ibs and pregnancy stories - page three
The pregnancy tale of...Jackie
I have had the symptoms of IBS since the summer of 1993 and basically just lived on Imodium AD for years. When I got pregnant in December 2002 my IBS was basically cured and I never felt better! I very occasionally got diarrhea, like once every few months throughout the pregnancy, but still felt great until a few weeks ago.
I am now in my 9th week of pregnancy and my IBS is 100 times worse. I am awake for hours at night with severe stomach pains and have very bad constipation, but when I go to the bathroom all I move is diarrhea. It has been filled with mucous and blood and I go sometimes 15 times in five to six hours. It has been an absolute nightmare.
I am also vomiting from morning, noon and night sickness which makes it very difficult to leave the house. I was convinced that I had something terribly wrong with me because my first pregnancy was so good, but now I see that others have had this problem as well, so I feel a little better.
I really sympathize for all of you that suffer from this. It is very debilitating and there is not that much information about the subject. I am going to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist in hopes that they can help me. I am not sure what tests they can do on me since I am pregnant. Does anyone know?
E-mail Jackie: jajc234[at]aol.com
The pregnancy tale of...Kelly K
I started experiencing problems with IBS during my first pregnancy, age 25. I had what I deem "Poop attacks" with diarrhea, vomiting, sweats, and severe pain which came in waves. Sometimes I would barricade myself in a bathroom stall at work for two hours trying not to scream, hoping the others in the bathroom would leave. Long story short, the pain went away as soon as I delivered.
Then during my second pregnancy at age 27, it came back a little bit worse. I held on and delivered with the relief of knowing it would go away. But it didn't. It got worse. For a year after, I had all of the above symptoms with the addition of blood, mucus, and incontinence. Then I was scared that there was something seriously wrong with me. So I saw specialist after specialist. Test after test. "Maybe you have IBS", that was the answer I got. “Maybe.” Finally it went away on its own.
So now I am terrified because I am 10 weeks pregnant again (by accident), age 29. Due to the problems I had while pregnant, we decided not to have anymore children. But the really funny thing is I apparently pooped out the IUD during one of my attacks. HA! (mood change). I have so much anxiety about going through the pregnancy and the post-partum period again. I can't even find anything positive about having another baby.
I am so scared and ridden with anxiety. My husband is a great guy but just does not sympathize with me or understand why I am so negative right now. And yes, the symptoms have come back. I puked this morning while having painful diarrhea cramps. My kids stare at me when I am having the attacks. I feel so bad. I can't even take care of myself - let alone take care of them.
My doctor just stares blankly at me and has no advice. Has anyone found any relief from these symptoms during pregnancy?
E-mail Kelly: pole@usfamily.net
The pregnancy tale of...Anon
Having suffered for many years with severe IBS, I have thought of many things that could be the cause of this life-altering illness that no doctor seems to recognise. Stress was one of the main possibilities, but why was I stressed...because I was suffering with horrific pains and toilet attacks, that's why I was stressed.
I had had a life-threatening illness as a newborn which was due to blockages in the bowels...was this a cause?? I learnt after time that the symptoms got worse some years and took over my life and other years it has been fairly easy-going (in a strange IBS kind of way). And that was how it was going to be, whether I liked it or not.
When I fell pregnant I was 25, going through a fairly calm spell, but I still had the attacks once or twice a month. During the nine months, I moved abroad, my Nan died, my relationship with my partner nearly broke down and I also had the stress of been a first time mother. I worried tremendously about the birth and the pains and how my stomach would cope.
I was that stressed about everything going on around me that I hadn't noticed that the IBS had disappeared. Despite all of this, if IBS is really all in your head how come this had been the best nine months I had ever had? I felt free. I had no symptoms whatsoever. The birth was fantastic, as the pains throughout labour were nothing compared to what I had gone through for years.
I now have had a healthy little girl called Elisia and she is a year old next week. The IBS has slowly returned and is now taking over my life again, making the battle between full time work and been a mum even more destroying. I thought that I was free but now it's taking over and I don't feel that I have the energy to go through it all again.
E-mail address: k_goodall@hotmail.co.uk
The pregnancy tale of...Beverley
I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 19. I had my first child last year at the age of 23, and my IBS disappeared completely whilst I was pregnant and only returned nine months after his birth.
I am now six weeks pregnant with my second child and have had a very small amount of blood and mild cramping. I was sent for an emergency scan this morning and they found that all is well and we saw the baby's heart beating.
I looked on this site yesterday when I was full of nerves and terrified of a possible ectopic pregnancy, and some of the other stories helped to put my mind at ease. If you find yourself in the same position that I have been in, please try not to worry. I made myself ill worrying. In most cases all turns out to be well and unfortunately those of us who have IBS can suffer more in pregnancy.
I wish you all the best with your babies and a safe delivery, it's all worth the pain when they are in your arms.
E-mail Beverley: beverleyhood@yahoo.co.uk
The pregnancy tale of...Sarah
I was diagnosed with IBS in high school. While the cramping tends to be intermittent, the bouts of diarrhea occur daily. I have been on Levsin and Symax with little relief. I've been on Atkins for a year, and that helped somewhat.
I just found out that I am six and a half weeks pregnant. Because of intense hunger and pregnancy recommendations, I have been eating more complex carbohydrates (whole grains, etc). Late last week, the cramping began - big time. Because cramping hasn't been my most severe symptom, I panicked that it was the baby.
Since then, I have noticed that I only cramp (sometimes accompanied by mild back pain) after eating, especially fiber. Unfortunately, that's the only thing that helps the hunger and nausea.
Thank you for the other women's stories. They put my mind at ease that my scary symptoms are just IBS rearing its ugly head.
The pregnancy tale of...Sally
Having just walked to the shops feeling cramping pain in my abdomen and worrying about it being my eight-week pregnancy, I turned to the internet for some advice. Being able to read other people's stories was very comforting, so I thought I would add mine as well.
I had suffered chronic, but sporadic abdomen pain since my late teens. After one particularly bad episode, I ended up in emergency about to have my appendix taken out. The doctor asked how the pain was and I said it felt a little better - he decided it was not my appendix and I was sent for a series of other tests.
Countless tests and 10 years passed until IBS was diagnosed with an inability to break down roughage. Muesli and any grains are disastrous for me pain-wise. Apples, mandarins and most fresh fruits and juices have me running to the bathroom and white bread, rice and flour leave me constipated for days.
It wasn't until I went on a low carb diet that things started to even out for me, the bloating stopped immediately. I had eliminated all the nasty foods years ago and was managing well, but not perfectly.
The minute I fell pregnant the symptoms started again. As constipation is the main culprit in pregnancy, I find I can eat apples and fruit and they move things along a bit faster. I do have to get to the toilet in a hurry occasionally but not as bad as before. Normally I would be petrified to eat an apple - but it seems to have worked a bit.