Newbie

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Hello everyone,

I had suffered from pains in my bowels for many years before I

finally went to the doctor about them in Grade 12 and was diagnosed

with IBS. I was told to avoid trigger foods and to try using stuff

like Beano to combat the affects.

For me the main trigger foods were dairy-based, though there never

seemed to be any consistency in how much dairy would set me off. I

could eat a whole bowl of ice cream one day and be OK (maybe just

discomfort) and two days later eat one square of a chocolate bar and

be in the bathroom for an hour. When ever I ate dairy I always took

Lactaid first, and I made sure that I had access to a bathroom.

Other trigger foods include processed meats (which I do not eat at

all anymore), fried foods (I try to avoid it but I do love fried

chicken), hot peppers and spices (there's a fine line apparently for

my guts between how hot or spicy is OK and how much is not).

Regardless of what other people say, stress is indeed also a trigger.

I can attest to that.

When my IBS flares up I get the intestinal rumbles (sometimes I can

feel the gas moving through the system), cramps, nausea and very bad

gas. Sometimes I erupt from both ends (sorry for that lovely

picture). If I feel the discomfort beginning to build I will retire

to a bathroom and take some Tums. The Tums would always force the

issue and get the pain and discomfort over with.

As a result of my IBS sending gas up my throat, I suffer from acid

reflux and often get cankers in my mouth.

Over the years this has caused me much pain, discomfort,

embarrassment, and inconvenience (as is to be expected). I have

missed work, social functions and school because of it.

The first time I met my wife's extended family was at a Christmas

gathering in Sudbury, Ontario. IBS reared its ugly head and I had to

lock myself in the bathroom. I was in there for a long time, and I

could hear my wife's little cousins trying to come in. I called out

that it was occupied. Somehow, they could not hear me. They tried

peeking under the door and no matter how loud I yelled they didn't

hear me. They went and got an adult who also for some reason could

not hear me shouting and he unlocked the door! Luckily for me I had

by that time gotten up and was washing my hands. Still, a lovely way

to meet the in-laws!

Last year I got a new family doctor (after having been without one

for nine years) and he prescribed Modulon for the IBS. I take one

capsule three times a day and it has made a big improvement. Now,

when I have a bout of `intestinal distress' (as my co-workers and I

call it) it often only results in mild discomfort and pain instead of

a full blown attack.

I work two jobs, one home-based. My manager in my other job is very

understanding, and I work right across the hall from the men's

washroom which is very convenient in `potty emergency' (to

quote `Animaniacs').

Luckily I have (for the most part) been surrounded by family, friends

and co-workers who have been very understanding and helpful. Meals

are prepared with me in mind (keeping the spices and dairy down, or

making me dishes free of all trigger foods), my coworkers don't

complain about the occasional scent of passed gas (through I always

leave the area if I feel the need to pass any), and so forth.

Todd

P.S. I am also on Effexor of depression, Nasonex for chronic sinus

congestion and Alertec for narcolepsy.