IBS ... no pain?

[Kateg1982]

Hi,

About 3 years ago I developed (without going into too much detail) symptoms common with IBS, but never any pain. I don't have 'attacks' like most IBS sufferers seem to though, its pretty constant every day. I've tried cutting out the usual problem foods with no success. Tried probiotics, peppermint, fibre, linseeds, charcoal etc and all any of them do is give me terrible trapped wind :( Even took up running but it made no difference.

I went to see a consultant at the hospital and they did an endoscopy. Results came back normal. They lost interest after that and diagnosed me with 'probable IBS' (IE they have no clue what's wrong). The only thing that makes it even worse (it never really gets better) is when I'm anxious or stressed about something. I'm quite a socially anxious person so I guess it could be this that's causing it?

I just don't know what to try next, I feel like I'm wasting a lot of money on tablets etc when I'm not really sure whats wrong and it just feels like I'm not moving any further forward. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

[TARSCOUT]

So you have either constipation or diarrhea yes? That's pretty much ibs. It doesn't always have to be painful. What tablets are you taking?

[Kateg1982]

I get a lot of wind and I go a lot, but at the same time its quite difficult, takes a long time and my bowel movements aren't 'normal'. Sorry for TMI!!! I'm not taking any tablets right now. Tried Colpermin a couple of weeks ago but it gave me terrible trapped wind like everything else I try, so I gave up :(

[TARSCOUT]

Never TMI (I have Crohn's, I'm used to it). Does sound like IBS. DP has IBS and takes Colperamin but I don't think that causes trapped wind. Have you considered a food diary?

[Kateg1982]

Yes, I did try that for 2 weeks, and I honestly couldn't see any correlation between symptoms and what I ate at all! I even showed it to the consultant and he couldn't see anything obvious either.

The things that make it worse are any changes in routine (going on holiday or even just going to stay at my parents house is usually a nightmare :( ) Any kind of anxiety or stress (job interviews are always a trigger, I think this Coronavirus stuff might have made it slightly worse!) I'm very shy and get anxious around people too.

[BretonKitten]

Look into methane dominant SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). Sometimes it’s called Methanogen Bloom or IMO (Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth).

Basically, most cases of IBS has a type of bacterial overgrowth underlying it. What type of overgrowth is related to whether symptoms are diarrhoea, constipation or both.

In the case of diarrhoea or mixed IBS, the vast majority of cases are linked to one or more previous incidences of food poisoning. With successive further incidences of food poisoning, this can develop into an autoimmune condition. I mention this because you say when you go to the loo it is’t normal, but you don’t mention that is because they are “loose” or “hard”. Look into the Rome Scale for diagnosing IBS if you are unsure.

There are treatments already available and also in the pipeline for this, whether antibiotics to clear the overgrowth or a special type of statin to reduce methane production.

It’s a medical field where there is lots of emerging research and new information. Most new test/ treatments for it aren’t yet easily accessible via the NHS, but that is changing so the progress is worth keeping an eye on and it could be worth talking to your GP about it when you have familiarised yourself with the lie of the land a bit, as in some areas there is GP and/or Consultant GI awareness of it. My GP was supportive and open to new info on it when I shared it with her.

I’d recommend looking into the work of Dr Mark Pimentel of Cedars-Sinai hospital in LA to get an idea of the research that is going on in this field.

In the meantime, have you tried the Low FODMAP diet? It works for a lot of people with IBS.

I’d also recommend looking into the work of Dr Alison Siebecker, especially as it relates to the symptomatic relief of constipation. For example, natural prokinetics like ginger, magnesium or Iberogast can help, as can increasing water intake (but by slowing sipping water rather than taking large mouthfuls). Not a cure but can help symptoms in the meantime.

[Kateg1982]

Thanks, this is useful info, I will look into it.

I did have 3 nasty bouts of food poisoning in my teens, but it has been nearly 20 years since i last had it, so I'm not sure that would be a contributing factor?

I have tried the Low FODMAP diet - no success.

[Keepaddingpets]

@BretonKitten I think I might love you!!

Since having giardia about 18 years ago my digestive system (from mouth to bum) has been rubbish. Diagnosed with IBS but after googling this seems a real possibility and all the antacids I'm on are probably making it worse.

[DaisyArtichoke7]

It could absolutely be stress that is causing your problems. www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/abdominal-pain

[BretonKitten]

The thing about the food poisoning aspect of if you are susceptible to be affected by it, it’s cumulative in the long term. So if your system has previously been affected it by it, one more bout, even a very mild one that you might not really notice at the time, can tip you into autoimmunity. There’s a blood test that can tell you if it’s that. Version 1 is available in the UK but the more reliable version 2 isn’t yet.

It’s a lot less likely to be that if you only have constipation, never diarrhoea (even if that was only for a short while at some point).

There are currently clinical trials underway for a product called Syn-10, a specialised form of love statin. This is for IBS with underlying IMO.

At the moment, whether you have IMO/methane dominant SIBO could be assessed with a SIBO breath test. These are available in the UK on the NHS in some areas, or it’s about £150 privately.

There are antibiotic and herbal treatments for that, again patchy and look into the current research. Some people also find going lower carb can help, as can intermittent fasting.

If you’re in a position where you find you put on weight much more quickly than before, that can be another symptom of it. The methanogens slow intestinal transit time and people with it can absorb more calories/nutrients than normal, so have a tendency to put on weight easily. The work of Dr Ruchi Mathur, again of Cedars-Sinai in LA is informative on this.

[BretonKitten]

Thank you @keepaddingpets, glad it helped. Giardia is one of the infections that can trigger this.

For years IBS has been a bit of a diagnosis that is given when they don’t really know what’s going on. Now there is a lot of new research that is breaking down what is really going on for a lot of people.