TMI post, as if the icon didn't give it away

[tsaiko]

One of the things I hate most about IBS is feeling like I'm going to poop for up to several hours before I actually have a bowel movement. There is nothing more frustrating in the world than feeling like I have to go to the bathroom, going to the bathroom, and having nothing happen. Then I have concentrate on work work feeling like I need to go to the bathroom, and knowing that if I go to the bathroom it's not going to do anything. The feeling gets steadily worse too as time progresses, which does not improve my mood.

When I finally do manage to go, it either has the consistency of concrete or it'll have the consistency of concrete for five seconds before my bowels RELEASE under high pressure. It's not fun.

Although today was partly my fault. I ate melted cheese with lunch (strike one), then ate again at the healthy food lunch my company sponsored meaning I ate too much (strike two), and one of the dishes I ate had raw carrots in it, which I didn't find out until I'd already eaten some (strike three).

I think it's sad that I'm more surprised when my digestive tract works correctly than when it does it's usually fucked up thing.

Comments

[amatsubu.livejournal.com]

Did anyone happen to check you for IBD?

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

I do not know if I have been checked for IBD because I was diagnosed when I was pretty young, but I have pretty classic IBS. I mean, if you look up the symptoms of it (frequent and alternating diarrhea and constipation, urgent need to go, being unable to go when you feel you need to, feeling like you haven't completely gone when you have, gets worse with an increase in stress, gets better when I eat high fiber foods and exercise, etc.), I fit all of them perfectly.

I think next time I see a doctor though, I'm going to start asking to be tested for other things. I was diagnosed with IBS when I was five (which was over 25 years ago at this point o_O), and their understanding of this has changed. For one thing, I will no longer get a lecture of how it's "all in my head" whenever I bring it up.

[amatsubu.livejournal.com]

I really hate that "all in my head" crap. They were still using that stupid *hit on me up till 2 years ago.

I only push the getting IBD testing because I was told all of my life that my intestinal issues were due to my weight (even though everything came back showing I was malnourished and had vitamin and mineral deficiencies) or that I had IBS. I didn't have IBS or I didn't have JUST IBS. I ended up with severe IBD in the form of Colitis and Crohn's.

I don't want you to think that just because I am suggesting testing that you might have severe IBD also! I just worry because your symptoms are so similar to what myself and members of my family have had to deal with our whole lives, but those same symptoms are similar to a lot of different things including IBS.

I would hate to see someone else have any of the issues I have gone through and do everything that I can to encourage people get tested if they are symptomatic in order for them to receive that wonderful negative result...

Oh, that probably came out as completely incoherent and freaky!!!

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

It is okay! I understand the concern (especially after what you have gone through). I have had others ask about it because so many things are misdiagnosed as IBS. I will have it checked by a doctor eventually, but the fact is that I probably do have IBS because I do not have any other symptoms like anemia, weight loss, malnutrition, etc. in addition to the IBS symptoms. I just drew the short stick when it comes to have a nicely functioning digestive tract.

To be honest, the whole condition has improved greatly since college when I was under constant stress and it got really out of hand. Now it's manageable.

[sheltem.livejournal.com]

Lady, you have a weird system.

But the high pressure thing? Happens to me too. Turns out the same kind of thing occurs to food allergies/sensitivities. Wheat gluten isn't normally that hard to avoid, but guess what is in beer? Yaaaaaaaaay. =

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. My digestive tract is so screwed up that on days when everything works normally, I'm actually surprised.

Oh man, gluten sensitivity/allergy sucks. I know quite a few beer drinkers who cried when they found out they had Celiac disease.

[sheltem.livejournal.com]

I just have to know what I'm in for.

On the flip side, there is a pretty decent sourgum beer out there...