first blog.

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Comment by electrohoney on June 2, 2008 at 12:56pm

Hey John,
Well, the dietitian could only help so much, as she suspected the gas, distention and cramps were a result of eating certain trigger foods, whereas the constipation, bloating and abdominal pain were more likely down to stress etc as those symptoms stayed constant no matter what i ate. I saw a dietitian with the intention of not having to rely on anymore laxatives or medication (as i'd been put on countless anti-spasmodics etc that did nothing) and the gastroenterlogist i saw beforehand had wanted to put me on nortriptyline (i had bad experience with this type of anti-d in the past so i stayed clear of it). I wanted a more natural approach to treating my ibs and the dietitian understood that.

In terms of a program, firstly i had to do a food diary for a week so she could get an idea of what my diet was like. The problem was, i eat quite a healthy and varied diet already, so other than a few suspect foods (ie dairy, wheat) it wasn't really clear what could be adding to/causing my ibs. Then the dietitian put me on a low allergy diet under her supervision, which basically meant i cut most food groups out and lived on a diet consisting of soya, brocolli, potatoes and cauliflower, rice, pears and peaches. Then after being on this diet for a week i could reintroduce a food back into my diet each week.. it was quite a lengthy process and i got tired and bored on the diet quickly!

Through reintroducing certain foods it came apparent that dairy, wheat and corn flared up my symptoms. The dietitian had suspected i was intolerent to these foods and this confirmed it. I was still on the diet by christmas and had started it in september (i have no idea how i got through uni at the time!) and decided to finish the diet as i wanted to enjoy christmas. I'd introduced most foods by then anyway.

So, whilst it was a help in enlightening me on some foods which exacerbate my symptoms, at the same time i was told by the dietitian that the fact that the constipation, bloating and stomach pain was still there despite cutting out a host of trigger foods, that i would probably have to live with the ibs and rely on Movicol (laxative i am taking) indefinately. I left feeling quite deflated. She was still the best help i have had so far though, as at least i am not flaring up to as many foods as before, nor are the attacks as severe in number.

Comment by John on June 2, 2008 at 11:36am

Wow. Did getting the dietitian help a lot? what kind of program did they do with you?

Comment by electrohoney on June 1, 2008 at 5:45am

Movicol is a laxative i get on prescription over here in the UK. It is very similar to Miralax from what i know, as each sachet contains macrogol (polyethlene glycol '3350'), which is a type of medicine known as an osmotic laxative. It also contains sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium chloride. You basically mix the sachets together with some water, tastes icky after a while lol, but i would really be lost without it!

This is some info i found on the net about it;

"Macrogol is an inert substance that passes through the gut without being absorbed into the body. It relieves constipation because it causes the water it is taken with to be retained in the bowel instead of being absorbed into the body. This increases the water content and volume of the stools in the bowel, making them softer and easier to pass.

The sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium chloride (electrolytes) are included in this medicine to help ensure that the laxative works without causing the body to gain or lose significant amounts of sodium, potassium or water."

It's definately worth trying if you can get hold of it. Have you tried Miralax? As i know that has helped a lot of people on an ibs forum i go on.

Comment by iinanity on May 31, 2008 at 4:32pm

hey, what's movicol? i googled it and it led me to some clinical trial, but the chemical name sounds like miralax? i'm glad something is helping a bit. my constipation is getting worse and worse. this is living hell. i don't even go into shopping stores any more because it makes me sad to see all the clothes i WANT to wear but am not able to with my monster tummy.