hi all...

ok, i had heard ,that PEPCID AC can help with IBS? now, this person, said she'd taken everything else, and nothing really did to much, UNTIL she tried PEPCID AC! somehow, that really did the trick! so, the question is, does anyone else take this for IBS?

and if so.....does it help? i'm a little confused, because i thought that was for heartburn,,,,,but, according to her, it's really helped.
she swears by it! I don't really know what to take for this....i don't really have the IBS-D, or C really, i mean, i'm fairly regular....but back in august i was constipated for a week! which is when i did that stupid MAGNESIUM CITRATE laxative thing! NEVER TAKE THAT! anyway, SINCE THEN, my intestines have been really screwed up! they ache, burn, churn, the gas is really something else, and the distended belly is just lovley! when i wake up in the morning, it's not that bad, but as soon as i eat and begin the day,,,,OH BOY! for a while there, it was centering on my waist, like a deep ache in the waist, which i posted about.....but now, that's subsided, and it's moved inward, towards the abdomen on the left....almost like an ache, but not really, more like a silver dollar sized circle area, where the colon would be, and it bothers me, presses out, so i have to apply opposite pressure and press in on it.....ths drives me nuts!

i was reading that PEPPERMINT OIL is good for this, in enteric caps, so they dissolve in your intestines instead of your stomach, so, i'll try that next......this ticks me off, this is only since that laxative that this has happened!


ok, thanks girls! sincerely, MyDarling

Hey Laura---how have you been? I have really bad IBS and I've used Pepcid AC from time to time. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is such a maddening condition because it flares up and down, and responds differently to differently things at different times...

I can't really count on any one thing for it...I have probaby a dozen or so different meds and 'therapies' in my arsenal. Have you ever tried making real ginger tea? You buy a ginger root, peel it, and mince up a big heaping tablespoon. Put it in a big coffee mug and pour boiling water over it. At first the ginger bits will rise and float around on the top, but when they sink to the bottom, the tea is steeped. I sip it very slowly.....it really helps with nausea, aching stomach, and sometimes with constipation...

Hi Robin,

long time, no hear! how are you? well, i THINK i'm hanging in there..I THINK! LOL! now, what i do, is when this spasm feeling happens on the left side of my abdomen, i take a xanax....and that USUALLY helps....but not always. i dont' know why it helps, other than to relax the muscles i guess.....so far, it's the ONLY thing that has helped! geez! do you have bloated abdomen, see, i get that AFTER i eat in the morning, i don't wake up with it...so, what does that mean? NOw, does IBS sort of move around in there, what i mean is, i dont always feel this in one place, it sort of moves on diff. days. Sometiems it'll be this ache in my waist, other times, it'll be more centered on the left side of my abdomen, like today....there is just ONE SPOT on the left side of my abdomen that is bothering me....is that typical for IBS or what? this is INSANE! OK, i will try the ginger, actually, now that i think about it, i've read that, so, yeah, i'll do that. There has to be a solution to this!

listen robin, i hope things are ok for you right now.....PM me, and tell me what's going on with you!!!!

Yes, the IBS is a mysterious little bugger..it moves and shifts and changes. My gastroenterologist told me point blank that IBS can destroy your life if you let it.

Are you seeing a stomach specialist? I think it's really worth it; they give you better meds and understand so much more about this condition than regular gp's. I take Donnatal when the spasms in my stomach get so bad I double over. (you might mention it to your doctor...)

PM me sometime and let me know what is going on w/your life!

Your meno pal for life,

Robin

You are the third person I've met (via the 'net ) who also gets that pain on the left side. I'd like to know what is that! I've been dealing with IBS since 1984, flaring up then subsiding for months then flaring up again. Whenever things are about to really go south with my IBS I get an aching pain sorta under my ribs on my left side. Sometimes when I touch or press the area it hurts. I know two other ladies who also experience the pain on their left side due to their IBS.

I don't take Pepcid AC although I have in the past for something totally unrelated and it made me sleepy (At the time I was glad about this effect ). I take Librax for my IBS and have been since 1995. It's an antispasmodic antianxiety medication that really works for me. My doctors over the years have prescribed this as needed. Occassionally I'll have a flare up where I have to take the Librax twice a day for a couple of months...then I can go many many months feeling fine and not having to take the Librax. I have a friend who takes this for Crohn's disease.

