Thought I’d write a brief guide to the different types of IBS, as this can be a confusing subject when you are first diagnosed. It really doesn’t need to be though, so let’s make this as simple as possible.
There are basically three main types of IBS. Firstly, there’s diarrhea-predominant IBS, which, you will be astounded to learn, means that you suffer predominantly from diarrhea. It doesn’t mean though that you won’t have any other symptoms. You may well have pain, discomfort, bloating, or nausea alongside the diarrhea. It does mean though that you will have more diarrhea than constipation. It is often referred to as IBS-D.
Then there is constipation-predominant IBS, which is just the opposite of IBS-D, ie: more constipation than diarrhea. This is called IBS-C.
The third group is sometimes called alternating IBS and sometimes called mixed IBS, and means that you suffer from alternating diarrhea and constipation. This is sometimes referred to as IBS-A.
I occasionally see people refer to IBS-P on messageboards, with the P standing for pain, because they feel that pain is their predominant symptom, but this term isn’t really used beyond the web as far as I’m aware.
There are more IBS-D sufferers than IBS-C or IBS-A sufferers, which is probably why IBS is often more famous for its diarrhea than any of the other symptoms. The ratios are sometimes quoted as about two IBS-D sufferers for every one IBS-C or IBS-A sufferer.
And that’s really all there is to it! IBS classifications are not an exact science, and sometimes people can switch between categories over time, but I expect that most of you reading this will know what category you fit into, either because you’ve been told by a doctor or just because it’s pretty obvious.
There is one IBS sub-category that I should probably mention here – sometimes doctors refer to post-infectious IBS, which means IBS that occurred after an infection such as food poisoning. But that tends to be the only subgroup that gets singled out.
Things do get more confused when doctors (or often patients themselves) start labeling sufferers as having mild, moderate or severe IBS, as these labels are completely subjective, and I’ve never seen any criteria at all to suggest what the differences between mild, moderate and severe IBS might be, so I would take these labels with a pinch of salt. But it doesn’t mean to say they can’t be useful.
So – what kind of IBS do you have? My name is Sophie, and I have IBS-C, and it can be mild, moderate or severe, according to my own personal criteria and the kind of day I’m having!
I guess I’m kind of a unique case. When I was diagnosed at 10, I’d say I had IBS-C. That faded away a little after middle school. Then after a bout with food poisoning, I was re-diagnosed with IBS…this time it’s IBS-D. So I guess you could say I’ve had IBS-C, IBS-D, and post infectious IBS.
Hi,
In the beginning, I thought I have IBS-D. But now I don’t belong to any of these groups. I don’t have diarrhea or constipation. I only suffer from bloating and cramps.
I find out some other groups which more precisely and accurate describe my condition: Vata IBS, Pitta IBS, and Kapha IBS. I have Vata IBS.
I have severe IBS c which make s me unable to work. I go to the bathroon once or twice a month so I get horrible cramps from all the built up waste, have daily severe headaches ( I have to ice my head all the time even in winter), severe bloating ( I look 7 months pregnant) all the time), insomnia because I have frequent urination ( every 25 min. during the day and at night I wake up about 3-4 times to go then I can’t fall to sleep because of my headache so I get up at 3 -30 am everyday), fullness 24/7 and gas that won’t expel, muscle pain that is so bad massages can be very painful. Also when it ‘s the time of the month my IBS causes extreme menstrual cramps for days that makes me come close to passing out so I have to take 3 -4 wam baths a day and constantly have tiger balm rubbed on my stomache to kill a little of the pain.
IBS – C over here. My experiences echo what Natasha’s going through. I’ve spent the last five years trying different diets to figure out how to get better.
Right now, I’m a high-fiber, high-probiotic, gluten-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free vegan. I take psyllium and enzymes every day. It works really great.
Awesome to find another IBS blog!!! Nice to meet you all!
I have IBS-DP. I often get severe pain and nausea but have gotten it under control for the most part with the use of lotronex and an anti depressant. I am not thrilled to be on medication but it is the only way I make it through some days. Some days are 100% and others are 100% painful where I curl up in a ball and cry. Any advice?
Sophie,
Thank you! I am IBS A and for the past 18 months have felt so alone, confused, frustrated, depressed, desperate and basically just wanted to find a rock and hide under it.
As of 9am today, having read through some of the postings, I now feel understood and not so alone.
I have suffered from migraine for almost 30 years so am not unfamiliar with being not believed and judged because of a medical condition but in September 2008 I was in and out of hospital over a three month period, lost over 3 stone in weight, was swinging between diarrhea and constipation, would bloat as soon as I ate anythng and was in constant pain on the right side.
My first admission to hospital I was severely constipated and a nurse actually said to me, on the ward, in hearing of three other patients, “I would be embarrassed to take a bed in hospital just because I was constipated.”
Brilliant! Thanks so much! Lets just add mortification to the long list of other things I am feeling!
