Stress Center Peer Support

Hi Lindsay, I'm glad you've gotten all these great replies. As I mentioned before, I'm using Aloe Vera juice to soothe my insides. It helps.

Have you ever been tested for food allergies. Perhaps that would narrow it down and help you not to feel like you have to avoid everything. Just a thought...

------------------
~~Lovefear
"There is no fear in love." (1John 4:18)

Yes, I've had both skin and RAST tests, but nothing is for sure with either. You can get false positives and the reverse, and you can develop a new allergy or more and get rid of others as years go--allergies are nuts! I did show a psyllium allergy among others. I just know the best way for foods is the elimination diet, but when it comes down to being only able to drink electrolyte water (like Pedialyte) with a taste of fruit juice I have to hope I'm not sensitive to fructose. Broth is not my favorite round the clock! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif">

I have used the aloe for three days and boy, did I get irritated with gas and lots of gurgling, much more than I've EVER had. So I had to stop that. Maybe I began with too much (1/2 cup) and maybe I'm intolerant.

In the past these episodes just "wear out" and are as suddenly gone as they started. I want to find a nutritionist one day and work on this natty problem. Right now all I could tell that person is that clear liquids is THE way I have to go when under attack. <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif"> Appointments would most likely be wasted money which I have little of. I'll go when I am able to actually try her/his ideas. So far I seem to know best how my gut functions.

One sure thing is that I am going to move away from the stressors as best I can, and it's going to be tough as some are people I dearly love and yet who cost me terribly as far as emotions go. Years teach me that once more I have to again let go of such a person. That will be stressful for a bit, but it's better than hanging on and on and on.

Thanks for writing!!

Lindsay

Lindsay,

My anxiety attacks start with stomach cramps. That's when I know I'm not comfortable with whatever is going on in my life. IBS follows almost immediately.

I'm not on any medication. What I've tried to do is not eat late in the evenings just because all of my anxiety attacks occur at that time. I make sure I have an empty stomach by then so that I'm not spending the whole night on the toilet. I realize that this isn't a cure but marely an avoidance reaction. The other thing I notice is that whenever I eat salads, my IBS is doubled, to say the least. I think it may be the lettuce in salads makes my stomach act up.

I don't have IBS on an ongoing basis as you do. I'm glad that it just arrives with anxiety attacks. I can't imagine what you must be going through.

Keep me posted of any findings that you may have in your search.

Take care.

Answer to quote originally posted by cutufa:


My anxiety and IBS are totally different. I can be calm and have IBS or the reverse or at the same times. Right now I do think stress is playing a role in these prolonged attacks, however.

Dr. Northrup says we need to figure out what "gets us in the gut" or words to that effect to stop them. Then she (and Dr. Weil among others) says to take pure peppermint oil in the enteric coated tabs which I began last night. It will take time to see what this does. I have often caught myself saying to no one in particular that "that gets me right in my gut." Another thing I refer to is a "gut feeling" about something which usually comes close if not on the nose about something about to happen or happening. Perhaps I need to change the words I use? I remember some years ago I had some problems with someone in my family and referred to it as a real "pain in the neck" and I realized I was having a lot of neck pain! Perhaps I should just say I "have a feeling" about whatever and cut out gut or neck or tush. <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif">

Whatever I find I'll put here. I do know that there are many foods bad for us (IBS folk) and each is different. I just pray this is not a fructose intolerance as I'm outta luck for what I drink to feel like I've had a little food. I do drink Enlive, but it does have a whey derived protein in it. So long as I don't mix food with it I do fairly well. One of these days I'll suddenly realize it's all over, and I'll immediately be able to know what I can eat and do so without a hitch. Did that Dec. 2000 after a month of it following a colonoscopy. My colon will again get in sync and this time I need to learn what exactly I can tolerate.

I cannot help but feel this all began because in late 1999 and early 2000 after many promises to have my little granddaughter with me and not ever seeing her after June 1, 1999. I was really quite depressed and stressed about this never knowing what to believe, and after the Christmas Holidays is when I must get it the worst as it's been the same three years straight and each was preceded by much planning by me to have Ruby and then no show, not even a phone call to say she wouldn't be coming! I'll watch it at the end of this year and get otherwise involved if at all possible. At least I HAVE to cut out the expectations. I'm much better lately about this and figure I may never see her again. If she finds me one day, great; if not, I'll live if a little sadder for it and she at a great loss to her altho' she won't realize it.

