I'm sorry you're going through this, OP. I have terrible constipation as well and the bloating is one of the worst symptoms for me. It's such an uncomfortable feeling. I'm by no means cured, but I've tried several things that have really helped. Especially with my bloating. I recommend looking into these.

 

NOW Probiotic: This is one of the best probiotics in my opinion and is a must if you have IBS. I take one capsule 30 minutes before eating and it helps reduce my stomach pan and improves my digestion. This is one of the things that has made the most difference.

 

Chamomile: I take this after I finish eating. It settles down my stomach and reduces the likelihood of me experiencing stomach pain after eating. I take it not just after eating, but also whenever my stomach acts up. It almost always relieves any sort of stomach discomfort I'm experiencing. Chamomile is particularly good for improving digestion, reducing gas and bloating, and promoting smoother and more frequent bowel movements. If you experience any anxiety, which is pretty common among people with IBS, chamomile can really help with that as well. It's a mild sedative and is very calming. It's useful for lowering anxiety as well as improving sleep issues like insomnia.

 

High Absorption Magnesium: Most people have some level of magnesium deficinecy. People often don't eat foods that are high in magnesium and to make matters worse, things like sugar, caffeine, and certain medications, can lower your magnesium levels. Magnesium is a very important mineral and getting enough magnesium can help you feel less constipated and help you have smoother bowel movements. It's also good for lowering anxiety as well.

 

NOW Candida Support: It's believed that some some people with IBS may have candida overgrowth. CO can contribute to IBS symptoms. This supplement does a good job of managing this. I take 2 capsules with a meal.

 

Senna: Senna is a mild, but effective herbal laxative. I take one capsule 2 to 3 times a day and I've been having bowel movements a lot more often and I'm not as constipated. My doctor had me on Miralax previously, but I switched to senna because Miralax was too strong and harsh. It would help me poop, but I would poop too much. So much that it was even painful. Senna is far less harsh.

 

Triphala: I take triphala right before bed and I'm usually able to have a bowel movement once I wake up the next morning. It helps the liver and kidneys do a better job of detoxifying the body. It may help kill certain bacteria that could be contributing to your IBS. It seems to work because I noticed that all my acne cleared up and my skin looked so much smoother when I started taking triphala.

 

Besides these supplements, a diet change can lower the chance of your IBS symptoms triggering. I personally like a gluten-free diet because it's not as strict and difficult to follow as some other IBS diets. Gluten is one of my biggest bloating triggers and avoiding it when I can really helps.

Oh buddy, I understand and just hate that feeling that doctors aren't really on your team. Or that they will throw treatments at you but don't take your quality of life seriously as an important part of your concerns. You should absolutely keep your appointments and keep working with specialists, but I have to say that a lot of the big leaps forward I have made have been self directed. If you haven't tried the low-FODMAP diet yet, you can start right now, this instant! So many people on here have had amazing success with it. It doesn't cure IBS, but the degree of relief is worth the hassle. I'd say the only caveat is that if you need to get tested for celiac disease that you shouldn't cut out wheat yet, but if that isn't a concern then you don't need to wait to ask your doctor. I can't even say how much this book helped me http://www.amazon.com/Digestive-Health-REAL-Food-Anti-Inflammatory/dp/0988717204. The elimination diet is very strict for a few weeks, transitioning into low-FODMAP, but the biggest leap forward I have had was when I buckled down and followed this protocol.

Does your insurance let you self-refer? I had a difficult time making that call as well, but I was able to refer myself for therapy and I actually have one regular therapist and one who specializes in IBS. Neither of these are a cure, but have helped me navigate this experience of being chronically sick.

Anyway, I am just so sorry you are having a frustrating time right now and I want to give you hope that there are some things in your power to do for yourself as well as waiting for help from your doctor.

I've had good luck with NOW Foods Super Enzymes. I also like their papain.

These are just what benefited me, obviously YMMV. :)

Sure thing. This is the one I'm using right now and it works quite well. Amazon has several brands you can try. I hope you benefit from these,I sure have.

Best Naturals Peppermint Oil Bowel Soothing Dietary Supplement, 250 mg, 120 Count

Elimination diet would be a good thing to try.

I experienced something similar recently and these are what help me:

https://www.amazon.com/Jarrow-Saccharomyces-Boulardii-Intestinal-Digestive/dp/B0013OVW0E?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CTCATS4/

White rice, watery fruits (no bananas & dates), cheese, romaine lettuce, curry powder, and avocados are the main things I've found to be safe. Apple juice fasting also helps me a ton. Olive oil had significant effects as well.

Iron can feed pathogens, so try avoiding foods with it.

