I have been told I have IBS. I thought it was a sudden urge to have diarrhea, then all better. But this is days of cramping and hurting, the worst is nausea. I read all the posts but rarely do I here of nausea. Anyone else had this for days? I sleep fine--when I sleep I have no pain or diarrhea. Ive had numerous test that were negative.

I have it too and had every test under the sun with nothing found. Finally, (15 yrs ago) I went to a psychiatrist to help me with the fact that my stomach pains were so bad I couldn't take care of my kids. She gave me an SSRI antidepressant and within 4 weeks my stomach symtoms were gone as well as excema I had since childhood! However, one drug led to another and now I want to get off some of them...that's why I am doing this program...How far along are you in the program?

I am on week 6, I started July 15, but I am taking my time. Also, I was not dealing with any anxiety (that I know of) when all this started. The nausea comes and goes, but the cramping stays around. I hate this because I start thinking maybe they missed something. I know this is my old way of thinking but I hate being bothered with this.

Hi Bjmom & Mary,

I had IBS for at least 25 years it all started about one year after my mother had passed away. I had gone to all kinds of doctors and colon specialist they all told me the same thing nothing was wrong and that I had to live with this problem.

After several years of suffering and suffering I decided to change doctors and go to a Nutritional doctor. That is were I found out my IBS problem was caused by an over growth of yeast CANDIDA. I had a severe inbalance in my intestines. I also had very few friendly bacteria and more bad bacteria. A healthy colon should have 15% bad bacteria and 85% friendly bacteria.

Since I found out what really was my problem I no longer have any more bowel problems. If you think you have IBS check out if you have CANDIDA with a Nutritional doctor they are the only doctors that know anything about this condition.

Dona Dry

I had symptoms of IBS for years and just chalked it up to another symptom of nerves. I didn't go to the Dr., because I didn't want more medication, then I came across an article in a Prevention magazine about natural alternatives for IBS. Of course my ears perked up! The article advised using a natural amino acid that you can buy at your local GNC. It is called L-Glutamine. Tt helps your digestive system and mends a leaky gut. I tried it for 2 weeks and no kidding.. I was feeling better before the 2 weeks were over. I took the recommended dose of 750mg once a day.(which is one capsule). This is all natural, no side effects. I was able to stop taking it when the bottle was empty and my symptoms stayed away for about a year. When they returned, I rushed out for another bottle. It worked for me and I am so glad I saw the article. Hope this helps someone out there. Take care :} Cheryl
wishing you all healthy & calm evening.

Dona is correct in saying that Candida can also cause IBS. Remember that we are all unique and some people take antibiotics or eat too much sugar.(along with stress, this robs the body of the good bacteria). The antibiotics destroy both, the good bacteria that we need and the bad bacteria which causes illness. You can buy Probiotics (acidolpholis)at health stores. It is also found in Plain yogurt and Activia Yogurt by Dannon. This is another good help for IBS symptoms, as Dona pointed out. You can try the L-Glutamine and /or the Probiotics. (or go see a Nutritionist, if there is one in your area. This is so much better for your body then adding more meds. (However, if your doctor has determined that your IBS is severe, meds are sometimes the answer). Only you know how bad you are feeling and you have the power to help yourself if the IBS is not severe. Always check with your doctor, if natural remdies aren't helping and also don't be afraid to take charge of yourself when and if you are able to. As always, take care of yourself...

