! It sure does sound like you have IBS. Have you consulted a doc for this yet? If not, and you have any concerns, maybe you should see a doc who can confirm (or deny) you have IBS. In the meantime... Fiber is good to introduce gradually. When eating your favorite fruits and vegetable it may be wise to take Beano before your fist bite. I personally know it does work. Dbab prefers Beano over Gas-X, but I use both (I'm terribly gassy).
Anxiety plays a huge role in contributing to IBS triggers. Have you ever had a fear of leaving your house because you may have a bathroom nightmare? I think all of us with IBS have that fear. Many times the fear takes over and we do end up needing a bathroom. The key is self control... take slow, deep breaths and tell yourself you are fine. Relax. I get major road rage and am trying to listen to soothing music to see if it will help. (Hopefully it won't end up putting me to sleep.)
Well, that's it for now. Let me/us know if you have any other questions (or if I missed something).
Welcome Ali, Your symptoms definitely sound like IBS. I hope you stick around in the forum and read some posts, you will find a lot in common with yourself. Lil pretty much covered everything that I could say about it so I just wanted to say welcome. Take Care
Hugs, Des
Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum
"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it" - Mary Engelbreit
Thanks for your input guys :) I am hesitant to go see my doctor about this because 1) with my most recent anxiety episode I was in there about 5 times within a month so I swear she's sick of me, and 2) everytime I ask her if my symptoms might mean xyz, she gives me a blank look and says well this is what to do if it is xyz - she never says well lets do some tests or let me ask you some questions to see if it is xyz. She doesn't really take anything seriously unless it is causing me severe pain, which is really annoying. Anyways, I will try the beano/gas-x thing and see if it works. Thank you for the welcome and the advice :)
ali
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"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." - Marie Curie
"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - WinstonChurchill
hey hopeful! if you have the opportunity i would suggest seeing/finding another doctor. i understand how you feel, but your emotions shouldn't dictate weather or not you get a test! you are paying them! i most recently found some sucess because i did my own research and told my doctor my findings, there is a difference between educating yourself on health issues and pretending to be a doctor. it sounds like you are educated and want to get better. it sounds like you think your doctor thinks you are a hypochondriac---i thought i was too, and i started feeling bad about calling them everyday asking questions. but that is the wrong approach, i think you should be proactive with your health--you obviously think you have a certain problem, and your doctor should take you seriously everytime!!! you are important. just wondering, what test do you want done? i saw that you are gassy, i am very belchy but recently was initiated into the passing gas world via a colonoscopy--would you believe i never passed gas before that!!! (can we say fart on this forum?) now everytime i get confused, do i have to go or pass??? is it every type of apple that is gassy for you? are you on any new medications that might have gas as a side effect? i take gas x when i have it--never tried beano. did you see a doctor yet? if so did you tell her about pressing on your abdomen and feeling the gas? i wish you wellness!! feel better! --bunnywhat would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
I have thought about finding a new doctor - its just so hard to find one that you actually like! My doctor is really nice, don't get me wrong, but I always feel rushed out when I go there. She doesn't ask questions, and thats what I don't like about her. She just waits for me to tell her what I think I have, and thats not how it should be. She should be active in trying to help me figure out whats wrong. So I am supposed to get my period sometime this week, which could be explaining the lower pelvic pressure I am feeling. I have heard the bloating feeling from the menstrual cycle can exacerbate gi bloating, and I just feel like something needs to be released for me to feel better. I am going to wait til my period is over and see how everything feels before I make an appointment with my doc. The gassiness has gone down a bit over the weekend, I'm not sure what to attribute that too. But I am still constipated and getting occasional stomach aches. Is fiber the only thing that helps with constipation? I've read that you also need to keep hypdrated, but I drink water or tea all day long and it doesn't seem to make a difference. Thanks for all the support :)
ali
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"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." - Marie Curie
"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - WinstonChurchill
Hi hopeful, I'm glad to read your gassiness is a little better. I do, however, agree with bunny that you should find yourself another doctor. You are paying them! Never settle if you are unhappy. You wouldn't marry someone who doesn't make you happy, would you? Same applies here... you don't want to see a doc you are not happy with - this is your health on the line. Of course, if for some insurance purposes you are unable to see another doc then do research and ask your doc questions. If she won't ask you any then ask her questions, and tell her about you. Or, you can always tell her you want a 2nd opinion. I'm pretty sure docs are obligated to refer you to someone else for a 2nd.
I think there are a few things that help with constipation... exercise, fiber supplements, laxatives, fruits (oranges work great for my grandpa), vegetables (prunes - is that a veggie or fruit?), aloe, flaxseed, probiotics, Digestive Advantage, and I'm sure there are more but I can't remember at the moment. I'm sure if you Google "constipation" you will come up with a lot.
Yes, it is important to keep hydrated. Especially if you take a fiber supplement. Fiber can cause constipation if not taken with a lot of water. Tea is a diuretic so it is possible that even when you drink a lot it doesn't help. Make sure that if you drink a lot, and you pee a lot, you replenish your loss of fluid.
Aloe Vera. My mother (who has no G.I. problems) found that an aloe pill or two every day made her REAL regular. She ended up cutting back to one every other day to keep from having to go too often. But for someone who's prone to constipation, one a day should help. My mother started taking it to help with hair loss; it's supposed to be really good for your hair, even if it's not coming out.
