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Avatar universal

Ouch!

IBS SUCKS!
I am 16 years old and have had horrible stomache problems for the past few months. I've gone to about 20 doctors and all they tell me is that it has to be IBS because there's nothing else wrong with me! I'm so frustrated because nothing I'm doing is getting rid of the pain. I just want everything to stop hurting. I find myself lying on my bed in the fetal position because I'm am in such great pain. I can't make it through a day of school without going to the nurse's office at least once. I find myself bringing my cell phone into the bathroom with me in case it gets really bad.
I will start with diarrhea and then go to constipation for a week. The diarrhea is so bad that I get horrible hot flashes and need my mom to come bring me some ice. My stomach always hurts and I'm ALWAYS nausious. I can't eat any of the foods that I used to love for fear that they will upset my stomach. I can't take the pain anymore, why isn't there a medicine that can help fix this problem?!?d
12 Responses
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Avatar universal
I understand you completely. Im 17 and i have the same thing , only i get constant urges like i have to go to the bath room but  for the most part i never do . It sucks i miss out on life alot , for fear that im going to feel bad. It almost makes me feel better knowing im not the only one but at the same time it sucks because i dont ever want anyone to have this .

i hope things change for you ... for us :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am not very sure as to how it works but check out the website it explains everything. www.digestiveadvantage.com . The box says it is a "medical food for daily dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome". As for my symptoms they included gas, bloating, cramping related to the trapped gas, constipation, and diarrhea. I have had problems with my stomach since I was a teenager and this has been the only thing that helped. I even had gall bladder surgery because doctors thought that was the problem and as it turns out, it wasn't in fact after the surgery the symptoms got worse. This has been the right thing for my body and I know everyone is different but it has to be worth a try. I was just miserable with the bouts of diarrhea and cramping that hit anytime and anywhere. Sometimes not even being able to finish a meal for having to get to the restroom. And although not everyone has the problem of constipation and diarrhea together I DID! So when I wasn't miserable with the diarrhea I was miserable with the constipation. It just kept going from one extreme to another. Now, all I do is take one pill a day and I have no cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. I did have gas and bloating for the first few days but the box does warn that gas and bloating might happen for a few days. I hope this helps.

Jessica
Helpful - 0
420281 tn?1204647504
hi jnoe35, im really curious about this product, can you tell me what type of symptons you have suffered from and in what ways it is helping you.  i would really appreciate it if you could let us know how it works.

thanks

crumy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have also had IBS since I was a teenager. I recently found an over the counter med that I have been taking and it works great. The name is Digestive Advantage for IBS and you can find it at Kroger, Walmart, Walgreens, and most other places like that. The box I buy at Kroger is $10.58 with tax and comes with 32 pills in the box. I only take one a day so that is a very small price to pay for a normal stomach every day. The other things mentioned above all also good but this seems to work the best for me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have not seen the Dr but the following day after my horrific stomach problem, I went to CVS and purchased lactaid pills.  I've been taking the lactaid pills now for several days and I'm super happy.  I can now eat dairy without any problems.  NO MORE PAIN or feeling Bloated!!!!!

I just make sure I take a pill before I eat dairy and that's it.  I'm so happy i've been telling everyone I know about them.  Yesterday, I ate a swiss cheese sandwich without taking a lactaid pill and my stomach started making weird noises.  I took a pill and all the noise & bloatedness was gone.  I have not taken any more tagamet or Aloe pills since.  My stomach feels rested and feels flatter.  Hope this helps you guys.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
In the past, I have been diagnosed as having IBS.  To me, it says:  "I don't know what is causing your problem, but it involves the digestive areas".  It is a phrase that involves a condition that could be caused by several things for different people, rather than a specific disease that is the same for all.  In my case, it took years, but be brief, it involved going on an "elimination diet" where all suspect foods are eliminated so that no symptoms persist, then adding foods one by one over a period of time to see how one reacts to them.  In my case, I found that I was sensitive to grains in general, so that I would react to them when I "overdosed" on them, that is, ate too much of a grain in any one day.  Now, I can have all grains, as long as I "rotate" them by having any one grain only every four days and not eating too much of any grain on its day.  So, for instance, today I could have rice, tomorrow wheat, next day corn, then oats, then rye, and so on, then back to rice, etc.  I also found that I was sensitive to soy, cashews, peanuts, and some other things.  You would have your own sensitivities and not react to grains at all.  The main thing is to track down the causes in your case.  For those that have never experienced this gut/gas pain, it is one of the most extreme types of pain.  A heating pad helps me, and the one thing my physician prescribed:  Bentyl (generic:  dicyclomine) which is a "gut relaxant".  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello...As I write this comment, I am suffering from severe stomach pain.  It feels like I have a fire in my stomach.  I've noticed this has been happening to me for at least 5 years and it's been getting worse.  There have been several times where I almost called an ambulance because I could not handle the pain.  At first, i thought it was red chili, so I stopped eating red chili.  Then I thought it was beans, so I stopped eating those.  Next it was coffee, and....so many other types of foods but I never suspected milk.  It turns out milk/dairy was causing me to have this pain.  I also started feeling really bloated, constipated, and had a lot of gas which had a really strong and different smell than before.  I've been coping with the pain by taking aloe pills which sooth my stomach and Tagamet which works wonders.  Sometimes my pain is so bad that even after taking these pills, my pain continues.  If my pain persists, i will gag myself and everything that is irritating my stomach comes out.  I will then take another aloe pill and tagamet and that normally works.  I feel like my stomach has cuts inside and acid is getting into the cuts....Pretty painful.  I will visit a Dr next week and hopefully I can find a cure for this.  
Helpful - 0
420281 tn?1204647504
I too suffer from a lot of the problems that everyone above has mentioned, the one thing i want to suggest is that you mentioned that you have had testing done, have you  had a colonoscopy yet?  if not that may not be a bad idea, because even though you say you have diarreah and constipation, maybe you think when you go you are cleaning yourself out, but that might not be the case, you may have a blockage in your intestines or colon of fecal matter and just because you go to the bathroom not think you are backed up, try to get it checked if you havent already.