Some of the books that I have found helpful, over time (in rough order of importance to me):

The Microbiome Cookbook

The Well-Fed Microbiome Cookbook

The Good Gut: Taking Control of Your Weight, Your Mood, and Your Long-term Health

Reclaim Your Life from IBS: A Scientifically Proven Plan for Relief without Restrictive Diets

Fast Tract Digestion

Eating for IBS

I did. I went from two years of daily misery, to maybe a small mild episode once a week on average, and I'm still improving slowly. I followed the diet based on the book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle"

https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Vicious-Cycle-Intestinal-Through/dp/0969276818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478021388&sr=8-1&keywords=breaking+the+vicious+cycle

It's an extremely strict diet that is difficult to keep, but I promise you it will help a ton if you give it time to work.

The VSL-3 is great too. It's a probiotic made for people like us. You only have to take it for a month and then the bugs will proliferate on their own.

I take a small dose of zoloft to help with the stress an anxiety too, but that's optional.

No worries. My post about my pee smelling sweet was hilarious.

I started an elimination diet with the help of this book https://www.amazon.com/dp/0988717204/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_038vzbNHJX37A

Typical meals for me right now: eggs, coconut oil, meat, avocado

Fish/chicken, carrots, olive oil. Almost always have a can of sardines with this meal

A smoothie with full fat coconut milk, hemp seeds, sunflower seed butter, cocoa butter, trace minerals (by Morningstar minerals), frozen raspberries & ice

This site has some good info on why special low carb diets help IBS&IBD http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info

Here's a few I found handy.

Good Gut Healing by Kathryn Marsden.

Listen to your gut by Jini Patel Thompson (can also be found at her site as a downloadable pdf, well that's how I bought it.)

And for general anxiety : Change your thinking by Sarah Edelman

And Wheat Belly by William Davis (maybe not as relevant but examines the effect of the genetic changes to wheat, which can be a common trigger for some gastrointestinal issue sufferers.)

Hope any of these may be of help.

We have ALL had this happen, please don't feel alone, or desperate. I can say that bidets are LIFE changing. They also really help with irritation. Here's one that you just attach to your existing toilet seat, and costs about $25. Brondell is a great brand, too (they make the super upscale ones, too). It gives you exactly the same effect as a shower, only without having to shower, and only works where you need it to work. (Also, if you feel like there's a little "left over," all you have to do is sit on the toilet and turn the bidet on!) https://www.amazon.com/Brondell-Bidet-SimpleSpa-Non-Electric-Attachment/dp/B075MMHQX7/ref=pd_cp_60_2?pd_rd_w=AASfp&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=00E2J3KRWWYVEH6XGC8Y&pd_rd_r=e37b109c-a2c9-11e9-a9ae-270e3ef58a57&pd_rd_wg=2kBOB&pd_rd_i=B075MMHQX7&psc=1&refRID=00E2J3KRWWYVEH6XGC8Y

Right now i'm taking align because my doctor recommended it - I have been on it for about 3-4 weeks now and I haven't really seen much improvements. I was taking some other probiotic before that for a month but didn't see too much improvement either.

I just purchased https://smile.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Whole-Probiotic-Supplement/dp/B000GWG8FS?_encoding=UTF8&keywords=probiotic&qid=1486688706&ref_=sr_ph_1_s_it&sr=sr-1&th=1 one because it was cheaper and not sure if it would help or not. I used also eat LOTS of greek yogurt (which I haven't been eating recently) as well.

I don't eat beans too much these days but do eat a lot of broccoli/cauliflower/etc and what not. I'm trying to cut them out of my diet for obvious reasons.

I have tried so many supplements, probiotics, digestive enzymes and prescription medications that it's ridiculous. Lomotil helps a tad but not enough, and it's not something I want to take every day. But then someone on here suggested Saccharomyces Boulardii (I take this one http://www.amazon.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Sacharomyces-Boulardii-Capsules/dp/B0013OVW0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426438763&sr=8-1&keywords=saccharomyces+boulardii) and it has made a world of difference. Thank you, whoever you were, for the suggestion. Finally I can keep food inside me long enough for it to do some good.

Without a doubt get one. I bought this one on Amazon and have loved it.

Do it, you wont regret it.

I have two different add-on cold water-only bidets:

1. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075MMHQX7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
2. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TPGPUW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   Both are less than $30. Installation is easy for an existing toilet.

:My biggest travel triggers are eating rich foods and not enough fluid intake. I guess it depends if you are C, D or M. I was 20 years C and always took daily Miralax and drank tons of water. Now I'm M. I have 2 weeks in Hawaii coming up and plan on waking the tightrope using Immodium, tiny doses of Dulcolax, and I've recently started Metamucil wafers, half dose in AM and other half in PM. I also am a mmj patient which helps pain. Also, staying away from the normal food triggers is more difficult when you're living in a hotel but don't take chances, stick to what you know is safe. I use the following probiotic which does not require refrigeration. https://www.amazon.com/Enzymatic-Therapy-Pearls-Intensive-Probiotics/dp/B002NL165W/ref=pd_sim_121_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TTC54RZ6N1C0ZR71BCEW

they do work really good! I'll take them at like the first signs of general discomfort after a meal and once it kicks in I usually dont have any other problems. you have to get ones that are special coated so that the peppermint releases in your intestines and not your stomach. this is the one that i buy

FYI I have just learned that if you are only interested in my museum for its laxative effect you are better off with a less bioavailable magnesium.

