All things IBS

[TheTravellingLemon]

I thought I might start a sort of IBS support thread if anyone is interested.

There's so much experience here on mumsnet, I thought it might be nice to have one place where we can ask questions or share our experiences.

So even if nothing is troubling you at the moment, why not mark your place so you can come back when the inevitable happens .

I'll start. I had a csection a month ago. OMG the agony since. The worst IBS I've had in many a year. I hate meds anyway, but particularly as I'm breastfeeding. I was up all night last night in pain. It wasn't this bad after my first .

[TheTravellingLemon]

A hopeful evening bump.

[Blizy]

I'll join in. I've suffering for Around 4 years, it's just so debilitating at times. I am just in the process of getting a formal diagnosis, it's also thought I have bowel endometriosis, I'm awaiting a colonoscopy.

[TheTravellingLemon]

Hi Blizy . Looks like it's just us for the time being.

Have you had a colonoscopy before? If not, don't worry about it - they're fine. The worst bit is probably the bowel prep and even that is ok. Put vaseline on after you go though because it can get quite sore.

[Blizy]

Hi, no not had one before. I'm terrified!
How is your IBS just now? I found it went away during my last pregnancy but came back with a vengeance a month or so after the birth.

[TheTravellingLemon]

Exactly that! DD is four weeks old and I'm in agony. Feel like I can feel it through all my intestines. With DS I had a bad bout after he was born, but not as bad as this.

Don't be terrified of the colonoscopy. It really is ok. It isn't comfortable, but it's not painful either. Just drink lots of water with your bowel prep and remember the vaseline. And hooray for sedatives

[Blizy]

Congrats, on your little baby daughter! My boy is 10 months, where did the time go?

When did you first get IBS? Do you know what triggered it?
I started almost 5 years ago following the still birth of my daughter, maybe brought on by stress of just pregnancy/birth.

[TheTravellingLemon]

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter.

I had a bowel infection about 10 years ago and it took forever to get over. It eventually left me with IBS. Stress is a definite trigger for me.

[HalloweenQueen1]

Hi everyone, was just searching for some information and I came across this thread. I don't know if what I have is ibs but there is definitely something going on. I've had chronic stomach cramps after eating and I'm spending most of my time in the loo (sorry if this is tmi) whenever I eat it goes straight through. Also have really bad indigestion, all foods seem to leave me like this...I'm going to make an appointment with mu GP but it will probably be a week or more before I'm seen, just wondering if this sounds similar to any of your symptoms?? And how do they diagnose for IBS, would having a blood test show anything up, it's really starting to get to me, I'm always in the toilet and am at the point where I'm afraid to go anywhere thanks for any advice

[HyacinthBouquetNo1]

Great idea for a thread, may I join?

I have suffered all my life with my bowels. I have IBS and bile salt malabsorption syndrome. I also have other health problems too (fibromyalgia with abnormal brain MRI, (tests at this time do not indicate MS) but I have a LOT of strange symptoms) & coronary artery spasm & sinus tachycardia)

Hope this thread won’t be TMI, (not for the squeamish) but I don’t really talk about this IRL as it’s too embarrassing!

I have had diarrhoea all my life, for as long as I can remember, I am now mid-40s. A “normal” poo for me is like yellow runny porridge. I seem to have a routine where I am ok for a couple days if I take Loperamide but then will be REALLY ill for a couple of days, I even get woken at night with nausea, cramps, diarrhoea, chills, shaking. I have spent many a night shivering on the toilet being ill and then having to go to work the next day, luckily I don’t work anymore. I am supposed to take Colesevelam but I find it stops other medication being absorbed and as I am on 2 drugs for my heart , I cannot take the risk of that, so I do reserve some Colesevelam for dire emergencies, otherwise I am ok with Loperamide. I also take alverine citrate twice a day and that helps with the strong muscle contractions. I also have upper GI symptoms too which the consultant thinks is functional dyspepsia. I have had loads of tests and everything is ok, apart from the bile salt malabsorption.

In the days before Loperamide was available over the counter, I really suffered. It has been a godsend for me now, I can take that and some Dioralyte and it really helps. I feel dreadful in general , I know my potassium is always low, so I do wonder if the years of constant diarrhoea are taking its toll on my body now that I am getting older, I cannot bounce back as well as I used to. I just thank god I had my children when I was young and they are now grown up, I would not be able to cope at this age!

My diet is very limited in what I can eat, everything seem to make me ill, even drinking cold water sets off spasms, I have to warm it in the microwave before I can drink it, I am waiting to see a dietitian for some help with my diet. There are LOADS of foods I cannot eat, onions, celery, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, apples, mango, pastry, crumpets, fizzy drinks, beer,. The things I can eat are the unhealthy items like white bread, cheese, ham, biscuits, cakes, as a result, I am now about a stone and half overweight with high cholesterol, high triglycerides and slight fatty liver so I need to get things sorted.

I am having a good day today, all is calm with my tummy

[TheTravellingLemon]

HyacinthBouquetNo1 sounds like you've had a really hard time of things .

I don't think that there can be such a thing as TMI on a thread that is essentially about poo! I get that you're embarrassed irl, but it's a shame because it's just your body. Come and tell all on here! We'll not judge or laugh.

I've actually been pretty stable for a few years now. Mine normally also manifests itself as constant diarrhoea, but this time is different.

HalloweenQueen1 I'm sorry you're feeling poorly. I don't know how things have changed but I can tell you my experience. I was basically diagnosed with IBS after all the other tests came black clear. My symptoms were similar to yours, I lost over a stone in two and a half weeks (i was already slim) and I had a massive B12 deficiency. This all came after I couldn't shake a bowel infection for a good few weeks.

