Slightly different approach to dealing with IBS...

Over the past couple of years I have found a way of 'dealing' with IBS that may seem slightly extreme and perhaps worse than the problem itself but it seems to work.

The way I deal with it is to not eat for 2 days (48 hours) before a big event like a job interview, night out etc and then eat on the third day.

I have found I feel stronger and alert when I don't eat, although I found it odd I can still go to toilet after 48 hours of not eating.

So has anyone here tried anything like this?

Before big events I fast as well. Never longer then 24 hours but I also have permission from my doctor to take an extra pill the day of the event. Instead of no more then 3 that day, she said that I can take 4. When I fast I drink alot of Gatorade. It helps with the hunger and the weird tingling in my finger tips I get if I just drink water.

I also fast if things get too out of whack. Couple of days on my trusty Gatorade and things usually go back to normal. In fact I am starting a fast tomorrow because I have had two weeks straight of painful, constant flare-ups. I'm getting an average of a novel every two days with how often I'm in the ladies room. Great for catching up on all that reading I've been wanting to do, bad for my poor battered intestinal tract. But oh how good that toast with applesauce is going to taste Tuesday morning.

I've eaten only one meal a day for about 20 years.  I guess you could say I fast for 8 to 10 hours a day, or until I know that I am in for the night with no obligations after the meal.  But I have found, over the years, that this has done so much damage to my body and especially my metabolism and digestive system.  The problem with the rule "nothing in - nothing out" is that when you don't feed the body regularly, the digestion slows down, the bowels forget what to do, and you can end up with some serious problems.  I suffer with anemia, very slow metabolism, terrible thirst, reflux, headaches, bone loss, etc.  I attribute all of this (as do the doc's) to a slow process of malnutrition.  My goal in life is to be able to eat more than once a day.

Like everyone else, I abstain from food altogether when a big event is looming.  As many of you know, my darling son and his fiance are getting married on the fourth of July next year.  The venue they've booked is a moored and converted ferry boat that has only ONE bathroom on board.  In addition, it's in downtown Seattle, about a 45 minute drive for me. AND the wedding isn't until 6:30 in the evening, so we can all watch the dopey fireworks at 10.   I don't see how I can go the whole day and night without eating - not unless they want to pick me up off the floor after I've passed out.  I'm so stressed out already about this wedding. Argh....

gut - I keep hoping that wedding situation will turn out better than you think it will. I would have so many back-up plans in place! I feel your anxiety over that one.....

I personally feel that short periods of fasting are okay for my system. What I've tried to do for 9 years now is fit in with a normal colon world and have a busy schedule with my family. I've said no to so many things so, concentrating on what I HAVE to do and not what I'd like to do (used to volunteer on the PTA, chairing positions, etc.). I learned how to say no and it felt good after a while. But I still struggle. I'll be an empty nester this Fall so my schedule will drastically change. I just hope I can continue working part time b/c I'd love to get my diet and routine fine tuned again. It was about for the first 3 or so years after my cancer/colon surgeries, etc.

My goal lately has been to eat 4 to 6 very small meals a day, not overwhelming my gut with large meals but a steady in take of solids. A banana, then 2 hours later a yogurt cup, several hours later, half a turkey sandwich for lunch, mid-afternoon possibly an applesauce cup (kiddie size), then a larger meal for dinner but still smaller portions compared to how I used to eat years ago.

