On-off Problems: IBS?

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I have been having on-off constipated diarrhea, bloating, gas, lack of appetite for a couple of weeks now.Here is where it started: I was trying to defecate one morning after experiencing some really bad cramping and bloating; I couldn't really get much out and I noticed some blood—bright red. This went on for a day or two without getting much better. My girlfriend gave me every digestive remedy in the book, and it helped a little, but not much.So, I went to a doctor, who did an X-ray on my colon and what not. She then said there wasn't anything wrong with me except gas in my stomach. Well, this didn't suffice, since my anus was very sore and didn't feel right. So, I went to a different doctor two days later who was actually decent enough to perform a rectal exam on me.Her diagnosis? Hemorrhoids, bad ones. So she gave me some suppositories which I inserted twice a day, and recommended 1/2 Tbsp. of Miralax once per day and a lot of water to help regulate me. She told me I needed to lay off all of the laxatives I was taking because they were doing me no good and only making the discomfort worse.Well, that seemed to do the trick for a while, and when I went back in a few days for the follow-up, I told the doctor I saw that things were going alright. She mentioned doing the Miralax treatment every other day (she didn't recommend it, but mentioned it as a possibility). Since I had read that using that stuff too liberally can cause atrophy of sorts, I decided that cutting back on the Miralax would probably be okay.And things were going fine. Nice long logs about 4 inches around; only five minutes to take a dump; full evacuation. Man, it was NICE! I've always kind of had bowel problems (I once went to the emergency room with a sharp pain that turned out to be gas), and I often have really sloppy broken up stools that vary in shape in thickness. So this seemed a relief to have some things on track!!Well, I went to visit my parents for the weekend, and they eat like crap (no pun intended). So much junk food and other garbage, plus their toilet is really high up for me, and this all compounded in some really bad cramping and difficulty going, etc.I used some prune juice and what not and it helped a little. Then I just went out and bought some of my own food to eat while I was there; good stuff: vegetables, breads, etc. This worked nicely . After getting back from their house on Monday night, on Tuesday both my girlfriend and I were having strange feelings. We each ended up defecating twice before noon, and felt like we had to go all day after that. Problem: She actually went later that night again; I did not.I defecated on Wednesday a normal amount (but since I stopped the Miralax, it has all been such a mess coming out and in different sizes, shapes, etc.). I was having bad pain that morning and farted like a rocket several times and that relieved it very well. Since then, though (about Thursday, so yesterday), I am having more problems. I feel 'full' a lot of the time, where I don't want to eat because of the bloating, and I have a feeling of needing to defecate regularly even though I don't have anything come out when I try to go. When I did defecate yesterday and this morning, the amount was very normal given how much I had been eating, so despite the odd feeling, I do believe strongly that I am evacuating fully, or at least close to 99% fully. I also started taking small (very small) amounts of fiber supplement on Wednesday and Thursday, which was either too small to matter, or wasn't the solution.The doctor gave me a pamphlet when I was in there about IBS, but I didn't think the symptoms seemed to match, mainly because the problems were then very new to me. Now, however, having done more research on the matters, I think I am reconsidering this. I think IBS explains my symptoms, and given the lack of other causes (I had blood work done and an X-ray at the doc and there was no infection or blockage that was noted), I can't see much else that could better match what I have (I know, IBS covers a wide range of symptoms and is just a cover-term for 'damn my gut aches and no one knows why'), but it is the best thing I can come up with.Here's what I think matches:- Abdominal pain- Frequent feelings of needing to defecate despite not needing to- Messy stools: thicker, thinner, rounder, flatter, smaller, bigger (and that's all in one bowel movement)- Very gassy-like bloating, which I can feel really well when I press my abdomen and hear the gas gurgle and feel it move- No other apparent cause So, this is where I stand. Good bowel movements for a few days, then this; in a day or two, I might be having good movements again. At worse I might have activated my hemorrhoids again, but I do not think that is too likely. Perhaps I got an infection and now it has me all goofed up (I read that this can be an onset for IBS). Or, maybe I am in my early twenties and it is just hitting me of a sudden.What do folk think? I don't really want to go to the doctor if there is nothing wrong with me, and I am thinking that there isn't really anything wrong with me except an angry colon that needs to learn its place in life!Thanks to anyone with some advice; and thanks for hearing my long rant.LQ

Update:I defecated this morning. It was a normal amount, and it all came out really easily.After though I still feel like I need to go a little, and my gut still feels really full.Edit: {I am wondering if this may be stress-related. I have felt very anxious lately; sometimes I start breathing heavily and getting very warm. I ask because I was lying in bed this morning almost fully asleep and I felt perfectly fine. I even felt my normal 'starving to death' feeling that I usually have in the morning. As I came more out of my sleep state and into my waking state, though, I began to worry again (about my body, mainly) and my hunger feeling went away, and now I am worried again and my feeling that I need to defecate is back...I drank 1/2 glass of juice mixed with Miralax this morning, and I am full (I almost felt like I had to throw it up for a minute or two), but off and on I feel hungry again...Everything's so messed up }LQ

You've got it right that proper diet is key to good elimination.Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables while avoiding the fats. Fiber is your friend.Avoid laxatives long term as your body comes to depend on them. Occasional use is fine. You might want to try something like Metamucil that is a plant based granulated fiber.Remember to drink lots of water.

