Thought it was about time I provided an update on my own IBS - although I certainly don't have as many bowel-related mishaps as I used to I'm still not a perfectly-intestined person, and I don't think I ever will be.
Just as a reminder, or a heads-up to any new readers of this blog, a quick summary of my own IBS situation would be - food poisoning at 12, IBS sufferer ever since (that was 18 years ago now), mainly constipation but also spectacular diarrhea attacks at intervals, lots of pain and discomfort, now largely under control with Normacal, Celevac, magnesium citrate tablets and a gluten-free diet.
To put things in perspective, since the start of 2008 I would say I have probably had perhaps 10 days where something was clearly, tangibly wrong with my bowels. Compared to, say, the same period of time in 2001, that's an incredible improvement. In 2001, the number would probably have been closer to 150 days, if not more.
I haven't had a single spectacular diarrhea episode this year, which is fantastic, because they are just absolutely grim from start to finish - so painful, so intense, and just nasty.
What I do have are kind of odd bowel episodes where something is obviously wrong, but not to extremes. So I do have days of the big C, but I am usually back to normal within 24 hours. I do have days where it feels like my guts are over-inflated, and a couple of werks back I had some impressively loud bowel sounds that were obviously a complaint from the gut department about something or other.
I also have days where, how can I put this politely - oh sod it, this is a bowel blog - my poops are fairly obviously the poops of someone with a bowel problem. Sometimes I care about this, but only really if it goes along with pain or discomfort (as it often does). Mostly I try to remind myself that even normal people have poopal variations.
And there we are. When people tell us to learn to live with our IBS, I imagine that this is what they think we are living with - bits of pain here and there, the odd day of discomfort. And it is pretty easy to live with, although there is always an IBS gremlin at the back of mind telling me that things could get worse at any moment.
But for now, I am, thankfully, amazingly, pretty darn well. Thank the good Gut Lord for that.
Just as a reminder, or a heads-up to any new readers of this blog, a quick summary of my own IBS situation would be - food poisoning at 12, IBS sufferer ever since (that was 18 years ago now), mainly constipation but also spectacular diarrhea attacks at intervals, lots of pain and discomfort, now largely under control with Normacal, Celevac, magnesium citrate tablets and a gluten-free diet.
To put things in perspective, since the start of 2008 I would say I have probably had perhaps 10 days where something was clearly, tangibly wrong with my bowels. Compared to, say, the same period of time in 2001, that's an incredible improvement. In 2001, the number would probably have been closer to 150 days, if not more.
I haven't had a single spectacular diarrhea episode this year, which is fantastic, because they are just absolutely grim from start to finish - so painful, so intense, and just nasty.
What I do have are kind of odd bowel episodes where something is obviously wrong, but not to extremes. So I do have days of the big C, but I am usually back to normal within 24 hours. I do have days where it feels like my guts are over-inflated, and a couple of werks back I had some impressively loud bowel sounds that were obviously a complaint from the gut department about something or other.
I also have days where, how can I put this politely - oh sod it, this is a bowel blog - my poops are fairly obviously the poops of someone with a bowel problem. Sometimes I care about this, but only really if it goes along with pain or discomfort (as it often does). Mostly I try to remind myself that even normal people have poopal variations.
And there we are. When people tell us to learn to live with our IBS, I imagine that this is what they think we are living with - bits of pain here and there, the odd day of discomfort. And it is pretty easy to live with, although there is always an IBS gremlin at the back of mind telling me that things could get worse at any moment.
But for now, I am, thankfully, amazingly, pretty darn well. Thank the good Gut Lord for that.
I have IBS with constipation, and after many trials of different drugs, I have finally found the answer for me--it is Miralax, using the dosage recommended, but taking it every other day. Taking it every day made my stools too soft and I would be going all day long. With the every other day dose, it is just about perfect. It has also dramatically reduced the bloating I used to have. IF ANYONE DECIDES TO TRY THIS PRODUCT, THEY SHOULD GIVE IT OVER A WEEK TO WORK. I had tried it before and after a week with no bowel movements I gave it up. This time when I called the doctor to complain that it wasn't working after a week, he said to give it at least two weeks. I am very happy now!
I am glad to hear you are doing so well. My IBS is better but never gone either. I don't usually have constpation I am more on the D side unfortunatly. I take Bentyl and Align so it has lessoned the amout of problems. But last week I went into a Fibro flare and it causes the IBS to act up. I haven't been feeling like eating either. Sometimes I think ffod is the enemy. I truely hate the way IBS interupts life.
Hi Sophie,
Out of curiosity what is your regime with the ormacal, Celevac, magnesium citrate tablets?
Thanks,
Paul
Hi Paul - the regime goes like this...In the morning, about an hour after breakfast, I take one 150mg magnesium citrate pill, six Celevac tablets and a tablespoon of Normacol with about half a litre of water.
And in the evening, about two or three hours after dinner, I take one 150mg mag citrate pill, one calcium/magnesium citrate pill (giving 200mg of calcium citrate and 100mg of magnesium citrate), one 400IU vitamin D capsule, and the same amounts of fibre as in the morning, again with a half litre of water. Sounds quite complicated but I guess you get used to it after long enough!
Sophie, so happy for you!!!
I'm not from you're country, so have not heard of your fiber supplements.
I wanted to ask, do you follow any specific diet? And, how much of your good gut do you attribute to eating gluten free. And, why do you eat gluten free. Do you have antibodies?
Thanks
im just 9 years old i have pain in my stomach every day i can never go to school my doctors dont help me they press on my stomach and say mmmmmmmmmmmm heres a medicin
It's good to hear that you are more in control these days. I feel exactly the same way. When I look back over this year I believe I have had one or two major episodes of IBS, and occasional one off toilet visits that haven't been quite right, but have been generally OK. Very unlike my experience in the early 1990's when I really recognised I had the condition.
Hi Beth - the gluten-free thing is really the only dietary thing I follow, although I have also cut out tea, coffee and alcohol and try to avoid artificial sweeteners. Gluten is quite a common problem for IBSers, alongside caffeine, sweeteners, red meat for some people, fried or fatty foods and a few others.
I've never been tested for celiac disease but I thought gluten-free was worth a try anyway.