Using Alternatives to Cope with IBS

Shooting pain in the abdomen and diarrhea were the first signs that my "gut" was in trouble. I was in my early 20's, holding down a factory job and going through a divorce. My diet was terrible and sleep was non-existent.

After a few weeks of this and some weight loss, I went to the doctor. He said it was IBS and put me on saltines, jello and tea. I steadily got worse and steadily lost weight. Constantly in pain and running for the bathroom.

My folks saw how much weight I had lost and took me to another doctor. He said it was IBS and told me to go eat "real" food. I did and ran to the bathroom with worse diarrhea than before. I was now at 99 lb. I was 5' 10" and had been 125 lbs. before my first encounter with IBS.

Out of concern and desperation, my boss took me to his chiropractor. He gave me acupuncture treatments and stopped the diarrhea cold. I could eat again! I gained my weight back.

I continued to have some problems with diarrhea and constipation. It was nothing as severe as before, but constant. It hampered me going out on dates because I never knew when diarrhea would strike. Also, just the abdominal pain would make it impossible to stay seated while on a date.

Tight jeans were impossible to wear. Well-fitted jeans were near impossible and meant that I did not eat while wearing them. The fear of abdominal cramps and gas were always there.

Ten years later, diarrhea was no longer a problem. It was now constipation and gas and bloating. It only took a mouthful of something sugary or a glass of pop to send me into unbelievable pain. IBS was alive and well.

I cannot take medications; I over react to almost all of them. So I started reading about alternative methods of healing and coping with IBS. The following is what I do, it is not from a doctor, and I am not a doctor. This is my alternative way of handling my IBS.

Carbonated beverages would make my abdomen swell and I would be walking the floor in absolute pain. So pop and beer had to go.

Sugar and white bread would also give me heartburn, gas and constipation. So no more sugar and white bread.

Eating big meals would make me bloat, have indigestion, cramps and gas. I eat several small meals now. My IBS doesn't seem to flare as much when I do.

I take probiotics and digestive enzymes to keep the good bacteria in my gut flourishing. This may be the best thing that I have done to cut down on the pain and bloating of IBS. As long as I am faithful taking it, I rarely have to walk the floors in pain. My frig has yogurt in it at all times!

I eat more roughage like fruits and veggies and whole grains. I eat Shredded Mini Wheats or Bob's Red Mill Oatmeal every morning to keep from suffering the constipation of IBS. I also use flax seed occasionally.

I drink water!! The more water I drink, the better I feel. Upping one's fiber means you MUST up your water intake. If I don't, I am setting myself up for constipation. Fiber is great, but it needs water to work. Water improves my IBS immensely.

I take supplements ; Vitamin C, Omega 3's EPA, Vitamin B-Complex and magnesium.

Dairy products, especially milk and ice cream can make my IBS go into overdrive. I can get by eating yogurt and cooking with milk. But to sit down and eat a bowl of ice cream or a glass of milk is a sure fire ticket for me to bloat, be constipated, upset stomach and gas. I go slowly on the dairy with my IBS. If in doubt, go without dairy or wheat to see if your symptoms improve.

Other foods that I avoid are packaged foods, foods containing nitrates, foods containing pesticides, foods containing MSG's and foods that contain growth hormones. My IBS does not like them it also does not like food colorings.

Stress is something I try to keep under control. The fastest way to get my IBS in an uproar is to get stressed out about something.

IBS and Social settings can be nerve racking. The more you stress about your IBS and going out somewhere, the more you encourage your IBS to flare.

When I know in advance that I am going out in a social setting, I pay particular attention to what I eat. I eat light and I eat no foods or beverages that I know flare my IBS.

If the social event is an eating event, I may eat a small amount of "safe" food before leaving home. Then, when I go out to eat, I eat light and I eat off my "safe" list of foods. For example: I know I can eat hamburger without IBS pain. I know that some oils that some restaurants use will instantly give me pain and bloat. So I would order a baked potato rather than French fries. Know your IBS, know your foods and pick accordingly.

Having IBS flares can cause irritability. That in turn can cause friction in relationships, especially your family. Sometimes it is a good idea to let your family know that you suffer from IBS. Let them know how it makes you feel physically. There are some foods, especially ones containing msg, that I cannot eat. I would rather have them know that I cannot eat it; not that I do not want to eat it.

If I am going out, I sometimes wear loose fitting clothes just in case my IBS does flare. Tight fitting clothes just make the pain and discomfort worse.

Things that help relieve my IBS pain are drinking hot tea with honey and drinking water. If the pain is bad, I try to walk, even if it's just around the room. Messaging my abdomen with olive oil is something else that helps to relieve the pain. I don't know how or why these things help. But they do.

In closing, IBS is an "uncomfortable" medical problem. It can be very scary when you first experience it; at least it was for me. Many people take medicines to keep their IBS under control. I cannot take these medicines so this is how I approached my IBS. I am in hopes that you find something here to help relieve your pain and keep it under control.

You can date, you can raise a family, and you can socialize while suffering with IBS. I learned to listen to my body to keep my IBS from roaring.