Any other IBS sufferers on EF? Does it affect your sex life?

Contributor: K101 K101
I've talked about stomach issues & IBS before on the forums and I know a couple of my EF friends have told me they too suffer from it! I've dealt with both IBS & endometriosis (both usually come hand in hand) since I was 15, but I know it's not something most people like to talk about. Anyways, I had finally gotten rid of most all the symptoms of both (ibs and endo) for the past year or so & I've talked a little about that with some of you regulars on the forums. Unfortunately, I've came to a big road block & have been suffering from it all over again. As soon as I noticed it bothering me again, I got on top of it & am now working my way out of it before it can get worse. There is no way I can deal with years of no life besides a bed, bathroom and severe pain. So I'm trying everything I remember to get back on the right track. So I was wondering if others here suffer from it? Have any of you ever gotten over it, like actually gotten better to the point of feeling totally healed? I did get there & it wasn't extremely miserable, but I have been so freaked out because I never want to feel the pain of either of those problems one more day in my life. I remember when I was really ill with them both taking over my life -- our sex life was so off. We wanted to do it so badly, but most days I was so sick that I couldn't eat, much less have sex. And the days we would try, almost every single time it resulted in some freak flare up where I'd be left in pain for the rest of the night. Now though, after all the healing I went through the past year or two, our sex life has finally got to be everything we wanted! So I worry about that too. Has anyone else had that issue -- where a big flare up of pain (and ahem, sometimes more) came after sex? Never could figure out why sex seemed to send me straight into a flare up. A lot of times it would happen during sex! I'd feel so bad about it.

I know I put this in the women's health section, but I hope men who also deal with this or who have a spouse who deals with it will not hesitate to chime in! For those of you who have healed from either of these, do you have anything to share on how you did it? I've talked about the methods I used (herbs, aloe vera mostly, coconut oil for a little while, etc) I definitely have started taking my aloe and garlic again for the last few weeks, but tonight had some issues and sadly, I've eaten all my aloe plant except a tiny amount which I just swallowed. It's like instant relief! We're planning to go hunt down a mature plant tomorrow so that I can start taking it regularly right away until things get better, which took me less than a month last time! And I'd suffered for years & all it took was one month! So that is what's keeping me hanging on to hope. I had surgery for SOME of the endometriosis lesions, but some are still there... deep. Surgery is definitely not something I plan to go through again. It'd be beyond a last resort. I've worked my a** off to stay as healthy as possible ever since my surgery so I really don't think things with the endometriosis has gotten to some extreme levels again. When I seen my dr. for it again several months ago, I was in the clear -- nothing had worsened as far as the lesions go.

Anyways, if anybody else has dealt with these types of things or if you know someone who has, it'd be really nice to hear how you/they got through it or how if it affected their sex lives as well. I read up on support forums for both conditions & it seems that most people don't really have issues with sex for either of these & it's the complete opposite for me!

Well, thanks in advance if anybody does feel comfortable sharing. I've been hanging out on other sites specifically for these issues & they've been pretty dead all week. I figure there just might be someone here who would feel comfortable sharing how things have went in their own journey with this. I know it's not easy to talk about, so if you don't want to do it so publicly, but want to message me, I'd love that too.
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
I have suffered from IBS and /or endometriosis & it did/does affect my sex life.
5
I have suffered from one or both & it has not affected my sex life.
I have suffered from one or both & made it to the other side! (gotten better.)
My partner or another loved one has suffered from one or both of those.
2
Never been affected by either of those or had a loved one who was affected.
I have had something similar though.. ?
I am currently dealing with one or both of those conditions.
Other
I can tell you what works for the problems... (If you can, you are my hero!)
1
Total votes: 8 (6 voters)
Poll is closed
04/17/2013
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Contributor: js250 js250
As you know, I had a hysterectomy years ago for the endometriosis..that also went a long ways to clearing up the IBS. I do not recommend this as a treatment unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

Stress--this is a major factor in the hormonal growth of the tissues and lesions for the endo. It also is the only time I still suffer from IBS currently. I also make sure I do not eat certain foods that can add to the discomfort for the IBS.

Diet--try a few different diets and find one that seems to settle the stomach issues. Mine was cutting out sugars, oils, and hard to digest fruits/vegetables. (Corn, peas, apple skin, basically anything with a tough outer skin that does not digest.

Exercise--find a gentle but effective means of exercise that does not pull or twist the abdomen. This cuts down on tissue rips internally form the endo. Swimming or water aerobics are good.

Hopefully something I suggested will help ease your symptoms...I will message you if I remember what else I do that has helped. It has become such a habit I do not realize all the changes....Hugs--get better!!!!
04/17/2013
Contributor: Leather & Lace Leather & Lace
I have IBS too and it's annoying and cuts into not only sex life, but daily life.
04/17/2013
Contributor: JDear JDear
Some people have good results from aloe for IBS. Take gel caps or drink an ounce of it. Gross but it soothes the stomach greatly. My partner really likes the results. I don't have any tips for endo.
04/17/2013
Contributor: KinkyKatieJames KinkyKatieJames
I have endometriosis. I took birth control to help, but it didn't really. I still had heavy periods and quite a bit of pain. Add in the side effects and I gave up. I don't take anything for it now and it sucks.

I try not to let it affect my sex life, but it does. The days I am in pain, I can't do much except crawl into bed. I also have heart problems so I can't even take pain killers (not that they help much anyway).

The only relief I can get is from orgasm when the pain is intense during my period.
04/19/2013