Mortification has been my prodominant feeling ever since. Who wants to sit down with their boss and actually say “the reason I wasn’t at work on monday was because while driving in, stuck in traffic, my bowels opened and I spent the rest of the day sitting on the toilet in floods of tears”? Or, “the reason I am short tempered today is because I am constipated, bloated, in pain and didn’t get much sleep last night because everytime i needed to cough, sneeze, fart or turn over the pain work me up.”?
Finally, I have now found a group of people who understand. So thank you!
All I need now is to make those who do not suffer from IBS understand that there is no miracle cure, no easy answer and that I would find it much easier to cope with the condition if I had just a little understanding from them.
Rebecca
i was diagnoised with IBS last summer and since then ive had the worse time ever, being depressed mostly and most social life last year was just shut down, i couldn’t go meet friends or go out with them at night, i was so limited ,and what i hated the most was knowing tomorrso luckyow i would feel the same, when i found this medicine; Movicol -works as a laxitive, since decemeber 2009 till now ive only had a few nights where i cant cope, however spicy food,takeaways, chocolate,cheese, still make me feel extremely ill,i just now know not to eat them, there is sometimes where i just wish my friends would understand the pain IBS sufferes go through -make them understand see how limited everything is
I have IBS-C and have tried most medications without finding one that I can rely on.
I have read that Miralax has good results but as it does not seem to be readily available in the UK I was hoping you may have some experience of Miralax, which my reading of available info, seems very similar to Movicol which I have tried often with disappointing results. I think Miralax is a product used in the USA, but if anyone has any positive info on it then please let us know about it.
agnes
Megan,
I have come to the conclusion that it is much easier to tell who your true friends are when you have IBS.
They are the one’s who come to your home when you can’t go out armed with treats you can eat, dvd’s and conversation that has nothing to do with IBS.
They don’t comment when you have to leave the room/table suddenly and are gone for a “while”.
They still will travel with you because they are happy to go and do stuff on their own or just sit by a pool reading a book.
They also clock where the nearest toilet is for you so if you haven’t spotted it they can send you in the right direction.
They don’t even try to tell you how to manage your condition or symptoms, they are just there.
Welcome to any newbies, and thanks for the feedback on your own IBS categorisations!
Jen – I can’t offer any advice but I can definitely offer my empathy, IBS can be a complete nightmare to live with sometimes. Let’s hope that some better times are right round the corner for you, and anyone else who is going through a bad time right now with their symptoms.
Rebecca – I’m so glad that this site has made you feel a little less alone. That nurse sounds charming!! As if you would be in HOSPITAL if you weren’t seriously suffering…ooh I’ll just pop to the hospital today, there’s really nothing on the telly…honestly.
And I definitely agree on the understanding part – I don’t think non-sufferers understand how much harder they make our lives with their little comments and dismissive remarks, and how bad they make us feel when we have to live around our symptoms and they think we are just being lazy or weak.
Agnes – as far as I know Movicol is exactly the same formulation as Miralax, polyethylene glycol. Hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong!
I too suffer from C b/c i have to take pain meds for my neck/back which messes up my system but i only can eat fiber to get me going, with that, i can go everyday after i take 3 ducosate sodium ( mineral oil caplets) stool softners. they help!!! my GI tells me this doesnot contain poly gycol which is good like the other miralax stuff.
what i want to know is how does natasha eat anything? when i am bound up there is no room for any food down there! if i didnt take the stoll softner, i would not be able to eat anything at all!
poor girl i hope this resolves for you!
I found a solution for my IBS-C. I’m 41 years old and otherwise super healthy and athletic, but I suffered for so many years. I don’t work for any drug companies and I’m not promoting anything. I read (i think it was on this site) a guy who had noticed his IBS-C was better after being on vacation in the sun, so he added a vitamin D vitamin to his diet. Then he went on to say that he tried a magnesium supplement called Natural Calm. Skeptical as usual I figured what the heck and I ordered a vitamin D and Natural Calm online. I started taking both and got really loose stools – basically water, but it wasn’t crampy like a laxative. I just felt I had to go like a normal BM but it was just liquid. I eased off the Natural Calm dose and just take both the vitamin D and the Natural Calm once a day and this has completely resolved my IBS-C after 20 years of intermittent suffering. I don’t even think about it during the day. Sometimes I still get the loose stool but it isn’t uncomfortable and I much prefer that over constipation all the time. I have to say a HUGE THANKS to this site for allowing me to read that blog entry that changed my life. I hope this helps someone.
I suffer from IBS-D.. I feel like no ones knows what I go through everyday of my life.. But reading the blog’s it’s nice to know I am not alone.. I am restricted to doing things- I will not go anywhere where theres not a bathroom. I won’t eat if I have to travel.. I now take Metamucil for the fiber it helps regulate- and now I am taking calicum along with an anti depressant. I am hoping this will all help me feel better. I just wish the drug Lotronex was available in Canada.. I am at the point everyday that all I think about is my diarrhea and how I can’t fully function.. Thanks for listening!!
