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Journal FortKnox's Journal: IBS 33

Journal by FortKnox
If you are squeamish, you prolly shouldn't read this.

I've had stomach problems ever since college. In High School, I could eat anything without duress, but once college hit, it all came crashing down. Indigestion, and other stomach problems (I won't gross you out on the details). It happened every month or so, so it was bearable. But the past month and a half its been getting much much worse. I'm afraid to go to bed on an empty stomach or a full stomach cause the amount of pain and stuff that's involved.

Eventually my wife got fed up with me whining, so she forced me to go to the doctor. Went yesterday. I'm officially diagnosted with Iritable Bowel Syndrome.
Chalk that up, and it looks like:
1 Mental Neurosis (ADD)
1 Biological Syndrom (IBS)
Looks like I'll have to watch my stress level and try various things to help calm myself down (fiber supplements and stuff). It'll never go away, apparently, but at least I can make it hurt less and stuff.

So, if you made it all the way here, you either have something similar, or are VERY VERY bored. So tell me about it.
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  • but the wife does have similiar symptoms.

    I mean, she's a nut, and has a iffy stomach.

    So, I feel your pain. Or I bet she does.

    Either way, here's to you never getting the 15 seconds it took to read this back...since I can't get my 30 seconds back from you ;)

    And now for the serious part:

    Uh, ADD can cause stomach issues?
  • but I like farting

  • yup (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Blackneto ( 516458 )
    been dealing with that for about 10 years.
    just a note.
    Baby wipes are cheaper and smell nicer than Tucks.
  • No Tommy Burgers [originaltommys.com] for you!

    I think I need something for stress... maybe a glass of this [johnniewalker.com]?
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Ulcerative Colitis here, diagnosed in '94.

      I was diagnosed with that, too -- in 1980 or so -- then later re-diagnosed with Crohn's disease (very similar to UC). Been operated more times than I can remember. Even spent our "honeymoon" in the hospital (wheeeee!).

      In fact, FK's symptoms immediately made me think of UC or Crohn's.

      I have the same diet problems -- I love popcorn and nuts, but will regret it if I eat any (it was torture growing up -- we had a nut roasting plant nearby, and it fairly reeked of

    • Diagnosed with what turned out to be chronic UC in mid 1997, was treated by prescription (six different drugs simultaneously, up to 30 tablets a day) for 18 months during which time my condition detoriorated and my UC got increasingly more severe.

      Towards the end of that 18 months, my life consisted of being physically exhausted to the point where the only four things that I did were lie/sleep in bed, eat next to nothing (just watermelon for about two weeks if I remember correctly), puke up and go to the ba
      • Comment removed based on user account deletion
        • Actually, I can drink alcohol. Having a beer or two or three (or even half a dozen probably) doesn't seem to do me any harm now because virtually all the diseased tissue is gone. In fact, there's nothing I can't eat or drink at all, although some foods (such as spicy indian meals) come with higher prices than others.

          But, as I've no doubt illustrated, there's a whole lot of pain between where you are now (or where I was then) and where I am today, so I don't recommend putting yourself (and your family) thro

  • Start keeping notes on what you ingest. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Interrobang ( 245315 ) on Thursday March 25, 2004 @03:02PM (#8670380) Journal
    Start looking for correlations between attacks and various foods, drinks, and other substances (dyes, additives, preservatives) you've ingested. One thing I've noticed is that a lot of IBS sufferers compound the problem with undiagnosed/untreated food sensitivities. YMMV, but the Usual Suspects are: dairy, gluten, nightshade (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers), sulfides (onions, garlic), eggs, glutamates or iodine (MSG, seafood, seaweed), and various of the dyes and preservatives. You may (perhaps not, but...) be able to reduce your symptoms just by changing your diet somewhat.

    Since you already have ADD (and probably migraine, too, right?), and since I've noticed that these things often come in clusters, I would be absolutely unsurprised to find out that you have a food sensitivity/allergy/intolerance of some sort.

    Good luck!
    • Actually, I've been doing this for a while (well, not on paper), and I have been completely unable to pinpoint it. The only thing I definately knows keys it off is stress.
      • My wife was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, which is a weakly inherited genetic allergy to wheat and gluten. Prior to her being diagnosed, she had many of your symptoms and everyone (doctors included) thought it was stress related. Since wheat an additive in all sorts of products, it was impossible to trace. You should definitely consider getting tested for it, it's only a simple blood test.

        • celiac (Score:3, Informative)

          by SolemnDragon ( 593956 ) *

          I'm your expert. Seriously, i've got it and i've got links to everything on the planet regarding it.

          Celiac is inherited but consists of a couple of different genes. One is for an extremely abundant immune system, the other is the weakness that prevents digestion of the gluten by way of a missing enzyme- and then the part that IDs it as an attacker kicks in and we have celiac. They're working on the enzyme part right now out in the midwest, among other places.

          Also: Don't just get the blood test. Really.

          • Thanks for the generous offer of help, but we've done lots of researching already and I think we've pretty much got things figured out. About the only thing I have not been able to find locally is condensed mushroom soup in a can. I really appreciate your offer though.

  • Bored? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Otter ( 3800 ) on Thursday March 25, 2004 @03:07PM (#8670443) Journal
    So, if you made it all the way here, you either have something similar, or are VERY VERY bored. So tell me about it.

    Well, bored is a given but I read it through because I have coworkers who are studying the genetics of IBD. If it's any consolation, help is on the way -- if you can hang on for a few years.

  • IBS is one of the milder things that has been discussed at the dinner table growing up in a family with a doctor.

    I was reading the JE looking for your thoughts on Bubba the football player getting bounced last night.

  • add (Score:1)

    by lab16 ( 416283 )
    So, if you made it all the way here, you either have something similar,

    Well, I don't have IBS, but I have been diagnosed with ADD.
    I have been feeling sick and having stomach problems recently though. Probably because I only recently started back on the ADD medication, and my body is still trying to adapt.
    • Yeah, ritalin and the like can wreak havoc on your system. I only took it through college (was diagnosted as an adult), and stopped afterward.
      • I used to be on ritalin as a kid, but when I switched schools, they "weened" me off of it. At the new school I was able perform well enough without it (got the best grade in the entire high school of about 40 kids; and yes, it was a small school).

        When I switched to college, I didn't do so well so a docter put me back on a ritalin type drug (concerta?). But that didn't work, so he switched me to stratera, whiched worked, but then I ran out. So eventually I went out and got some more, but it had been some ti

  • Yes I have the problem that you speak of (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    So, if you made it all the way here, you either have something similar, or are VERY VERY bored. So tell me about it.

    Yes, I sympathize, because it has been a slow day.

    One of these days, I will post a journal about how very very bored I am. At the end, I'll say: "If you made it this far, you either have similar boredom, or you have VERY VERY irritable bowels."

  • Other end of the tract.

    Severely ulcerated esophagus - first diagnosed about 4 years ago. So long as I keep on my medication (Losec) and steer clear of acidic or hot foods (no more hot curries or spicy mexican food) I am fine. Diet and lifestyle changes aren't that bad and things are well under control. My risk of this turning into cancer has been downgraded from "quite likely in 5-7 years" to "probably in 15 to 20 years".
  • I am fairly bored and suddenly stressed at the same time.

    Lesse, yesterday I found out my best friends grandmother passed away, and he's being very stoic right now since the whole thing seems to be a fiasco in his family though I can tell it is bothering him in at least some way.

    This morning I got some very unsettling news regarding my place of employment. Yet another stumbling block for us to overcome, but significant enough to increase my stress level.

    So what I am doing is looking for something, anythi

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