My son has IBS. It's tough thing to deal with as you don't know what each day will bring and staying close to a bathroom is a way of life. There a several things that will cause a flare-up, but stress and certain foods are the main culprits.

My son's gastroenterologist prescribed a med that helps to reduce inflammation and along with that a large of dose of fiber and a good probiotic. Initially I was surprised at the fiber because of the diarrhea issue that affects IBS patients, but it has been of great help for my son. In all the research that I have done, fiber seems to be one of the reccommendations as well.

My son stays away from spicy foods and also caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant. His main trigger is stress, so biofeedback has been very helpful as well.

Take care and I hope you feel better soon!

I've heard of coconut/coconut macaroons being a home remedy? Have you heard of that? You might want to research on the Internet. I'm sorry about your having this problem.

I'm in the starting chocks, ready to run out of here quickly after I make my contribution - and we all make the contributions referred to ... just not as often ... or urgently, for most of us.

I thought that the words that go with the title might be, "I Beget Shi!" ...

... but maybe "Instantly Begets Shi!" might be more relevant in these instances.

o j

I have Crohns/ulcerative colitis so I have a bit of an idea what u r going thru

STRESS is the biggest problem-try to keep relatively calm,and so will the colon/bowel

Coffee,altho I tend to drink a few cups a day is not good-neither are certain fruits,which I love-anything "green"-that is,cabbage,peas(great fiber source tho)broccoli-anything "gassy" stay away from if u can

Popcorn is a great source of fiber as are bean sprouts,and strangely enough,they seem to help me.

Watch you milk intake-it could really be a killer-along with these bowel disorders quite often,is a gluten or dairy intolerance-so,try to avoid them

Due to numerous drug allergies,I cannot take the recommended drugs for this disease-however,one narcotic that really works well for me is Lomotil....Good luck!

My husband has suffered from IBS for the past 40+ years.

The advice above is good--stress, spice, caffeine, etc are all good things to avoid. But what most drs don't bother to mention to IBS sufferers is that SUGAR is a major irritant to the digestive system. About 40 years ago, DH had a terrible stretch with IBS. He lost 40-50 pounds without trying. I was giving him low-fat, dairy-free, bland foods, and he was still having horrible problems with the condition. To keep his energy up, though, I was making things like angelfood cake for him, he was drinking sweet tea. He discovered that he could eat a panzorotti (fried pizza turnover) with no problem, but a glass of sweetened tea would bring him to his knees. We then discovered that there is some evidence that sugar is just as much a component in the condition as the more well-known triggers.

Look, it can't hurt to try cutting way back on sweet treats and drinks for a few weeks. Give it a try, and see what happens.

Have to ask, though--you have been tested for everything else, right? IBS is really a non-diagnosis, the condition you're left with when everything else has been ruled out. I'ts so important to make sure that what you're suffering from is actually IBS and not something else more serious.

DH has been doing very well at managing his IBS for many years now. He no longer stresses over the fact that he has it--which goes a long way toward helping keep things in check--and he knows what he can eat, and when, and he doesn't let outbreaks bother him, he just copes.

Ont Gal, Lomotil is not a narcotic. It has been available over the counter in the US for about 15 years, under the generic name of loperimide. It's very helpful for digestive upsets caused by a wide variety of things.

Can't comment on the U.S. availability. Imodium is the brand name for the generic Loperamide. Lomotil is entirely different and is by prescription only in Canada.

I really feel for you. I had the same uncontrollable symptoms as IBS resulting from a side effect of Metformin - the standard first line treatment for diabetes 2. After dealing with progressive issues for three years, I couldn't do it any longer. Lack of bowel control certainly makes you reclusive and it got so bad that Imodium was ineffective. I had to carry spare clothing everywhere and still encountered embarrassing situations.

Azzalea, interesting info regarding the sugar. I will pass that along to my son. Thanks!

Jenson13 how were you diagnosed? tests? I forgot to mention that my son was diagnosed through an endoscope as well as a colonoscopy. He had quite a bit of inflammation and scarring.