women conquering constipation - page four
The tale of...Isabel
When I was about 21 I started to suffer symptoms that I now know are associated with IBS, but at that time I thought I just had stomach problems. I used to get so sick it was depressing and very hard to talk to anyone about. The pain was so bad and very uncomfortable.
I sought many doctor's opinions but they all just said to add more water, vegetables, and fibre, exercise, and avoid foods that made me feel unwell. I was given a range of medications but after a couple of weeks my symptoms would always return. I put up with the disorder for so long, I thought it would never end.
I sought the opinion of a pharmacist who recommended Ethical Nutrients IBS Support Tablets (a probiotic supplement available in Australia). I started straight away and within a week my symptoms disappeared and have never returned since. It has been five months.
The tale of...Pam
Hi fellow IBS sufferers, I still have problems but not so often as I used to. I don't seem to be as bad as at first (with constipation). I drink Metamucil (psyllium fibre) everyday and try to relax, pray or meditate, even do a little yoga. The more I make myself relax and take time to de-stress the better I can manage my problem. I know time is very hard to come by for yourself sometimes but I have to if I'm going to manage this.
Also I try to drink at least three bottles of water a day. This is also hard sometimes but I have to take care of me the best I can. I also try to keep track of my bathroom visits. If I go longer than four days I'm in trouble (severe cramping, sweating, black out or fainting, wet wash cloth on the head, and usually end up on the floor so sick that I worry if you can die from pooping too much).
Thank goodness it don't last long for me but I end up exhausted and glad I'm still alive to tell about it. My family is very supportive and I also take a mild anti-depressant. This has helped a bunch in my stress department and in turn has helped my IBS.
Sometime IBS is a vicious circle we can only control ourselves, but first and foremost find your own personal thing that helps you, everyone is different so have a different way of helping yourself, just take the time and find what is right for you. Good luck and hope I have helped a little cause wouldn't wish this crap (yes, crapola) on anybody. Gotta go to the bathroom (yes! yes! yes!) it's gonna be a good day...
The tale of...Fiona
I'm not sure when I started with IBS, but was I diagnosed by my gyne doctor last year. To cut a long story short, after an operation I had the contraceptive mirena coil inserted. At the six week check-up I told them that I felt worse than I had before the operation. Among the many symptoms I was feeling I was constantly needing the toilet and had extremely severe tummy cramps and bloating, and switched from diarrhea to constipation.
Each day it was a struggle getting out of bed to go to work. Everything I ate seemed to disagree with me. I took Fybogel twice a day, which ended up making the constipation worse, and I took Buscopan for the tummy pain (which did help a lot). I then went to a food intolerance nurse, and although it did help it did not make the symptoms go away.
I went on the net and did some searching and found loads of information on the side effects of the mirena coil, and some cases where it either started people off with IBS or made IBS symptoms worse. I got the coil taken out a couple of months ago, and almost all the symptoms have gone. I no longer have to rush to the toilet or make sure I'm near somewhere where there is a loo handy, and I haven't had any tummy cramps since. I also feel a lot happier and energetic.
So if there is anyone with IBS who is on the mirena coil then it might be worth their while to have a wee look on some of the newsgroups.