Hi, I hope that all of you can find some relief soon. My heart breaks to read about so many of you who have the same symptoms I had for so long. This is no way to “live”, is it?? I had all the “usual tests” run through the years and the smug gastroenterologist’s NP would just bark at me and say “you’re fine”! (witch) I have a suggestion–only because I suffered from IBS for many years as well and tried the medicines and antacids, etc. but to no avail. I finally found an alternative-minded doctor who ran a comprehensive stool sample test and it found that I was low in “good bacteria”…which is weird because I was supplementing with probiotics. I also had food allergy testing done and it showed a severe allergy to soy–which is in EVERYTHING–so I had to cut that out. No processed foods or prepared breads, etc. for me. Since then, I am trying everything to resolve a “leaky gut” and IBS and the things that are helping are: probiotics, psyllium husks, a rotation diet to see what foods trigger the IBS and l-glutamine to repair the intestinal tract. I have finally stopped the “alternating” bowels and drastic weight loss. It takes a while for the digestive tract to right itself, but it can. Have any of you read about “leaky gut”–maybe the protocol for healing it will help some of you, too? I know everyone’s system is different, but maybe this will be helpful. I hope so and I wish you all well because I honestly do know the pain and anguish it causes–and for me, the intense muscle/joint pain that accompanies it.
Have had IBS-A with daily abdominal pain and bloating for the past year…have always been so healthy it is very frustrating. Have tried so many different methods to cure myself, but wanted to post my latest technique that has really helped. I’ve been taking psyllium seed each morning when I get up and drinking lots of water with it. So far it has really helped with the pain, I think because it keeps everything moving and cleaned out, leaving my digestive system less stressed. Well, I would recommend it to anyone with this problem, hope it helps!
Lisa on May 2nd….I have the same issues. I have no idea though, which IBS I have. Didn’t know there were so many different kinds. And for those of you who only go to the bathroom a few times a day…..I’ve counted that I go at least 12+ times a day, if not more. The most I counted in 1 day was 19 times. My poor bum is in pain! If I could just get rid of the crapping, I think I could handle it a little better. My problem is the diarrhea, not constipation. I hope we all feel better soon!
Ok after going back and re-reading I think I have the IBS D and P.
three months a go suddenly i couldn’t eat my meals as usual..but its not a lack of a appetite..after eating my meal my stomach felt pressurize..n some times i vomit…….after n week later i felt a little discomfort in my stomach …so i consult a gastro enterlogist ..so he diagnosed as reflux ..so he gave me some drugs such as costi n omprezole ..so i took those medicine for abt months but symptoms remained same ……any how my symptoms got worse periodically ..so i did several chks such as endoscopy ..ultra sound scanning n finally barium meal x ray..but all da reports are normal…..so finally i consult a physician so she told me u got IBS …but da problem is im not suffering from da main symptoms such a diarrhea n constipation……..any how my symptoms are getting worse n worse…its effecting to my normal life…any how before this thing accord i had good life without any worry s………please anyone can help me? thanks…
Very informative article. I had not idea there were three different types of IBS. I shall pass this one to a few friends of mine that have IBS and see what they have to say.
Thanks so much for your blog – it is so nice to be able to reach out to fellow sufferers. I am an IBS-A. I have recently found a product that seems to be working for me. Its call Align and you can get it over the counter. I read about it on the Edison Awards site. It won their award. Anyway, 4 weeks after using this product and I feel great. I visit my doctor next week and I can’t wait to brag about how good I feel and see what she says about my miracle. I just thought I’d pass it along. Good Luck!!
Thank you for this blog on IBS. I have had this condition for over ten yrs. After every test known to man everything came back normal. Dont ya just love it when all tests are normal yet you feel anything but normal. Four yrs ago my dr put me on Elavil. I had at the time been mostly IBS-D. Elavil has made me IBS-A. I like that I dont have to take Lomotil every day to stop the diahreah, but I still can not eat any fiber. No fruit, veggies, nuts or grains. In other words if its a healthy food, I can not tolerate it. I will get extreemly ill within 24 to 48 hrs after offending food. It has gotten so bad a few times that I almost passed out on toilet. I have recently found a remedy for the cramping. Black berry brandy. It has to be Lareaux sp? It has stopped my cramping usually with in 5 min. The problem is since I never know when the attack will come on I still have to stay away from these foods. I cant take brandy with me every where I go. My symptoms have gotten worse though in other ways. I have had horrible gas and bloating for the lasts several months. It doesnt matter what I eat, I will bloat. I have a hard time finishing a meal. My social life is nil since I dont want to be around anyone when I am so gassy. I have even skipped church once due to gas issues. I told my dr and she said that at least I dont have cancer. I dont know about anyone else but that did not make me feel greatful. She suggested that I may have an overgrowth of bad bacteria in my intestines and put me on Flagyl. After 2 weeks of it I now take probiotics. I am no better however. I go back to see her in 2 weeks. She will suggest another colonoscopy and endoscopy. Just want I want to go through again. I just have a hard time believing that those of us with these severe symptoms have nothing going on in the colon that can be seen. Between the pain and embarrassment and the boring diet that I have to adhere to, life is just very depressing.
