This is ridiculous....

[Pickums1283]

Hi:

I have never been diagnosed with IBS, but I strongly suspect I may have IBS with constipation . My mother and my sister both have it. For as long as I can remember, I have had bad issues with constipation. Its been getting worse and since the week after Easter, I have not been able to go, or very little. My lower abdomen is noticably bloated and full of gas and it is giving me awful heartburn. I have to actually suck my stomach in because it hurts to let it loose.

Every place I go to for advice just gives me the same crap- fiber, water, and exercise. I take Metamucil 2x a day and try to eat foods with fiber, I drink 128 oz of water alone a day, and work out 5 days a week. I have taken Colace- nothing. Milk of magnesia- nothing. Did an enema the other night- nothing. I decided to try Magnesia pills and then found out they had calcium in them!

I don't know what else to do right now. I am so gd miserable. My weight has gone up a couple pounds and I am suspecting it may have to do with this bout of constipation. I really don't want to have to resort to taking a laxative, although at this point I am ready to take Magnesium Citrate. My mother insists I take too much Metamucil, although I did cut back on it this week to once a day and still nothing. I don't want to give up the Mucil because it does work at times and until I started to take it, I was often doubled over from gas pains in my lower left side after nearly every meal. I know one can have too much fiber, but I am starting to wonder if when you take a supplement like Mucil, if it is possible to drink too much water.

Thanks,
Nikki

[mammo]

You are drinking too much water, and I think you need to back off the fiber.  Colace has never worked for me, but it sounds like you do need a stool softener along with a motility.  Try Miralax, it is very safe, not addictive and can be used long term.  You do need to take something to get cleaned out because you are impacted with stool right now, and then you can start with the Miralax.  Magnesium Citrate is a good cleanser and is used to cleanse the colon before a procedure like a colonoscopy.  Also, probiotics are  helpful, you can get this in Activia or in tablet form, but the Activia seems to work very well but takes up to two weeks to start working.  If you don't see any relief, then this needs to be addressed further with a gastroenterologist.  Take care...

[Jangela]

   I'm no expert on IBS, but I will give you some ideas to think about.
      Is it possible you're drinking too much water? Maybe you're diluting your stomach acid to the point that it's not strong enough to break the food down properly. Try not drinking with your meals.
      Is it possible you've taken too many laxatives or too many fiber supplements in the past and now your body is dependent on them for a bowel movement?
      Have you ever tried aloe vera juice? It's great for constipation. It is full of enzymes that help with digestion and has something in it that has a lubricating effect. Maybe drink a little of this throughout the day in place of some of the water, in  between meals. Then drink a little regularly to keep things moving.
     I know that when my husband gets bloated/gassy/burpy and he drinks some wheatgrass juice or other "green" juice from the health food store, it seems to help get rid of it quite well.
     Good luck!
    How about digestive enzyme supplements? I use Source Naturals broad spectrum enzymes before each meal with great results.
    Once you get your bowels to empty regularly, that should take care of your heartburn problem.