I've had spastic colon since I was about 15 or 16. I only got it when I ate Chili. Cramps, and immediate diarrhea. When I was pregnant with my first child, my pattern changed to severe cramps for about an hour before having diarrhea, then relief. So this happened occasionally. My doctor told me to watch out for lettuce and pepper. He was right. just one tiny sliver of jalepeno pepper will send me into intense spasms of cramping (childbirth like pains) for at least an hour - then diarrhea, then relief. Sometimes this happens 3 or 4 times continuously, before I get relief from cramping and pain. I'm like you with the volcano issue when I get nervous about going to the doctor or dentist. I could handle the spastic colon/IBS fairly well, until I got GERD and started taking PPIs for that. The PPIs irritates the spastic colon, and makes it worse. I've been having spastic cramps this morning and I took a Lortab 5(generic) and it does help with the spasms more than anthing I've taken before, and over the years - I've taken Donnatal, Bentyl,Levsin,Librax, and a host of other anti spasmodics that haven't helped. The best charcoal tablet I've ever taken is Charcoal Plus by Kramer Labs. I first bought it at Wal-Mart, they quit carrying it in my area, and now I order it over the internet. I'm out, so I need to order some now. My husband bought me some charcoal tabs at the health food place and they don't help at all. I get almost immediate relief from gas and bloating with Charcoal Plus and would reccommend it to anyone. It is a small enteric coated pill and will help with upper or lower gas. IBS (I prefer Spastic Colon instead of IBS for the name, because I can feel my insides spasming and twisting) it's a terrible disease causing so much pain and grief. Most times I feel like I have no life. It was not so bad when I was a younger woman, started getting worse in my mid forties, then got better after a few months, until I started taking PPI drugs. One good thing to balance out your constipation or diarrhea is Metamucil. I prefer the original (unflavored) because it thickens, and I know it helped me immensely at one time when I was having bad trouble with mucous and blood in the stool. It helps regulate the bowels. However I can't find the original anymore, only the flavored kind which I do not like. Good luck to you, I've been through a lot with IBS/Spastic Colon over the years, and have the misfortune of not getting much help from drugs. Today the Lortab has soothed the intense spasms I was having earlier, and I may actually be able to get ouside my house today.
I eat protien bars. They help me have the protein I need but can't keep down meat or vegs. Some are really great. Wal-mart carries several kinds. But some have sugar alcohols in them and they help things to keep moving smooothly.
TY for ur replies. I wish u all to find what works for u. Be well.