women conquering diarrhea - page seventeen
The tale of...Allira
I just wanted to let everyone know that I have a happy story! About eight months ago I made the decision to leave the safety of my house and go to see a rock concert (18 hours from my house) armed with whatever would be necessary to counteract the stomach pains...but I pulled out all of the stops in my preparation and I have hardly had IBS for the eight months since! I have been at full-time university for six months and I have my life back. It is not easy to keep to the dietary restrictions and lifestyle changes, but it is simple and worth it!
- No dairy products, fatty or processed foods, red meat, garlic, onions,
citrus or acidic foods, coffee, bread or anything else that I know will make
me sick (junk food is the main one).
- Mint tea and Panadol for tummy pain when I get it and one Imodium every
morning half an hour before I leave the house.
- Plenty of water and lots of sleep (if I am tired, stressed out or
overwhelmed, I will have a flare-up - sleep cannot be underestimated, I
need to sleep for my tummy to work properly).
- Exercise and weight loss (I don't know how it works but I have done a
lot of reading on exercise - slow and steady and regularly - and it does
work!).
- Cooked starchy vegetables are amazing for IBS - potato, carrot, pumpkin and
white rice.
- Helpforibs.com has a million and one suggestions for diet and
treatment.
- I avoid toxic people (the ones who make you feel sick, stress you out or
don't take your problem seriously), and surround myself with positive,
understanding people (as much as I can) and people who are supportive and
want to see me get better.
- Understand that I am the most important person in my life and
I take the time to take care of my body and do what I need
to feel better.
- Give myself time - if I want to go to a party and it is going to take
two hours to have some rice, a hot shower, some mint tea and wait for the
Imodium to work, I take the two hours and wait until I feel ready to go out.
- Make provisions for myself. I have not had a flare-up in months but I take special exams in a separate room with a university disability support person who knows I have stomach problems and will let me go to the bathroom if I need to during exams, simply because I feel more comfortable when I have this option available to me and when I feel more comfortable, my tummy feels better (not perfect, but much, much better!). Do what it takes to give yourself a break - go to places where the toilets are clean and there are enough toilets so that you are comfortable, sit in the aisle seat at the movies and take Imodium tabs and a water bottle with you if it makes you feel better...and good luck!
E-mail Allira: allirastar[at]gotalk.net.au
The tale of...Barbara
I too have discovered the wonderful properties of calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. To think something so simple has had such a profound effect on my life, it's almost absurd when you think about it. How many doctors have I been to, how many prescription medications have I taken, when all it took was a simple, home remedy that I had on my baking shelf all this time! I am still going to advise the doctor that I have started this carbonate routine, to allay any doubts I may have about adverse reactions.
Thank you, Linda, for turning me on to Caltrate! I was getting tired of baking soda and water before each and every meal. This is so much easier, user-friendly, and better for me because now I am getting the benefit of the vitamins as well.
The tale of...Mislay
I have been suffering with IBS since I was a child (I am 27 now). It's horrible. I can't eat late because I will have to run to the bathroom in the morning. I can't eat at Six Flags because I will have to go and the cramping will ruin my trip. I can't do anything normal anymore. I fear going to a restaurant because I have to go right away and it can be embarrassing at times. I too like the 'safe zone' of my house...
I have been to doctors and gastroenterologists and all they say is to lay off dairy products. It's not the dairy products. It's IBS, as I learned later on. I am glad to see other people are in this with me! I am happy now because I can more or less control my IBS...I know when to eat and when not to eat!
E-mail Mislay: mislay.rodriguez[at]gmail.com
The tale of...Caroline
I have suffered from IBS for the last six years, but in the past year the symptoms have gotten a lot worse. This had been brought on by serious stress. I've been to so many doctors and had so many tests done and everything came back clear. My doctor was helpful to start with but towards the end she was sick of hearing about it. I tried Colofac and Buscopan and these worked for a couple of weeks and then they just stopped working.
I ended up in hospital after months of pain. The doctors thought it was either appendicitis or a kidney problem. I was getting severe pains in my back and side. They did further tests in the hospital but came back with the same story, it's just IBS. I started a high fiber diet and this went really well for about a month, but once again the symptoms came back. I also tried acupuncture, reflexology and hypnotherapy and nothing worked.
Finally, another sufferer advised me to see a nutritionist and I made an appointment. I have been on a special diet for the past two months and I have no symptoms whatsoever. I have cut out all wheat, dairy and red meat. I now have my life back.
The tale of...Roni
I've had IBS since I was about 15, although I was not diagnosed until I was about 18. I've hardly ever had to deal with constipation; my problems are mainly of the, um, opposite kind accompanied almost always by nausea, cramps, and spasms. A few doctors blamed it on my weight and diet, and one blamed it on stress.
I have noticed that when I eat certain foods or when I'm stressed my symptoms worsen, but those certainly are not the main causes of my illness. When I'm having an episode, I find that it's best to cut out any dairy products to help with the nausea. Peppermint tea also works wonders for me - even better than the medicines that I've been prescribed (in fact, the meds don't really work at all).
I've been blessed with an understanding family, and my boyfriend is extremely supportive. I've even found a co-worker that shares my problem. Peppermint tea and no dairy during flare-ups can be a lifesaver.
