How to treat Irritable bowel syndrome?

[Samstevens]

for 3-4 years my bloating and constipation got worse. ill keep this short. yesterday i was diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). ive been on a diet for a couple of years and been losing weight. i use to be 400 pounds. now im 184 pounds. im starting to lose motivation. my IBS makes my stomach bloated to the point where i have to stay without eating for a few days. after eating breakfast or lunch the scale shoots up rapidly. my real weight is 184. due to my bloating its 190. i didn't even eat dinner today. i only had lunch and my stomach feels bloated and it feels like i gained weight. for two days i only ate a light break fast and lunch and stopped eating due to bloating and the scale going up.

i'm having a hard time making a stool. thats one of the reasons for my bloating. i feel like i have to use the bathroom but i can't push. this got worse and a few days ago i rushed to the ER because my stomached felt bloated and i couldn't make a stool and my stomach felt like it was gonna explode. in the emergency room i was finally able to use the bathroom. this rush of diarrhea came out. black diarrhea. my stool was coming out black. my doctor told me theres no treatment for IBS and i have to follow a foodmap diet. im afraid because my weight went up fast for no reason. this gives me less motivation to continue trying to lose weight. how do i keep this under control and is it true that theres no medication for treatment for it? my doctor gave me fiber powder and that dont work.

i bought meta mucil and it only helps 10 percent. its 12;00 am. im up with stomach cramps, bloating, i need to use the bathroom but can't make a stool. my stomach hurts. the pain travels to my chest and abdominal. i don't know what to do.

[Jjflash]

Hiya,it sounds like you need to keep seeking out solutions.Ive had Crohn's for about 18 years.First of all,if you think you can fix this quickly,you need to change your mindset.In the beginning,I used buscopan for the stomach cramps,and I still use laxido regularly to unblock my guts.You need to make lifestyle changes to better your quality of life.If you're blocked up,eat more fibre,cereals,pulses,beans soups and the like.Remember,there's no cure so you've gotta do everything you can alongside your medical profession,to better your life.Look into it as much as poss,learn what your body can and can't do.Always consult your medics first,and see if some of these things work for you.We all have our individual struggles so you have to work out what works best for YOU.Gd luck Sam.

[Hidden]

Two resources that might help are ibspatient.org

And theibsnetwork.org

Take care.

[Sixshooter in reply to Hidden]

My mom has suffered with IBS for over 40 years and it really is a totally individual thing that you need to work out for yourself what you can or can't eat and drink and the best times of day for eating some foods and also what if any medications you can tolerate to help and when you need to take them. The best thing when your starting out is to keep a food and drink diary to monitor what you have and how you feel that day keep diet simple drink plenty of water and slowly add new foods to see what triggers your IBS

[BexyBoy]

I thought I’d developed IBS when I had chronic explosive urgent diarrhoea but after a SehCAT test, I was diagnosed with Bile Salt Diarrhoea - also called Bile Acid Diarrhoea (BAD) Your symptoms seem very different but I thought I’d post this reply as many people think they have ibs when it could be BAD.

[addicted2cycling]

NOTE -- I am not an IBS sufferer BUT have had gastro issues in the past until I finally gave the following 2 Grandma Remedies a try and found that they worked effectively AND INEXPENSIVELY. I have no medical training but had gotten the OK from my physician MANY YEARS AGO prior to trying and you might want to check also.

1st for bloat and upset -- Apple Cider Vinegar (I take straight-up but you should dilute to start) first sip in morning, sip a couple of times daily (or not) and then dinner time. Preference is for Bragg's Organic

2nd for softer stool -- Instead of drinking the Magnesium Citrate that's often recommended to flush system before a colonoscopy and other procedures I shake bottle up then put on fingers and apply to my inner wrists, inner elbows, back of knees and earlobes. 12 to 24 hours after the skin absorbs the liquid things move better. TOO MUCH and very liquid. I found this procedure much better than MANY OTC and prescribed methods since it works easily without going through the digestive system.

[Galen70]

have you had testing for coeliac disease ?

[Henfracar]

Ask your dr to test you for SIBO. That's the 'new kid on the block' when it comes to gut problems and is easily mistaken for IBS.