IBS colic/trapped wind - can't cope any more :(

[KateBeckett]

I have been suffering with IBS for nearly 9 years now (though it was only diagnosed around 2 years ago!) and I am getting to the point where I just can't cope with it any more.

I honestly feel like crying right now.

The main problem I get is with colic-y trapped wind pains, which are often so severe I can't move or sleep, and sometime so bad that the pain makes me vomit. I also suffer from cycles of constipation vs not-quite-diarrhoea and the colic-y pain seems to be linked to the constipation.

The things I have found to be triggers are fried food - which I now avoid completely; some dairy - this is intermittent and seems to just be milk / cream, I try to avoid especially around trigger times; lack of sleep - if I have a bout of insomnia for any reason, the IBS is always much worse the next day; my period - I seem to get problems every month, but not always at the same time. Sometimes it is just before my period, sometimes just after. It is also affected by stress to some degree.

I have been to the GP many times about this, and in the years before I was diagnosed I had many different tests and was tried on various medications, with varying success. However, since I got a diagnosis (and also moved areas and therefore GP's) I feel I am treated quite dismissively. The last time I went to the GP was because I had had a diagnosis but no real advice, and I was going through a bad patch with the symptoms and was at the end of my tether. I was told to take peppermint and look at a website.

After a bad nights sleep last night, I am now in agony and feeling really low. I feel like I don't understand what to do to help control the symptoms and don;t know what to do during an attack - I have been drinking peppermint tea and have taken a peppermint tablet and will probably start eating mints soon, but I am still in a lot of pain and feel sick :(

Sorry this is so long, I don't really know why I'm posting... I guess I just needed to let it all out and get my thoughts down. Maybe it is time to go back to the doctors and try to make them understand how much this is impacting on me?

Are there any other IBS sufferers who want to share their experiences or advice? TIA

[Ponyofdoom]

Sounds really bad, probably best to ask for further checks to rule out other bowel conditions eg IBD? I suffered from IBS for many years, stress made it worse and the time of the month, food was another factor but not the main one. My IBS has stopped, pretty much, since I went on the mini pill a couple of years ago (Cerazette), I don't get a cycle anymore and it's slowed everything down. I also take a probiotic tablet daily but I am more inclined to think its the mini pill that's helped. Worth a try??

[Ponyofdoom]

Also visit theibsnetwork.org/

[RnB]

You poor thing . I'm a sufferer too and it is truly awful, isn't it. Have you tried cutting back on wheat? That really helps me. Also a hot water bottle on your tummy helps during an attack. I also find deep breathing to be really helpful to calm an attack. In slowly through the nose, out through the mouth.

[Dillie]

You have my total sympathy! I have had ibs for 20 odd years and recently had a flare up due to moving house, eating crap at Christmas and the following constipation. It normally takes a couple of months to settle again :( It leaves you feeling sore, tired and out of sorts doesn't it?

My triggers are dairy, onions, alcohol (cheap date I am!!) some fruits, bread and anything that lists lactose, casein or whey!

The doctor gives me spasminol which works a treat. It also helps painful periods too, so it's a real bonus :) before the doc gave me that, I did find buscopan very helpful. The only downside is the spasminol knocks me about a bit and makes me feel a little drunk!

When I have the colicky pain, I find hot water helpful. Tastes blargh but it does shift the gas.

Have you tried hypnotherapy or relaxation techniques? As my ibs is often triggered by stress I have to make sure that I relax properly or I will run into trouble.

If you can afford it, get to a registered hypnotherapist that specialises in ibs and it will work. They should give you exercises to practice and in time the affects will start to pay off.

Look after yourself, and allow your gut to heal. It is horrible but try to relax. Tensing and worrying makes it 10,000 times worse.
X

[KateBeckett]

Thank you for your kind replies, they have made me a bit a lot teary!

I am now breathing deep and DP is getting me a hot water bottle.

It is good to know I'm not alone, as I am the only person I know with this horrid condition and it is starting to make me feel really isolated. whinge whinge

[eurochick]

I've had IBS for many years now (maybe around 15). It's is awful so you have my sympathy. My main trigger is dairy but I found mine improved when I found goats yoghurt (vile) that is probiotic. I'd tried probiotic pills but they did nothing for me. The yoghurt seemed to.

I am a lot better now and can tolerate small amounts of dairy in my diet.