I just had to post because I'm still trying to figure out why so many of us have that pain on the left side of our abdomin yet the gastroentrologist can not figure out what causes IBS. Hope everyone is doing better.

Hi MD,

Ahhhh, you poor girl, still with the tummy pains, but as I keep reading these posts about your tummy, I don't think any of us have asked you if you have been diagnosed with IBS? It isn't really a diagnosis, but a ruling out of other things, and from your post, you do seem naturally worried about your tummy, and living in a lot of pain.

I hope you did go and look at the site I mentioned before to you, because the soluable fibre intake is the best secret to IBS pain and heading off attacks. MD, it's possible that you have developed IBS-C during Peri too, and this may pass on it's own once you are through all this mess we are in, but that low left pain is just what I get with IBS-C. Always. But it CAN move, however, it's favorite place is low on the left.

MD, what do you eat for breakfast? Or does a cup of tea or coffee set this off?

The only other thing to suggest is a colonoscopy to find out what is NOT going on in there, and I am loathe to say that, as I refuse it myself , but as I have had my problems for years, I have been alive a little too long for it to be anything too bad.

I think you have IBS, and possibly some food intolerances that have come up due to Peri, but that can be worked out via an elimination diet. Boring, and bland, but it sure works. And in a few people, their IBS settles for a long time with this.

I sure hope you do some reading, and also think about a possible test to stop the fear. Anxiety and IBS don't mix, hun.

Hugs,
Viktoria

MD, don't hate me for this , but it may work out many things for you, and I have done it myself.

Elimination diet
There are so many reasons why individuals react negatively to foods which is why an elimination diet is the best method of assessing food sensitivities. Everyone with CFS/FM, Migraines, IBS/IBD, Eczema, Hives, ADHD/ADD/ASD and other chronic medical conditions should try this diet at some stage!!

The diet described below is:

Unrefined/whole/fresh foods
Devoid of all food additives/colourings/artificial sugars
Gluten free, casein free and lactose free
Very low in salicylates
Very low in dietary yeasts
Very low in dietary glutamates
Very low in dietary biogenic amines
Very low in dietary solanines
Generally hypoallergenic
Devoid of caffeine and alcohol
Adhering to the following diet for 7-10 days enables a person to determine if any of these key, and common, food sensitivities are present in themselves or their children. Observing benefits in any aspect of health while on this diet indicates one or more of the points listed above are significantly related to your symptoms. This diet provides a snapshot in time of what you may feel like while taking into consideration all the factors listed above.

Elimination diet protocol.
In the weeks before an elimination diet eat a nutrient rich, unrefined and varied diet. In the case of Autism Spectrum Disorders, CFS and Schizophrenia, this diet trial should come after a gluten/casein free diet trial of 30 days or more.
Choose the most convenient time to try this diet. For example not when relatives are staying over or when travelling. Ask for the support of your family.
For 7-10 days consume nothing but the foods listed in the table below. If there are any foods on this list you know or suspect you may be sensitive to, eliminate these foods also. Consume a varied diet, eating some fruits, vegetables, meats and grains daily.

GRAINS - Whole grain rice (rinse before cooking)
MEAT - All unrefined (non aged/processed/smoked/seasoned) fresh meats, except beef
VEGETABLES - Cabbage, celery, green beans, ice-berg lettuce & swedes
FRUITS - Peeled pears
OILS/SEASONINGS - Olive oil & sea salt
DRINKS - Water (filtered)

*Aspirin should also be avoided during this period due to it’s high salicylate content.


Keep a diary of symptoms and note any changes.
If symptoms worsen (or new symptoms appear) in the first 2-4 days this may indicate withdrawal from food allergy or addiction.
If after 7-10 days symptoms have improved, this may indicate food sensitivities of some kind.

