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happy tales
This section contains stories from people who have found ways to beat their IBS symptoms. If you would like to send in your own IBS story then please contact Sophie.
IBS patients often use the abbreviation 'D' to refer to diarrhea and 'C' to refer to constipation. So 'IBS-D' means diarrhea-predominant IBS, and 'IBS-C' refers to constipation-predominant IBS.
You can read the Happy tale of the month below.
Women with IBS-D
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Men with IBS-D
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Men with IBS-C
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Teenagers with IBS-D
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Teenagers with IBS-C
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HAPPY TALE OF THE MONTH
The tale of...Tammy (19 September 2011)
I stumbled across this site months ago when I was having one of the worst episodes of IBS-D in my life. My doc had me on a prescription powder which was meant for high cholesterol, but the side effect to the drug was constipation. I had to take this disgusting orange powder three times a day with meals. Not only did it not work, but I was forced to only eat three meals a day, not the typical six smaller that I can tolerate (less gas, bloating etc).
In desperation I googled IBS as well as gallbladder removal side effects - the episode this time resulted from extreme itching that I couldn't remedy or correct. I was (and still am) itchy all over my body...no rash, just insane itching...now I live on two pills of Reactine daily to control the itching.
I discovered links between gallbladder removal and IBS, but I had (mild) IBS prior to the gallbladder removal, but the removal just made the IBS worse. Anyways, in my search as I said, I came across this site and read as much as I could. I read a bit from a woman who tried calcium caltrate, and her story was so similar to mine, I went out that day and bought the calcium caltrate. I quit the disgusting orange powder from the doc that same day.
While it took an entire day to kick in, it worked. Then the next challenge was to get the right amount of calcium caltrate in my system. Turns out it is three pills a day. And my bowel movements are normal for the first time in as long as I can remember! I still have flares, but not as bad. Quitting smoking helped flare-ups, and I have quit drinking soda and am tweaking my meals as well. And guess what? Work is not torture anymore and vacations are not planned around bathrooms to the extent they used to be!
I went to the doc and he tested my calcium levels for three months to confirm that I am not going too high in my calcium levels. I have to have a blood test once a year, but he was happy to hear that this is working for me. And since I am lactose intolerant (I am able to tolerate and even enjoy goat's milk and cheese etc) I hardly ever have cow's milk, cheese, etc and so he encouraged me to continue taking the calcium caltrate.
Well, it has been about eight months on the calcium caltrate and like I said, other than the few flare-ups (these also correspond with my menses by the way) I am ecstatic with the results. Now I tell everyone I can think of...pharmacists...doctors...anyone in a position to help or recommend this treatment to IBS-D sufferers. I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work on this site, and all the great information you have on it. It has saved my sanity!
E-mail Tammy: Tammynemot2@REMOVETHISPLEASEshaw.ca