I developed IBS

[Mighty Thor]

IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Well OK...as some of you know I've been on a strict diet. As of date I've gone from 237lbs down to 205lbs in 12 weeks. No I didn't get to compete in Bodybuilding because my wife was hospitalized for 5 days. But the fundraising event went on anyway, but didn't really do too well on it. I may shoot compete in May 15, if not Sept. 11 if nothing gets in my way that is.

Anyway...my diet is a very strict and I'm working out 3 times a day. Weight training during the day, aerobic in the afternoon, and dynamic tension in the evening.

I started having bad jitters and light headedness. I felt tired all the time. I knew I lost the weight too fast (about 5-7 lbs a week) and my training was too much, which explains for this condition -- so I thought.

I ended going to Urgent Care a couple of times because I was having chest pain. Second time they sent me to the Emergency room. At first they said my heart was beating too slow at 48 to 52 beats a minute at rest and they thought that's abnormal. Then a Cardiologist saw me and said that my heart beats low because I'm athletic. So they ruled out heart problem.

Next they checked my blood, poop, urine, x-ray my chest, and such and everything was normal. So they ruled out my strict dieting and exercise.

Now they've asked me about my background and what's going on with me. They found out that I have IBS due to my high stress. I told them I'm OK with stress and they told me that I'm denying it. They said that my wife's condition, work or lack of it, and money has caused me to be stressed out. That explains for my jitters and light headedness.

When I realized about this stress my jitters and light headedness went away almost immediately, but as of now I have problems with my stomach and intestine. I can't do #2 without taking some kind of strong laxative and my stomach is getting bloated even when I drink water. I'm taking all these pills now for stomach acid, bloatedness, constipacion, and diarrhea. I have to see a Psych Doctor now to get a better handle on my stress.

As of now I've stopped working out and allow myself to eat more and rest. This sucks big time.

[ssms5411]

Re: I developed IBS

I here you man, sorry to hear that, I have been taking fiber pills for awhile now and they have been helping , watch the pysch dr.s and the medication they prescribe it can make you gain weight like it did me , 40 Lbs in 2 months. Until I stopped taking it on my own ,I'm still trying to get the weight off, since I can't do anything like running its hard to get the weight back off. I'm going on a diet starting tomorrow and wil be going to the store to get alot of bottled water and heathly snack foods, which what I need. I see my new PCP tomorrow and hope to get my referals for pain mangement and for my heart closure. I stopped taking my Warfin for 2 weeks now so my INR should be normal to have the procedure. Edgar PM me when after you get whatever med they give you, I can tell you the side effects and stuff I have seen first hand from working for Behavorial health as a Pysch Tech for 4 years. good luck to ya.

[kristen]

Re: I developed IBS

well i think that this is a first for this board lol . i swear i wish i lived around you. you have a stong work out ethic. we would push each other well. lol. i myself have B.B.B. (bounching baby boy) took me from 138 date of delivery to 102 as of today. lol. but thats normal weight for me.

all i have to say is take the activia challenge. you will be verrrrrry suprised. few people in my family have ibs and it's the only thing that works for them. should fit into your diet perfect

[venom3300]

Re: I developed IBS

i was born with IBS... passed down from my dad, oh the joy. anyway you kind of learn to live with it to some extent. stress and nerves will make it worse no doubt.

best advice i can give you is poop every morning before you leave home.... seriously

EDIT: i hate to tell you this but no matter what they say, exercise makes it worse.....
also like T-mill said, try to control it with diet, i dont take any meds on the average day only when its really bad or im traveling.

[T-Mill]

Re: I developed IBS

try to keep your treatment as natural as possible... try things like Kristen said, and others that involve natural ingredients... meds aren't always the best route to take, and for IBS, they are definitely over-presrcibed... and believe it or not, tobacco can actually help with IBS, but its side effects are obvious... if you can limit yourself to only one a day, which I don't think would be a problem for you since it takes enormous amounts of self-control to diet the way you have been... then you might try that if other attempts fail...

[kristen]

Re: I developed IBS

drink one cup of coffee and than eat your activia...than clear a path to the bathroom

[marvelrunner]

Re: I developed IBS

Dude, hope you feel better soon. I hate having stomach problems. Just do what kristen said take the activia and see if that helps. good luck.

[02silverbird]

Re: I developed IBS

Sorry to hear that man. My fiancee has it as well. It's not fun. She does however have a lot of info and books to help you decide what to eat and all. If you want I can have you talk to her if you would like. Just shoot me a pm. I know that IBS is not just a simple stomach pain there is a lot more involved. Taking certain things can irritate and can sometimes make it worse. Last place you want to be is at the ER.
Again let me know if you would like to talk to her and I'm sure she wouldn't mind at all.
Take care man and sorry to hear that

[12secondv6]

Re: I developed IBS

Ugh, I'm sorry to hear this. I hope you get better.

I can definately understand stress.....it is a very tough thing to handle.

There are alot of things you can do to work on stress relief and it seems like you are on the right track.

I wanted to give you a couple of small idea's that helped me with my stress - due to my neck/ back injuries, I had to explore non physical things such as aroma/ herbal therapy etc.