However many many people are deficient in magnesium, especially the chronically ill, because our body's dump magnesium when under stress.

Magnesium citrate: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WJ56QTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_0b1ZCbVAGJYRV

Magnesium glycinate: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_Nc1ZCbA3NFNSD

Magnesium malate:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013GJNWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_xd1ZCbN7ST808

Since I buy these on Amazon I use their subscribe and save feature. This saves me an extra 15% (as I have several subscriptions). Even if you're just trying out a product and are not sure you're going to order more I still do this as you can immediately cancel the subscription.

This is 3 boxes(50 bags ea), if this is too much, search amazon for OSK Green Tea: https://www.amazon.com/OSK-Japanese-Green-Tea-Leaves/dp/B07QGZMQJ5/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=osk+green+tea&qid=1573176973&sr=8-6

For PB i also figured out that i have to cut it from my diet, but i can drink tea normally until now, i can advise you to read about [FODMAP Diet] (http://amzn.to/2vyuPj8) for us IBS Fighters the right thing to do is to adopt a proper diet and visit a doctor.

I take Nature’s Way

Nature's Way Activated Charcoal; 560 mg Charcoal per serving; 100 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006LCQ4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QiSNAbAGWTHE1

Discussed in http://www.amazon.com/The-Probiotics-Revolution-Definitive-Supplements/dp/0553384198/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1373497955&sr=8-18&keywords=probiotic+book . Could be that your IBS and other symptoms are related.

https://www.amazon.com/Luxe-Bidet-Neo-185-Elite/dp/B00P2XZIP2/ref=zg_bs_6810564011_9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2YPP3X57CB2XAPT2D2J8

activated charcoal! http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Activated-Charcoal-Capsules/dp/B0006LCQ4Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409151031&sr=8-1&keywords=activated+charcoal

Here is the mobile version of your link

Absolutely not. I bought the book on December 15, 2012 and it's been a damn miracle. You probably don't need the book but should read the positive and negative reviews on Amazon to provide further insight.

Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet https://www.amazon.com/dp/0969276818/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mIsHybT3H7YDZ

Like any "treatment" that people use to deal with IBS, everyone's reaction is different. Everyone's IBS is different. Probiotics have helped a lot of people, including myself, but it also doesn't for a lot of people. Probiotics also take a lot of trial and error. There are so many brands and strains out there. Personally, Align did nothing for me but these made a huge difference. IBS is not a definitive diagnosis, it's just what doctors call it when they have ruled out everything else.

I don't mind at all! It won't be overnight that you will see results, and your stomach may be angry for a couple days initially, so give it a week before judging! Please let me know how it goes!

http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Primal-Defense-Capsules/dp/B000GWG8FS?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

A New IBS Solution: Bacteria-The Missing Link in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome Paperback – May 15, 2006
by Mark Pimentel (Author)

https://www.amazon.com/New-IBS-Solution-Bacteria-Irritable/dp/0977435601

Hey sorry to hear about you troubles feeling sick really sucks. A little over a month ago I started to have similar symptoms to what you're describing (though not quite as intense).

I started to have stomach pain, loose stools, then eventually full fledged diarrhea. For over a month I didn't have a single solid bowel movement. After a couple of weeks of this I got an appoint with a GI but getting a first appointment with a specialist takes forever so I won't be able to see a specialist until mid-October.

I was / am extra concerned because my sister was recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis which is a very scary disease with an auto immune factor.

Now here's the good news, I'm starting to feel better. I now feel reasonably confident that I was/am suffering from Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) a condition that new research suggests is heavily linked to IBS.

It can be temporarily treated with antibiotics / probiotics / and diet. I've started making my own yogurt (which it turns out is a very easy and cheap thing to do). Home made yogurt has more bacteria and far less / no lactose.

Basically the root cause of SIBO is due to some sort of carbohydrate mal-absorption which is feeding bacteria in your lower small gut. During the early phase of diet treatment you basically want to severely limit carbs and fiber and instead eat protein / fat / yogurt / small amounts of cooked vegetables.

This isn't necessarily a nutritionally complete diet and you shouldn't be on it for too long but it's an emergency intervention.

Also (and this is counter to what many IBS patients will tell you) don't snack try to eat a good size meal and then wait as long as you can before eating again. When we snack we shut down the Migrating Motor Complex which (among-st other things) moves bacteria from your small gut into your large gut. Even we're constantly eating the MMC's activity is reduced allowing more bacteria to grow in the small bowel.

After two months of feeling shitty I started following these rules and within a week I started to feel better. Stools are solidifying, bloating is reduced, cramping and pain is gone.

I'm not saying what worked for me will work for you, but it worked for me.

Also I picked up this book it explains the principals and I think it's very helpful.

http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Tract-Digestion-IBS-Science-based-ebook/dp/B00CBP2S1Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409769505&sr=8-1&keywords=fast+tract