Dealing With IBS

[BabiGayPimp]

I thought I could post about this, but it's too personal; too embarrassing. especially for a gay man...

 

[Telstra]

i don't know what IBS is until i googled:

Irritable bowel syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS or spastic colon) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration ...

 

[soulseeker]

Drink a lot of water will help. At least in my experience.

 

[lostnfound]

Don't have much experience/knowledge about this. I'm sure someone else can chime in.

Perhaps you can manage it by adjusting your diet like eliminating certain foods that trigger this? I dunno, maybe you can do a quick Google search on it.

Good luck.

 

[freefall]

Stress is the main aggressor and precipitator. In a more friendly language (sorry; my habit ) the symptoms usually appear when you are subjected to mental stress.

Relax and don't think too much; that's the key. But when the symptoms recurs, antacids might help.

 

[KaraBulut]

IBS isn't something to be embarassed about. It is very common and you would be surprised how many people we see who come in with digestive complaints who are diagnosed with IBS.

The first question when we see asian, Black or mediterrean patients is to eliminate the possibility of lactose intolerance.

The other things we ask about are intolerance of grain additives in foods- particularly in the US where wheat, corn or soy are added to almost all processed foods. There are quite a few people who are developing allergies to grains because they are exposed to "fillers" that have been added to fast foods and prepared foods.

When these causes and the possibility of Crohn's disease, etc are eliminated, then it becomes a matter of symptom management.

 

[LostVegas]

You should look into the GLUTEN free diet books that are out there...lots of peeps that get diagnosed with OBS really have just have bad reactions to Gluten...GOOGLE Elizabeth Hasselback from the VIEW and read her story in dealing with this....hope you feel better...BRIAN

 

[Red Storm]

gluten free products are great, try Quinoa, I passed on a Quinoa recipe to a friend hwo has this and she realyl appreciated.

Whole foods has some natural products you may want to check out.

 

[3nipples]

I think the OP isn't so much asking about his health, but more about anal sex and cleanliness with IBS.

 

[NewStart]

Are you a member on http://www.helpforibs.com/

I similar anxieties when i got diagnosed about 5 years back, but then once you manage it, life is absolutely normal.

Look up the advice on the website, it has helped thousands of people. For now, stop eating or drinking the following:
Coffee
Egg (yolks)
MIlk (go with soy milk)
Alchohol (drink moderately)
Spicy food (avoid chinese, thai and indian)
Avoid whole grain (yeah, this sounds counter-intuitive but it works)

And yeah, start excercising, its really helps reduce stress - Follow the above advice, and you'd be all set within a couple of weeks.

And yeah, i have sex like 4 times a week with my bf....so life does get better

 

[KaraBulut]

Isn't this really Krohn's disease?

No, Crohn's and IBS are distinct and separate diseases.

 

[justright25]

They are just similar diseases that affect people. Both can be brought on suddenly due to surgeries or other traumatic events. "A true pain to deal with!"

 

[KaraBulut]

Ok thanks - I thought there was a relation between the two. It is a big health concern all over this area.

What can be confusing is that we teach about these diseases under the general category of "Irritable Bowel Diseases"- syndromes such as celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohns, et al, all fall into this category.

The difference between Crohn's and IBS is best explained as Crohn's is a specific disease, where IBS is a syndrome that we diagnose when we can't figure out exactly what the problem is.

Crohn's is an autoimmune disease where the immune system begins attacking different organs in the body. It is most often associated with the colon but it can affect the skin, the joints, the eye and the entire GI system from mouth to anus. A biopsy of the colon would show inflammation and damage to the the full thickness of the colon wall. This is why many people with Crohns end up having surgery- the damage is so extensive that they develop holes in their colon or parts of the intestine join together to form passages called fistulas.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) doesn't have a specific test and is usually limited to the GI tract although it may be a symptom of a larger disease process. There's no changes that would be apparent on a biopsy. People with IBS have problems with the motility of the bowel. They have a tendency toward cycles of diarrhea and constipation. Sometimes the problem is diagnosed as a specific food allergy or digestive problem like sprue, celiac disease or lactose intolerance. But when all other casues are eliminated, it's labeled as "IBS" and the symptoms are managed.

 

[ericwhitney]

I think the OP isn't so much asking about his health, but more about anal sex and cleanliness with IBS.

there are a lot of guys who just don't have regular bowel movements, for all kinds of reasons, including IBS. their stools are loose, and their bowel seems to start filling up again as soon as they empty it (as opposed to regular dudes whose bowels stay empty for quite a while). they can also have a hard time controlling farting and shitting when a dude is pounding them since the sensations are so similar.

taking an enema immediately before sex can help, but only for a while. as with all things sexual, you're going to have to talk it over with your lover so he knows going in that you might get a little sloppy. the good news is that plenty of guys are grown-ups about it and don't really mind if they like you.

the bad news is that if your main sexual outlet is hookup sites, it's going to introduce a level of reality into the conversation that a lot of people on there just don't like to think about as they create perfect ideal sexual encounter in their heads. but springing a surprise and saying "whoops" is probably not the way to go on this either.

 

[conrad]

Get a second opinion. I was sent home with pills for a spastic colon; four days later I was in hospital being worked over some more. Finally, after more days they opened me up and found my burst appendix..

Doesn't create much in the way of confidence in the medical experts: and all this in a hospital with a great reputation.

Keep good records of your symptoms and insist that the docs listen to what you tell them.