OK, I know I promised that my next entry would be filled with the happy joys of being alive in the springtime, but unfortunately I have IBS so my moods are controlled by my stomach. And my stomach is not at all happy.
I was doing fairly OK again for another couple of days, and then I dared to get up later than usual, just because I was knackered. Stomach then said “Well fine, if you’re gonna mess me around then I’m gonna stop digesting stuff”, and I now can’t go to the bathroom.
I absolutely don’t want to start a debate about which kind of IBS is “better”, the diarrhea kind or the constipation kind, because anyone like me who suffers both kinds will know that they are both pure evil. However, one thing I would say about my own diarrhea attacks is that at least they get themselves over and done with quite quickly.
Yes, they do happen to be the most painful thing I’ve ever felt in my life, and when I have a really bad attack it feels like I may spontaneously combust at any moment – but at least it’s guaranteed that in around an hour or so I’ll feel perfectly fine again.
Constipation isn’t like that. When your intestines go on strike, you just have to wait it out. Although I’m fortunate enough not to be one of those people who can go weeks and weeks without a bowel movement (I think my all-time record is a puny four days), the sensitivity of my IBS intestines means that any day without a BM is a day of uncomfortable tightness. At the moment it feels like someone is squeezing my colon and won’t let go – it’s not pain exactly, but it’s difficult to ignore.
So, nothing to do but wait for it to pass (so to speak). And rejoice in the true glory of a medical disorder that fills you up with excrement. What more could I ask for from life?
(Note: Someone emailed me after my last entry to suggest that a “glass half-full” idea could be the fact that a new study has shown that the drug Zelnorm might work in people with alternating IBS, ie diarrhea and constipation, which has previously been without a drug of its own.
This is good news, except it’s really not good news for me. Why? Because we can’t get Zelnorm over here in the UK. We can’t get Lotronex either. We never get the good drugs!)
Sophie, Your website is so great! Thank you you so much for all the support. When I feel alone about this, I just log on and feel comforted that other people are going through similar things. I wanted to comment on Zelnorm. I took this 3 years ago and it worked great for one month exactly and then nothing. They say it is for temporary and they certainly were correct.
I have IBS C and it can be so uncomfortable to the point that I cannot think or work because of the pain. After I am able to go to the bathroom it is so freeing. My brain begins to think more clearly…really quite amazing the difference. Zelnorm is supposed to interact with the serotonin in the gut to make muscles move. I wish it was the answer but it was not for me. thanks Sophie! keep up the amazing work..you are making a difference in the lives of other people. Dalee
Have you tried taking epsom salts at night before bed? I take 3/4 of tspoon of epsom salts each night before bed and find it very helpful, my symptoms are quite similar to yours.
Hi Dalee – thanks for the kind comments, it’s much appreciated. Sorry to hear the Zelnorm didn’t work that well – I’ve heard this from a few other people, which is why I’m not that upset about the fact that we can’t get it over here. Some people find it useful though, and any drug is better than the anti-spasmodics which basically just seem to do nothing.
Hi all! re-Epsom salts – I was put on a dose of Andrew’s Liver Salts at night by the gastro-enterologist, which are basically Epsom salts in a fancy package – and cost more ! At first they were great, but I didn’t really like taking them, so gradually reduced the nightly dose, and now take them when I only need them. I take as little medication that I can keep reasonably keep well on – no allergies but I do always have an Immodium Instant, or two ,in my pocket or purse – just in case !! Maybe its physcological, but they seem to stay there and don’t often see the light of day, or my gastric linings- so I just bash on, and if I have bad day, it’s a great excuse to take the rest of the day ‘off’. Going to Ireland in a fortnight, on a Garden Tour – and guess what I’ll have in my pocket !!!!
Sophie, I suffer from both too and wonder if it would be simpler to just deal with one problem rather than two but unfortunately I don’t get to choose! I’m very worried at the moment because I’m going on a two week holiday for the first time since my symptoms got bad about a year and a half ago.
Most of the time I’ll have my own cooking facilities but there are sure to be countless dinner invitations, to which I will either probably have to bring my own food or sacrifice several days of my holiday in the aftermath. What to do! I’m also dreading the longish plane journey which *always* throws me off.
Anyway, I can definitely sympathize and although I hope you feel better soon it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one with these life-altering problems. Thanks for writing about them. Now wish me luck with the vacation!
Sophie, sorry to hear about your latest bump in the IBS road of life. If I don’t drink enough water, eat veggies and take Colon Cleanse tabs daily I’d have constipation constantly; sometimes I get diarrhea and then just go “with the flow” so to speak. As you say, there’s a general time-limit to the diarrhea but constipation can go on and on … I hope you get relief soon. IBS is such a crap-shoot, isn’t it.. yes its a pun but seems to fit. hope you feel better soon Susan
Hey! Just wanted to say I actually tried Zelnorm and it made my symptoms much WORSE. I couldn’t stop going to the bathroom, and had constant abdominal cramping, rather than intermittent. i only stuck with it for a week… so far the best thing if ound (although not perfect) is Bentyl…
Hi,
I’ve just found this site. I am not alone! I mainly suffer from diahorrea and stomach pains.
I have been avoiding wheat, gluten, glucose (or glucose-fructose) syrup, soft cheeses, pate, and fish for nearly a year now since I have had ‘reactions’ from each of them. I’ve stopped eating chocolate, and I had been eating Actimel yoghurts which are supposed to be good for you, until I found they had wheat flour in them. Why, tell me?!
I was given tablets called Mebeverine (Colofac) which I have to take 3 times a day, 20 mins before eating. They mainly work – as long as I take them properly.
The thing I laugh at (there is a light-hearted side to this) is in the list of symptoms I found once, it included ‘a sense of doom and gloom’ and ‘depression’. The first one is felt by me when I get a stomach cramp because I know that I am in for worse soon. The second is because I am ill again!
Sorry, didn’t mean to go on so long, but it’s a relief (‘scuse the pun!) to find that I’m not the only one! Thank you.
No, you don’t get the good drugs in the UK, but I moved from the UK to the Netherlands last year, and the drugs here are worse….they only just started selling Immodium (and only one type) and I’m still having Buscopan sent over from the UK (not so great for my IBS but does wonders for period pains….go figure).
In addition, there aren’t any public toilets here…..none, nada, if you’re lucky there’s one in the station that you can pay to use, otherwise you have to find a cafe or bar and pretend to be a customer (a dirty trick, but sometimes needs must).
It’s great to read about other people’s experiences, my partner and I both suffer and it’s nice not to feel like the only freaks in the city for once. The site is fantastic, and I wish everyone the best of luck on their path to a happy stress free life.