If you're on prescription meds, ask a pharmicist if it will interact with anything you're taking. And ask your doctor if it's okay to stay on it long term. I would think, though, it would be better for you, long term, than chemical laxatives. As far as I know, my mother never had any gas problems from it. You can get it in liquid form to drink, but I think that would not tase very good; the pills should work just as well.
Hey Keri, I have been losing my hair for years. It got so bad that finally my doctor believed me (it took 4 years for them to finally see it wasn't "normal" hair loss). I have seen my PCP and an Endocrinologist for this... none can figure out what the problem is. I will see a Dermatologist on Wednesday; hopefully she will be able to help me. I will see what she says, ask her about Aloe and if I can take it with my IBS and Zelnorm. Thanks for the 411!Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
Goodness gracious, I read Keri's post about aloe and just wanted to die thinking about my last experience with it. I was in Ecuador, living with my friend's family (very traditional!) and they took me to this vendor on the street who was selling 8 oz. glasses of "sabila" (aloe vera juice). It had the consistency of snot. I took one gulp and immediately vomited all over the sidewalk. The family nearly died of hysterics. Now, I've eaten a lot of crazy stuff - cow stomach lining, sheep tongue, African game meat - but that aloe juice really took the cake. I would definitely advise taking it in pill form if possible.
Hopeful, I'm sorry to hear that you're having these troubles with your doc. I saw two GIs who were completely oblivious to the idea of connecting with their patients, and sometimes they would look at me like I had three heads. I'd tell them I had a fever of 101 for a few days out of the blue, and they'd be like, "Uh...okay. Keep taking that Lomotil and come back in a month." I finally just washed my hands of that. I found an absolutely amazing PCP who spends anywhere from 30-90 minutes with me every time I see her, does research for me, asks tons of questions, doesn't ignore any symptoms...I swear she is one in a million. They really ARE out there, I'm just not sure how to direct you to find one.
I think it would be a good idea to ask your friends, family members, etc. about which PCPs they see and try to get an appointment...and be ready with lots of questions. Ask about their philosophy about medicine, where they went to school, etc. If they are good docs they should not blink an eye with questions like these.
As far as the constipation goes...I seriously cannot help you there. I was thinking of being diarrhea for Halloween (okay, that was totally uncalled for). Many of these other lovely ladies can keep helping you with the C issue, though; they've been through the ringer with that one, poor things!
I am sitting in my cubicle at work laughing at your "It had the consistency of snot." Yuck! I can't believe you puked. Sorry to laugh at your misfortune but that was hilarious. I will difinitely look into a pill if I take it.Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
I am an Associate Product Development Manager (long title, huh?) for Mervyns Corporate. I love working behind the scenes and making sure our products are made and shipped on time.
"... being diarrhea for Halloween" was another great one. LOL I love your sense of humor. I read an IBS book (can't remember which because I have so many) where a comedian shares a story about him developing IBS. Anyway, at one part he talks about how vocalizing ones bowel movements is taboo... it's not proper. He then goes on to ask why. How come we can talk about breast cancer and wear a pink ribbon? How come we can talk about drugs and wear a red ribbon? How come we can talk about suicide and wear a yellow ribbon? (I can't remember if they were exactly those ribbons, but you get my point.) The man then asked... why can't we talk about poo? Why don't we wear a brown ribbon? I thought that was so great! Why don't we have a brown ribbon to symbolize all of us with bowel problems? Sarita, I think you should be poo for Halloween. LOL I would give you extra candy when you came to my door (not that that would help your D).
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
LOL, that's awesome, that comedian should be our spokesperson. We should have multi-colored ribbons to symbolize all of the varied-color semi-digested foods in the toilet. TIE-DYE ribbons, yeah...
Lil, I recently read something on The Dollar Stretcher about a women losing her hair. http://stretcher.com/stories/04/04oct11c.cfm She used rosemary essential oil and massage to help her hair regrow. Like I said, my mother took aloe pills for her hair loss and you can also wash your hair in aloe vera shampoo (Suave has some that's cheap). Maybe you could try all of it at once and see if you can't jump start your hair growth.
Keri, what a great read... Thank you! This is all so good to know before I head in to see the doc tomorrow. I will ask about everything I have heard here (I better write it all down or I might forget something).
I was losing some hair at one point (I never noticed it until my mother started shreaking on it--I think she was overexaggerating the situation) and saw the GYN who gave me a full lab work-up--you know, the $600 kind--to see if my hormones were normal. Everything came back in the normal range. She said that some women go through bouts of slight hair loss normally; she had even had it happen. But if your hair is getting noticably thin and hasn't started growing back on it's own, then that's definitely not part of a normal cycle.
When I 1st noticed my problem (4 years ago) I talked to my gyno. I did the same tests and, like you, my tests were all normal. He told me the same thing yours did... it is normal. Bull honkey!!!! I know my body and how much hair is not normal to lose. 4 years later I have about ¼ the amount of hair I used to (I used to have loads of it!). I'm not bald... yet.... but if someone doesn't help me I will be within a couple years. It finally took my crying and 4 years of hair loss for a doc to listen to me. He couldn't help me though, of course. Hopefully my dermatologist can help (or your advice, Keri). My mother insists it's the birth control I am on. I have read that in rare cases the pill can cause hair loss because of the hormone change. I will see what the doc (derm) says tomorrow about it (my gyno insists it's not the pill). Regardless, I think soon I will get off the pill for a few months and see.Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
(Does anyone else think this dancer dude could be perceived as phallic? 
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