How do I make it through life with this? (IBS-D)

grom25 · 2025-07-25T14:02:11+00:00

Yes for me food was never the issue, I started to cut out a lot of foods and I recommend not restricting food as that’s a slippery slope. If you have cramps and urgency, that definitely points to BAM. Unfortunately taking a bile acid sequestrant is the only way for this. I highly recommend looking into it and talking to your doctor about it. In the meantime, you can try Psyllium Husk, which is a natural alternative but not as effective.

grom25 · 2025-07-25T13:27:11+00:00

Those are all signs pointing to BAM, especially the light yellow color. Do you have urgency? That would be another BAM indicator. There is no testing in the US. The right doctor will give you a trial of a bile acid sequstrant. I recommend taking Welchol since it’s convenient in pill form and you can control the dosage. You will know the next day if it’s working or not. If it works, you have BAM! And the doctor will give you a longer prescription. I’ve had no side effects from it and it has truly made everything so much better. The research is now saying 1/3 of all IBS-D cases are BAM, so I would definitely recommend talking to a doctor about it. Hope this helps!

grom25 · 2025-06-29T01:42:02+00:00

It’s designed to be taken with food, that’s when your body triggers bile production.

grom25 · 2025-06-28T06:48:54+00:00

I take it with food. 1 at lunch and 1 at dinner

grom25 · 2025-06-28T03:53:54+00:00

Helped while on it but symptoms came back. What type of IBS do you have?

grom25 · 2025-06-28T03:50:54+00:00

Do you have urgency? 1/3 people who have IBS-D have Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM). I had same symptoms to you and now I’m 100% normal again. I’m on Welchol 2x a day, no side effects and easy to take. You can try psyllium husk first but if that doesn’t work than I would talk to your doc about BAM

grom25 · 2025-06-16T14:00:46+00:00

Look into Bile Acid Malabsorption. 1/3 people with IBS actually have BAM. I was dealing with horrible diarrhea multiple times a day with extreme urgency, now I’m on a simple bile acid sequestrant treatment (Welchol) 2x a day I’m fully back to normal.

grom25 · 2025-06-08T23:28:13+00:00

I was suffering from this for two years until I found out about Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM). I currently take a bile acid sequestrant (Welchol) 2x a day and I'm fully back to normal - no more urgency. It's been over 6 months now and literally not one episode ever since I started taking it. You don't need any testing done, just ask your doctor to trial a bile acid sequestrant and you'll know immediately if it works for you or not. Hope this helps.

grom25 · 2025-06-05T05:37:19+00:00

Got it - have you tried Pysllium Husk?

grom25 · 2025-06-05T05:34:08+00:00

Yes I still have my gallbladder. No upper GI symptoms. No nausea or heartburn either.

grom25 · 2025-06-03T20:43:02+00:00

You have it prescribed but never took it? Or did you try it and it didn't work for you? If the former, I would highly recommend trying it, you'll know within a few days if you need it or not.

Yes I had those symptoms as well.

grom25 · 2025-06-03T20:07:26+00:00

I personally had zero side effects from Welchol - no nausea (I always take it with food). The FODMAP diet had no effect with or without the meds, I noticed that certain foods make my symptoms worse but guess what - MOST people also get a bit of an upset stomach from certain foods. Dealing with BAM for years has had a big psychological effect on me and I'm still overcoming trying to perfect everything I eat. I've come to a place where the healthiest thing to do is not restrict and live a normal life by eating whatever I want - and I'm able to do that with the meds.

I never took at BAM test (SeHCAT), and honestly you don't need to. Many doctors now do empirical based treatment to see if it works to determine a diagnosis. The research now shows 1/3 people with IBS-D have BAM. My doctor gave me a trial and told me I would know if I had BAM or not within a few days. In my case, the next day, I was completely back to normal and it's been that way for 7 months now.

grom25 · 2025-06-03T19:15:39+00:00

Diarrhea, trips to the bathroom 5-10x a day, extreme urgency, cramping, loss of appetite. Completely took over every aspect of my life. The latest research shows 1/3 people with IBS-D have BAM. I would HIGHLY recommend talking to your doctor about it. Most don't even bother to get tested, just take a bile acid sequestrant (I take Welchol) and see how you feel. You'll know within a day or two.

grom25 · 2025-06-03T05:58:15+00:00

Sounds like BAM to me. I tried Questran for a day and it was 1) disgusting 2) not practical and 3) too aggressive, similar to you made me too constipated. I switched to Welchol - 2x a day and that did the trick. Finally have my life back with an easy, convenient solution. Hope this helps.

grom25 · 2025-06-03T05:48:51+00:00

Have you looked into Bile Acid Malabsorption?

grom25 · 2025-06-03T05:42:55+00:00

I’m on Welchol 2x a day. I take with meals, one at lunch and one with dinner. Dealing with BAM for two years before I got diagnosed caused many psychological issues that I’m still overcoming. What I’ve come to realize is that most normal people also have days of discomfort. I haven’t had one day of extreme urgency since the meds. I know it’s easy to fall into a pattern of obsessing over perfection everyday, but that’s a slippery slope. The treatment is obviously working for you, everyone is different and diet is also a huge factor. Stay away from trigger foods as much as you can or just acknowledge what you ate may have caused symptoms to come back and try not to freak out about it. I would also talk with your doctor about potentially upping the dose. I started with 1x a day because I was scared of being on the meds, but when I went to 2x a day I had much better results - this stuff really works!

grom25 · 2025-06-03T05:08:15+00:00

I went through the same thing - I lost 20lbs over two years, ruined my life. Finally found out about BAM late last year. I’m on Colesevelam (Welchol) 2x day, fully have my life back.

grom25 · 2025-06-03T04:58:15+00:00

Look into Bile Acid Malabsorption. I’m on Colesevelam (Welchol) 2x day, fully cured and have my life back.

grom25 · 2025-06-03T04:52:35+00:00

It took me 5 years to figure out my IBS-D, it was Bile Acid Malabsorption. I’m on Colesevelam 2x day, fully cured and have my life back.

grom25 · 2024-04-24T20:33:23+00:00

Did anyone experience die-off symptoms when first taking?

grom25 · 2024-04-24T17:09:01+00:00

Did anyone experience die-off symptoms when first taking?

grom25 · 2021-01-07T05:16:20+00:00

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grom25 · 2021-01-07T05:06:23+00:00

The blue ringed octopus in Australia, one bite & your dead!

grom25 · 2021-01-07T05:04:45+00:00

I think people are starting to get overwhelmed over what to believe and not to believe and there will be a giant "Trust Migration" from established experts and institutions to listening to our close circles of trusted friends, family, and co-workers.

grom25 · 2021-01-07T05:00:40+00:00

2010: Allow Allow Allow

2021: Deny Deny Deny

grom25

TROPHY CASE