I found the drs were pretty useless once they had finished checking me for bowel cancer and diagnosed IBS instead. I worked out my own triggers and played around with probiotics after doing some research.

[girliefriend]

Hello another sufferer here, I feel your pain. My symptoms are also worse around my period. There is a special diet I think called lowfod or something which basically cuts out loads of foods that create gas when you eat them. Main culprits being onions, broccoli, apples ummm there is loads of others but can't remember!!

Have you got some buscopan to take for the cramps? I find this helps when my stomach is sore, I also swing between constipation and diarhoea, prefer the constipation as not having to panic about being caught short!!!

I have also cut out caffine which I think has helped although I now find am flagging with tiredness!

Also exercise, this def helps but I am guilty of not doing it enough and always finding an excuse not to do it.

Hope you feel better soon, I think gps are pretty unsympathetic unfortunately.

[youarekidding]

Another sufferer here. I have had it 22 years but diagnosed only 14 years ago after everything else ruled out.

I can concur with the pain. It's rendered me unable to walk as affects my legs. I also cannot eat/ digest any high fat dairy products (cream/ milk alone or lovely Mr Whippy ice cream )
I also limit my wheat.

I also get it before y period badly to the point I can never work out if it's back ache from period pain, stomach ache, period pains, ovary pain. Whatever it's just a whole great pain!

Wheat bags help me. As does eating little but often, and plenty of excercise. Swimming I find especially helpful because it doesn't put pressure on my stomach iyswim?

And I also agree about GP. There are a few brilliant ones at my surgery but others who think any pain between the pelvis and neck is IBS. I don't go with my IBS because I know they can't help - so if I'm there I'm worried.

Hope you feel better soon.

[KateBeckett]

Thank you everyone.

I ended up having a warm bath at half 11 last night which really helped. It eased the pain enough so that I could get to sleep, and I have woken up feeling tender, but without the cramps.

I can't believe that so many people's GP's are so unhelpful when it comes to IBS. There is such a lot of information out there, and I am finding it really difficult to sort out what is useful for me on my own. I think I will try and make an appointment with the one lovely doctor I have seen at my GP's and see if he has any advice.

Like I said last night, it's good to know I'm not alone, although I wouldn't wish this on anyone!!

[Naoko]

Hi Kate, sorry to hear you feel so awful. My dp was diagnosed with IBS 3 years ago and suffered much the same way. Buscopan didn't help him at all, and he was mostly just coping by identifying and avoiding trigger foods (after a lot of trial and error it turns out the major one for him is MSG and related flavour enhances, which is an enormous pain in the arse as it is in so many things and the labelling for it is poor - but I digress). However the cramps and pain were Getting harder to cope with an he went back to the gp last month. He has now got something called mebeverine which he has to take 20 minutes before each meal and the effect is frankly miraculous. He's had a few attacks but they have been infrequent and minor and just feels so much better.
Do go back to your gp, there are things they can try!

[smee]

Do any of you get sore ribs with your IBS? I feel like my diaphragm's pushing up into them and my ribs get sore. Kind of like when you're pregnant and there's no room for everything iyswim.

[youarekidding]

smee I have that. Infrequent but get it at times, especially on the right hand side. Always wondered what it was! Maybe it's related to the IBS then?

[smee]

Mine's on the right side too. If you google rib pain/ IBS it's not uncommon. tbh I didn't realise what I had was IBS but it does seem to fit. I have bouts of it, but as it's intermittent and not too debilitating I've never bothered to get it investigated. It's getting increasingly frequent now and lasts for longer so I think I'll have to go and at least talk the GP.

[Iamseeingstars]

Ive just been reading up on celiacs disease. Symptons very similar and a common misdiagnosis, apparantly.

I have same symptons you described, so doctor is now going to do tests to rule out celiacs. Dietitician has also told me to avoid all fats in food, go lactose free, avoid dairy and a whole range of vegetables. Its getting quite hard to know what I can eat

[HeatSeekingMelons]

I have bad IBS and have been prescribed Mebeverine hydrochloride for a couple of years now. My symptoms have improved with flare ups less frequent and dramatic.

It might be worth speaking to your GP about it.

Hope you feel better soon. I know how grim it is!

[Willowme]

Hi I have IBS too so feel your pain, I went to see a kinesiologist who test you for food allergies. After going off gluten and dairy my symptoms have disappeared completely. If u can find out what your triggers are you will find out life is a hell of a lot easier.