Well, one bright note in all this is the weight I gained while so inactive due to two accidents in early 90s is now back off, and it's been off so long I think it will stay off. I'm active again. I just went out snooping for anything floral (am I nuts or what?)! I found early crocus and shot two shots I hope will be good. They looked great in the viewfinder. One year I got a gold and a blue together (they are on my website), and I doubt I'll ever find anything more lovely in that family again, but I can keep looking.

I am waiting for the big bright poppies at a park nearby. They only bloom for such a short time I will probably have to keep in close touch with the Parks Dept. I caught them at their peak one late spring evening in 2000. They are just luscious. There were Bachelor Buttons there too along with CA poppies. These are also on the site (see my profile if you are ever interested). I'm a flower nut to mention but one fascination. I do lots of roses. Oregon is known for gorgeous roses. Maybe I'll get up to the International Test Gardens this year since I found I can drive a little farther this year than before!! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif">

Oh, on the lettuce. Yup! Dr. Gibbons says to just cut WAY down on fiber and eat like the Native Americans do (I'm part Indian so that may be my problem). He has done extensive research on IBS, Chron's, etc. He doesn't even go into a stress component as all he finds is food or ingredients in stuff like toothpaste or whatever to be the culprits. He really stresses avoiding mannitol and sorbitol in a huge list of potential problem foods/ingredients, and now I see others chiming in on that. Pepto Bismol is made of both! Some chewing gums have it. One little boy made good progress on a special diet only to relapse so the doctor scoured everything that went into his mouth (mom kept a record for him). It was his toothpaste. I believe it had sorbitol in it. He would bleed from just a teeny little bit even though he was spitting it out and rinsing his mouth. So this gives you an idea of what we are up against. It gets worse with age and if we don't get the irritants out of our diets. Then I've heard that in elderly years some spontaneously get over it. Geez, I get to be 90 and eat what I want? <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/biggrin.gif"> I can imagine even things we inhale that go down our throats could be irritants. Oy! But lettuce is a real bad one as is spinach in any form. Iceberg (no real food value) is the worst. It will give almost anyone a laxative effect due to a chemical in the leaves. I loved that stuff. Now I can't do it. I WAS back on salads and other fiber foods by last fall. I got into some nuts, and that's when I fell off the cliff into this attack. I don't know if that's the cause or that I just overdid with fiber and got the functioning of the gut muscles "out of sync" again. Time will tell.

I'll keep researching the Internet. Few doctors know what to do either. It's every person for herself I think. Trial and error. Keeping complete journals on what enters the mouth is a great idea, BTW (and watch for at least three days as to ANY symptoms). I hate shopping in part due to all the label reading I have to go through. UGH! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/eek.gif">

Thanks for writing. Let me know if you come up with any other thoughts too!

Lindsay




[This message has been edited by Lindsay (edited 02-20-2002).]

Lindsay,
I am so sorry to hear about all the problems you are having with ibs. I went to the doc and got all checked out and all was fine. Except for the cramping and time spent on the potty. AFter I got the program I realized my ibs was caused by stress. Idid the years of avoiding things that I was 'allergic' to but for some reason it didnt really help. I did the enteric coated peppermint too. Sorry to say, it didnt help either. ANyways, after I started working on my anxiety my ibs slowly got better. I still will have spells but it is directly related to my anxiety levels. I get nervous and it gets my gut moving and of course I have to use the potty. I can now eat almost anything without problems. I do think corn and iceburg lettuce are no nos. I can eat romaine and red and green lettuce but not that iceburg stuff. I remember one time standing in church and I literally felt my stomach turn off, much relief to me but it was so odd. ANyways, best advice I can give is just concentrate on that 'ol anxiety thing and relax(go limp, relax your muscles and remind yourself it is only the anxiety causing it) everytime you feel your tummy move. I know it is hard. I'm still working with mine. Have you tried Citrucel? I can't tolerate Metamucil. Its a different fiber. I have a glass of Citrucel every night. HOpe it lets up very soon! TAke care, Reena

[This message has been edited by Reena (edited 02-24-2002).]

Reena, thanks for advice. I have it all. <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif"> Stress that I am working on slowly but surely. Then I have some food allergies and real intolerances. I cannot take Citrucel or Metamucil (except on occasion--just not two or three days in a row). They tear me up. Citrucel is the pits for me. <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif"> Hey, I can eat all the prunes I want but watch out raisins! Nuts, huh? I am amazed at what I can eat when I'm okay. I never can do baked beans (and I love them) anymore, but I can do those red beans you put in cold bean salad. Go figure. No more pizza. Just as well as it put fat on me!