I had a series of blood tests and a colonoscopy as I remember. Once they ruled out the colitis etc I was given the diagnosis. Things may have changed though as that was over 10 years ago now. I had some injections to help with the B12 and saw a dietician and had some meds. I don't take them anymore though.

I feel like I might need to go back to the GP. Feeling shitty. Having pains all along my bowel. Hard to tell because of the csection.

[thegoldenlemon]

Marking space here and hoping everyone is still about. Travelling lemon I'm two weeks post c section and after an ibs free pregnancy it is back in full force not sure if it's hormonal and breastfeeding related or surgery related but it hurts a lot and I keep having to interrupt feeds to go to the loo. I usually manage with buscopan and Imodium but those feel off limits whilst feeding? Would like to be able to get some virtual support and have somewhere to offload so it would be good to get this thread stickier.

[TheTravellingLemon]

A fellow Lemon!

They did warn me at the hospital that the csection would mess with the IBS. I also had a symptom free pregnancy. I went to see the pharmacist the other day and he said the only thing I could take is fibregel. I haven't taken it yet, but I feel better having something there.

The best thing I've done is increase the amount I drink. I've had loads and loads of water and it makes things a bit more manageable.

I remember from my last pregnancy that it takes about 3 months to get back to normal.

[Batmansunderpants]

Hi all,

I have had IBS since childhood. I was just thinking I maybe no longer had it as I've gained weight and less cramps etc. unfortunately I've had a bad few weeks. Anyone else feel ill after bowel movements? I'm sweaty before then sick after.

[Batmansunderpants]

Oh and the endoscopy/colonoscopy is painless.

[TheTravellingLemon]

batman, definitely get the sweats . When it's really bad I have to take everything off. And I mean watch, rings, everything .

[Batmansunderpants]

Travelling, it's good to know it's not just me! It is horrible when in public and it hits. It comes on suddenly without warning.

[TheTravellingLemon]

Just giving this a little bump and making sure I don't fall off the thread

[Rowgtfc72]

Hello all!
Not sure if it is IBS or what but I'm terrified of straying too far from a loo. I also get the cold chills when sat in the loo for hours. My stomach makes awful noises and I don't get cramps but my stomach feels like its been doused in acid.
Haven't been to the docs as assumed it wasn't IBS as I don't get cramps.
Would love to have a normal life though.

[CrossfireHurricane]

IBS has at times ruined my life!
I started to have the symptoms in 2010 and have had a colonoscopy and many blood tests.
I cannot eat pasta at all and have to be very careful with bread and wheat products.
I always have loperamide and hyoscine at home.Stress can very much affect me.
It is a real pain - in all senses.
It would be very interesting to hear how others manage their symptoms. to all sufferers

[IrritableBitchSyndrome]

Hi everyone, I have IBS along with various other fun stuff. I find avoiding all gluten, lactose, egg, grains in general except rice, and sticking with low levels of fructose helps manage my symptoms. The FODMAP diet helped really calm down the symptoms then I gradually reintroduced stuff until I could predict what would trigger symptoms. Tummy upset at the moment as I had a small Baileys a few days ago. Cream. Lactose. Sigh....

[toomuchinternets]

@blitzy I'll never forget my stepsister calling my parents up crying her heart out- her daughter was about two weeks old and she was trapped on the toilet (single parent). She was DEVASTATED because she had been totally IBS free for the entire pregnancy and thought she was cured.

[toomuchinternets]

YY to the sweats. I don't get much warning that I need a poo, but then BOOM I'm sweating and sickly and need to go. I HATE the overheating, I feel like I'm on fire in my stomach.

I've had IBS since I was about 18. It's definitely worse with stress, but it makes me stress out, so vicious circle!

I got married in July and was super unwell for the month beforehand, during the honeymoon (totally ruined it for me) and then started a new job when we got back. I kept saying to myself "it's just particularly bad IBS due to wedding/job stress", and ignored it for a few months. However I have now recently found out it is, in fact, an angry inflamed gallbladder which is being removed next week and an internal hernia! I was too quick to blame feeling rotten on my IBS for once!

[NavyAndWhiteStripes]

I have Ibs and bile salt malabsorption. It started when I had a laparoscopy for endometriosis in 2002, though stopped in pregnancy.

I had reached a point where I was taking lots of medication daily and was worried about going to new places. It was really taking over my life.

Something that has really worked for me has been doing the 5:2 diet. So two days a week I eat only 500 calories. I eat all 500 as my evening meal, giving me a 24 fasting period from one evening to the next twice a week. This has revolutionised my ibs, so thought I would pass along the tip in case it helps anyone else. I now find I can eat pretty much what I like on my non-fast days, whereas before I was avoiding caffeine and all sorts of other things.

I still get flare ups when stressed and get anxious in traffic jams, but overall it's been really amazing.

[HyacinthBouquetNo1]

Merry Christmas everyone [santa]

Had an awful night with my bowels, think I have overindulged already. I had 2 glasses of wine, mince pie, cheese and crackers. Went to sleep at 9.30pm, I was that tired but awoke at 2am with the most horrendous nausea, my stomach was contracting and quivering. I spent 2 hours feeling like this unable to sleep (took a Loperamide from the stash in my bedside drawer) but then had explosive diarrhoea Back to bed and then got the horrid chills and shivers and bowel cramping. Finally managed to drop off at 5.30, but then had to get up early as I am cooking and have relatives coming over! I am exhausted and feel so drained, my stomach is tender where the bowels were cramping and fasciluating but after a hearty breakfast of Loperamide, Co-codamol, Dioalyte and cup of tea, I feel a bit better. Just hope I am ok to just get past Xmas Day and then I can chill out!

Hate my guts