Irritable Bowel Syndrome

[potone]

Does anybody else here suffer from IBS? I have a very bad case of it, and have tried numerous medications for it. The only things that help are muscle relaxants, and they make me too sleepy to take when I am working. I's appreciate any ideas. My main symptom is incredibly violent and painful cramping that can go on for hours, and sometimes days in a row.

[mopinko]

1. there are newer MRs

that do not have that side effect. are you getting good care?

[Warpy]

3. Opiates helped me

with the pain and the diarrhea. Now I'm on Ultram, a med that hits the opiate receptors but isn't quite as constipating. Muscle relaxants zone me out too much. I only take them when I'm desperate and know I can be non functional for a day or two.

Everybody is different, and you might have to explore different medications to get real relief. I take it you've been scoped and both Chron's and ulcerative colitis have been ruled out. If not, do so. Severe cramping like that isn't a hallmark of IBS unless you're in a flare and then it doesn't happen for days or weeks at a time. The treatment for Chron's and UC are different from those for IBS.

[potone]

5. Thanks for the suggestion.

I will ask my gastroenterologist about Ultram. I take Dicyclomine (sp.?), which doesn't make me as dopey as Hyoscyomine does, but the downside is that it doesn't always work--if the cramping has already started, it won't stop it.

[LynzM]

2. Have you seen a naturpath to discuss?

Some alternative treatments might include: Glutamine, Calcium and Magnesium Chelate, Peppermint supplements, and probiotic supplements.

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad, and I hope that you can find a good treatment without the side effects. For what it's worth, if you're looking for muscle relaxation, supplementing with Chelated Magnesium is a cheap and easy way to help your muscles, with negligible side effects for most people. :hug:

[potone]

6. Thanks for the ideas.

I take Magnesium and probiotics, but they don't do much good. Peppermint does nothing for me. I should try glutamine, and take calcium more regularly. I really sometimes feel kind of desperate--I have given up everything that might aggravate it except caffeine, and if I gave that up, I couldn't get out of bed in the morning.

[MountainLaurel]

19. Somewhat OT, but how do you find a reputable naturpath?

Thanks!

[MorningGlow]

20. Start with the Google!

You'll find quite a few holistic directories that return results by state. Or you can visit a New Age store in your area and see if they have any recommendations. Good luck! :hi:

[MountainLaurel]

21. Is there a licensing body for holistic practitioners? n/t

[MorningGlow]

22. Yes, I believe there is

It depends on what kind of practitioner you're looking for. I go to a holistic m.d., so that's kind of specific for licensing, but if you're looking for a different type of practice, the licensing will be different. If you look up a practitioner in your area that sounds good, you can always call the office and ask about his or her licensing.

Try here, as well--they have a doctor finder under the "public" drop-down menu: http://www.holisticmedicine.org/

On edit: this seems to be the holistic medicine licensing board, ABHM. My doctor is licensed by this organization. http://www.holisticboard.org/

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

4. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1990.

Have you been diagnosed by a gastroenterologist? There are many meds available that can give you much needed relief.

Good luck! :)

[elleng]

7. If constipation is part of your problem,

my doc recommended and I recommend stool softeners, docusate sodium. I take without laxative, 1 or 2 a day. Available over the counter.

[OnionPatch]

8. I used to have it.

I had it for three years or more. Every time I ate my guts would cramp violently as if I were going to have diahreah, but I would be constipated instead. I took dulcolax a lot for the constipation and a drug called Levbid before meals for the spasms and it helped a lot. It didn't make me sleepy. Edited to add: I guess you may already have tried it. I didn't realize it was the same as hyoscyamine.

The thing that cured my IBS was pregnancy. No one can explain it, but my IBS left during my fifth month of pregnancy and has never returned, not even in the slightest. It's been seven years. Good luck to you. I hope you'll find some help and some answers. I know it is hard to live with that condition.

[pnwmom]

9. Have you had the blood tests for Celiac disease (gluten intolerance)?

No one should be diagnosed with Irritable Bowel unless they've ruled out gluten intolerance.

[potone]

10. I went through a long series of tests before I was first diagnosed.

It is probable that that test was one of them. The clinic I go to is supposed to be the best gastroenterology clinic in the area. I also went to a naturopath a few years ago and went through a diet elimination test. I didn't seem to be allergic to any foods. Any other suggestions?

[pnwmom]

14. If I were you I'd call the clinic and make sure you had the blood tests

for gluten intolerance. If they say you were tested, get the names of the tests that were done.

I wouldn't assume that you were tested, because many doctors still think Celiac disease/gluten intolerance is rare -- that's what they were taught in medical school.

