My Life's Battle with Digestive Disorders

In the Beginning
Like most people, I enjoy eating. It's an adventure trying new foods, cooking new recipes or trying different restaurants. I've even quoted that I would rather die happy eating all of my favorite foods than having to be deprived of them-even if it meant being skinny. But, as I've grown older-eating has become a battle, and it can even ruin some of my best days. As a child-I could eat anything that I wanted. I ate spaghetti, fried hamburgers, fried eggs and even beef and bean burritos. Today-I couldn't eat a beef and burrito if someone paid me to.

A few years ago, I found myself visiting the bathroom more than visiting with my friends and relatives. When I would go into a new store or restaurant, I would secretly search for the bathroom sign-just in case. Tasks at work would stress me out at times-and require another visit to our restroom. With my job-as a social worker-I can't just up and leave when I'm meeting with a client. Although, the ones who knew me well-would allow me to leave when they realized that I couldn't handle waiting any longer-it still made me feel bad interrupting their appointment though.

After awhile, I got tired of spending time in different restrooms and looking for clean stalls. I got tired of worrying at work if I would have enough time to go to the restroom before my next appointment arrived. It also grew tiring spending my evenings in the bathroom when I could be spending it with my family. I did my fair share of reading during those troublesome times though... Too bad I wasn't a book reviewer instead.

Seeking Answers
It was time to go to the doctor. Of course, I didn't expect immediate results-but I sure wanted them. It began with tests-I drank barium and was examined for ulcers. I had scans to look at my gall-bladder. I even suffered through a painful lower GI examination that embarrassed me horribly. You can bet that I was in the bathroom right after that one-it was not my brightest day. One doctor wanted to put me on Prozac. I refused. There wasn't any way that I was taking an anti-depressant-after all-I wasn't depressed. Also-when I was young-I saw a family member take a variety of anti-depressants-and was treated like a lab rat-There was no way I would take that same road.

Diagnosis
I continued to suffer. So, I tried to stop eating spicy and greasy foods. It helped some-but there were still days that I spent more time with the toilet than my family. I began researching stomach and digestive issues on the Internet and the more I read-it began pointing to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). What is IBS? Honestly, IBS still stumps some doctors and plenty of individuals. Some might even tell those of us who suffer-it's all in our heads. IBS is a painful and incurable digestive disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic website, IBS is defined as, " a common disorder that affects your large intestine (colon). Irritable bowel syndrome commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation. "

After all of the tests came back with normal results, I met with my doctor. He told me that I just had anxiety and it needed to be treated. Still, I wasn't satisfied with his answer. I continued to do research and find out why I had such a sensitive digestive system. A little later, he retired and a new nurse practitioner took his place. I made an appointment with her. Before my appointment day, I printed out information about IBS and highlighted all of my symptoms. I explained to her about what I was feeling and how a normal day went for me. Finally someone listened. She looked at the previous exams that I had been tested for, and ruled out, that indeed, it was IBS that was cramping my lifestyle.

Treatment
At first, I was given anti-spasmodic pills. They seemed to make the diarrhea worse. I told the doctor right away. She asked about a normal day for me. My nurse practitioner was still sure that perhaps stress was indeed causing my IBS. She suggested an anti-depressant...Celexa.

Again, I told her how I felt about anti-depressants. She informed me that I wouldn't know if they would help my condition unless I tried them. My nurse practitioner also promised that she would start me out on a low dose and that if I decided that they weren't helping-I could stop taking them. I really had my reservations about taking anti-depressants, because in my life-I had only seen the negative effects of them.

For a few minutes, I sat and thought while my nurse practitioner waited. She knew how I felt. She also suggested that it was either try this or quit my job. I love my job, and there was no way that I would quit. With remorse, I accepted her prescription for Citolopram (a generic prescription for Celexa). I was to take them for 30 days. Essentially, it would take about two weeks for the drug to work its way into my system.

After the 30 days of being on Celexa, I did have to admit-I felt somewhat better. My head was still on straight, and my mind was still my own. I had a fear about the drugs playing with my mind and "burning my brain." I reported back to the nurse, who asked how the prescription was going. I reported that so far, to my surprise, it was a success. She still asked me about my job, but I refused to quit. I care too much about my clients.

Coping with IBS and my battle with food
For the past two or three years now, I am still taking Citalopram (generic Celexa). While I did not quit my job, I did ask if I could go part-time. But I wasn't just going part time to ease my stress-I was also going part time to pursue another love of mine-writing. I work three days a week, and spend the other days writing for different websites to add additional income.

My IBS isn't cured, but life is better. I don't have to worry about hunting down a toilet, but I do still have flair-ups. And most of those are probably due to my own faults. Trying to change my diet has been a challenge because I am love with so many foods. I am not saying that I don't have self control-but I have a passion with food. I love watching cooking shows, and when I am not tired-I do enjoy cooking.

I still bypass most spicy foods. While our family enjoys eating at Mexican restaurants, I try to order mostly chicken dishes or those that don't have extra spice. It's hard to give up pizza and Chinese food. And if I don't eat them in moderation, i find myself paying for it later.

IBS today
Since being diagnosed with IBS, I have learned many members in my family suffer with a variety of digestive disorders. My grandmother had diverticulitis and both my father and mother have told me they have pains from time to time too. My mother also suffered from ulcers. Recently, my brother had ulcers too.

I have also had to overcome another digestive obstacle. Shortly ago, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis after having horrendous stomach pain. Even though, I have a passion with food, I need to learn to get serious with my diet. It's a challenge that I must learn to endure.

IBS has been a challenge, but since my diagnosis, at least I know what I am dealing with. Anyone who suffers with IBS, must learn to get adequate amounts of exercise (even if it's just 30 minutes a day of walking), control their diet and find ways to control stress. Of course-this is good advice for anybody-but with individuals who have IBS, it just helps us from creating friendships with toilets.

Resources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome/DS00106

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/diverticulitis-topic-overview

*Events from my own personal life