women suffering diarrhea - page eighteen
The tale of...Vicky
Hi to you "survivors". My name is Vicky and after reading a lot of these stories, I also feel so relieved to know that I am not the only one with this "curse".
As I read these stories I started to think back how long I have had this debilitating "curse", and I realize that this started all the way back from when I was in 3rd grade. I had come here to the US from Mexico and didn't speak a word of English and so that's when I had my first accident in the CLASSROOM, and I guess since I didn't speak a word of English at the time I didn't pay attention to the other kids "sneekering".
At the same time I was also going through a traumatic episode in my life and that was molestation. So constant stomach cramps, discomfort, pain, nausea to say the least. I am now 57 years old and have been diagnosed with severe IBS for five years, but I now know that I have had it since 1990 when I had my gallbladder removed together with 25 stones.
Just a month and two weeks ago my partner of five years left me so I'm under a lot of stress (had to move in with my ex-husband because had no place to stay since we (my partner and I) were just about to move to a new place but that didn't happen).
Since I moved in here I have been so depressed that it didn't matter to me what I ate because I felt safe and three feet away from the bathroom, but today my daughter who lives with us and my ex-husband went out to dinner and it all came back, the anxiety, panic attack, hyperventilating, sweats, throbbing of legs and almost tears to my eyes.
My ex-husband doesn't understand. his statement is always "drink plenty of water, walk every day, eat foods high with fiber, don't drink pop and so on and so forth", but what he fails to understand is that ANYTHING will bring it on.
I find that not eating keeps my stomach quiet, but I am also a diabetic and know that I have to eat. I know all the public bathrooms that I can go into without questions so I developed my own maps from restaurants to get home and I am grateful for them. I also know that my mother has it and so did my father before he died. Lately I've noticed that my daughter is also starting to have symptoms.
I also have spent a lot of time cleaning bathrooms before I use them because when it comes to using public bathroom it's really disgusting what people do to them.
I have been told to carry a change of clothes, to take Imodium and to buy depends, but I just refuse because I feel that I would loose my sense of strength as a woman and individual. I've had such strong cramping to make me double over and break out in a sweat and then totally but totally be left with no strength whatsoever. Coke and bread is probably the only thing I can eat and be fine.
Thank you for now and I'll keep all of you in my prayers.
E-mail Vicky: Vicdalia[at]sbcglobal.net
The tale of...Rebecca
I am Rebecca, age 51, and have suffered (mostly in silence) from IBS-diarrhea for most of my adult life. When bringing my condition to the attention of healthcare providers, the common response was to "add fiber".
Had a colonoscopy in June 2004 and blood tests to rule out Celiac Sprue. All negative. Had an appointment on Thursday, May 19, 2005, with an MD from the same group that performed my colonoscopy.
A sigmoid scope has been ordered along with a complete thyroid profile. This physician told me that he likely could not help me. I needed to be seen at a Functional Bowel Disorders Clinic. THIS clinic can see me in January, 2006.
Meanwhile, I've been told to "keep doing" what I'm "doing." Imodium Loading, clearly, is no issue for doctors. As is weight loss and no appetite. (Why eat when everything makes you sick?). Would love to try Lotronex or the new drug from Solvay, but they are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to come by in the USA.
Thanks for listening. For the last year or more, this website has given me the courage to begin to speak out - publicly - about this wretched condition. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
E-mail Rebecca: rebeccazbezinski[at]comcast.net
The tale of...Michelle
I suffer from IBS with diarrhea, and have had diarrhea every day for three months. I tried Lomotil. It did stop the diarrhea for one full day, but it made me feel like I was very drugged. I couldn't even drive, or hardly sit up straight.
So I went to a gastroenterologist. He told me to take Imodium. Two tablets 1/2 hour before breakfast, and one after each loose stool all day, up to nine pills a day. Guess what? It had absolutely NO effect. NONE! The only thing that helps slow down the diarrhea is if I eat nothing at all for two days. Fasting is the only answer for me. Not good...
I wish there was something, anything out there to stop this. I am searching the internet for any "alternative" remedies.
E-mail Michelle: ladywildcat_2000[at]hotmail.com
The tale of...Kim
I've been suffering from IBS since I was about 15 years old. I'm now 29 turning 30, so approximately 15 years of living with this problem has kind of led me to believe there's not much hope of totally being free of it.
I have the classic symptoms, although the doctors haven't officially diagnosed me. I get the bloating, I get the diarrhea, I get the constipation and I get the tired feeling after I've had a bad day, when all I've been doing is rushing to the toilet only to sink back into the bed covered with sweat. Not every day is like this, but most mornings I wake up with some degree of pain in my stomach...and some degree of bloatedness.
I've also just recently been diagnosed with reflux esophagitis, whereby I'm constantly burping and dealing with reflux throughout the day, as well as pains in the chest. Funnily enough, I've been told the main issue with my reflux problem is because of added weight...yet when I was a smaller size, I noticed I would get sick more often, and a lot worse.
My reflux issue is made worse by peppermint, but my IBS is made better by peppermint, so having a combination of the two problems has prompted me to try harder at losing weight. I'm not grossly overweight...just a couple of sizes too big...if that makes sense. I find eating yoghurt I often want to throw up, and if I drink full cream milk I'm sick for the next day in a bad way.
So now I drink lactose-free milk, which means I can have my caro and milo. I try and steer clear of caffeine, but when you've had a crappy night's sleep, it's sometimes a little hard to resist! All in all, I'm hoping that changing my diet and exercising will at least help with one or more of my problems.
I do understand how other IBS sufferers feel, and my heart goes out to you...especially on those particularly bad days when all you want to do is just curl up and you just want it all to go away. I'm thinking of giving pilates and yoga a try, and see if that helps as well. I'll let you know when I try it! :o) Meanwhile...hope to hear more of your stories.
An update on Kim...
I've recently had a development, whereby after being investigated for endometriosis through a laparoscopy, I've been notified that I'm actually a sufferer of this disease. I've been told that this is possibly the reason why I have been suffering from IBS symptoms, as some of the tissue associated with this disease has actually attached itself to my bowel.
So it might be worthwhile to let other sufferers know about this, and possibly be checked for this disease (I'm not sure if it's classified as a disease or syndrome or what, as I've only just been finding out more about it...but sufferers certainly suffer as much as IBS sufferers do).
Once I have undergone surgery to hopefully rid my body of this disease, I'll know for sure if my IBS symptoms are also included in my suffering, and I'll be sure to pass on whether this has alleviated all my symptoms or not.
The tale of...Tracie
I have had IBS for eight years or more now. It's changed from constipation-predominant to diarrhea in the last 18 months. I find if I eat anything too fatty not only do I get pale stools I get diarrhea as well. They have checked me out with an abdominal ultrasound and I don't appear to have liver problems or gallbladder ones. I just don't know what's happening really.
The diarrhea is painful, crampy and distressing. I'm odd as well in that when I'm due on I get normal poos, it's so odd. It could be hormonal, but one thing I do know is that there is never a typical IBS, the only typical thing is we all suffer. I have had accidents and carry spare things around.
I've tried all the old favourites, Colpermin, mebeverine, turmeric tablets, and nothing really helps that much. I feel sorry for anyone in our position. People tend to say "oh yes, you've got the dicky stomach thing!!" I wish it was that simple. If somebody going through your insides with a jackhammer is a dicky stomach I give up.
Anyway I'll just keep on trying, the cure is out there somewhere. Maybe not the same one for all of us but I'm gonna find mine eventually. Good luck everyone.