Aa
highschool is a nightmare with these IBS symptoms
It's my freshman year in high school. I started off doing great! Unfortunately, a few days later, I started getting bad cramps, constipation, gas, and many symptoms of IBS. I've been doing some research, and I can relate to all of the symptoms. I usually feel fine until my first class of the day. I start getting sharp pains in my stomach. I've almost given up on eating during the school day. I have little to no breakfast, so instead of getting gas or feeling bloated, it makes me feel totally empty. My stomach starts to growl loudly in class, and its really embarrassing to keep myself from passing gas. Most people would find it funny, but it's taking a big toll on school for me. So far I've made it through 3rd hour each day, and by the time it's lunch, I'm starved. Since I started getting sick, I've cut down on eating, by alot. I'm afraid to eat anything until I'm home. Then, it's my WORST class. Algebra. I am terrible at math, and I can never concentrate. With that in mind, my stomach is also the worst after I eat! I usually take pepto bismol during the day every few hours. But it doesn't stop me from having to pass gas, it just makes it a little easier on my stomach. I'm left waiting it out until p.e, hoping that some running will help. It usually does. Around the end of the day, it's mainly stomach pains for me. There already have been so many times I've wanted to get up and leave class, because I can't stand sitting there, in complete silence, with those issues! I'm always nervous that I may embarrass myself or come across as an unnattractive person, or just disgusting. I try to be alone as much as possible because it's the only way I'm comfortable. I hate my body...I have been absent 2 days within this first month, and sat out of one class. I can hardly make it through each day. My parents need money, so I don't let myself call home and leave...But I need help so badly, I don't know what to do. I need to get out of school. I'm trying to convince my mom to let me take online classes. But my dad doesn't like the idea. I need to convince them to let me leave school...Please help with any suggestions or advice? I can't take it anymore. I'm not going to any homecoming activites this week. My birthday's on tuesday (turning 15) and I'll spend it at home. And im so far behind in school.
My problems started at about your age. The best thing to do is just keep something small with whatever medicine is a quick fix for when you are at school or what not and out and about. If you need to take a break or go to the bathroom, just go, don't worry about being embarassed, who cares ya know. The more you can just be chill and go with the flow of the day and not think about that, the better things will be in all ways. I took hyoscamine, it didn't work so I understand. You should eat breakfast just have like some oatmeal and a granola bar and NO MILK. Try just soymilk for your calcium. No milk and avoiding dairy will be helpful.
I would definitely carry a couple symethicone chewables with you all the time to help you with the discomfort and gas. They taste fine and work almost instantly, they would definitely help you through your day. Then I would see a doctor for treatment.
Thankyou so much, it means a ton! I will see what I can do. Those magnesium citrate tablets sound helpful! And I definately would hate to have to get anything really expensive for my IBS. D:
Oh and my results! Well my mom got a call and told me there wasn't anything bad and I just have to continue taking my meds, eating healthy, and hoping for the best. My next appointment was with a GI pediatrician, but I'm not sure if I'm still going because my parents are trying to get my health insurance back, and I'm not really sure how that's going.
You are very young to have this hit you so hard.
For me I had terrible, debilitating constipation when I was young. I didn't get Celiac symptoms until I was older. Talking about digestion was discouraged when I was young. People thought it was being rude and self-absorbed and a symptom of hypochondria. Now I know it is being responsible to manage the problem.
I hope you can get tested for food allergies. With gluten allergy/Celiac disease, you need to be eating gluten for the test to be accurate. If you quit gluten and feel better, then you will want to know if it is gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease, so you would have to eat gluten for a few months again. This would cause you to feel even worse in my experience. So if I were in your shoes, I would get the food allergy testing done first.
For symptomatic relief sooner from the constipation, try Miralax (or one of the generic forms). You can get it at Walmart or any drug of grocery store. Start with one capful in water. It seems to work best in water, but I have also put it in juice. It is almost flavorless and is clear. It kind of makes the water taste like distilled water very faintly, which isn't bad. Drink it fairly quickly. Do this when you are going to be home since you don't know what dosage will work best for you. One dose may not be enough to get things moving, but you can use a glycerin suppository also You would need to use this once or twice a day, and you can up the amount if needed. I've used up to 2 capfuls in a glass of water. If after you get things moving it is too watery, but it doesn't work to decrease the dose, then add Metamucil to thicken the consistency of the movement. Another thing that I use is magnesium citrate tablets. Most people are deficient and it speeds up the colon.
