Sorry to hear you're ailing, Kel...I have dealt with IBS for many moons...I used to have a med I'd put under my tongue as soon as the first cramps would start...haven't gotten that refilled for awhile. My neuro wants me to increase fiber instead....eat more fiber, not the citrucel that I was using...

I live with an unhappy gut . . . and without a colon. Life with only a small intestine is interesting (I don't have an ostomy, but instead a pull-through anastamosis) . . . so believe me when I say I understand. And these days I am eating cautiously until I can schedule my next surgery . . . adhesions have created two hernias and they cause blockages all too regularly!

So I have days when my gut hurts, my feet hurt, my hands hurt, and I can't function after taking meds to address all of the pain.

I take probiotics every day, because the good bacteria live in the colon, and without one of those anymore, I have to keep adding more good bacteria every day. I use VSL-#3 which has been created to prevent pouch inflammation, but also I eat yogurt.

Do not delay a trip to your doctor if you see blood, black in your stools, or any significant changes in your habits. IBS is an immune disorder, and unfortunately we all seem to have wacked-out immune systems these days. Be careful using over the counter acid reducers, as they can cause issues of their own.

It might help to review the known side-effects of any medications you are taking as well. It is amazing how many new symptoms are a result of treating other unrelated symptoms.

Hope you all find some way to alleviate your intestinal issues . . .

Kell, I think they did a small study on very low LDN and IBS. If I remember right, it was somewhat successful? Go to the LDN homepaige and check it out.

Sally - Aren't they doing some studies on LDN and Crohn's disease? I thought I read that LDN was proving to be very effective in treating it and they were going to start clinical trials.

Oh god, Kitty....I do all the time and being sick for a week did not do it any good. I was in terrible terrible pain for a couple of days and it was a mess.literally.

I had to quit eating any dairy , soda or anything acidic. It is a terrible feeling and I feel so sorry for you.... Huggs.

I bought some regular strength Pepcid AC and took one yesterday and one today and it seems to work. I haven't had the tummy pains like I had before. I drank coffee this morning and it didn't bother me. Hopefully this will do the trick!

Im glad you are feeling better Kel.

Coffee! You can drink coffee????? ACK.... I get sooooo sick on coffee.

I will add that I had terrible iffy stomach, with pain, for years.
(I have a GI congenital defect which I always blamed for it)

1) you can have a sluggish gall bladder, and I have 2 things that work for that very well. Mine was so painful...and the tests showed "normal"... etc. Contact me for my useful hints...

2) This is something that can be hidden for a long time...giving IBS symptoms. It is fructose intolerance. This can cause gas, cramping and stool frequency. It comes and goes depending on what you eat. There is even fructose in some salad dressings!
Once you go on an elimination diet for fructose (both fruit and high fructose corn syr), you can have relief within a week.
A hint would be if you get upset by apple juice/cider, or apples, then you most likely have this. Pears it turns out have the highest fructose of any fruit/serving, and I used to throw after eating pears! After 2 yrs of eliminating fructose I can have now an orange a day. Small amounts following regular food which dilutes it etc. I have seen reports on the net that fructose intolerance can be diagnosed as IBS.
http://ibs.about.com/od/symptomsofib1/a/fructose.htm

This article is an eye opener, and reveals how common this really is!

Kitty, I hope you get to feeling better soon...

Mrs. D, so that includes high fructose Corn Syrup too, you said? It is in so many foods nowadays. Interesting fact that you can be fructose intolerant.

Thanks for the information.

PS: Kitty, vitamin D3 bothers my stomach yet the plain Vitamin D does not. I don't know what the difference is in it's makeup. I have allergies to many things, foods included.

I hope you feel Bette real soon.