women suffering constipation - page three
The tale of...Lorraine
Having IBS has been a life-altering experience for me. Having been professionally diagnosed for a year, I have in fact had bowel problems for approximately 12 years. Since having a professor of gastroenterology on the case my gut bowel problems have improved in small increments. However, I can have bad days that seem to last all day, usually worst at night, but still manages to either give me pain in the upper abdominal area, bloatedness, pain and wind, need I say more?
Any sufferer knows the scenario all too well. It constantly reminds you of its presence. I have had part of my colon removed and two prolapses hitched up which were believed to be due to a redundant part of my bowel and a slow system, thus frequent straining enforcing weakness hence the prolapse. I now have some incontinence. So I totally understand how difficult and debilitating and stressful this can be for other sufferers.
However, despite the bad days, hours and weeks sometimes, there is hope. I have recently been trying Alverine Citrate that has helped ease pain after meals, and I am hoping for a new drug that has yet to be approved by the European health council, hurry up I say! Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the ops being a success, and having had a fantastic medical team.
I’m not working mainly because of this condition, and partly out of choice, but I don’t choose or wish this on anybody, having to convince myself and explain my anxiety and general behaviour to others. I know this is not in my head and is physical alright.
Back to positives, I am an avid keep-fit fanatic and over the years found exercise a great help and it certainly brightens my mind, thus giving me a happier frame of mind in all senses of the word. I used to model, mainly swimwear and lingerie, hard to imagine now. One of my glamorous jobs was modelling on Japanese TV for Gossard, to the complete opposite, incontinence pant modelling and I was recalled for a re-shoot!
I do actually laugh about that one. I do remember thinking poor people having to wear these, little did I know what I had ahead of me. Swimming has been the best exercise symptom solver for wind and pain. I have driven to the pool in pain and after 10 lengths it's gone. Do give it a try, I do believe it to be a huge help. It helps open the diaphragm thus helping your breathing, helping the digestion, it helps circulate blood to the gut thus helping aid digestion and you have the soothing massage of the water, so please give it a try it's always been worth the trip.
I have managed to not let this condition totally stop every thing I do. I will not let it, although it can halt me sometimes, I will always try to challenge or accept that it will not last forever and I will be able to lead a normal life one day. Got to go, you know where. Love Lorraine.
E-mail Lorraine: lori[at]lorrainebrett.freeserve.co.uk
The tale of...Beth
I am so glad that I have found this site! I have been going through this since I was in high school, I am now 35. I use to get lower stomach pains that could only be relieved with laying flat on my back and after a short time the pain would go away.
A couple of times I had stomach pains soooo bad that the fetal position was the only way I could get some relief. I went to the doctor and he told me it was gastroenteritis. I was OK with troubling times here and there, it seemed that if my stomach started feeling bad I would eat some soup and crackers for a couple of days and it would be better.
But since September of this year I had that God-awful pain at the top of my stomach and feeling like I had to go to the bathroom. Ever since then I have been dealing with the pain and one day constipated the next day not, it does not seem to matter what I eat. I am constantly passing gas which really bothers my husband.
I do not work anymore because I am so afraid that the pain is gonna turn into an attack so I just stay home. I know coffee bothers me but I need it so I can have a bowel movement.
I have an appointment with a specialist in a couple of weeks and I am scared that it may be something else. Anyone who has these same symptoms or any advice please contact me...Thanks for listening :)
E-mail Beth: bbarut[at]rochester.rr.com
The tale of...Maureen
I am 43 years old and a couple of weeks ago I picked up a tummy bug and was vomiting quite badly for a couple of days. After that stopped, I had diarrhea for 24 hours. I felt OK for a couple of days but then I got a severe shooting pain in my back passage and terrible cramping pains in my lower left abdo.
I went to my GP who tested me for pelvic inflammatory disease. All of his tests came back negative. I returned to the surgery and explained to him that my bowel movements had become erratic and that I felt full and bloated all the time.
He has sent off some stool samples to eliminate any bowel infection but has said that my symptoms could be due to irritable bowel syndrome. I was quite relieved as all sorts of terrible things had been running through my mind (cancer etc). After reading some of the stories on this site I'm not so sure.
The pain and discomfort that I have suffered over the past couple of weeks has been far worse than labour pains, and I should know, I have five children. I am hoping that this episode, which thankfully seems to be abating, is a one-off and due to the tummy bug I had previously.
You sufferers out there deserve a medal. I have been absolutely good for nothing since this thing started. How you all carry on with your normal everyday lives is amazing.
I would love to hear from any sufferers who started with similar symptoms to mine. A trouble shared is a trouble halved after all!
E-mail Maureen: mojo[at]browniehouse.freeserve.co.uk
The tale of...Sandra
I was diagnosed with IBS about a year ago, but have suffered from the intense pain for almost three years. I went through all of the painful and embarrassing tests but they could not find any explanation for the pain except IBS. I am a mother of two and will be 28 years-old in a couple of months. I hate this so-called disease. It is ruining my life.
I quit my job about six months ago mostly because worrying about another attack often triggered one while I was at work. My co-workers and boss were very understanding but I felt guilty always pawning off my duties as a dental assistant onto my co-workers. The pain just comes out of nowhere, always in the mornings. I would much rather go through labour and childbirth than have an attack.
The pain is crippling and there is no way to know it's coming or when it is going to stop. Most of the time I can get through an attack and groggily get through the rest of the day. I often have a bowel movement but it doesn't relieve any of the pain. I just suffer and wait for it to stop. I have tried some of the anti-spasm drugs but they do not seem to help either.
Sometimes I wonder "How am I going to live the rest of my life like this?" IBS seems to ruin everything, my son's birthday party, a weekend trip with my family and friends, which by the way ended up in the emergency room because the pain was the worst it had ever been. I often feel very depressed even when I'm not in pain.
I am constantly thinking about it, trying to figure out a way to make it go away. I am tired of worrying about it, tired of being in pain, tired of trying to guess what I should eat or if I should eat at all. Tired of not having my job, tired of not being able to plan things. Nothing seems to work, and the doctors I have seen are not much help either.
I cannot believe that there is not anything anybody can do. There has got to be something out there that works. I want my life back. I want to be in control of what I do and when I do it. There at least has to be a medication to relieve the pain. If anybody has any help for me please let me know. Thank you.
E-mail Sandra: sbriggcoms76[at]netzero