Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Nausea

Question:
I have now been diagnosed with IBS along with my FMS, etc.  Two weeks ago, I was so dehydrated from vomiting and diarrhea that I ended up in the e.r. and had 2 liters of fluids iv. The dr. told me to take Citracel for regularity and gave me propulsid for my stomach.  He said my stomach is slow (I vomit up to 4 to 6 hours after a meal) and told me to eat smaller, more frequent meals. The propulsid seems to have helped somewhat but I am still experiencing nausea and some vomiting.  And, one of the side effects of this drug is diarrhea, which has already been my biggest problem there. I hate this new added problem and the crummy way it feels. Does anyone here have any suggestions?

Answer:
I have FMS and Irritable Bowel Syndrome too. The only thing I can tell you is what I do.  I stay away, completely, from any dairy products. I've always thought  irritable bowel only produced severe stomach spasms. I couldn't even take a sip of water without getting terrible pains. Are you sure the vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration isn't being caused by something else. I'm not so familiar wth propulsid.  I think it is newer. What you need is a drug to regulate you on a daily basis, such as Levsin (time release) and a drug for accute attacks such as Levsin sublingual.  I used to take bentyl daily and bella donna alkoloids for accute attacks-but after a few years I had problems with them. For nausea--you also need a good suppository such as Tigon or Compazine. For accute attacks. I have a nausea defense system in place-now that I figured out my bodies patterns.  First defense is to use cold compresses on my forehead and the back of my neck. Then drink ginger ale with ginger extract drops-if that doesn’t work-you now have something in your tummy to be able to better use the suppository for nausea.  This all happens in about 5 minutes-you have to be prepared and that often means putting a suppository into a plastic bag ahead of time-they are a to get out of the wrapper. For the cramps of IBS-increase the fiber in your diet slowly. Citracell is better absorbed and for women, it is supposed to be better for our systems, than other fiber supplements. Some ppl have found additional relief using MSM--I'm not sure what MSM is doing for my tummy--I'm just too sick right now to figure anything out (I have some kind of infections--not from fibro of IBS). I also take licorice root extract on a daily basis-I think it lessens the severity of acute attacks.  And I use marijuana-I can’t eat with out it-and I lost a lot of weight, even with it.  I am legal under calif prop 215-for medical use.  Pot is the greatest thing for nausea-even acting faster than a suppository. Sometimes my nausea is so bad, I need all of these suggestions. And one really big thing, you need to do-is to start eliminating foods, one at a time-to see if a certain food is causing or aggravating your IBS.  For me--it is dairy products--all of them--and my drs have told me I'm actually allergic to them--not lactose intolerant. I'm sure I've forgotten something.  I don’t think so well when I get sick--and I haven’t been sick in so very long-I'm a major baby about it right now. This gives you a really good start.  I'm rather disappointed with your dr though-the kind of IBS you describe needs a lot more than propulsid.  Isn’t that an ant-acid?  Or for GERD?  Not for IBS--but I can’t remember. IBS can be as bad as Tresa described.  I can’t remember how many trips to the ER I've had.  I've lost weight, gained weight and it is now written that I am medically anorexic-whatever that means. It is important to understand that IBS is also highly affected by stress-and the more you can reduce your stress, the better interventions will work. I suggest to you, Lois, that you did not have IBS-you are simply lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy.  *If* your IBS is cured simply from refraining from dairy products. I suggest you read, Foods That Fight Pain, by Neil Barnard.  He explains how to eliminate foods one at a time to see if they are triggers for IBS or other symptoms.  IBS is really only a symptom, not a disease process in itself. My IBS is of different nature, but I have found that avoiding wheat, dairy, red meat (even pork,) caffeine as much as you can, carbonation and sugar is very helpful. Eating raw fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water keeps things from getting too far one way or another. Obviously, if those foods are too hard on you, by all means forget I said it. Here's a weird one; I try to sit with my tummy tucked in to strengthen the muscles (some yoga exercises do the same thing) and try not to sit for long periods of time. If it helps, it's good.