Fed up of IBS

[Sparklestrawberry]

First time posting but am at my wits end.
Diagnosed with IBS years ago and currently going through a horrible flare
Sorry if TMI but I constantly feel like I need the loo even though I can go about 4 times before I leave the house when I actually dare leave the house. Managing to go to work by taking Imodium but I’ve been taking it for years and feel like it’s losing its effect.
Constantly feels like my rectum is full but sometimes when I do go nothing comes out but mucus.
Tried antidepressants and probiotics but I realise that part of it is caused by my anxiety of being away from a toilet.
Anybody in the same situation who can offer any advice?

I've had IBS for 17 years, took about 10 years of feeling the way you are before realising mine is connected to food intolerances. I follow a fodmap diet & it has helped me identify triggers. I don't eat dairy, egg, soya, gluten, cherry tomatoes or sweetened drinks & I'm am nearly clear of symptoms. It's not easy but the peace of mind, knowing I can go somewhere without having to worry about getting caught short makes it worth it

Thankyou, I’m currently looking into the fodmap diet as it’s the only thing I’ve not tried yet

`When I went gluten free my IBS almost disappeared completely. I am also wary of dairy, tomato skins, seeded bread and beans.

Me too. Been in the middle of a horrible flare up for ten days. I know what triggered it - had a very lovely seeded brown bread bread sandwich, then went away for a couple of days and it involved a McDonald's breakfast and a greasy theme park dinner.

I can't eat

Greasy food
Brown bread
Seeded bread
Anything oily eg delicious salad dressings
Fatty meat - pork belly, chicken thighs
Fruit apart from strawberries and orange melon

I have been taking Imodium three times a day for a week and scared to leave the house.

Hoping it's coming to an end now. You have my sympathy.

Same here. I can’t seem to settle mine. Constantly feel like I need the loo, I rush upstairs only for nothing to happen, walk away and get the feeling again. My digestive system just feels so unsettle it’s constantly gurgling, growling, popping and swishing. And it’s makes me feel nauseous.

Have you been to your GP recently? I was dx with IBS at 17 yo. It comes and goes and I've learned to live with it.

At 47 I was having to go more and more frequently, and also feeling like I hadn't finished. GP latched on to stress and IBS but finally referred me and I had bowel cancer.

Now yours is more than likely IBS. BUT please get it checked out.

I think I will go back to my gp, been putting it off as just expecting the usual “it’s just IBS” but it is getting more frequent and I too never feel like I’m finished

Have you tried peppermint oil capsules? I take colpermin and I find it helps settle my IBS when it flares.

Could have written that myself. Constantly feel like I need to go. Apparently I have a slight prolapse which presses on my rectum. Take a daily immodium which means I can leave the house. If I don't take one I go 4 times before breakfast.
I can't eat onions or garlic. Doc says I have slight dairy and gluten intolerance.
Not being within sight of a loo makes all my symptoms a million times worse.

Sorry to hear this, OP.

I concluded years ago that IBS is a term often used as a matter of convenience for the medical profession to label people whose conditions they've not been able to diagnose.

In my case my 'IBS' was gallstones, and when my gallbladder was removed my IBS went too.

I'd suggest trying to take this up further with your GP. I see that others have mentioned dietary issues. Perhaps you could ask for help with that?

My DH has had IBS for years. We've only recently realised that everything that affects him contains sulphites.

He's cut out sulphites and the IBS has disappeared.

Sulphites you say? Will have a look at that.

I don't have any advice, but I'm just the same i find it difficult to leave the house. My anxiety makes it 10x worse. When I go out I have to to check where all toilet are.