I hope you can find something that works for you without using the really expensive drug I also have to use - Amitiza. It costs hundreds of dollars every month.
For me I had terrible, debilitating constipation when I was young. I didn't get Celiac symptoms until I was older. Talking about digestion was discouraged when I was young. People thought it was being rude and self-absorbed and a symptom of hypochondria. Now I know it is being responsible to manage the problem.
I hope you can get tested for food allergies. With gluten allergy/Celiac disease, you need to be eating gluten for the test to be accurate. If you quit gluten and feel better, then you will want to know if it is gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease, so you would have to eat gluten for a few months again. This would cause you to feel even worse in my experience. So if I were in your shoes, I would get the food allergy testing done first.
For symptomatic relief sooner from the constipation, try Miralax (or one of the generic forms). You can get it at Walmart or any drug of grocery store. Start with one capful in water. It seems to work best in water, but I have also put it in juice. It is almost flavorless and is clear. It kind of makes the water taste like distilled water very faintly, which isn't bad. Drink it fairly quickly. Do this when you are going to be home since you don't know what dosage will work best for you. One dose may not be enough to get things moving, but you can use a glycerin suppository also You would need to use this once or twice a day, and you can up the amount if needed. I've used up to 2 capfuls in a glass of water. If after you get things moving it is too watery, but it doesn't work to decrease the dose, then add Metamucil to thicken the consistency of the movement. Another thing that I use is magnesium citrate tablets. Most people are deficient and it speeds up the colon.
I hope you can find something that works for you without using the really expensive drug I also have to use - Amitiza. It costs hundreds of dollars every month.
hi hun did you get the results from the ct scan i when back to the doctors and was given glycerin suppositories for the constpation thats all they do is give me laxitives but they dont work they just give me stumache pains and if they do work its only while im taking them as soon as i stop i get the pains back the doctors havent given me any test they just said you have ibs eat healthy where are you from ?
Awh, im very sorry :( I hope things start looking up for you. And I have constipation too. I had a CT scan like last week (i think), it was an interesting experience..Had to wait in the hospital for 2 hours, and I was starved. My mom decided to take me in the gift shop, where I nearly cried looking at all the candies and chocolates, stuffed animals and awareness jewelry. I wasn't allowed to eat, and I didn't have money.:/ The scan was..weird, lol. It wasnt a good time :P Now they're making me go to a GI pediatrician at a childrens hospital..I'm not looking forward to it.
Anyways, I hope you start feeling better. :) I'd love to know more about you and how you're doing.
And if any of you would like to add me on facebook. i'd be happy to talk! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100002509255088
Anyways, I hope you start feeling better. :) I'd love to know more about you and how you're doing.
And if any of you would like to add me on facebook. i'd be happy to talk! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100002509255088
hi i know exactly how you feel because im the same that pains are realy bad i have bad constipation aswell my doctors useless wont send me for test anyway hun keep us updaited
I eat what they give us at school, and I try whatever I can, avoid dairy as much as possible. Haven't been eating half as much as I used to, but I'm starting to experiment more with different foods. Much less meat and more fruit. I eat crackers when i want to snack. I've been drinking vitamin water and apple juice lately. I'm taking my medication of *reads label*..."Hyoscamine Sulfate Tab". Whatever that is..I also take other over the counter medicines for IBS symptoms it won't cover. My mom had me on gas medicine 2 days before my appointment, and it worked fantastically. I didnt get much of a chance to use it, before I was prescribed to this, which isn't very effective on me.