Docs don't recognise kinesiology though so ifu mention to them they will tell you it's a pile of crap- trust me it ain't, im not into alternative medicines at all and I was shocked how spot on she was. Did more for me in ten mins than docs did in years!

[Waggy2B]

Hi just been reading about IBS ,I have been diagnosed with this.Talking about the pain it is so acute at time's, I also get it in my right side of back . I have been given buscapina and paracetamol, just came out of hospital yesterday. This condition at present been going on 2 week's . I am finding the pain hard to deal with,lack of sleep . I also take hot baths,I now know after reading thread this can take long time to calm down. The tablets take the edge of but only for couple hours then back to square one. I have been told 1 tablet every 8 hours which really doesn't do much for my pains. My life has been turned up side down due to this condition.I am awake nights sitting up on sofa may be catching hour sleep here and there . I just want my life to go back to being normal . I moved to Spain year ago for a nice easy life and this has happened, never had this whilst I was working and suffering daily stresses like most people in their working life. Seems so unfair. .Thank you for posting your experiences, may be I can get some helpful tips. .Good luck to all with this life changing, painful experience. .

[Simmi1]

I'm going through this too. Came on suddenly and severely after birth of my second child 6 months ago. I'm finding it really debilitating and soul destroying 😢

[Waggy2B]

Hi simmi 1
This is such a hard illness to comes to terms with. I hope you find some form of relief,I'm trying everything at the moment ,especially home health remedies. I googled IBS and found lots of information and remedies. Good luck ,pplease keep thread updated if you find anything that would benefit other suffers ...

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

Sorry to everyone struggling :(

I was told I had IBS at 14 and then left to just deal with it for years. It's only last year, when I was in hospital with suspected appendicitis (turned out to be endometriosis and an awful "IBS" attack) that they referred me to a gastroenterologist. Turns out the cause of all my issues is gluten.

So I cut out gluten and lo and behold it's been life changing. No more taking tramadol when it's at its worst. I'd recommend always seeing a doctor and getting tested before you do cut it out though, to make sure.

When I do get accidentally glutened, as well as stomach pains and bowel issues I get a burning itchy rash over my entire body, horrendous headaches, nausea and sickness. If anyone has these symptoms please ask for a referral to a gastroenterology doctor!

[Jw35]

Op I cut out loads of food groups: dairy, gluten, red meat, soft drinks, fizzy drinks, caffeine, wine etc then reintroduced each thing very slowly over the course of a year. I don't suffer anymore at all. The only thing that sets it off now are fizzy drinks and too much wheat.

[Woopsiedaisy]

Similar story to Overies. I struggled for years, right from childhood, only to eventually get a diagnosis of Coeliac disease.

However it didn't end there because I am also dairy and animal fat sensitive. Both sensitivities episodic in nature and often flaring up around the time of menstruation. I am also very strongly reactive to most sugars.

I now eat a plant based diet, masses of veggies and low fructose fruit with fish, nuts, rice, legumes, oats, and dark chocolate added in for variety.

I hardly ever get an attack now and if I do get a massive amount of relief from massaging my abdomen (lying down, circular, clockwise, firm massage).

My Father was a Doctor (died several years ago) and used to tell me IBS was a lazy diagnosis. Your symptoms and pain have a cause and that cause needs to be discovered in order to find the solution.

He also encouraged me to look outside traditional medicine and listen to my body. I kept a food diary for 6 months which helped me pinpoint my triggers and did masses of research to find the solutions that worked for me.

[Pannacott]

I used to have IBS but it seems to have gone away over the last decade or so, thank goodness. My main symptoms were trapped wind pain, and constipation. Things that really helped me were taking Mebeverine (antispasmodic) and paracetamol together, and lying on my back with my knees bent, feet on the floor, which would help reduce pain and release trapped wind.

[SparklesandBangs]

Are you sure it is IBS and not gallstones?
I suffered from 'IBS' for years with very similar symptoms to yours, even the expensive consultant I saw was no help really.
Eventually I had an attack so bad that I ended up in hospital on morphine, 60 minutes and 1 ultrasound later I was diagnosed with gallstones

[Waggy2B]

I was hospitalised, had blood test, x rays and ultra sound they confirmed. Mind you this morning I had porridge for breakfast, been tremendous pain ever since, even painkillers not touching it. So I'm taking it as one to avoid