I have two shoulder wraps from the below site:

https://naturecreation.com/cgi-bin/shop/commerce.cgi

I alternate between them and keep one in the freezer and one I microwave for 2.5 minutes.

I also found a small atomizer from brookstone which I add a couple drops of lavendar which helps.

I also have various candles etc. and I keep those going throughout the day/ night.

I also switched to a lotion that is specifically for stress relief - it helps

I know.... most of my idea's seem a bit non masculine..... but I'm ok with that cause they helped me.

I also toyed with the idea of acupuncture..... but never found someone that I was comfortable with.

I hope some of these idea's help - take care.

[Mighty Thor]

Re: I developed IBS

Thanks guys.

My problem is that my large intestine is not functioning right. Something stopped it from contracting properly. It has nothing to do with food. They said it's a brain and gut thing. I had my CT scan today on my stomach and I'll have my colonoscopy and endoscopy soon. I had to drink 2 12oz. of those drinks that taste like Ben Gay in order to clean my gut and then insert a dye in me. Hopefully I'll get a better pic of what is going on with me. I'm tired of being tired all the time now. I can't workout, eat properly, go to the bathroom on a regular basis, or even go for a long drive.

Steve, they gave me anti-depressed, but after taking it once I stopped. It felt like I was drunk and I couldn't think properly. My heart was beating 35 per minute. This was pretty strong stuff. It scared the heck out of me. My doctor told me to stop.

Kristen, you'll probably kick my butt. There's less gravity pull on you. While I on the other hand have to work with gravity. lol

Tmill, Marvelrunner, and Venom.. thanks for the advise. I've been eating activia and taking probiotic supplements.

James, I'm glad you found your ways to relax. I'll give those a try too.

02Silverbird, I may take you up on that offer. I'm sure your lady can give me some advise.

[marvelrunner]

Re: I developed IBS

Hope everything goes well with what is coming up, and that you get better soon.

[T-Mill]

Re: I developed IBS

Thanks guys.

My problem is that my large intestine is not functioning right. Something stopped it from contracting properly. It has nothing to do with food. They said it's a brain and gut thing. I had my CT scan today on my stomach and I'll have my colonoscopy and endoscopy soon. I had to drink 2 12oz. of those drinks that taste like Ben Gay in order to clean my gut and then insert a dye in me. Hopefully I'll get a better pic of what is going on with me. I'm tired of being tired all the time now. I can't workout, eat properly, go to the bathroom on a regular basis, or even go for a long drive.

Steve, they gave me anti-depressed, but after taking it once I stopped. It felt like I was drunk and I couldn't think properly. My heart was beating 35 per minute. This was pretty strong stuff. It scared the heck out of me. My doctor told me to stop.

Kristen, you'll probably kick my butt. There's less gravity pull on you. While I on the other hand have to work with gravity. lol

Tmill, Marvelrunner, and Venom.. thanks for the advise. I've been eating activia and taking probiotic supplements.

James, I'm glad you found your ways to relax. I'll give those a try too.

02Silverbird, I may take you up on that offer. I'm sure your lady can give me some advise.

You mean you didn't like the Barium milkshake? lol

If it is a brain to gut thing, then a cigarette a day could actually help... without getting too detailed... The way a Nerve communicates with a muscle cell involves a nerve ending at the end of the nerve (duh) and a terminal surface on the muscle cell... The nerve releases a chemical, and receptors on the terminal surface of the receive that chemical setting into action a chain of events that lead to muscle contraction... The intestines are made up of smooth muscle whose terminal surfaces contain "Nicotinic" receptors. there can be a few causes for your IBS, but one may be a lack of availability of Nicotine.

Different ways that it can be affected:
1. not enough nicotine available
2. not enough or poorly functioning nicotinic receptors
3. rapid re-uptake of nicotine by terminal surface...

only problem no. 2 would not benefit from an intake of nicotine...


This is why smokers like to smoke a cig while they're sittin on the pot... lol

[Mighty Thor]

Re: I developed IBS

You mean you didn't like the Barium milkshake? lol

If it is a brain to gut thing, then a cigarette a day could actually help... without getting too detailed... The way a Nerve communicates with a muscle cell involves a nerve ending at the end of the nerve (duh) and a terminal surface on the muscle cell... The nerve releases a chemical, and receptors on the terminal surface of the receive that chemical setting into action a chain of events that lead to muscle contraction... The intestines are made up of smooth muscle whose terminal surfaces contain "Nicotinic" receptors. there can be a few causes for your IBS, but one may be a lack of availability of Nicotine.

Different ways that it can be affected:
1. not enough nicotine available
2. not enough or poorly functioning nicotinic receptors
3. rapid re-uptake of nicotine by terminal surface...

only problem no. 2 would not benefit from an intake of nicotine...


This is why smokers like to smoke a cig while they're sittin on the pot... lol

That sounds like a great advise Tommy, but I think I will wait for my doctor. I've never smoked in my life and don't want too. If I could take it in a pill form I would rather have that.

If feels like I'm dying right now. My body feels soft and I got a big belly. But I'm forcing myself to be more active and positive. I can't believe I'm preoccupied about crap.