women suffering diarrhea - page twenty-three
The tale of...Rebecca
When I was a young child I had agonising pain, nausea and violent diarrhea. The doctors had no idea what it was so I wasn't treated. Well it finally went away and so did the memory until...
shortly after I had my first child, when I was 16. Since then I have diarrhea, constipation and agonising pain. I am taking Colpermin and co-dydramol and now I'm pregnant the doctors have advised me not to take them. They told me to take paracetamol (like that will work.)
At one point last year for months while I was waiting to see a consultant all I could eat was chicken breast if I didn't want to be ill. When I got to the consultant they gave me an endoscopy and it pushed against my wind pipe, and because I was sedated I lashed out at the doctor. Now all I can eat - well, telling you what I can't eat would be easy:
- Indian
- pastry
- fibre
- Chinese
- fruit
- dairy
- McDonald's
- veg
The list just goes on, I can only eat a limited amount of food. I also get bad when I'm stressed or nervous, so I'm in for a bumpy ride as I'm getting married in September and that's just got stress written all over it. Now found out I'm pregnant and put a deposit on a dress, and a two year-old who keeps me worn out and moving in late September.
The tale of...Annie
Hi, I'm so glad I found this site. It is the first time I have ever heard of people suffering in the same way as me.
I've had chronic diarrhea for five years, since I was 16. It has gradually gotten worse over the years. The state I'm in now I can't imagine how I managed to get through sixth form! Doctors haven't really made any effort to find possible causes and appear very apathetic to how my IBS is totally destroying my life!
I developed anxiety attacks within six months of initially getting chronic diarrhea. They started due to the fear of needing the loo in the middle of class and having to run out making an exhibition of myself! Now my bowel control is so bad I worry about people discovering a funny smell coming from my trousers!
Fortunately I have not YET suffered a PUBLIC accident...but this is because I hardly ever go out! My anxiety got so bad I couldn't attend tutorials and seminars so transferred to the Open University where I'm completing my degree from home. (I advise this to others who find attending uni difficult!)
I used to be such a sociable happy person with lots of friends. I now only have the one or two close friends who try really hard to understand my problem...but no matter how hard they try...they don't have to handle the constant fear of having to dash to the loo with the possibility of not making it in time, and the cold sweats that flood through my body numerous times a day.
It's the worst when I'm driving somewhere and I desperately need the loo! The lights seems to always be on red, and traffic jams emerge...at times like this I've just cried and cried...praying for the pain to go and that I get home before I soil myself. I now avoid driving!
My strategy of coping with it now is not really eating very much at all! I go out of the house about two days a week after not having eaten for two days and having taken loads of anti-diarrhea tablets. I've managed to maintain friendships this way, however, my degree is coming to a close and I will need to get a job very soon...I hate having to depend on my parents for finance and simple things like going to the shops to buy food 'cos I'm not well enough.
The problem now is coping with anxiety and chronic diarrhea...I don't know how I'll ever get a job or boyfriend at this rate! A day doesn't go by that I don't wish I was just normal...and do simple things like pop down to a local shop. I constantly battle with anger and depression about how IBS has done this to my life. But then remind myself that I am not alone...so many people's lives are restricted by things that have happened TO them...I've just got to focus on what I DO have...and make the most of it.
If anyone wants to contact me please do...I've become such a recluse and feel very isolated. I will reply. All the best to my fellow chronic diarrhea sufferers.
E-mail Annie: secoca25[at]hotmail.com
The tale of...Kelly
Well I have been having IBS for a long time now, just didn't know what it was until this year. IBS is horrible, I'm afraid to do anything and everything. I don't want to go out at all, just go to work and that's because I have to go.
I have a husband and he tells me not to let it run my life, he's sort of supportive but gets upset sometimes cause he wants to go out. I haven't been to the movies in three years, we don't even walk the streets of New York city like we used to. I'm really scared that IBS is going to ruin my life with my husband if I don't try and take charge of it.
I also have a daughter. Since I gave birth to her my IBS has worsened. She's two and six months. I'm even scared to go out with her, I feel like I'm holding her back on her fun. This is ruining my life.
I'm 26 years old and feel like I'm 86. All I think about is what if I have to go to the bathroom all day 24/7 from the time I awake 'til I fall asleep. I'm depressed, I'm tired of taking meds, and as I write this my stomach hurts.
I really need some help - anyone out there who thinks they can, or needs a friend to relate to, email me.
E-mail Kelly: Awithk[at]aol.com
The tale of...Anonymous
My IBS began to worsen this winter during a terrible cold or flu which lasted for three weeks. As a result I developed, along with increased discomfort with IBS, acid reflux, and a severe sinus infection which developed after my insurance company would not cover a simple post-nasal prescription. I ended up on antibiotics and on Nexium, the latter they also denied, but my doctor had enough samples to provide me for a month.
The end result of having so many medical problems, I developed severe anxiety and ended up in the emergency room with a major panic attack. I am now on Xanex and seeing a therapist. This has actually calmed my IBS down considerably, I still have an occasional panic attack (I am a professional musician and when I perform I am fine, however, I have had panic attacks anticipating intermission when I would stop concentrating on the music and worrying about an impending attack).
Additional dose of Xanex has helped (I'm on 25mgs a day - the lowest dose). On occasion, in the evening, I develop indigestion and if this is not taken care of it can develop into a mild case of heartburn, but not as painful as the acid reflux I experienced months ago.
I am planning to have a colonoscopy this summer. I am a single parent and want to do this when my daughter is away for the summer. I am also under an intense amount of stress, currently trying to change jobs, and I continue to perform which does not allow for days of relaxation. I have taken to practicing yoga in the morning and in the evening before bed which has also helped tremendously.