Add back foods one at a time and in a pure form (e.g. fresh corn), or with a non-eliminated food, taking note of symptoms changes. Consume plenty of the foods you are testing. (e.g. toast at breakfast and lunch)
The following order is recommended: Dairy (in the form of whole cream or plain yogurt), eggs, yeast, wheat, citrus, corn, chocolate...
Allow ~48 hours between adding new foods.
Note for changes in symptoms upon adding back foods. Any foods you react to should be eliminated, as you go on to test others. If you react to specific foods wait until the resulting symptoms have cleared before adding new foods.
Patterns to look out for:
Many people who react to wheat are sensitive to gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt). If you react to wheat, test oats, barley and rye individually and carefully.
Some people are sensitive to dietary salicylates.
Some people are sensitive to dietary yeasts.
Some people are sensitive to dietary glutamates. Glutamates are contained in MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, anything that contains the word glutamic or glutamate, roquefort cheese, parmesan cheese, soy sauce, walnuts, fresh tomato juice, grape juice, peas, etc.
Some people are sensitive to dietary amines. Amines are contained in chocolate, cheese, fish, aged/processed meats, bananas, oranges, avocados, tomatoes, wine/beer, etc.
Some people are sensitive to solanines containing foods. Solanines are contained in tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant.
Common food sensitivity symptoms.
Hives
Increased mucus production in throat, regularly clearing throat, coughing
Irregular flattened patches on tongue or mottled tongue
Dark areas and/or blue, black or pink circles around eyes
Nose rubbing/Itchy nose
Nasal/sinus congestion or postnasal drip
Puffy eyes, nose, face
Abnormally red cheeks/nose and/or flushed appearance
Ears turn red for no apparent reason
Inner corners of eyes itch
Skin problems (eczema, rash or pale ring around mouth, dermatitis, itching, ‘burning’ feeling of skin, ‘creepy crawlys’ under skin feeling, numb skin, etc.)
Diarrhea or loose stools or constipation
Abdominal pains, bloating or nausea after meals
Increased frequency of stools
Abdominal pains, bloating or nausea after meals
Feel/act best when don’t eat
Strong particular food likes (cravings) and dislikes
Unexplained intermittent +/- sudden irritability, depression, hyperactivity, anxiety, anger, crying, giggling, hiding in dark places, rage, vulgarity, not wanting to be touched
Unexplained intermittent +/- sudden changes in walking, reading, writing, speaking
Fatigue/lethargic

Integrative Nutritionist Blake Graham
Clinical Nutritionalist BSc [Honors] AACNEM
________________________________

Viktoria slowly sneaks out.............

Hugs MD!

LOL!!!!! oh Viktoria, that was to funny! you made me laugh, thank you! ok, first of all, I CAN'T POSSIBLY STOP EATING ALL THOSE THINGS! ..lol.. , no, seriously, I'll TRY to do the best i can, that's all i can promise! but, you certainly went out of your way to type all of that, thank you very much! I will definatly look into this, i mean, what do i have to loose?! ok, has any of that helped YOU? if so, what? now, i've noticed, SOME DAYS i can eat a certain food, and NOT have it bother me....then, on other days, i CANT eat that same food, without it really starting this whole thing up!...the latest little symptom, is that it feels as though there's like this "pebble" on the left of my belly button ... it's weird. If you press on it, it isn't hard or whatever, it's just my intestines .... but the FEELING is as though there s a pebble in there.... now, that's gone, and we're back to the waist ache! GEEZ! if it's not one thing, it's anohter! The funny thing is though, that when i had my period a few days ago, as long as i was bleeding (and may i say...HEAVILY) for the first few days, most of the abdominal symptoms stopped! YEAH! the waist ache was gone, and the intestinal horridness was at a minimal! so, i'm thinking...hormones? i mean, i guess that's possibe, no?
now see, i know peri can bring on a lot of digestion problems ..... see, this is why i don't know if this is REALLY IBS....or just the PERI "version" of it, which will hopefully depart from me, as soon as peri is finished with me....do you see what i mean?

i don't know....i'm bleary eyed by now! i don't know which end is up anymore .. lol ..

listen, thaks for getting back to me ...and hey, PM me!!!!!!! let me know what's gong on with you!!!!

sincerely, MyDarling

hi My Faith ..