I was just diagnosed 2 months ago, after a few days in the hospital doing lots of exams. I am pretty sure I am IBS-d. In the last few months, it tends to attack over one weekend and then takes a few weeks off. A few months ago I returned to work after my maternity leave, I have two small children, and for the first time in my life was overwhelmed with anxiety. For me, it definitely seems emotional. For example, when I start to get sick I almost always have what seems like an anxiety attack. But it is unclear if it is the chicken or the egg- pain or fear- if you know what I mean. I was wondering if anyone knows if food is almost always part of the picture as well. I have not noticed food being a trigger in my life, but it’s all so new, that I don’t really know. I was tested for gluten allergy and it came back negative… would love to hear others advice.
thanks.
My my. This blog is so hard to read without all the tears. It’s so hard to believe that we all have something in common that affects us everyday that no one else really know the feeling of! All my loving energy reaches out to all of you! Our guts are so vital and yet so physically weak. (There is power in there!!! We have to find it) I have suffered from IBS-C for 2 years now. Been to many doctors and natuaralpathes but the most healing I’ve accomplished is on my own. sometimes it works sometimes not. I basically eat like a rabbit. OR I blend all my food together. –No meat (except fish), gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, preservatives, processed foods, GMO’s, Excessive Oils…which is most of it. It’s so life altering; hard to leave home, go to family events, go out with friends, hard to access the root of the pain when my life is full of so much. But I do manage somehow… with the help of my partner, who has been by my side the whole time. I truly hope you all have some support in your lives. It’s so important. I love you. I love you. I love you.
I have had IBSD for over 35 years. It got a bit worse after my gall bladder was removed, but then strangely got better again for several years. Then about 15 years ago, I had an acute food poisoning that almost killed me, and the diarrhea was out of control. I was a performer, so needless to say it was a bit of a problem. I took lomotil but it let me down many times. Five years ago, I quit living. I became a recluse, never left my house. I mean NEVER. I stopped performing, seeing friends, I wouldn’t even go to a movie with my husband. I cancelled doctors appointments because I was so afraid of accidents! I ate only hard cheese and potatoes. I gained 55 pounds. I started taking Lotronex, that worked great but I can’t take it every day or the pain is unbearable. Just over a year ago, I went to a nutritionist. With her guidance, I now avoid wheat, High Fructose Corn Syrup, MSG, greasy food, and aspartame. The immediate improvement was spectacular. I got my life back! I still have flares, days where I’m afraid to go out until I’m sure the pill is working, and I don’t perform anymore. I’m sure I haven’t found all the triggers. But I have also recently started a Gentle Yoga class. I was so nervous going, because I was afraid I would have an accident. I was amazed…within the first 15 minutes of class, the pain was gone…the urgency was gone. I even stood in the parking lot afterwards, talking to classmates and loving it. OH, and I’ve lost 40 pounds without trying since I gave up the offending foods. I don’t know if I’ll ever be “cured”, or even normal. But I do see light at the end of the tunnel. I’m getting out, doing things, even working! And my husband and I are planning a trip to Europe next year (gulp!). I’m determined to make it work. So to all of you…never give up searching for answers! Never give up hope!
Hi Sophie!
I’m only 15 years old but I have had chronic constipation for as long as I can remember. When my mother was diagnosed with IBS-D a few years back, I realized that It sounded like what I had. I have been misdiagnosed so many times by various doctors, and the blood tests are always negative for all of the conditions. When I brought it to my doctor’s attention that I might have IBS-C, she agreed, but knew almost nothing on how to treat it. I have every symptom of IBS-C, and I have been on Miralax for many years, although it really hasn’t helped much. I have tried nearly every laxative on the market, and even the strongest laxatives have no effect on me. I have just started to take acacia fiber, and it doesn’t yet seem to be working, but I will wait and see if it kicks in. Does anyone have any tips for me? I have tried almost everything (even eliminating gluten and dairy from my diet) but it has been so ineffective that I have stopped because it is such a hassle. Help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks much!
Sophie
Hi Ive read what most people saying about IBS problem of the bathroom Intake a lot I been having the same problem for 23 years sense it was not going away. I like to know what cause people run to washroom and feel they let them self down. Try to remember what you eat last few days. This is what might cause the problem is the foods you eat i like to help you get your life back I learning to control my IBS That I can help you what foods might causing the problem.
Thank you and i just like getting better each day.
For IBS-C take magnesium vitamin pills, you have to figure out the proper amount with to trial and error, if you take too much you can have very loose stools, try to stay away from calcium cause it counteracts the effect (causes constipation). I have had IBS-C for about 10 years been diagnosed for it about 5 years ago, had scopes and saw a gastro and magnesium was the best info I go out of all of it. I still have bouts here and there but if you can have a bowel movement every day it lessens the pain and discomfort.
Hope this helps.
Does anyone know what IBS-C does during pregnancy, I’m very worried as we are trying to start a family.
WOW! just like everyone else i felt so alone in this and have too had to put my life on sem-hold.
please help….