Even if you were tested, you should find out which tests you had. Some doctors only give one test, the newest one. The newest test is very good at identifying cases of Celiac disease -- in the sense that it correlates very highly with endoscopies that measure the damage to the villi in the upper intestine that is characteristic of Celiac. Unfortunately, it misses a significant number of people who have gluten sensitivity that affects other parts of the body (the lower intestine, the liver, the brain, etc.). Many of those people can be identified using older tests for gluten intolerance -- tests that measure anti-gliadin antibodies.

If you decide to have more blood tests, DON'T try to eliminate wheat or anything else from your diet now. The tests aren't accurate unless you're consuming gluten.

[marybourg]

27. I second your advice n/t

[OhioChick]

11. Archway Coconut Macaroon Cookies......

Do a search on them regarding IBS. Works wonders for me. Just a thought.

[mopinko]

12. you just made my day.

i have a bit of ibs. you telling me the cure is cookies? damn. going to the store, now.

[OhioChick]

13. ......

:)

[JerseygirlCT]

26. yes, they're supposed to help!

Talk about a pleasant "medication"!

[starchimes]

15. I suggest digestive enzymes, like beano and

maybe cayenne pepper capsules (soothing to the digestive tract) & magnesium. Beano is good to help with digesting veggies and wheat. There are other digestive enzymes out there for protein. I also would try eliminating things from your diet. I can't eat chocolate, coffee, dairy and corn. The person that posted before that cramping over a long period of time is not usually IBS, is right. Caution on probiotics, if you have a sensitivity to dairy, they may be causing more problems than helping.

[elleng]

16. i've posted about such enzymes,

below.

[LiberalEsto]

17. Look into Oral Allergy Syndrome

I'm allergic to tree pollen, and have to use asthma inhalers from late January until late April every year.

I recently learned to my great surprise that my allergy to birch pollen is linked to gastrointestinal allergic cross-reactions to foods such as apples and carrots during the allergy season. I was once diagnosed with mild IBS, but this appears more likely in my case.

People allergic to ragweed and some other allergens can also react internally to certain foods. More info: http://allergies.about.com/od/foodallergies/a/oas.htm

Here's a list of cross-reactions:

The following fruit-pollen associations have been shown in people with OAS. People with allergy to these pollens often experience symptoms of OAS if the fresh fruit or vegetable is eaten:

Ragweed (weed): melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew), bananas, cucumbers and zucchini.
Birch (tree): potatoes, carrots, cherries, celery, apples, pears, plums, peaches, parsnip, kiwi, hazelnuts and apricots.
Mugwort (weed): celery, carrots, various spices.
Grasses: tomatoes, potatoes, peaches.

[MorningGlow]

18. Discussion about probiotics and digestive enzymes

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x67319

Lots to think about!

[distantearlywarning]

23. I used to have really bad IBS

Then I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder. As soon as I got on the right kind of thyroid meds, the IBS cleared up.

I still have minor bouts of it, but they are completely manageable compared to what I used to suffer with. I also watch my diet carefully, and also discovered that I was lactose intolerant (which was also probably causing some of it).

Just some thoughts...

[OnionPatch]

24. I had it for several years.

Every time I ate, the cramping started. They could even see it spasming on an ultrasound. I took a drug called Levbid, which helped very much although I was worried about taking it long term. The weirdest thing is that my IBS totally and completely disappeared during my 4th month of pregnancy, never to return. It's been eight years now without the slightest problem. :shrug: Of course my cure is not for everyone. ;) IBS is a very mysterious condition and I wish you all the best in finding help.

[JerseygirlCT]

25. Well, not IBS - but Crohns

Have you tried adding some good probiotics? My GI doc suggested that his colleagues in Boston were having success with something called PB8. (You can get it at health food stores - or I buy online). I've been using for years now. Until this recent flare, that's basically been the extent of my treatment, since I didn't seem to tolerate most of the other first choice drugs for my condition.

That and care with my diet have kept this thing in check for quite a while. (Unfortunately not now - and not for the last 7 months, but that's going to happen!)

I assume you've had the full battery of tests to determine it's not something other than IBS, right?

[CraftyGal]

28. I was diagnosed with IBS-D last year.

This was after having antibiotics at least once a month over a ten month period. I still have bouts but not as bad. Unfortuantely I am unable to take buscapan(sp?) as my heart raced as soon as it was in my system. Poor TrogL, he was panicked when that happened. I have since discovered that I have lactose sensitivity as well as gluten. I am not allergic, just that if I have to much of dairy or wheat I will have and episode.

Find out what tests you have been given. Rule out all other bowel disorders as others have suggested. Also lessen your stress. This was another indicator for me.

I wish you well.

CraftyGal