yeah, THE LEFT! well, it's always been the LEFT for me anyway, ever since i started peri....anything that went wrong, was on the left! so, it's no wonder really. I don't take the Pepcid AC either yet, but someone told me they did, and it worked for IBS..so i was just wondering if anyone else did. I'm going to talk to my dr. about Librax....maybe that'll help. How did they decide it WAS IBS in your case? I mean, the thought of a colonoscopy doens't thrill me, and from they tell me, they give you this stuff to drink the night before, which cleans you out completley, and THAT'S what kind of started me with this problem in THE FIRST PLACE! about a month ago, i drank this laxative called MAGNESIUM CITRATE from Walgreens, now, it's not SUPPOSED to hurt your intestines....however, I KNOW it did something, because before that, i didn't have this prob. at all. The only thing i had, a few times before in the last year and a half, was this darned waist ache....naturally, on the LEFT. That would hang around for afew days, and then vanish. This time is diff....this time, it's WORSE. So, i am at a stand still in a way, just trying to sort of survive everyday as it comes. I'm taking rolaids, and xanax..lol..great combo! but, the xanax, seems to stop the stomach spasms, and helps the ache in the waist too. why, i dn't know! i also get the rib sorness with this...and yes, if it touch it, i can feel a little sore.
THIS ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE...lol ...

thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin...when you say it moves around...what do you mean? is it possible to feel this in your WAIST? iv'e been dealing with this awful ache in my left waist! it comes and goes...i don't know if it's muscular, or gas, or what? SOMETIMES it seems positional...other times not..other times, it seems set off when i eat ..... what the heck?

I have the same feeling of fullness and a mild pain that seems to settle on my RIGHT side and it seems to move around too. ive been to my doc about 4 times for this and ive have ultrasounds done each time to chek for gallstones and catscans to chek my appendix and it never pans out to be anything. it comes and goes and its right under my ribcage . its uncomfortable as he** and it causes my anxiety to go up. i dont know what it is but i think it might be related to constipation, which i have a problem with. ive been drinking prune juice to try to get regular but it doesnt seem to be making a difference this time.
i just bought some ACTIVIA yogurt and am going to eat one each morning to see if it helps at all.
im wondering if it might be just a pulled muscle too. but like yours MD it seems to be a small area that the pressure sets in. sometimes its higher and sometimes its lower. very weird and frustrating.

Hi, Sisternature here, the past 2 weeks I had constipation that last only 2 days but the feeling of fullness, stomach pain is awfull. I have not had any test for IBS. I am usually pretty regular which was odd for me to be constipated. Also had trapped gas, I have began to take note after these epidsodes of my food in take. This past weekend was spent with my girl friends at a camp, there were different foods but I could not put my finger on which foods activated the uspset stomache. My question is what are the main symptoms of IBS? I do not get any pain on any side but the fullness at my waistline and pain, acid indigestion, belching, trapped gas and every once in awhile I have to run to the bathroom because of diahrrea. I found that if I walk the it helps with the trapped gas, I also take Pepcid AC and it does work as also Mylanta. I cannot drink citrus juice because of the acid. I do eat fiber everyday. I think I may have a mild case of acid reflux because I have to sit up after I eat. So is this another symptom of perimopause? I have not had a period this month, I seem to skip every other month. I will be having my yearly exam on the 3rd of this month and plan to have blood test done for various things. Can someone help me? I do take Paxil, beta blocker and mild dose of asprin and birth control.

hi guys..........

Sisternature, i have taken Mylanta, but it has a bad effect on me! I also have the trapped gas, bloating, pain, cramps, ..you name it! This really is horrible...and it's as if you really can't even LIVE...i mean, i have to just lie on the couch! I can't figure out what triggers this either, some days i can eat a certain food and be FINE..other days, if i eat that same foood, OH BOY!
It's always on the left side of my abdomen, or my left waist.....with a lovley ache around to the back! Recently, I'm having some kind of SPASMS in the left side of the abdomen.....it's hard to explain really, it just feels lke spasms in there, not PAINFUL, but spasms nonetheless. It sends a flush of PANIC up to my chest and throat, so i have to cough! I end up taking a xanax, and that usually helps....but not with the indigestion. I'm going to post a seperate post about indigestion, abdominal pains, and intestinal problems......i wonder if this is all hormone related......

after i post there, check it out......see if any of this sounds familiar to you! Sincerely, MyDarling

MyDarling,
A good friend of mine has IBS and has the spasms you spoke of she has to watch her diet because sometimes its pretty bad... It can hit anytime but mostly in the morning...She is on meds for it which helps the spasms...She also takes Metamucil... Lately I have been doing well. I started eating smaller meals which has helped a great deal... Also cut out soft drinks and drink more water...I try to walk which helps with the bloating and gas... it can be 2 in the morning i will get up and walk...Try eating smaller meals and also watch you spices...No expert but I hope this helps!!

Sisternature