Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Getting Pregnant | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I have IBS and have had it for a while. It is getting worse. My doctor said it is just stress and poor diet. That was back in December 2000. For the past two weeks I have had IBS attacks that are real bad. I’m going to the bathroom seven to eight times. The pains also are real bad. Here’s my question: Is there anything else my doctor should be doing to help me? Also my husband and I have been trying for a year now to have a baby. Still nothing. My periods are not regular. They come from 32-36 days apart. I’m 28 and my husband is 39. I started taking my temperate upon arising each morning to see if that would help. My temperature is 97.2. Is that normal? It does not really go up at all. The highest temperature was 97.9. How do I know when I should be ovulating?— Gwen B. in Wyevale, Ontario | | | ANSWER |
May 9, 2001 | | | Dear Gwen,
Irritable bowel is a common problem that can be treated. One good treatment is to take a fiber supplement like Metamucil or Citrucel every day. While that may seem contradictory since these are also called fiber laxatives, it turns out they "cure what ails ya" when it comes to your intestinal tract. If you have not yet tried fiber supplementation, start very slowly, about a teaspoon a day (in lots of water or juice) for a week. Then slowly increase your daily dose over six to eight weeks, until you are taking a tablespoon twice each day. If you increase your dose too quickly, you will feel gassy and bloated and you will not think it is helping. If fiber therapy doesn't help, you will need to go back to your doctor, or see a GI specialist. If you have fevers, or blood or mucus in your stool, see you doctor right away.
For the next question: If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year, you meet criteria for infertility. This means you should consider seeing a doctor to check if there is some help you can get to speed up the process of starting a family. Taking your temperatures is a good step--the doctor will want to see that as part of your initial fertility evaluation.
I hope this answers some of your questions. Good luck and be well.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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