IBS after

I had terrible diarrhea before my surgery.  It did get a bit better after but now I am about 10 years out and am pretty much back to the dirarrhea, stomach cramps etc.  I lost 150, gained 100 back and recently lost 50.  I am quite disappointed because I did not think it would be possible to even gain that much back.  I recently had a colonoscopy to rule out other problems but it was fine.  The doctor pretty much stated that I have to learn to live with it.  Well I have lived with it most of my life.  Can I really not hope to get any better than this?  I can't go anywhere if there is not a bathroom nearby and eating out is a nightmare for me.  Does anyone else have this problem?

I only have problems when I eat too much fat or sugar alcohols, which is not unusual after RNY. Conditions like this can typically be controlled or at least improved by avoiding food that cause problems. Another common culprit is dairy. And it is very possible to gain back all of the weight you lose if you continue to eat simple carbs or drink your calories. Keeping the weight off is a life-long challenge.

If you would be willing to share a list of the things you typically eat, people on here would be more than happy to give you more specific suggestions.

if you are on a very clean diet - limiting carbs, sugars, etc - then you may need to look into SIBO... there is treatment for that.... antibiotics - that your doc can prescribe for you... 

But - if you eat sugars, carbs, Sugar alcohols, or foods that can cause runs - then you need to learn to deal with that. Even that far out - you may developed lactose intolerance or food allergies.. . try very strict food elimination diet.  

When I was dealing with pain and cramping - I went  on a very restrictive diet : cooked chicken, some organic . cooked veggies..  I ate that 4 times a day.. for a week... not a lot... just enough to help with hunger. Then I slowly introduced some cooked eggs, butter. Later I started introducing one extra food every 2 days... I was able to find out what caused my problems... 

google FODMAP..list and try to eliminate that foods first.. all of them.. . 

Be glad you lost 50 lbs. You could have just said screw it. I have IBS. It was a lot worse before surgery. Now when I get stressed that is when it acts up. 

I wish there was more I could help you with. 

There are herbals that help!  I had a different surgery, 20 years ago, but still have this issue if I get lax with my gut care.  My enzymes are VERY low. It  sounds like this could be your root  cause as it was for me.. yes certain foods set the intestinal problems off, but when you attack the root cause it makes life so much more comfortable and pleasant for all those around us., especially if this interferes with your life... I am guessing the sulfur smells and rotten milk smells try to run your Nose from the room, because this is what happens to me...when I skip my tea.  I tried immodium, and every other drug available to me, but then I found this natural herb that grows wild in the southeast. The deer and rabbits love this stuff it has another name "Everlasting" , the indians used it extensively.

There is an herb/ natural that grows wild here, called Rabbit Tobacco. It can be tinctured( I use a double tincture,( i remove most of the alcohil by putting in  a little ho****er and stirring for  a few min.. alternting with  RT tea). After my intestines are stabilized I only need to drink a cup of tea every two days..sipping it gives the best result and I add peppermint or chamomille tea bags to mine to enhance the flavor, RT is a little earthy in flavor. It enables me to live a normal life.

Directions for tea by the cup...take 10-14 leaves or 3 peices of RT stems and whole plant material, about1-2 teaspoon. Place in cup and poru very ho****er over it and allow it to steep for 20 min. may reheat on stove but not microwave, do not boil, add other tea bags, allow to sit til they are developed and strain and serve.. Is effective either iced or hot..I like it hot, but also add it to regula tea when I make concentrate... concentrate is made by taking approx one ounce of Rabbit tobacco and 16 ounces of water , combining in same manner as for the cup. ONE DOSE is  ONE OUNCE of concentrate, more can cause intense cramping..relief is felt within 30 minutes for me.

To make a tincture use approx. 1 and one half cups of Rabbit tobacco plant, whole herb into a quart jar, fill with Pure grain alcohol, put tight fitting lid on., allow to sit for 4 weeks. shake occassionally, make sure plant material stays covered in alcohol. at end of  weeks. pour alcohol into clean container, drain old plant material, add to temporary container...throw plant material and put another fresh batch of Rabbit tobacco in the initial quart jar. pour initial tincture over the material and allow to sit at least 3 or more weeks. at end of that time, remove old plant material and strain thru a cheese cloth. label for use.. to use find a dropper bottle, brown glass if possible.

   I  use 2 and a half cc's per dose. In intense gastric event, I use up to three doses spaced about 6 hours apart for one day. only have to do this one day then return to a daily for three days then to every other day for maintainence of enzymes and intestinal comfort.. Sometimes I can go three days, but my best result is every other day.

   RT has many enzymes we need for digestion, If you wish to read about it..there is an herbalist named Daryl Paton that has a huge write up about it. RT tea stops MY lactose intolerance, and enables me to eat/drink dairy in moderate amounts..and that is all I need anyway. If you don't know what this herb is  the easiest way to make sure you have the right product is to mail order it from an herbalist. Tea can be made from whole plant material  and so can tincture. If asthma is a problem you would need leaves.

I had horrible diarrhea for 7 days following surgery.  My surgeon gave me a great remedy to follow.  It immediately lessened the problem and finally solved it. Eat 2 TBL plain Greek yogurt 2x daily, and 2 TBL Pepto Bismol 4x daily.  Researching her yogurt remedy, I found that it places needed enzymes in your system.  Try it!  I hope you get this resolved, I feel for you.

IKing, I am glad that worked for you, but multiple intolerances would not allow it time to work for me.  Pepto Bismol has asprin components in it and I can't take,with regularity... I mmodium helped @ 4 a day. Hope you can always have your yogurt on hand.

Not having the proper enzymes was not something I anticipated, tho I was informed it's possibility. 

Herbal does work,has several other actions I needed.. and is shelf stable. I try to keep three different products on hand. 

   It is so important that each person know their response will be individualized by their own body. To know what options are available and stock some to get thru an acute episode...as it is not pleasant to run to the store to obtain in crisis!

Yes dealt with this since I was 16 if not before and I'm 50ish now.  I used to take Imodium, up to 10 a day just so I could leave the house.  I would take it before a trip just so I could leave the house.  What was recommended for me prior to surgery was probiotic, which really didn't help then.  There was a prescription on the market for IBS-D but it was taken off the market after several people died...it was the only thing that worked for me.  Since surgery I tend to go more to the constipation side but I am finding that stress and certain foods still set me off. A couple of Imodium do the trick for me now if it flares up. A daily dose of probiotics usually keep me regular now.  Eating out is tricky since I am also lactose intolerant and have celiacs disease.  Also with Fibro I have many food sensitivities.  I try to stick with what works which luckily for me I'm ok with beef, chicken, pork and fish.  I use Lactaid pills so I can eat cheese.  Lactaid makes a milk and cottage cheese.  Frankly I try not to leave home too much and when I travel long distances we pull a trailer so I can have a bathroom near me at all times.  It is really depressing but it is what it is.   Sorry my story doesn't help much, Denise

The bottom line for me is that I no longer have a full size and intact stomach and digestive system. 

I have had bouts of diarrhea and constipation.  This was not a problem before surgery, but the system that worked so well is gone.  I keep x-lax, suppositories, lactose tablets, enemas, Kaopectate  probiotics, Imodium, gas-x, fiber capsules, and butterfly pads. 

A few years ago I was taking part in a dancing competition out of town and wearing white pants as part of my costume.  I inserted small tampons into my rectum to be sure I did not have an embarrassing incident. 

I have not let it stop me from living my life.  I will go for long periods with no problems but am always prepared.  For me, this is the price I pay for the surgery that has improved my life in many ways.