I know that I am slow at responding on this subject. But I found this week end that with my anxiety, my lower bowel and so on, goes into the greatest cramp. I haven'[t had nausea but I have no appitite. Mine origionally started when I was on antibotics for about a month with a tooth problem, this kicked off nausea and diarrhea. That created other problems that I found very frightening. After a very stressful night last night my stomach cramped so bad it felt like stabbing pains and full blown panic attack. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

I'm getting really tired of my IBS. I've had it for almost 8 years now and I feel like I've lost 8 years of my life by spending it in the bathroom or curled up on my bed. The doctors ran every test possible even the candida one and couldn't find anything. I was relieved about them not finding cancer but still the constant running to the bathroom no matter what I do is really frustrating. They've tried me on all sorts of meds but some actually made my IBS WORSE even though they were for IBS! They wanted me to go on Celexa and I was so sick the whole day I couldn't function and I have three children so being sick is a "luxury" I can't afford. In early August I heard about a natural supplement called "Digestrol" that is supposed to be guaranteed to cure IBS when taken twice a day for up to 7 months depending on the severity of your IBS. Well, it's now October and I'm STILL running to the bathroom and getting very depressed that I will never be the same again. I have totally changed my diet so I know it's not what I'm eating and even when I can get a good work out in it doesn't help the IBS. I do take Klonopin for anxiety and it does seem to help a little with the IBS but they want me to go on another SSRI. I wonder if it's hormones. Since my IBS is already bad all month long it seems that "That time of month" is even worse so I talked to my doctor that said the dip in my hormones may be causing the problem so he wants me to take birth control pills all the time and have no break. It's the same low dose I've been taking for years so I doubt it will help me the rest of the month. I've tried probiotics, L-theanine, the "Good days" vitamins that were offered with the program, Dannon active, etc. Normally, it doesn't wake me up but I've had some nights were I'd get an attack but not sure if it was something I ate or what. People are right when they say that IBS is not the same for everyone and that why it's so darn hard to cure. I actually had to retire early because I just couldn't work a full day anymore so now I am trying to find a part time job and claim compensation for my IBS and anxiety disorder.

thank you for your reply. I too have not been able to work for some time now. I also have tried to find compensation for this and have been denied. Such a wonderful world huh. But we really do have things to be thankful for at the same time

I just got woken up from a nap by my husband who needed me to make a couple of calls. I feel horrible right now, my stomach is in knots and somehow I have to muster up the strength to take my daughter along with dragging my two sons to her doctor's appt this afternoon. I really don't know how to do this and wish to God there was something I could take. I also needed to go by the post office and pick up some groceries but the way I feel right now, just getting out of bed hurts. I can't understand what's going on. Usually I'll have a really bad day, which happened on Sunday but then I'm good for a few days. I've never had the IBS take control so many days in a row. I'm starting to really feel beaten down by this.

My heart is with you, and wish I could give you a huge hug. Have you ever taken Byntel? That is what the doctor has given me. Maybe you could talk to the doctor when you take your kids to theirs. My heart is with you.

Haven't heard of bentyl. But they did try me on levsin and Donnatal, which didn't help. Right now I'm on line researching an aloe vera supplement called Serovera AMP 500. It promises to relieve IBS and all sorts of digestive disorders. The problems with these "Supplements" is you have to take so many and of course they are NOT cheap! Looking at the testimonies I see people that said it took a couple of months to get them better. Well, that's what the "digestrol" I'm taking promised too. I'm so scared because my sister-in-law is getting married in June and we live in Florida and she is in NJ so I can't even imagine flying up there with the kids and having to stay somewhere all the time I just KNOW my IBS will be so horrible and I'll just have a horrible time.

I understand your feelings on all of this. And I hope you the best with the aloe vera. Bentyl is very reasonable. That is what I am taking and it seems like it is helping. I also had taken antibotics for about a month and think this is part of my problem. I am trying to do the yogart and buttermilk thing. Have you tried do those? Please keep my up on the aloe outcome. It could be interesting.

The yogurt didn't help me and on days my IBS is really bad I can't eat the yogurt. The Serovera sounded promising but it's very expensive and you have to take 9 pills a day for 60-90 days and then can taper off to 6 pills a day for maintenance.
The bently you talked about; what exactly is it for. It does sound familiar so I might have taken it with no luck..

Bentyl or DICYCLOMINE (dye-SYE-kloe-meen) is a little blue pill. It helps block the cramping action of the bowel.