Diagnosed with IBS-D Today

[JayPup]

So I have been dealing with frequent diarrhea since my early teens. I'm now 24 years old. I had my gallbladder removed back in 2012 and that helped for a while, but I just kind of kept the problem a secret while I lived with my family as they knew about my diaper desires and would have assumed it was all some farce in an attempt to get diapers.

Well, I'm now happily married to a very accepting man, who did not bat an eye when I went full-time padding approximately two years ago. It was him that suggested I finally talk with my doctor. I kept a food log for the month of January and had eleven days where I had diarrhea, and of those days I had five genuine accidents. My doctor didn't seem all that concerned, he wanted me to try an elimination diet, which I have done before. I explained to my doctor that I have tried many different over the counter remedies ranging from Pepto, Immodium, IBguard, and tums. I also explained that I've tried taking fiber.

He said he would be more concerned if I was having diarrhea more often than not, and while I can see his point of view, for any 24-year-old relatively healthy male having bowel accidents multiple times a month is not normal. I guess I'm just perplexed. I thought at the very least my doctor would want to try me on prescription medication, instead, I need to try an elimination diet for three months and report back to him.

I know quite a few of you have been diagnosed with IBS-D and was wondering what if anything did you doctor recommend, or what the process was?

 

[RebeliousBrat]

So I have been dealing with frequent diarrhea since my early teens. I'm now 24 years old. I had my gallbladder removed back in 2012 and that helped for a while, but I just kind of kept the problem a secret while I lived with my family as they knew about my diaper desires and would have assumed it was all some farce in an attempt to get diapers.

Well, I'm now happily married to a very accepting man, who did not bat an eye when I went full-time padding approximately two years ago. It was him that suggested I finally talk with my doctor. I kept a food log for the month of January and had eleven days where I had diarrhea, and of those days I had five genuine accidents. My doctor didn't seem all that concerned, he wanted me to try an elimination diet, which I have done before. I explained to my doctor that I have tried many different over the counter remedies ranging from Pepto, Immodium, IBguard, and tums. I also explained that I've tried taking fiber.

He said he would be more concerned if I was having diarrhea more often than not, and while I can see his point of view, for any 24-year-old relatively healthy male having bowel accidents multiple times a month is not normal. I guess I'm just perplexed. I thought at the very least my doctor would want to try me on prescription medication, instead, I need to try an elimination diet for three months and report back to him.

I know quite a few of you have been diagnosed with IBS-D and was wondering what if anything did you doctor recommend, or what the process was?

Are you seeing a regular Dr or a gastroenterologist. I recommend see a gastroenterologist. The gi doc can actually look in there and see what is going on. I had a colonoscopy when I was 24.
Get off gluten. I have IBS and when I stop eating gluten, there was a big difference in my intestine and gut. They seem happy. Process food can cause inflammation and so can preservatives. No fry food no soda, dairy big no and cut down on the sugar. Find a way to manage stress

I wish you the best my padded friend.

 

[Minih]

I'd get a new doctor! IBS can be utterly crap, and if you're having regular diarrhoea that shouldn't be ignored. When my symptoms first started they were complicated by another condition (for which the medication made my IBS worse), but my GP arranged for blood tests and stool samples, physically examined me, tried a few different drugs, before referring me to a consultant. The hospital then did more blood tests and stool samples, a colonoscopy, ano-rectal ultrasound, ano-rectal mammometry, referred me to a dietician to see if it was food related, and tried prescription probiotics.

More recently, I've had all the above repeated, and also had a methane breath test (and have a hydrogen one scheduled for Monday), as well as a Sehcat study.

I'm told by my consultant that those are all the tests they can do, but they still haven't manage to work out why my bowels don't function properly.

At the risk of diagnosing via the internet, if you've had your gallbladder removed you are at a higher risk of bile acid malabsorption (diagnosed by a Sehcat study).

In terms of medication, the only thing I've found to be useful and /or not have debhilitating side-effects is immodium, of which I take up to eight a day (and is apparently fine in the long term - I've been taking it for about 15 years).

All doctors have their specialisms, but I've found that some doctors have been disinterested, whilst others have been extremely helpful. Don't try to play down your symptoms but explain how bad it can be and make them understand! Generally though, it may take several visits to the doctor to kick all this off - at one point I was going to the doctor every day.

Good luck.

 

[Eclectic]

IBS-D is a diagnoses of elimination (no pun intended) and considered ideopathic (no known cause). First, you need to see a gastroenterologist and get a colonoscopy to rule out more serious diseases. I am not a medical doctor, but 11 days of diarrhea out of 31 is not alarming and could be caused by any number of things (e.g. an intestinal illness).

Get off gluten. I have IBS and when I stop eating gluten, there was a big difference in my intestine and gut. They seem happy. Process food can cause inflammation and so can preservatives. No fry food no soda, dairy big no and cut down on the sugar. Find a way to manage stress

I think this is misinformation. I have had IBS-D for my entire life (diagnosed) and it is not related to gluten or dairy. The former is more of an issue for people with Crohns or colitis. The latter for people who are lactose intolerant. In me, there is a high correlation of fried, high fatty foods and an episode of IBS. Other things like caffeine and stress can also trigger an episode. Not saying those other things can cause diarrhea, but, if they do, then you most likely do not have IBS-D.

 

[RebeliousBrat]

Everybody symptoms are different. You are right.
the dairy part I got from my doctor she explain to me that dairy is more difficult to digest. But that's about my body type I'm only IBS the ibs-d. Before I was diagnosed with IBS , the doctor thought I had Crohn's disease. So gluten-free diet probably is the way to go for Crohn's disease or maybe colitis I don't know

 

[JayPup]

Thank you everyone. I'm trying an elimination diet right now. I'll see what it is that really makes things worse and what I can actually eat.

 

[RebeliousBrat]

Thank you everyone. I'm trying an elimination diet right now. I'll see what it is that really makes things worse and what I can actually eat.

Maybe do an allergy test too. You ll never know unless you get checked