Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Sign And Symptom Of Ibs

Question:
Are there any over-the-counter drugs that can alleviate the symptoms of IBS? I have pretty well all the symptoms. Including one that I have not seen posted about, and that is a fogginess feeling. Where your head is foggy after a hangover. But I am alcohol free so it's not from that. But the main symptom that bothers me the most is the nausea. This really interferes with day-to-day life. I don't have medical coverage (no birth certificate - long story) so I am looking for something over the counter that can help. Any suggestions (and their possible side effects)?

Answer:
You really need a medical examination for two reasons, I think.  The first is to rule out more serious problems.  The second is that in the long run, it can save a lot of money, time, and grief by finding out what the real cause is, if any, and treating just that problem. Since I'm in the US, I don't know about Canadian medical services/insurance.  There has got to be a way to get a delayed registration birth certificate.  I know there are people, particularly the older generation, where a birth registration never was filed although it was required by law.  I know it can be done in the US as my dad went through that process. You also did not say if your problems were more constipation or diarrhea, which can make a big difference in over-the-counter products or even foods to use/avoid. It was on the diarrhea side at first. But not really diarrhea. More of a feeling like you had to go all the time but you may have or may not have to really go. Used to get that feeling all day. And in some instances even cramps that were so bad they spread to my legs. But I pretty well solved that with a change in diet. Now it pretty well just the nausea that is the main symptom. I still have the other symptoms (really tired and run dow, lathargic, etc...) but the level of those symptoms is based on what I eat. So the change in diet helped there too. It's mainly, like I said, the nausea. Like a morning sickness, that can sometimes, last all day. I have access to Gravol so will try that but have a feeling that may just mask the symptom rather than address it. Some of your symptoms don't match typical IBS symptoms.  Some people have reported nausea and cramping, but what you are reporting seems kind of excessive.  The lethargy thing isn't normal either for IBS. There shouldn't be any involuntary weight loss or elevated temperature either. I've got to tell you that getting diagnosed with IBS is not easy.  There are a lot of tests that should be performed to rule out other causes. And it is possible to have two or more conditions at the same time that are causing all your problems. There are some kind of strange edible things that can contribute to diarrhea including, for example, excess vitamin C or iron, some sugars (especially sugars used in diet products, chewing gum, etc.), fats, excessive alcohol, and even nicotine (from smoking).  Even though a person may have the diarrhea form, we still need fiber in our diets. I'm not trying to scare you because it might just be a minor problem, but why spend all the time experimenting on yourself and going through all the discomfort.  You could spend years and years trying to find a solution/reason by yourself.  Better off letting the doctors help us figure out what's going on. A fever should be considered an alarm. A fever is the sign of infection/inflammation, which isn't ibs but could be ibd. If it's just nausea, I've gotten that before with IBS even though it's not common. I only get the nausea with severe attacks. Even if you think you have ibs, you should still see a doctor. IBS has many symptoms, including those you mentioned. However, because it has so many symptoms, it also can look like colitis, Crohn’s, diverticulosis, and several others. The only way you can be certain is to get it diagnosed. You could have something else. I am having good luck with taking 500 mg of niacin a day...just make sure you get the flush free kind.