My mother could not handle corn. She called it "too much roughage." Now I know she had a sweet corn (not to be confused with stuff of cereal and for cornbread) intolerance. She was usually constipated and in agony. I'm her opposite. Her sister was like a starvation victim due to her fear of almost all food. Gad, I hope I don't do that. <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/eek.gif"> I won't. I will do the workbook and keep at it as I know many foods are good for me. Oh, I love tofu and soy/rice milks so that's something! When I discovered my intolerances there were no such lovelies around. I had to make my bread (went ten years without wheat bread and rarely do it now).

Ever see the Rotation Diet? It's very interesting. It can allow for eating certain foods as you put three full days between certain food groups and it's amazing what families of foods below together. I have it around here somewhere. It's tiresome doing all this stuff but I may yet have to when I come around this current uproar. <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif">

When I'm okay I can eat everything but dairy and eggs. The rest is up for grabs. As I have mentioned in other notes I can be very calm and happy and get hit if I get the wrong food. It comes about 24-36 hours after I eat which is classic textbook intolerance. I don't feel my tummy when I'm anxious. I feel it in my heart and get negative thoughts. I love learning more and more about thought substitution. That's great stuff. I still have times I just want to wallow. LOL! No, don't laugh; scold! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/eek.gif">

I do know that missing family and friends has me down/anxious plus I need to find work at home. It will all work out. I still have a good brain that works.

Man, I'm hungry tonight. I'm going to get my Jello with pineapple juice and enriched by some lovely liquid vitamins/minerals I finally found! I think I'm tolerating them okay, but I'm moving up very slowly! I also get them in the Ross Enlive drinks. I almost feel I could eat REAL food! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif"> I'll try tomorrow night. I have a PT appointment tomorrow and don't want to be hurting or running while being worked on. <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif">

Lindsay in Orygone

Dear Lindsay:

First of all, have you been DIAGNOSED with IBS? The combination of anxiety and intolerance to certain foods really do mimic IBS symptoms.

Like you already know, certain foods are off limits. In my case its: milk, mushrooms (mushroom being a type of fongus, you have to eliminate any food of that type like blue cheese, etc.), garlic, fat, spices, refined sugar, carbonated drinks (pop, etc. ), caffeine, and artificial sweeteners. You definitely have to find which ones hurt you the most...

I, personnaly, use "Demerea" sugar to put in my decaf tea/coffee - it's a mixture of brown sugar and molasse and you can find it at the health food store.

My doctor prescribed Protylol to help alleviate the cramping. This is a prescription medication but it REALLY does wonders because it's not addictive and it's an anti-spasmodic so it relaxes your colon and intestines so it does not hurt so much when you have lots of gas pain or diarrhea. You can check that name out in the Mayo Clinic site for a description of it, why it is used and what it does. It really helps me a lot because, like you, Imodium constipates me like crazy and then I have to start all over again... You can also use peppermint as an anti-spasmodic IF you don't suffer from heartburn - if it's the case, peppermint is out of the question since it causes heartburn...

Since I suffer from bouts of constipation and diarrhea, my doctor told me to take Metamucil EVERY DAY to prevent cramping and promote regular bowel movements... Metamucil is specially recommended for people with IBS but when purchasing it, make sure that you do not purchase the one with artificial sweetener <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/smile.gif">

I have included a link from one of the best references I have found on the net about IBS - it's from the May Clinic and it's got other links that you can check out...

[URL=http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformati ... id=DS00106&]

I hope this helps!
Sylvie.

[This message has been edited by jamija (edited 02-24-2002).]

Thanks Sylvie,
Yes, I know the differences after working on this for about 30 years. I have both IB and intolerances, maybe even allergies. I am allergic to psyllium (Metamucil)! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/frown.gif"> I can do it maybe once a week or less often (wafers). I've eliminated some things for up to ten years too. Wheat bran would tear me up I fear as it really messed me up in my early 20s! So there go the two real fiber foods for IB. The others are not the right type of fiber. Ratz! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/wink.gif"> I am now just using clear, but very nutritious drinks until my gut muscles decide to work in tandem. I don't have much discomfort if I just leave out solids and antidiarrheals. I know what you mean about Imodium! I use 1/4-1/2 tsp tops! That helps AFTER all the attack for that day is about to an end, never right at first! I occasionally use Lomotil, but it can also flub me up.