good luck,
let us know how you are doing

crumy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I take Questran (generic Cholestrymine) 1 tsp. w/ water at bed (One package can be to binding and constipate.),  It binds bile and stops my diarrhea.  If I don't take this at bedtime.  The next morning, no matter what I put in my mouth I will have diarrhea.  I had my gallbladder removed 9 yrs. ago, and with that I got IBS w/ severe diarrhea (pain and fatigue, alot of acid).  Also, try Protonix for acid.  I cannot eat gassy fruits or vegies, citrus or acidic foods, no fried or fatty foods, no dairy, no alcohol, caffiene, garlic, onions.  I eat low sugar, low fat meals - oatmeals, fiber one bars, fruit & nut bars, lean quisine meals, applesauce, activia yogurt. No real people food.
The Questran is a miracle for me.  I've just been put on Symax an antispasm med for your digestion. I also have dyspepsia (difficulty digesting). I live w/ pain everyday due to digestion and adhesions and it disrupts my life and family.
Good luck, I wish you well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have similar problems.  Mine started in college also.  Eating out and having rich, greasy foods, salad bars, and milky salad dressings seem to do it to me.  Also, Anxiety is a big factor.  If your a nervous or worrysome person, I think this adds to the problem.  I recently found myself doubled up in so much severe pain in my lower bowel/abdomen that I almost called an ambulance for myself because I wasn't sure what was wrong.  I was worried it might be a ruptured ovarian cyst until at one point I could feel the gas turn a corner in my lower intestine - extremely painful.  I've struggled with gassy stomach for years, but this was by far the most severe.  And, I also don't remember eating anything in particular that would have caused it.  I'm interested to look at the website you mentioned and ask my Dr. about the med. you mentioned.  Came across this site: http://www.ibstales.com/women_and_diarrhea_17.htm

Thanks.  - JD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Mandy91,

I am a 23 year old female, and I suffer from very similar problems. They started my junior year of college and I spent many times in the nurse's office. I've seen doctor after doctor and had test after test. As I was reading your post I was amazed that just a couple days ago I wrote in my food diary almost exactly what you wrote: about being overwhelmed and so frustrated and just wanting it all to stop. I tend not to eat because I'm so scared that it will just hurt me, and I've lost weight. I sit at my desk at work, or in bed or in the tub at home and I cry. I cry from pain, and frustration, and helplessness, and sometimes even hopelessness. I wanted you to know you're not alone, even though sometimes it feels like no one understands and you're the only one going through all the pain by yourself - be assured that there are so many others feeling the same thing! I keep record of everything I eat, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason. I just found this site today, and I'm intrigued by it: http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/faq.asp#insoluble
it might be helpful. I know that this is so frustrating, and I'm in the same boat as you!
Helpful - 0
212753 tn?1275073111
First you have to change your diet to include lots of soluble fiber and drink lots of water. I ema lots of water. exercise will lessen the pain. and you can ask your doctor for levsin. for the pain  Its an anti spasmodic Peppermint tea will help with the pain also and keep immodium handy. when I get my attack I take my levsin ,buprofina dn the immodium to get through the wost of it.
Now NO sodas caffiene and sugars as these aggravate ibs. eat you veggies genly cooked as raw veggies upset us. Oatmeal applesauce and yogurt is good for you and will help settle you tummy.
Love Venora
Helpful - 0
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