| IBSMay 20 2004 at 12:06 AM
No score for this post | Frances-Ruth (Login Frances-Ruth) |
Response to ibs |
| Hi Davina,
Well yes but it has got loads better recently. The Doc's identified Irritable Bowel years ago and I was almost constantly bloated. Then I stopped eating wheat for about three years and lost two inches off my waist within a week!!! (just the bloating doing down).
Sadly it came back again about a year ago and I was referred to a consultant gastroenerologist. Tests were run/blood was taken/barium swallowed - the whole thing and all was negative. But I was throwing up small amounts intermittently, was bloated, swollen, was sore all the time and then shame of all shames I had a couple of incontinent episodes too which really capped it off. I was scared to be too far from a toilet after that.
The PMDD was and always had been really bad (since I started my periods) and finally I became full on depressed/anxious. At my worst I was displaying agoraphobia and was suicidal. I never want to be there again.
So I have had the last 10 months in psychotherapy and been on Effexor which the gastroenerologist said would help the IBS (Doc's using antidepressants for IBS too!). I also can take Lorazepam when the anxiety hits.
The psychotherapy has massively helped my Irritable bowel. I get sore and swollen occasionally and usually just before my period. But I can eat whatever I like now and have no further incontinence/vomiting. Some pretty heavy stresses I had as a child had never been resolved so now that I have some more insight and better coping mechanisms I would say I don't have a problem with it any more.
I just wish that the same was true for the PMDD but no matter how much we go round and round the cognitive behavioural things just don't seem to break through that big black cloud that comes on once a month.
I'm, sorry you have Irritable Bowel - I think probably the brain chemicals and hormones affect that too, along with our mental health.
Oh and just finally because I know this has been a bit of a big reply I have just switched onto Prozac which I was taking for PMDD before I got really sick.
Best Regards
Frances-Ruth
This message has been edited by Frances-Ruth on May 21, 2004 2:54 PM
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