IBS Treatment-Infertility -Headaches-Fatigue

Posted By Alison on July 28, 1998 at 11:47:05:







Iam 35 years old and  have been diagnosed with IBS, i have always been very regular since a child with bowel movements. At age 21 i had a burst appendix, this caused damage to my fallopian tubes and ovaries, since then i have had terrible problems with my bowels, i get awful pain when i am hungry, and unless i take immodium (or generic) i am making several trips to the bathroom. I take about 4 tablets a day twice a week, and this helps, although i have one bad episode a week, where i have terrible pain and it feels like my colon or something is in spasm, my stools start off as normal, but by the end they are watery and loose. I often wonder if i will make it out of the bathroom as the pain is so bad, it is much worse than child birth. I have had several tests, including Berium x-rays, the endoscope down my throat and up the back passage, and stool tests, and blood tests, nothing came of that, except a slightly high tyroid level, of which i am not having any treatment for. I have had several surgerys on my fallopian tubes and am lucky to have with the help of Clomid two young sons 7yrs (this son has Williams Syndrome and congenital heart condition- Tetralogy of Fallot) and 5 1/2 yrs (healthy, but also showing stress with his bowel movements) i have tried for a third child but with no luck. (i took more drugs including Perganol).
I also find i am suffering from constant headaches, which are a definite link to my bowels, as i get them after taking the Immodium ( this stops bowel movements for 2-3 days) I cannot survive without the Immodium, as otherwise i can't go anywhere especially in the early morning. I also feel tired all the time and often have slight blurred vision, i also feel dizzy sometimes. My whole feeling is lethargic. I eat small regular meals and stick to foods i know will not set off a pain reaction in my stomach. I avoid fatty foods, and not too many dairy products, i drink a lot of Earl Grey tea, so wonder what this does.
Interestingly my mother has unexplained Pancreatites and has had some awful attacks the last one almost killed her, she has been told the pancreas looks ok, but her gall bladder is full of sludge, she has chronic constipation but we have a lot of similar symptons, i wonder if there is a connection.
I would like to know if there are any other drugs apart from Immodium, or any other tests i could have and to hear from anyone else with similar symptons. I will add that stress certainly plays a part, as i know excitment or anticipation of an early trip or a long journey can make things worse.
I would also like to know a few foods that are safe to eat that i could stick to and eat regularly as a well balanced diet.
Thank you.