Dave - I am happy for you that fasting for 48 hours seems to help your IBS but 48 sounds just brutal to me. The most I can go w/o solids is 24 hours. The very longest I ever went without solids was about 14 days, after my first 5.5 hour colon surgery (15 inches removed, 90% of my sigmoid removed, temp ostomy created, gall bladder removal). First I had a 2 day bowel prep, then for 6 days I was on liquids only. The worst is a tossup - the sponge on a stick they swab your mouth with after surgery, until my vision cleared 2 days later, I thought it was a sucker, that they kept yanking out of my mouth! Or the delicious looking - not - strained pea soup they brought me. OMG - I wanted to vomit just looking at it! I had barely a meal in the hospital so I could be cleared to go home, then 1 more at home before all h*** broke loose, I was a mess for a 12 hour period, extreme nausea, dry heaves, etc. Doctor said I went back on solids much too soon. Well, he did discharge me I wanted to say. But oh I wanted real food.....anyway, long story short, I was put back on a liquid diet at home and had to ease into solids very, very slowly. When I added it all up it was a 14 day period where I had very little to eat. The weight just fell off me. I went from a size 12 to a 4. Not an ideal way to lose weight. People told me I looked very sick and grey (had 2 blood transfusion in the hospital too).

I've come a long way since then. But it was a rough go for about a month there. I swear but I thought I'd never be normal again. Now I realize I will never be normal! This is just a new normal for me now. Any day I have formed stool is a plus and a Mary-normal day! I love when it's easy passed and not messy. I'm on top of the world. Trouble is, my good days do not last very long.

All I know is it's been a constant struggle. I try not to get down about it all though. What's the alternative? I wouldn't be here to see my kids grow up! So I am grateful I had Stage I Rectal Cancer.

I just wish my gut would cooperate though......sigh...I wish for all of us, normal colons.
Mary

Post Edited (Marsky) : 5/19/2008 5:52:53 AM (GMT-6)

Yup, my daughters graduation party is this comming weekend and starting on wednesday I'm doing strictly liquids and not eating until Saturday at the banquet...I have crohn's too so it's a great bowel rest although I'll be putting my will-power to the test...I love eating.

I want to be able to enjoy the day and not worry about pooping, I'll likely just be peeing alot is all, can't win for losing.

:)

Gutastrophe. I really feel for you about the wedding. My son got married last Sept. I was so nervous . It was a 7:00 p.m. wedding OUTSIDE. I got up at 6:00 a.m. ate and had strong coffee. We were at a motel so I stayed in bathroom for a couple of hours and THEN started Immodium untill even the feeling was gone. Took 8 immodium before wedding. But I made sure I ate and went alot before I took the Immodium. If I take it too soon I just swell untill I cant stand it. I am now taking a enzyme that they think my pancreas didnt produce enough. It is helping with the swelling and pain after eating. I am actually getting some nutrients from my food. It doesnt just go straight thru. It also stoped alot of the noise in stomach. You know the sound where you can almost pinpoint where the food is   Have you talked to your son about your problem. If you guys live close to Seattle or Gig Harbor do you know anyone with a boat who could be close? I have family there and alot of residents have boats. If the ferry isnt moving you maybe could have one close and just skip over there. You have time, I think I can talk to my family and figure out a way to help. Dont stress too much now, surely all of us can figure out a way for you to enjoy and relax alittle. I talked to my family Dr. and he told me how much Immodium I could take. I have also found if I dont take it for a month and then take it I get really good results. Take care.

Gutastrophe, My daughter has problems with D and C too. She is 28 and has had problems since she was a baby. Mostly C. We always had to make sure she had a very balanced diet and lots of fruit or else she was in trouble. Her baby is 13 months old and has had problems since birth. They are now doing test to check for Celiac and other. It just breaks my heart to see her so young and have so much pain. MY daughter has said all for yrs that she thinks we both have celiac but all of my Drs. say no. I am going to try a gluten free diet as soon as I get a book and just see. Cant hurt Ive tried alot of other things. I cannot imagine having D and C at the same time. At least I just have one thing to worry about. I have been on enzymes now for 3 weeks and am afraid I will have problems with that now. I have went a whole day twice without going. I just keep hoping it is working and I will be NOrmal for a little while anyway. You take care and you can worry about the wedding on here all you want to We are here for ya.

Hi Dave-UK. It's nice to see I'm not the only one to have eat very, very little in order to NOT go. Good Luck to you.