My problem is both diarrha and constipation (sort of mixture between the both but no reason that it changes) i also have a really bad vomiting problem with it, get horrific cramps and sharp agonising pains that feel like are going to physically kill me!! I have one more test to go and then they are just going to diagnose me with pain predominant IBS. …Sophie in the types of IBS you were saying that pain predominant IBS was not a type i am a bit confused as to why docs are going to diagnose me with this? are they trying to give me the brush off? i have been ‘under investigation’ for the last 5-6 years with first being told i had gall stones, had gallbladder out, as everyone says on here it has got worse after the operation.i went back to doc several times and was then referred to a specialist who diagnosed me with GERD & hiatus hernia – showed me a ‘pic’ of hernia and everything – however i then had barium meal and this showed no sign of GERD or hiatus hernia so i was un-diagnosed…. i have the best partner and we have been together thru all of this he has been great! i just feel helpless – i know fatty/spicy foods set me off so i don’t eat them however i still get symtoms, i too have done all sorts of diet changes and to no avail. please can someone let me know if vomiting is a problem for them. I also get a big tight ‘ball’ feeling where my rib cage meets and this is soooo painfull that it puts pressure on my chest and i get ‘heart attack’ like symptoms – numb left arm, pins and needles, lack of oxygen intake etc. gets pretty scary at 24 and really want and end to this
It’s really interesting to read everyone’s replies. Now, unlike alot of you, i havn’t exactly been diagnosed with IBS, i have been to the doctors about my problem but havn’t been back since (i should have). Never used this site before and i just came across it recently and found it quite helpful. I would just like to share my story with all of you. I’m 21 years old, and my problem started off 2 years ago, i just started a new course at college, and, in the middle of the lesson i started to have really bad pains in my stomach and i realised, i really HAD to go to the toilet, it was really embarassing because pretty much the whole of my class knew where i was going. I went to the toilet, came back to the classroom, and 10 minutes later i had to go again, after having to go back to the toilet, i didn’t go back to the lesson and just had to say to my lecturer i was feeling unwell so went out for some fresh air. At the time, i just thought i had some sort of stomach bug or something and i thought it would pass, however, after the weeks went on, it started to happen more often which lead to me not attending alot of my lessons and missing out on some important lectures. At first, i noticed it would just happen at college .. then over the months, it would start to happen if i went down the town, went shopping, basically, anything that had me having to go out somewhere, whether it was by bus or by car (worse by bus). Before i go out anywhere, i have a feeling of anxiety and start to get a ‘bloated’ feeling in my stomach which leads to my diarrhea, i have taken immodium which does help, but i really don’t think it is good for me taking the tablets everytime i go out somwhere. I often think to myself before i go out “what if i have to go to the toilet when i’m on the bus?” or “what if there is no toilets around”?. Also, if i know that i am going to have to go out somwhere the next day, i sometimes find it hard to sleep due to thinking of some of the worst things that could happen whilst i’m out, which really makes me cringe thinking about it. Can anxiety trigger off diarrhea/IBS?. I do think the whole thing that happened in college has triggered this off and it seems like some kind of “mental” thing, but it’s now starting to rule my life and it is preventing me from doing alot of things. As mentioned before, i had been to the doctors about it, but he didn’t really help the situation. This only happens when i go out somewhere, when i’m at home i never have diarrhea or cramping in my stomach, it is only when i go out somewhere. I am going to make another appointment, but it would be nice to hear from other people and i would greatly appreciate any replies to my comment, can anyone help? Thanks in advance.
I am beyond happy that I found this forum! It is so comforting to know that there are people throughout, the world who are suffering from this too. I have, I guess IBS-A but it is mainly constipation and then every once in a while I have diarrhea but, even though it is painful, I welcome the diarrhea because I am thankful that I can release something from my colon. I am 29 years old and have only recently been experiencing IBS. I have very similar symptoms to everyone else here (i.e. lower back pain, feeling of being full, gas, bloating, nausea and fatigue). I really feel hopeless because I don’t know anyone else who is going through this. My doctor is very nonchalant about the problem and just tells me to eat more fiber. The only problem with that is it makes me super gassy and causes more pain. What I have found works for me is eating small meals, and with a lot of fruits and vegetables. Not necessarily grains because that seems to exasperate my problem. Does anyone else feel this way?
I was wondering though, for my fellow IBS sufferers here, does their IBS worsen during their period? Also, does anyone get massive pain on the right side of their stomach, where I think the decending colon is?
Kay, you mentioned anxiety as a possibility of a trigger for IBS. Actually, two doctors have mentioned this to me. I have been told to try anti-anxiety or depression medication. They said that since IBS has no recognizable medical causes, that anxiety, stress and depression could be the cause of some people’s IBS. I am going to talk with my doctor more about this and I’ll let you know what happens.
I can’t wait to hear more from everyone. This site is great!
