Ibs-d is starting to beat me. I feel I'm about to loose the battle I've fought so hard to control.

Hi poppy girl, I'm sorry to hear about your issues. I've been having digestive and stomach problems for the past 4 months, I don't really know if it's post-viral ibs or what I have or what's wrong, the doctors have diagnosed me with GERD, but there's other stuff going on with me that seems to be more than just GERD. Anyway, I just wanted to say I know how it feels to have to stay up into the morning with no sleep because I've been up all night dealing with the pain and the anxiety of it all. I've had to quit my job and I'm moving back in with family while I sort myself out. It got to a point where I was only showing up for work 2 or 3 times a week either because I was up until 5 in the morning with pain, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, stomach gurgles,etc, or because I woke up feeling sick, or because my stomach would start to turn and gurgle at work and I would end up in the bathroom 3 or 4 times, and I would feel so sick that I just had to go home. Being out and about, does make it worse, I've become so homebound that going out just to run an errand is stressful because I don't know if I'm going to start to feel sick. Yesterday I went to visit my boyfriend's family with him, something I haven't done since I started having problems since it's a 2 hour drive. And the whole time I was nervous about feeling sick at their house or in the car drive back, luckily nothing hapenned. This morning was different however, the diarrhea episode you described is almost exactly like what I experienced today. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone poppy girl, and please don't loose hope. I'm not sure if I have ibs, but I know what it's like to have to deal with these stomach problems. 

Hi...

Sounds like you're having a rough time! Firstly, and I am sure you probably know this, the large colon is just a tube. At the far end of the tube, nearest to the outside world, food has been correctly processed and the water removed - as you go further back along the tube, less and less processing has been completed (because it is like a conveyor belt!) and water has not been absorbed. So, in most of us, this means that as you track back, you go from a hard stool, to more 'normal' to too runny as you empty out. Finally, because the poor colon is so inflamd, you get the mucous and horrible stuff. I can't speak for anyone else, of course, but I should think that what you experience is EXACTLY what the rest of us do.

As for what causes it, in my opinion (and of course I am no expert) everything you have written screams out stress, stress, stress. You started a new job and that is very stressful, even if you do think it its the pig's pyjamas! You worry (as do I) about leaving the comfort and safety of your home (for which read 'bathroom), travelling and socialising. So the whole time you are anxious, worrying what might be. In the end we get so anxious that what we fear most actually happens and we end up in the loo. 

I have been a lot better since I understood what was happening to me and I have taken steps to control it. I was surprised that so far this has been quite succesful, but I haven't thrown a load of drugs at it; all I have done is to accept that I have to relax. I have been to a hypnotherapist who specialises in IBS which has helped immensely. I am also seeing a Macmillan counsellor (I can do this free because I have had cancer in the past and health anxiety for me is connected strongly with that experience). I take time every day to just be calm and peaceful. It really is helping me. I hope you find some tranquility in your life... just imagine it... no stress, no worries. At least give this a whirl if you can and you may see some improvement in your symptoms which will give you confidence to pursue this avenue for yourself! Good luck :-)

Some good advice replied! Like it!

You were the same as i was a couple of years ago.

You sound stressed and sound very anxious and worried about everything because of your ibs.

I was exactly the same, hated going out, worried about silly things like going food shopping in case i had an ibs attack. You need to get back in control of this, everything else will sort itself out... But u need to take a structured and sensible approach to finding out the cause.

1) stop taking Imodium. It's bad for you and although it's designed to stop diahrrea, with ibs it can make things worse as things like bypass diahrrea are a result if too much Imodium. 

2) Start a food diary and scale how you feel and how your diahrrea is over a few weeks. This will identify potential triggers.

3) as mentioned above, quit sugars, fatty food and stimulants such as tea and coffee.

4) drink water and plenty of it.

5) start taking probiotics and L glutamine on a regular basis. As mentioned above this will help rebalance the gut and start to repair any damage.

For me... When my stomach is irritated from something I eat, I now know through 4 years of trying to get to the bottom of my ibs that my stomach takes a minimum of 5 days before it will start going to back no normal... So I guess my advice is... Give it plenty of time and make sure you have a plan of attack and that way your confidence will improve, your stress will reduce and you will feel much better

:-)

poppy girl, i feel your pain..........i'm at such at loss at what to do and what starts these epsisodes...i'm always full of anxiety, always have been, tomorrow i'm going on a sailboat and very worried about that although its with family and they know my problem. The minute i open my eyes in the am the cramps start, now sometimes i do have a couple weeks of  relief, but then it starts again and its at least 5 days of hell.i've had this for years but its gotten worse, it seems as i get older it gets worse.  I make myself a fruit smoothie with kale and almond milk and now i read to stay away from fruits and veggies. My doctor isn't any help, says there is nothing out to help ibs sufferers yet. Sometimes i have the urge i have to go, when i do, its barely anything and this goes on for days. My life is staying at home mostly and knowing every bathroom in the city. I started L-glutimine and pro biotics but haven't taken them on a regualr basis which i will starting now and see if it helps, but then i read that one person said it makes them worse, i don't know where to turn anymore.......but thanks for posting and letting me again know i'm not alone.

I hope we both find something that helps us, good luck

Hi poppy girl, like you I suffer terribly with IBS-D ever since I had my gall bladder removed about 10 yrs ago. When ever I am out of my comfort zone it gets worse, it got so bad at one time that I never went anywhere because if I was not within reach of a toilet I would panic. Just recently I have started taking Aloe vera and L-glutamine both bought from Holland and Barrett and they seem to settle things. Its worth checking the internet for as much info about IBS and just trying things, I was so desperate that i have tried lots of different treatments but everyone is different and what works for one may not work for another....Good luck. but remember your not alone.

Checkout lowoxalate.info.

You are young still, you could get this under control and still have plenty time for yourself, a partner and a full life. Try firslty getting a really specific diet you may also need to take a good multi vitamin. Also mastic gum is a natural product that has helped keep a healthy gut for thousands of years. Jan de vries has lots of info on diet along with products and a helpline. Eating little and often and finding the right balance will help you to be more regular try this instead of Loperamide etc that will force your body in one direction but will not be sustainable. Look uo fodmaps diet etc, you can test negative for gluten intorelance but still get relief from Gluten free diet, I found interesting studies that showed it's not the Gluten it's other difficult to digest ingredients present in Gluten products. Also try a good high probiotic tablet. x

Hi, check first if there is no bacterial infection and then check the following link which has all the details of what might help you, I have been in your shoes with the same issues.

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/100-working-treatment-for-my-ibs--257543

I am back to normal and just came from a vacation from mexico after eating mexican food and drinking coctails.

Good Luck.