i have both irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and heart disease. my MD insisted that i go back on aspirin therapy and i recently resumed it. i had stopped several years ago because of side effects. this time, i tried taking the aspirin at a different time from fish oil because the two did not mix well (one is acidic and the other is fat, resulting in acid reflux). but, i'm still having some very bad gastrointestinal side effects. and, i am always cold (a result, i think, of my blood being thinner). trouble is, i don't tolerate statins either. today, i decided to stop taking the aspirin and to make an MD appointment. i am feeling very frustrated.

i cannot say how frustrating it is to have a genetic predisposition for heart disease and to not be able to tolerate ANY medications whatsoever to treat it.

i am trying to rely on diet and exercise with mixed results. as winter approaches, it will be increasingly difficult to exercise since i prefer to exercise outdoors. and, the diet i need to follow is impossible, consisting only of lean meats and vegetables. still, i cannot tolerate this diet because my intake of veggies is limited because of side effects. also, i seem to need a lot of healthy fat in my diet to stay calm, feel full and to benefit my circulatory system. i have given up all of my favorite foods. and, the cravings to cheat are very, very difficult to deal with.

[Fresia]

I hope the visit with the doc goes well and there are some answers there. I know how hard it is to balance diet, meds, and several issues that seem to aggrevate each other. Have you by chance met with a dietician? If not, this helped me to balance my meds with IBS foods for toleration and to manage reflux; please consider asking the doc about a referral if you have not already met with one, especially in light of combining a heart healthy diet as well. It could be really beneficial.

yes, i've met with a nutritionist. he told me to eat all the lean meat and leafy veggies i want, and to avoid everything else. that's an impossible diet and an impossible way to live. i've tried it. i seem to think more clearly but have little energy. also, it makes eating a chore and an unjoyable activity. i like meat in moderation only. i am not always in the mood to cook. also, i am not a salad eater - i like my food cooked and warm. it's a huge quandry. this morning, i had an avocado for breakfast. not an enjoyable meal but, with its high fat content, i will not have much craving to eat again for a few hours and that is a relief. the diet makes me feel like a freak of nature. and, i want to eat something that i truly enjoy eating. i'm dealing with it as best as i can which is, in other words, begrudgingly and not very well.

[lynn P.]

Have you tried taking the 'enteric coated aspirin' - this is easier on the stomach. I used to get horrible acid reflux and was on Nexium for several years until I suspected it blocked the B vitamins and I was right. I now take Ester C - its more expensive but its a buffered vitamin C which balances the acid in your stomach. When I do get acid reflux - I also use this natural remedy - swallow 2 tblsps of lemon juice then drink some water. You can also swallow some fiber capsules and this will absorb some of the acid. Laying on your left side also helps. Can you tolerate yogurt or acidolpholis supplements - friendly bacteria will help the IBS symptoms. Try the Ester C - its wonderful for the stomach.

hi, lynn,

i was taking enteric coated aspirin, it did not trigger acid reflux but it did trigger IBS. sadly, i cannot tolerate any dairy products including yogurt. (i miss pizza and ice cream so much!) some people with IBS report good results with probiotics but not me. because of the IBS, i cannot tolerate a lot of heart healthy foods like oatmeal and whole grains. it's such a quandry.

lately, due to depression and halloween sales, i have been pigging out on chocolate. am trying to keep it in abeyance. still, the cravings are difficult to deal with. i have been drowning them in home brewed iced tea (plain - no milk or sugar or non-dairy creamer). it stains my teeth badly but i am so sick of drinking plain water - my only other choice. i try to be grateful for tea, and i am. bought some pomegranites to snack on later. for some reason, fruit is not very filling. it's also high in sugar and fiber, so i have to be careful with it.