Ibs constipation?

[enchantmentandlove]

Hello everyone, I was please wondering if anyone had some advice.

Since dd was 3 weeks old (now 5 1/2 months) I've suffered from chronic constipation. When she was 9 weeks old I eventually went to the GP who has been giving me Laxido, but re assured me by Christmas she thought I'd be back to normal. But recently I have been getting cramps in my lower abdomin, feeling very sick and lots more ibs symptoms.

Today the Dr said he thinks I have ibs and has changed my powder to fybogel. I'm having my bloods taken in a few weeks to rule anything else out then he'll see me again.

I have been drinking lots of water and eating high fibre foods, but found out today fibre is a lot more complicated than I thought! I've been researching different diets online but feel a bit confused by it all. I'm also thinking of perhaps cutting out dairy.

Can anyone please advise or enlighten me on a good diet? There seems to be so much conflicting information and I know it's not one size fits all, I just feel a bit lost. Thank you

[enchantmentandlove]

Oh yes - I'm now wondering (if it definitely is ibs) if I've had it a lot longer than I thought. In the past I've had times where I've had lots of loose stools, but just put it down to anxiety.

[MollyHuaCha]

Is it possible that childbirth has damaged your vagina and/or bowel? In which case, pelvic floor exercises may help to restore strength in this area. The rectum sits really close to the vagina and is easily damaged in childbirth, particularly if the baby is big, has a large head or if ventouse/forceps are used. But you have to do the exercises a few times a day and do them really thoroughly (not just a tiny squeeze when you remember). You might see positive results from this in around three weeks. If not, you will have lost nothing. Good luck

[enchantmentandlove]

Thank you! I was really good at doing them while pregnant, then continued doing them for a few months after dd was born, I have stopped doing them now though. I did have stitches as well.

[FoggyMorn]

I got a diagnosis of IBS (mixed type) in my early 20s and suffered for a long, long time because of the "eat more fibre and whole grains"'mantra. Yes, for some people that's the answer, for many others, it makes the situation worse.

You have two choices really, medication (pain killers, colofac, fibre supplements), or try to find out (by using exclusion diets) what might be causing the problem in the first place - with that in mind, I assume some other the blood tests you are having will test for inflammatory bowel conditions such as Coeliac??

[pelirocco123]

Since being diagnosed with Diabetes I have cut out almost all carbs and processed foods , it has made a huge huge difference to my IBS

[enchantmentandlove]

I must admit that's what I thought, I genuinely had no idea about soluble/unsoluble fibre etc. Yeah I think the bloods will include those. The Dr said he thinks I have "very strong" ibs but wants to role other things out in case.

For now he wants me to keep a food diary to see what makes the constipation worse, but he's also prescribed something to help me to go to the bathroom (I've been taking similar for about 3 or 4 months). If I'm doing exclusion diets should I keep off the fybogel and just take it when needed?

Thanks for your reply

[enchantmentandlove]

Yes I read that can make it worse as well, when I thought whole grains would help!

Also sorry for my bad spelling I'm trying to occupy dd and cook at the same time haha.

[StarTravels]

I had a similar problem and my son is now 18 months and it's only really just getting resolved. I think it turned out to be a combination of things which has resolved it.

1. I was found to have an underactive thyroid which may have been caused by blood loss during childbirth. I'm on levothyroxine now.
   
2. I'm taking probiotics daily - Bioglan ultimate flora. I tried others and only this one seemed to work.
   
3. I'm doing pelvic floor exercises and using a Kegel 8 machine.
   
4. I cut out dairy as I seemed to have an intolerance after seeing a dietician
   
   I know how miserable this can be. I spent a lot of time and money finding things that resolved this and went from being on daily laxatives to nothing. I have to be really careful to stick to all of the things mentioned above though. I hope some ideas there might help.