I am a 49-year-old male who was diagnosed with IBS in 1999. I believe my first obvious symptoms arose in 1987 in the form of abdominal pain and bloating to the size of a 9-month pregnant woman. Plus, loose yellow/brown ribbon shaped bowel movements 4 times or more a day. There is some evidence for the initial cause of my IBS being connected with the Accutane medication I was prescribed in 1986; but being certain of the cause of my IBS does nothing to help my symptoms now. Food products of course, are the primary facilitator of my symptoms, but stress (both physical and/or psychological) may be triggers as well. The type of IBS I have is IBS-D. Although my wife is IBS-H; i.e., a hormonal based IBS. She (44yrs) primarily experiences her symptoms of IBS during and around her period when her hormones are in flux. This evidently, is very common amongst women. And she has seen an increase in IBS symptoms since her diagnoses and arising symptoms surrounding her perimenopause.
I am a forced vegetarian; however, without the ability to consume fruit, vegetables, nuts (except soy) for I’m also fructose intolerant. Fructose is both a natural and synthetic element that is found in many food products and causes immediate diarrhea for me (It does depend on the form at times, hence, my ability to tolerate brown sugar). I am also sensitive to animal fat, insoluble fiber, and dairy; hence, I’m a truly forced pure vegan. Although, the alleged “fructose intolerance” may turn out to be simply insoluble fiber intolerance (either way, both fruits and vegetables are not easily tolerated by me). My diet, in which I did not take seriously until a few years ago, is currently comprised of the following:
1st Breakfast: 1 cup of 100% oats with ¼ cup of Silken tofu, ¼ teaspoon of brown sugar, ⅛ teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 and ½ cups of unsweetened soy Silken. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Beverage: 1 cup of peppermint tea.
2nd Mid morning Breakfast: Same as 1st breakfast
1st Lunch: Vegan burger on plain bagel with avocado, mustard, and artichoke. (The artichoke and avocado are the only veggies/fruits I currently tolerate that are also low in fructose and insoluble fiber). Beverage: water only.
2nd Lunch: Same as 1st lunch
Dinner: Generally, this meal is up in the air. Once a week I try to consume a palm full of frozen fruit (once in awhile unprocessed frozen fruit pieces can be tolerated better than whole fruit). I may repeat the soy burger or some other combination of foods listed above (very limited). But generally I cheat (cheating is eating foods that are likely to cause me symptoms). I use medical cannabis to help with pain, bloating, etc. The wife and I are only at the beginning stages of creating a dinner that I can tolerate.
I have not thought of the gluten sensitivity apparently found in IBS patients. If this is so, that would explain my inability to tolerate brown rice and other gluten products. However, is the gluten being mistaken as the culprit, when in fact it may simply be the insoluble fiber? Insoluble fiber is known to be harsh on the digestive tract for most people, let alone IBS patients. Gluten is primarily found in wheat products, which is an insoluble fiber. This would as well explain why some IBS people can tolerate oats, which is comprised of soluble fiber, versus wheat products, which are comprised of insoluble fiber.
Let me add my vitamin supplements as an IBS-D patient, for without these I probably would lack nutrients in my current diet listed above on my previous post dated October 25, 2010.
1. Multivitamin
2. Vit. C – 1000 mg
3. Fish Oil – 12oo mg
4. Vitamin E – 400 I.U.
5. Folic Acid – 400 mcg
6. Calcium (630 mg)+ Vit D (500 I.U)
7. Magnesium – 250 mg
I wanted to add a little info to my hubby’s comments above (Bill). When researching foods for IBS tolerablility, we ran into a number of hurtles that you just will not find spoken about too often in mainstream IBS communities; and that is the preservatives and additives found in most foods. Something as seemingly harmless as calcium lactylate from a plant source, for example, can cause severe symptoms with some IBS folks. Most prepackaged salads and leafy greens have a coating added to them that you cannot see or taste which is supposed to prolong the life of the vegetable. Since it is not “part of” the vegetable, it will not be listed on the ingredients or anywhere else, but it can also stimulate the bowels of sensitive folks.
We have spent well over 15 years doing hard research on various foods since these seem to be the main triggers for Bill’s IBS. What we have found is the following truism: If it does not look like it’s original form before packaging, then beware! In other words, pure is best. So we stick to the outside aisles of the grocery store, for the most part, since the less refined food is found there.
And to those of you who do not know anyone with IBS – all you have to do is notice the increase in commercials and ads on tv and radio touting digestive relief aids (heartburn, nausea, diarhea, gas, etc.). Many people I know do not believe they have IBS, so go about their Pepcid-popping lives living in denial, even though their symptoms show otherwise. I think that most people believe that you have to have very severe symptoms in order to have this disorder, thus many just do not know that the symptoms come in SO many different varieties.
Katrina,
You have a lot of the same symptoms that I do. I was diagnosed at 27 and am n0w 31. I have found that acupuntcure helps a lot! I also try to eat more small meals and less large ones. Pasta and carbs are much easier to digest and less painful than “high fiber”. My doc had told me high fiber as well and that first round of ibs was the worse thanks to their advice. I would be more than happy to chat or exchange emails.
Best of luck!
Bill and Jeanette: That is a lot of great information. It’s good to know that another woman has the same flare up while on her period. I have thought the same thing about the additives. I realized, for myself, that if I stay away from fatty processed things, I start to get regular and my IBS subsides, sort of. However, once my period comes, it is back to pain and suffering, per usual.
Anyway, I really like this information.
