IBS ?

[chambord20]

I am a 23-year-old Caucasian female (5'8", 155 lbs). I have experienced good health, and I excercise 5-6 days a week and try to eat balanced meals (a typical lunch consists of yogurt, salad, a Lean Cuisine meal, and maybe some crackers).

Starting around my junior year of college (2 years ago), I began to experience noticeably loud bowel noises, which are a nuisance, especially as I'm easily embarrassed. I began to dread sitting in small conference classrooms.

I have tried to keep track of what I eat to see if I can pinpoint a type of food that aggravates this condition to no avail. Dairy--cottage cheese, cream cheese--does seem to affect it, so I avoid such foods.

The noises do seem to be worse at night, but occur throughout the day as well.

I have added fiber to my diet, which hasn't seemed to help.

I do seem to have bowel movements more than what might be considered typical, at least two times a day.

This problem might seem trivial, but it has begun to affect my daily life, as far as whether I will attend a meeting, conference, even movie. It's rather depressing and I would be willing to make any needed sacrifices to improve the condition.

One final thing: I am now currently on birth control, although the noises began before I began the pill. However, I was on antibiotics for acne for an extended period of time, and I often wonder if perhaps this could have had any affect (the timing coincides). Antibiotics and my body traditionally do not get along (I always experience yeast infections when on antibiotics).


Thank you for any and all help !

[Galaxian]

Your symptoms are closer to a yeast infection for Candida albicans than to IBS.

Candida albicans is a yeast that usually lives in our bowels, but after a long period using antibiotics (when your immunitary system lows), it can cause several problems. As in some cases of IBS, it is affected by milk and derivated products. Also, your symptoms may be increased smelling products as parfums and some other things.

Candida, can also gives some urologic and vaginal problems.

Look at this site and tell us what do you think about:

http://www.candidadiet.com/about_candida.htm

[numbnuts]

That yogurt you mentioned as an example, is it soy or dairy
based??

As an expert in really bad case of lactose-intolerance, I can
tell you dairy based yogurt is a killer.. and the world is
filled with kazillion milk based products, especially in ready made meals..

And don't buy that yeast infection hula bula, it's just
those herbalists attacking your wallet..

[PAJ]

Sounds as if you