How do people with IBS cope with life

I have collagenous colitis so can relate to this.

Just started to use Heathers Tummy Fibre which is acacia senegal which is a herbal relief for IBS and diarrhoea as well as constipation.

Definitely worth a try. From 6 times a day to 1 or 2 and hugely decreased urgency. And firmer. 👍. Not perfect of course but a hell of an improvement.

I also take Movicol everyday to keep my bowel moving regularly, it's very gentle. I've had to come to terms with the fact I may have to do a 'wild poo' and have warned my partner about what if we get stuck on the motorway and I have to poo etc. it's so mortifying.
When I get the urge to go, I just can't stop it, it's excruciatingly painful.

I always have a diazepam to hand incase I get stuck on the motorway (as a passenger) which immediately takes the anxiety of an IBS attack away. But it really does impact days out, where we go. It's utterly embarrassing. I am also prescribed codeine (for another condition but it also helps my IBS) and citalopram.
Having the diazepam to hand really helps, knowing it will calm me down if an IBS attack does happen.

Thats so sad @unicormb .. luckily mine is very understanding... But it has meant that I have become so overanxious avoidant about any intimacy, as well as going out.. I so want to get back to what I was...
I had strong antibiotics for three weeks last after tooth implant surgery and they really made me sick. Since then the ibsd got so much worse..
Kefir just makes it really bad, but I have ordered some probiotics now as recommended.. expensive but I have got to the stage of giving anything a go now .

I wouldn't have a partner that acts that way after the first time they acted that way.

Thanks for this thread, on the back of it and after a truly horrible weekend, suffering, ( and I have had this for at least 3 years hand have just been using immodium and buscopan ) .. Anyway I finally contacted my Doctor, but armed with exactly what to say.. shes now given me Mebeverine.. only taken two so far, but I have hopes...

I had the same thing! The prep was such a horrible experience, but it made me wonder if it would be worth doing it every now and then as it seemed quite beneficial.

@unicormb oh I'd be sorely tempted to hide some laxatives in his food now and again 🤬

Do any of you struggle with depression? I'm trying to find my way out of a bad bout of ibs and now feel utterly miserable about it. Any help appreciated please.

I think that’s really sad and horrible. What if he was to develop some sort of disability? Most people as they get older will struggle with some sort of incontinence type issue, disability or not! Its really short sighted of him and cruel to be so horrid.

I've done this before too, my husband acts utterly disgusted by me, which makes me feel so ashamed. Does anybody else have a partner that doesn't understand how disabling this condition can be?

One strange thing. Pre colonoscopy I had the moviprep . After that my stomach settled down for weeks. Was it the fasting or the clean out??

Massively relate to this.

Any diarrhoea is generally quite low volume for me (it’s just that I’ll then be going again every 20 mins). When im having a bad spell I’ll try to wear some Tena pants as they prevent any marking or wetness on my skirt or jeans and will give me enough time to find a loo. While by no means the best option, I can honestly say this has been a life saver several times now!

I have horrific IBS-D and have done since I was in my late teens, since having my second child it really really ramped up a notch, and now I have no gallbladder too I can go from 0 to poonami in two minutes. It's utterly debilitating and the only things that seem to work for me are: 3 Imodium at night (I am overweight, 2 does nothing for me), every night, codeine regularly for pain and to slow the bowl, probiotics.

I've had some relief with Biokult and other capsules but the biggest and fastest change I have noticed is Symprove, which is water based, and you drink one capful every morning ten mins before eating.

My symprove referral link is below if anyone wants to try it. It's £150 initial outlay (£130 with my referral) so it probably won't be for most people. I'm only a week in, so can't claim any miraculous results, but I have noticed some benefit already, so hoping it continues.

I have absolutely no affiliation with Symprove whatsoever, and like I said I cannot say it healed me completely or changed my life, I'm too early into the course, but there may be some people here who have been thinking about trying it anyway, so thought they might like £20 off.

symprove.mention-me.com/m/ol/qi3ei-gemma-odonnell

Actually what @gamerchick describes is how my old gastroenterologist told me to take Imodium. He said people take it too late and the key is to take it just before bed.

I'm so glad @Happyhappyday that this worked for you! I sadly can't go back on gluten at all but am happy to avoid it completely along with dairy and a lot of other stuff - it's been many many years of completely cutting all this stuff out. Plus taking probiotics and all the usual vitamins and supplements.

I'd really encourage a lot of sufferers to completely cut out triggers permanently - it's hard to get used to, but all the horror stories on this thread were things I'd have daily, too. Now I am pretty asymptomatic ans haven't even touched imodium or anything else for years.

I can take a full box and it's worn off by the next day now. Your body just adapts to it. If I take 2 every night without fail, it makes my bowel behave. It doesn't block me up for days

Can I ask. those of you who take immodium, how do you then cope for the next few days as I haven't taken it for years as I it would then stuff me up for a day or two or three and then I would for want of a better word have a poonami day where I couldn't leave the bathroom let alone the house.

Removal of gallbladder. My consultant mentioned BAM . It's not widely advertised that this can be a side effect, you swap one problem for another

Have you been tested for https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/conditions/bile-acid-malabsorption/ (BAM)

This made a big difference to DH's symptoms and to those of a friend to whom I mentioned it. I have no idea why anyone with ISB symptoms is not routinely tested for BAM

He still sometimes has flare ups esp in response to stress but otherwise is much more stable. Without the BAM medication, his symptoms seemed entirely all over the place.

2 imodium every night, regardless of how I've been that day.

I got it for £50, I'll try and find the offer later and post it here

I’d like to give this a go but it’s so expensive! £79 for 4 weeks supply! 😳

I've just started Symprove and am liking what I see, just a week in

Amitriptyline and probiotics/live food. Lots of kombucha, sauerkraut, kefir etc.