For those interested in the principles and practices of mind over IBS  -try to find the book, COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF IBS...the Brain~Gut Connection, by Toner and others.

The premise is: If our thoughts create our chemicals (I believe they do to a large degree), we can control our chemicals (to a large degree) if we learn how to control our thoughts. I know that sounds toooo simple and it isn't complicated but takes time and practice.

"If you think you can...you can." Carolyn

As far as I can see, this book is a manual for psychologists and professionals, and isn't something for do-it-yourselfers or laypeople like myself.

I just started today joanlee and I feel totally over whelmed and have not even had the courage to start lesson 1 yet but im trying. I have Crohn's disease and have had seven bowel resections(last one november 2004). Maybe you and I could write each other for support?

joanlee- you are smart! You can read this book and get some tips. If you don't want to purchase it...I will loan you my copy-with the promise that you send it back in 4 weeks. c.

I too have had IBS for at least 25 years. Right now, I have had diarrhea for over the past two weeks really bad. I was doing pretty well with the program too, but I let my daughter in law get to me and I've been amess. I just can't seem to get less effective by people. I think I have a stomach bug now, I am very nauseus and feel dizzy as well. I can't tell the difference anymore. The problem is then I think, do I have something more serious ? Then off I go. I go to a specialist for this, but recently I have been worse. When will this feeling end ?

Wow, I'm sorry. Sounds like you have mostly a physical problem. But it ends up being both emotional and physical, and then everything gets confused. The lessons are not intimidating, but are pretty relaxing, actually. Try the relaxation tape. I also have some IBS tapes by Michael Mahoney that are excellent. Part of it is learning to relax, but a lot of it is organic, at least with me. I don't have an unimagined fear. I can't tell you how many times I barely made it to the bathroom on time, and I was lucky it wasn't busy. It's one thing to be anxious about something that is imagined, but quite another to have a problem that is real. I'm still trying to figure out how to manage it.
Good luck with the program, don't be afraid to try it, and let me know if it helps.

quote:

Originally posted by Samm40:
I just started today joanlee and I feel totally over whelmed and have not even had the courage to start lesson 1 yet but im trying. I have Crohn's disease and have had seven bowel resections(last one november 2004). Maybe you and I could write each other for support?

If you think I can understand it (!), or relate to it, then I would love to borrow it and definitely have it back to you before that.

quote:

Originally posted by Carolyn Dickman:
joanlee- you are smart! You can read this book and get some tips. If you don't want to purchase it...I will loan you my copy-with the promise that you send it back in 4 weeks. c.

hello carolyn,
im happy that you brung this up, ive been suffering with ibs for 10 years non stop. i will look into buying this book. but i wanted to ask you if you knew what lucinda did for her ibs? she talked alot on the tapes about having ibs but never really said if she got over it and if so what she did to get over it. if you no anything, please let us no, thank you very much for your time!

Lucinda used the wheat bran and the relaxation response. If we do the relaxation tape/cd every day for a period of time (diff for everyone) we will make the relaxation response semi-automatic, therefore, we can trigger it with a word, or thought.

On days where she gave speaches (in the beginning I know she used over the counter remedies).

When we learn how to dial down our overall anx. we don't trigger the chemicals that make IBS...as always-please talk with your doctor.

Peace, C.

I was contantly affraid that I would need a bathroom and don't find one in time so I stopped going out for a while. Then I started the program and I'm getting better, because my thoughts are different. What if I need a bathroom, there are bathrooms everywhere. In the begginning it helps to know where they are and know it is ok to go if you need to. Usually you won't need to if you think this way. The times I'm not sure there will be a bathroom I take an Imodium (sometimes half an Imodium) and that helps me not to worry about it. Then I can go out and do everything I want to.
Best rgs Didde

Hi!
I to have suffered from IBS for many years and I have found some wonderful over the counter products that have worked really really well. I am not affiliated with this person who owns this web site I just want to pass the information along because the products do work. The website is helpforibs.com. Please check it out they have been a godsend to me. Relaxation besides prayer and these products worked great for me. My doctor from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester put me on anti-depressants for the IBS but they made me feel to weird. A careful watch of your diet and a great fiber supplement does work. Please check it out. Good luck. I have been where you are at and I know what it is like.
Cheryl

I'm starting to feel like I can't win! Today is Friday and I was feeling very positive on my way to work this morning; did a workout, ate a healthy breakfast, and got some work accomplished all before 8:15am! Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! I had a client in my office and I was typing up their statement on an incident I've been working on(can't go into that for obvious reasons) and all of a sudden I felt sick and panicky so I tried to ignore it and concentrated on finishing typing up this person's statement while my hands were shaky, but i finished it and had them sign and as soon as they left i made a mad dash to the bathroom and had really bad IBS attack. Once I was done in the bathroom I went back to my office and I felt really cold, shaky, and my body ached. I was wondering if i came down with something but all day i was like that and couldn't leave work so i stuck it out and did the best i could do. Now, at 7pm i finally feel alittle better after crying to a friend who helped put things in a little perspective. She told me that i probably got the attack from the aspartame and the green tea plus the light yogurt for breakfast. I guess too much sugar supps aren't good for me? Anyway, i just wish i could get over this. Like i said sometimes it feels like no matter what i'll get my IBS attack whether i eat healthy or think positive or not. My doctor wants to put me on Donnatal but it's a pretty strong medicine and I'm not thrilled about putting yet another chemical in my body. Last night on the chat room someone suggested taking Ayur Triphala. Any suggestions? I tried to look it up but only got minimal information on this natural medicine.

Whenever you add suppliments,or bran or Probiotics, like ProDannon, do it very gradually to let your body adjust. "Ever
ything in moderation". I have read some articles on the gut/is your 2nd brain.
It makes sense that a healthy diet and pro-biotics will help strengthen your immune system. Probiotics provide the healthy "good" bacteria or "cultures" (such as what is found in yogurt).
The good bacteria produces many of your B vitamins. You Brain needs the B vitamins to function correctly. All of the B vitamins function together. They all depend on each other to boost their effectiveness. If you are deficient in any of the B-Complex, it is possible to have emotional problems. That is also why they are called the Stress vitamins.
L-glutimine (an essential amino acid found in your body) can mend a 'leaky gut". It heals the lining of your intestines and can be found in any health store. The recommended dosage is 750 mg a day. If you try this supplement,add some bran for fiber and take a probiotic supplement, such as ProDannon, you may find it very helpful. I know it worked for me. If this message helps one person out there, then I will feel blessed. Thank you for your time. Cherylanne

Oops! I re-read my message and realized that when talking about Danactive Yogurt and Probitotics, it came out as ProDannon. It was late folks and I had a "brain fart"...lol.

Correction on Prodannon, it should read: Danactive on my message posted on Oct.14th.

I found that since I started eating yogurt every day, I haven't had an IBS flareup at all. It doesn't make a difference what kind of yogurt I eat as long as it has live cultures and as long as I have a serving every day.

Before this, I used to have both constipation and diarrhea, without ever knowing which it was going to be because I could have both in the same day. It was awful! Now I go "regular" and don't even worry about it anymore.

Sorry if that's TMI but we are talking about IBS after all.

Oh and it's important to note that I didn't notice a difference until a good 2 weeks had passed.