Anyways..Thankyou so much for all the advice! It's very helpful. I (with the help of my mother) have talked with my P.E, algebra teacher, and english teachers about my "stomach problems", which makes me feel embarrassed and disgusting. I feel like I disgust everyone, even myself. I still really wish I could take online classes. Im falling too far behind. To say im stressing out is an understatement. :/
And last, im sorry I wrote so much! :P
Anyways..Thankyou so much for all the advice! It's very helpful. I (with the help of my mother) have talked with my P.E, algebra teacher, and english teachers about my "stomach problems", which makes me feel embarrassed and disgusting. I feel like I disgust everyone, even myself. I still really wish I could take online classes. Im falling too far behind. To say im stressing out is an understatement. :/
And last, im sorry I wrote so much! :P
Can you tell us what you usually eat in a day and the times? Do you mind telling us what medication they gave you? Do you take anything else...like laxatives, etc?
Avoid High fat foods, spicy foods, dairy products, caffeine, and gas causing foods like onions, cabbage, beans.
Eat foods that may reduce the chance of spasm, such as fruits and vegetables (preferably the ones with lots of fiber), whole grains and other high-fiber foods. Eat smaller meals more often. Eat slowly and try not to swallow air (also avoid chewing gum, makes you swallow air) and drink plenty of water.
You can also ask your doctor for anti gas medication.
To decrease the stress, get some help with your classes. Talk to your teachers. Try relaxation techniques.
Co
Avoid High fat foods, spicy foods, dairy products, caffeine, and gas causing foods like onions, cabbage, beans.
Eat foods that may reduce the chance of spasm, such as fruits and vegetables (preferably the ones with lots of fiber), whole grains and other high-fiber foods. Eat smaller meals more often. Eat slowly and try not to swallow air (also avoid chewing gum, makes you swallow air) and drink plenty of water.
You can also ask your doctor for anti gas medication.
To decrease the stress, get some help with your classes. Talk to your teachers. Try relaxation techniques.
Co
Thankyou so much! I've gone to the doctor, and apparently I have to get a catscan next week, and do a few more tests. I honestly don't know anything about what I should be doing about all this..I've been taking my new medication for IBS. They haven't said anything about me having it, which I think is kinda weird..Umm..Other than that, it's been getting worse as far as I can tell. I can hardly eat, mainly cause I'm afraid to eat. When I do, I get gassy inside and it feels like everything just sits inside me. When I go to the bathroom, it's usually not that I have to 'go'. I just can't bare sitting in class with the gas, the pain, and the hunger..My meds help a bit, I guess. But i feel like every day is an accident waiting to happen.
It sounds like stress might be contributing to your IBS problems. Maybe if you dropped one of your classes, or got a tutor (a lot of school provide tutors free of charge) your stress level might be reduced. Also I agree that probiotics are a good idea. Also you should try getting more exercising and making sure you are drinking enough water. If you aren't able to eat breakfast in the morning, make sure you drink a full glass of something (milk, juice, or something else that has calories) before leaving for school. You can also try eliminating all lactose from your diet to see if that helps your symptoms.
I am so sorry you're having this problem. This should be a fun time for you.
Talk to your parents. You need to trust that they will know what to do. But they can't read your mind. When something is wrong you need to tell them.
It's a fact that poor nutrition lowers your ability to learn and worrying about it so much can make stomach problems worse.
Peptobismol contains aspirin so it's not a good thing to take on a regular basis, especially on an empty stomach. Peptobismol is not supposed to be taken for long periods of time because it can cause...
Anxiety
constipation (severe)
diarrhea (severe or continuing)
stomach pain (severe or continuing)
feeling depressed
All the things you're having. I suggest stopping the peptobismol to see if your symptoms go away. Probiotics should help normalize your system and eliminate the gas. But don't take anything without first checking with your parents!
Hang in there. It may seem like the end of the world to you but this too will pass.
Co
Talk to your parents. You need to trust that they will know what to do. But they can't read your mind. When something is wrong you need to tell them.
It's a fact that poor nutrition lowers your ability to learn and worrying about it so much can make stomach problems worse.
Peptobismol contains aspirin so it's not a good thing to take on a regular basis, especially on an empty stomach. Peptobismol is not supposed to be taken for long periods of time because it can cause...
Anxiety
constipation (severe)
diarrhea (severe or continuing)
stomach pain (severe or continuing)
feeling depressed
All the things you're having. I suggest stopping the peptobismol to see if your symptoms go away. Probiotics should help normalize your system and eliminate the gas. But don't take anything without first checking with your parents!
Hang in there. It may seem like the end of the world to you but this too will pass.
Co
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