The tale of...S
I have been an IBS sufferer since before it had a name....many doctors just excused what was wrong. I teach school and obviously cannot leave my classroom to use the restroom on a needed basis. I have changed my diet to very little fruit, vegetables, and no milk, but since using three Imodium Advanced in the morning and three more in the evening I have been able to live a semi-normal life again.
Regular Imodium little green pills do nothing for me, but the Imodium Advanced has made my life possible. I still have bad mornings, but if I leave out all fruits, all dairy, and all vegetables and eat only meat and bread I have fewer problems. I cannot travel for an hour after waking up as I go through my usual morning. But I rarely have symptoms during the day or evening even after eating out. I did talk to my doctor years ago about the amount of Imodium I was taking and was I told if it worked it was fine.
The tale of...Lisa
IBS sufferers are indeed heroes. And there is something heartening about knowing that you are not alone and understanding that coping with the disease means going through a sort of process (and I think acceptance is the last stage.) I also think the "sad tales" section reflects a stage in this process and that is why there are getting so many of that sort. Perhaps that is also the stage when people are seeking information out on the internet. It is healthy to talk about it - we have a need to do that.
We need the healthcare profession to take a serious look at all aspects of our disorder - there are certainly a lot of us out there. Certainly enough to justify the research. And it is not acceptable for them to say IBS is a disease of exclusion or to keep handing us prescriptions that only mask symptoms (and badly at that.) I know they can do much better.
I was officially diagnosed when I was 17 (but had the first motility symptoms when I was eight) and I just turned 40 - the majority of my life. I was lucky to be diagnosed so early because my doctor had it too and knew immediately what it was.
My story is the same, really, as all of the others: 28-episode bad days (my personal max) alternating with periods of remission or "normalcy." New medicines that make you hope and disappointments when they fail, endless invasive tests (just in case...), useless diets, sprints through the mall where you have memorized the bathrooms. Year-long bouts and cornfields and days thinking you cannot, simply cannot, go one more day.
But there are days I do not think about it at all. I am still able to work and I have travelled throughout the world and I have had one heck of a glorious, lucky life so far. And I think the best part is still coming. You do not have to let this disorder win.
There will be funny stories because you need a sense of humor. There will be good friends, family and loves who listen to the gross stuff and support you. There will be fellow IBS buddies. And there are doctors who try with all their hearts to fix you up. And everybody who survives with this eventually finds a way to cope that works for them. You simply have to - there is no alternative.
Even with this disorder, you can still stand in the long lines to see the Boticellis in Florence. In fact, I think that rather than paying for one more unnecessary and painful test, that is exactly what you need to do (it is about the same price!) That, or whatever rings your bell. Walk on the beach in Hawaii! Take that trip to India! Get in the car with a change or two of clothes, wetwipes, and go wherever you want to go!
Live your life the best way you can and try to transcend the pain of our excessive humanity. And remember that no matter how bad it gets some days, you are never ever alone. From an IBS suffragette :-)
E-mail Lisa: splittgerber[at]charter.net
The tale of...Roxanne
I've suffered with IBS for approximately 11 years. A few weeks ago I read Linda's tale. She had had her gallbladder taken out and afterwards she had to take lots of calcium to alleviate stomach bloating. I just wanted to say that despite not having had my gallbladder out I gave the calcium a try, and it really seems to have made a difference to my bloated stomach which sometime resembles a football when I wake!
I have been taking two 600mg tablets every day and I have noticed a difference when I finish a meal. Although bloating is not the most painful symptom I suffer with, it still isn't very nice and can be embarrassing and very uncomfortable. I'm so glad I read Linda's tale as it really helped me. I figured that even if it didn't work the calcium would be good for me!
E-mail Roxanne: roxannehuntley[at]hotmail.com
The tale of...Lucy
I have had IBS for about 10 years now - it reared its ugly head following a spate of panic attacks which I think were brought on by an incident at uni (I was on a coach trip with the world's worst hangover and thought I was going to be sick all day. I then seemed to remember that feeling and developed a fear of being sick in public).
Following a couple of hypnotherapy sessions I controlled this and thankfully prevented agoraphobia, but I did seem to be left with an annoying ability to develop anxiety (often subconsciously) which would develop in my stomach. Without realising I was worried about doing something or going somewhere, pains would appear in my stomach that would then result in frequent loo visits. The cycle effect of then worrying about my stomach and what if I needed the loo when out would make it worse and even bring it on.
I have managed to control the situation over the last few years (and have always carried Imodium pills with me), but I have missed many a good opportunity for not wanting to be in a difficult place for that 'what if' reason. My happy story relates to reading some information about the benefits of aloe vera juice. I have been drinking it now for about eight weeks and although only early days, I have to say that I have been on two events with work which in the past would have been likely problem days.
I am so happy to say that on both these occasions I had no stomach funnies and did not even go to the loo (like that) once - in fact I didn't even think about it - and that is the main thing! I am very pleased with the results and think that even if there is some placebo effect I don't care because it is working. I am looking forward to other events as a trial if you like, but I have a much more positive outlook and with that a more motivated outlook for my career too. If aloe is the saviour then I wanted everyone else to know!