Charlotte-I’m totally interested in exchanging emails. I can’t tell you how happy I feel knowing that I can correspond with people who are going through the same thing. Also, someone else told me about acupuncture and I am probably going to try that soon. How do we exchange emails? Do we simply write them here on the forum?
Katrina,
You can email me at cswoger@gmail.com. I’m more than happy to give you some insight on accupuncture. I am also on Chinese herbs and they have also done wonders. Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you.
Charlotte
i think i have ibs but im not sure.. when i go anywhere i really need to poop i know it sounds weird but i left school over it and stoped going outside can you help me.. i went to the doctors but the taught it was panic attacks and put me on cipramil but i stopped taking them can you help please?????
FrakenWheat- GMO Wheat thanks to Monsanto (who else) has been enginerred since 2002. Another piece of the puzzle! If you’ve seen “The Future Of Food” Documentary (HULU online free-use search) you already know about Corn and Canola. Samon is becoming a GMO food, too. Our food supply is tainted. No wonder our bodies are rejecting it. I have just been diagnosed GI.
“engineered” typo, excuse me.
I am 63 yr. old and had an elective but recommended sigmoid colectomy September 29, 2010 and 18″ of my sigmoid was removed. I started having pain approx. 1 year prior. My colonoscopy showed severe diverticular disease. I had many tests and none really showed diverticulitis. Well, at that time I was having what I have always had until now – regular bowel movements. Well it has now been over 4 mos. I still have the same tenderness and pain in my lower abdomen which is worse when I go to bathroom. I was told it will take time for my bowels to return to normal. I have now been diagnosed with IBS and my pattern is this. I will not have a BM for 3-4 days and then I will have a very loose stool for the next 3 days (avg. about 6-7/day. The stool is very small and skinny but it is not diarrhea. When I am constipated I do not really feel pressure and the feeling that I need to go. Right now I am just taking Benefiber – trying once/day and maybe twice/day. Anyone like me out there????
Hello, my name is Kelsey, I am 21 years old and I have been suffering from IBS since I can remember, which is about 12 years old. I have had a few medical problems in my short life so far, but this one is the most predominent and painful. I would classify myself as an IBS-P and IBS-C. To be honest, I have a good tolerance for physical pain, but this is just intolerable to me. I have just sat in the washroom and cried for hours because of the pain, and I just wish there was a way to remove it. I have tried everything, change in diet, ways to deal with stress, laxatives, change in lifestyle, but nothing has helped. I have seen many different doctors, and they all seem to not be able to do a thing for me. I am not ready to live the rest of my life in fear of being in severe pain all the time, it is just not something I am okay with living with. I have a very irregular BM schedule, maybe once every 3-4 days, which of course is not exactly healthy. And my IBS seems to be the most painful when I am on my first and second day of my menstruation cycle. I just don’t know what to do anymore, and my boyfriend doesn’t understand, I know he tries, but no one understands around me because they aren’t feeling the pain I have to go through. To be honest I don’t mind the constipation and the at times diarrahea, but the pain is just excrutiating, can someone please help me? Is there a type of medication out there? Because having Fibre does nothing for me, those yogurts with probiotics actually irritate my stomach more, and no food in specific other than yogurt bothers me in a pattern. I have no ideas anymore, anyone?
Hi Kelsey,
I feel such empathy for you, I have IBS-d and I to suffer so much pain and fear. I’m 42 and have had this for about ten years. At the moment I’m suffering badly with depression as I’m practically house bound and battling the benefits system (as I can’t leave the house I cannot work) It seems that no-one takes this illness seriously. I’m tired all the time and at my absolute lowest ebb. Couple that with violent, urgent and painful diarrhoea and hours in the loo I do feel that my usefulness as a person is pretty much over. Having an illness that is so varied, unpredictable and seemingly un-treatable the medical profession seem to give up on us and quickly loose interest once an IBS diagnosis has been given, usually when various tests have been done and cameras have been poked and prodded about. (lovely)
There is allot of info on the internet at the moment about hypnosis as it seems that the gut and bowel are linked. Perhaps this is something you could look in to? In the mean time be strong and keep going. There are many, many people out there who know what you are going through, you are not alone as I have discovered when I found this site.