I'll speak with my doctor about something for spasms for when I get them. I do have a few Bentyl, but I don't like to take much of that. It does stop cramping, but it can make me sleepy/dizzy.

This stuff is not nice at all! My goal is to seek out all offenders, get the stressors under control and not have so many attacks (long attacks). A week here and there is old news for me, but months? Sheesh! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/eek.gif">

Thanks for the support!

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay
I totally cured my IBS by taking PROFIBE
Catherine

Originally posted by Lindsay:
Hi, I'm a 64-year-old single woman who lives alone, and I just found this little corner. Normally I read, occasionally write, in the other topics. I'm glad to see this and hope it becomes more active! Gad, a LOT of people have this disorder. Maybe they don't know about it like I didn't for a long time.

Problem: I have spells (weeks/months) of diarrhea when I really cannot tolerate any food (anything I cannot see through, that is). I've had problems for eons. I know my food triggers, or I think I do. I cannot tolerate anything with milk or egg in it among others. Fiber is a bearcat.

I'm in "another funk" with my IBS right now (and boy, do I feel down and discouraged!), having tried to just eat baby type food off and on since mid-January or so and always ending up with diarrhea each "test" time. All that's left for me are diluted juices, Jello (I know the sugar is bad, something HAS to go in there; cane sugar is better than corn or fructose--I COULD now also be sensitive to fructose--I have no difficulties per se with dilute fruit juice that I can tell and none with a little cane sugar. I need a few calories!), herbal tea, fat-free broth, water-like Pedialyte flavored with a bit of juice. I have been checked inside out and had lab work. Nothing wrong (typical). My doctor says I know what's best for my IBS. Right now I'm not so sure. I can't just take Imodium or Lomotil and "get on with it." They stop the diarrhea and then I go into a LOT of pain and cramping until that is resolved in 2-3 days. It's just easier to leave solids out. I've lost over 40 pounds since 2000 (actually more if I count all of the spells added together, but I have regained a few pounds in between bouts). I needed the weight loss, but this is not exactly what I had in mind.

Beginning in late March of 2000 I started having these 3-4 month episodes of no solid foods (used to be a week or two only). I have tried things like AminoFuel, Enlive, IsoPure to get protein (and found they ALL were whey derived)! I do get a lot of vitamins and minerals with them, but I'm thinking these things MAY be slowing me from being able to return to food. And lately I notice gas with any of them so I should just leave them out. I started that two days ago.

When I have these attacks I just suddenly wake up one day and it's all over. I know it "in my gut"! <IMG SRC="http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ubb/smile.gif"> Then I can eat. Last fall I got L. glutamine, and I thought I'd found THE ANSWER. Within a month I had "healed" up and was fine except I then battled some constipation. After September 11, however, I have had to fight this stuff again off and on, and a few weeks ago I returned to "diarrheaville."

I did read something Dr. Christine Northrup wrote on this subject, and she (and many on the Internet) says to take enteric coated pure peppermint pills at 0.2 ml per pill. I found a good deal on the Internet and they should be here either today or by Monday. Supposedly this is the best way to handle IBS. I can only hope.

I'm needing some real hugs and support here! I'm getting very discouraged. I have fibromyalgia which came on after a nasty fall in 1990 which left me unable to sit on about 99% of all chairs, car seats, benches, couches, etc. I can sit a short while here on my work chair with a special lumbar support, but I don't get out much. So I'm entirely alone. I walk when I'm not sick, and I love to take photos. I get one rare visitor per month. She also calls me on occasion. I find it's hard to work the "Attacking" program when I can't do the work with socializing and getting out (and I'm starving for people contact) and "just doing it" mainly from FM flares, seating problems (sitting too much can cost me a week or more of NO sitting plus physical therapy to get me back plus I have a special exercise routine I can do to help).
The sitting problem IS getting better slowly; the FM seems to be getting worse along with the IBS. This past week I could have done more getting out but I was too ill with FM flares and IBS/diarrhea. Oy!!!

Anyone want to help? I'd love to have support. I won't write epistles each time. I promise. I tend to talk/write a lot due to my isolation. If I do too much, shush me! Okay?

Thanks so much!!!!