I went to a doctor today who said he didn't think it was too serious, but mentioned IBS several times. I am at home now and I ate a Lunchable and am now eating carrots (so darn tasty!).The doctor recommended that I make an appointment with one of the regular physicians and get a referral to a specialist who can see if the problems are more serious or what they might be. He recommended a daily dose of Miralax until then to help keep me regular.I am not sure what I am hoping for it to be anymore. I guess IBS would be much better than a bowel obstruction. The doc said they might do a colonoscopy to rule that out.For now I feel okay, except that as I eat I build up a lot of gas and get bloated. I hate taking meds, but some Gas-X might be in order.LQ

Sounds like you're on the right track.

Yesterday, in addition to eating some vegetables and soup, I took a full dose of fiber supplement.Well, I just had a BM this morning...WOW!It was about 4-5 inches in circumference and twice as long as a banana, plus there were about 5 smaller chunks with it too. There is no way that all came from the little bit I have eaten in the past couple days; I'd say it's been stuck in there building up since probably Tuesday night or so, and my other BMs have been having to 'squeeze' by it.I feel a little nauseous now, but I think that is from lack of food. I'm going to eat some stuff and finish up on a daily serving of the Miralax.Man, that was something!LQ

Maybe this is all behind you now. Just remember to follow a good diet.

Originally Posted By: readytogoMaybe this is all behind you now. Just remember to follow a good diet. Actually I was feeling bad yesterday again too; and had trouble eating a lot (though I did manage to eat more throughout the day).I feel like I'm going to have the same problem again today. But we'll have to see. I did have another very nice BM this morning; and the food that was at the end of it was what I had eaten for lunch yesterday.It just feels like my digestive system is all clogged up and slowed down, despite the fact that the time between ingesting and defecating a food is about like normal. I wish I could get this under control. I'm going to stop taking the fiber supplement, though; I think I may have overdone that one for sure!Thanks for all the advice; gonna make an appointment with a regular doctor today.LQ

Did you find out anything

Originally Posted By: readytogoDid you find out anything Not really. She mentioned IBS again and told me she was going to put in a request to have the specialist contact me for an appointment. I still haven't had any further tests run as the doctors keep passing me off to other doctors. Getting the specialist is supposed to take about 1-2 weeks; so I suffer till then, I guess.Yesterday morning (after two days without Miralax) I had a messy stool; it was a log, followed by slop, followed by diarrhea. I then went back to taking the Miralax hoping it would solidify things and make everything better. I also ate nothing but oatmeal yesterday since that seemed to have the least negative effect on my stomach. I got a little heartburn toward evening, but two Rolaids solved that and I slept comfortably (albeit it worried).This morning was nothing but diarrhea; I went twice this morning, and may end up going later too. I also noticed that the small apple chunks from my oatmeal yesterday had not really been digested at all. So, no more Miralax for me, and I am avoiding the oatmeal. I think the Miralax washed me out!! I am a smaller person, and taking full doses of that stuff every day is, I think, too much for me.The last doctor I saw did recommend something called 'probiotics'; she recommended Florastor. Supposedly it will help restore some of the yeasts/bacterias in my gut to help with better digestion. I missed last night's dose, but have been on it since Tuesday. Eating foods now produces much less gas and bloating, though I am not sure what to attribute that to. I am able to eat full-sized meals; at least I was yesterday, when I ate about 3-5 bowls of oatmeal per meal.My girlfriend is now starting to feel similarly; we may have a bug. I'd know if I did, of course, had the doctors bothered running tests on me! Anyway, I ate two carrots this morning and am still starving; gonna make some chicken and steam some broccoli.Thanks for checking up on me, by the way. I appreciate your interest in my problems! LQ

Finished a small plate of veggies and chicken. Feeling okay. Some gurgling down below and a little discomfort (intermittent cramping) but no gas or bloating.

I hope this is on the mend.

LQ

The probiotics may help. Your gut has some resident good bacteria to help with the digestion. Sometimes due to antibiotics or something like diarrhea, things can get out of whack and need to be put back into order. Probiotics can do that.

Update:I saw a GI specialist a couple of days ago; took a while to get in to see one. He didn't run any tests on me really, but no matter. My problems have been slowly going away on their own.I've been doing 1/2 cap of MiraLAX every day, and it is working very well. My heartburn has pretty much gone away completely (I've started eating hot food and drinking beer).The specialist and I just talked; he told me about the drugs I was taking and to call and talk to his nurse if I ever had any other problems.Over all, it was a great visit, and I feel very comfortable now as I start to get myself back to my regular diet: alcohol and grease (j/k ).Thanks all for all the support!LQ