I wish you all the best Kelsey,
Luci
Hi everyone
Few things I need to add to all these comments,I was told I had IBS given Colese tablets told go home,these tablets do help actually when I have IBS, I do have bouts of IBS but this time it wasnt that turns out I had a disease in fallopian tube, where it fills with a toxic fluid and got to 10cm x 5cm then popped, had I did as my dr said and just laid at home I most likely wouldnt been here now, I got me husband to race me to hospital only 1 hour after seeing my own dr for thre 3rd time being made feel i wasted her time, anyway they did all tests imaginable and said somewhere in my pelvis area was a raging infection but didnt know where, all my tests were clear except the blood showed racing whitecells for and unfound infection plus fever was 39.4degC I was put on 3 antibiotics an anti inflammitory and pain meds when I returned home, I then sought out my own Gyno surgeon who diagnosed that the tube had popped and it woulda been same as appendix exploding had I not got those strong antibiotics in me quickly, he said yes I will have IBS but its most likely scar tissue causen it and certain food that upsets it
previously for many years i had acid reflux and it seems to have moved south
I take are Inner Health probiotics everyday and when I run out within a week I have problems,I did many hours researching and found taking coloxyl for the constipation or anything with Senna causes severe IBS, so I eat licorice or take movicol for it, also capsicums/peppers can set you off severe and I found mushrooms also do it
oh and Onions cooked or raw can have a bad reaction. I drink cammomile tea which helps and also lemon/barely drink is great for nausea and gastric. Right now I been having extreme low iron problems and the tablets I think have set off IBS, I have either constipation or gastric and horrid pains similar to menstral cycle pains. One last thing is I notice I get severe pain on ovulation time which mimics IBS, so ladies please check your gyno area beofre concluding its IBS, you may have ovary, fallopian or any other female issue going on and thats why IBS meds wont help.
hope this helps somone out there
Bet
Hi,
I read all the posts and I have two thoughts which may or may not be applicable. I’m sure many of you have been thru multiple tests and you are sure of your IBS diagnosis but make sure that you have been tested for SIBO. I have SIBO (mainly C issues). SIBO is small intestinal bacteria overgrowth. Check out links to Dr. Mark Pimental who is sort of the guru of SIBO. I tested positive for SIBO which is treatable thru antibiotic Xifaxan and for some people, taking simultaneously with neomycin. I had tried restricting all types of foods thinking it had some effect. Then took the 2 week regime of antibiotics and was symptom free for eight glorious months and ate anything and everything! Symptoms tend to return because the bacteria will usually re-invade the small intestine again. Your small intestine really should be fairly free of bacteria unlike other parts of the gut. Anyway, check it out to make sure you haven’t been misdiagnosed. My second thought related to Bet’s post is I know a young girl (24) who had constipation/diarrhea who came to eventually find out that it wasn’t IBS but she had contracted chlymida (spell?) which had caused pelvic inflammatory disease which had caused, over a long period of time., scarring over one ovary/fallopian tubes. She did not respond to antibiotics and had emergency surgery to remove one ovary/fallopian tubes along with massive IVs of antibiotics. Luckily, she lived and she only lost one ovary so should be able to still have children. Chlymidia usually has NO symptoms so you can have it for years without knowing. Ask your ob/gyn to test for this (esp. if you are younger and sexually active)- caught early it is easily cured with antibiotics. OB/GYNs are not routinely screening for this in sexually active young girls. Check your diagnosis – a cure could be closer than you think.
Thanks for sharing your problems. feel pretty relaxed .but i strongly feel ibs is very much related to our mind. we should be more spiritual and mentally strong like diverting attention to some other things or comparing ibs with other serious heaith conditions might help all of us.
is raw onion and tomato sald good in IBS problem i dnt knw but from last 3 months i am sufering frm this problm what tyep of food to eat didnot understand.too much nausea and pain al the time.can anybdy suggest me some good diet for this problem.
Re: IBS-C
My heart goes out to all the participants on this site who continue to suffer w/ this horrible syndrome. I’ve been there and I’ve tried everything – to no avail. Except for one product I’d like to share w/ u, which I consider to be my godsend in dealing w/ my IBS-C symptoms (severe abdominal cramps, agonizing pain, bouts of chills due to buildup of toxins in body, nausea, etc.). My symptoms were so traumatizing and debilitating that my relationship w/ food had changed. I viewed food as my ‘enemy’, so I lost weight. My relative was so concerned about my situation that she urged me to try taking some dried herbs that she herself had ordered from Italy. This stuff really works!!! It’s called Midrolax. I swallow 1tbsp of these herbs w/ a full glass of water. Guaranteed you’ll go! I love food now beacause what goes in will easily come out! I’ve since gained weight…happily!
Where can I pick up the stuff you’ve talked about?
as much as it makes me sad reading all these posts, it’s a relief to hear that there are others out there going through the same as me day in day out. I’m 23 and have been suffering with stomach issues since 14, i was diagnosed with IBS at 15. For 4 years my GP prescribed medication after medication from his list…. all the usual suspects, all full of fibre. Finally got referred to the hospital who said for a lot of people with IBS fibre is a really really bad thing to be taking more of – more so if you are type c and experience chronic constipation and bloating. Fibre just makes those symptoms worse! i can’t explain how angry i was that for 4 years i had been given medication that made my life even worse. I have suffered from both anorexia and bullemia, completely brought on by the IBS symptoms. I verge from not wanting to eat at all because of how it will make me feel, to just thinking ‘f*ck it’ and binging, then knowing i just can’t leave that food inside me because of the consequences! I truely believe if i didn’t have IBS i would never have suffered with eating disorders. I find it hard to socialise outside of my close family circle because i know i will get bloated and uncomfortable and full of gas and i won’t want to be out with people. Truely horrible and i feel for every one on this forum. I now have to take laxatives every night to ensure i can hold down my job, otherwise i would hardly be there and would end up being dismissed. It’s a very hard way to have to keep living.