Could this really just be IBS or shall I push for more with the doctors?

I have IBS, its triggered by some foods or combinations, and stress. For example I can eat either broccoli or courgettes in small portions, but not both together. Keep a food diary before you try FODMAP, and log when you have discomfort.
If you have a colonoscopy I strongly recommend you have sedation. You might have to push for it.

The failure of medical professionals to follow the proper pathway to diagnosing IBS is awful. IBS should never be diagnosed until ALL other possible conditions/diagnoses have been excluded. That includes screening for Coeliac disease, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, and cancer.

There is a proper clinical pathway to diagnose IBS (once everything else is excluded), called Rome IV criteria - I would be surprised if many GPs have heard of it.

Do not simply follow a low FODMAPs diet. That should only be undertaken under the supervision of a Registered Dietitian, who has been trained in the diet. Again, too many GPs fob people off by telling them to look up this diet online. It is a three stage approach, but most people who attempt it on their own, end up stuck on the first phase, which is extremely restrictive, and is not intended to be followed long term.

A colonoscopy is the best way to exclude all the abovementioned alternative diagnoses. It doesn't matter how young you are - unfortunately, there is a rising number of people in their thirties and forties not being diagnosed with bowel cancer until it is quite advanced, because of clinicians who dismiss the symptoms because bowel cancer is "an old person's disease". A colonoscopy can also show the presence of diverticula in the large bowel which could also be responsible for your symptoms (also easily managed with the correct dietary approach - but different to the FODMAPs diet).

Yes IBS can be that bad.. you don't want a colonoscopy unnecessarily as they are like torture. Have you had stool tests for H.pylori, calprotectin and all bacterias? And blood test for coeliac. If all negative then they usually say IBS and don't put you through unnecessary procedures.

As previous people have said, try doing the elimination diet, but in the meantime ask GP to be referred. Unfortunately Gastroenterology dept here in my area wait is 32 weeks just to see someone who will then decide if you need further testing, which again could be a further 6 month wait, but you will be in the system and may get help from the gastro team on diet. My DH had lower one sided pain, he was diagnosed with diverticulitis which is pain only and colitis symptoms of which does include bleeding, which was only found after having colonoscopy.

Sounds like IBS to me (I have IBS). Try a low FODMAP diet and see if it stops!

As well as diet, stress can make it worse for me, but it's mostly certain foods

They fail to detect nearly 9% of cancers, but double testing trials look like they catch 100%. Colonoscopies aren't failsafe either, but yes, I would ask for a colonoscopy too as per my other post, although GPs are often reluctant after a negative Fit test.

I have IBS it's been ongoing for around 15 years, certain foods at certain times of the day trigger my IBS, other times something that is just everyday food sets me off.

when it was first 'diagnosed' I had the colonoscopy and nothing was found.

I have cut out the ' irritating food' but sometimes I'll eat something in a restaurant and I'm off!! I have Imodium instants with me all the time just in case

My partner has IBS and he suffers terribly from bloating, gas, diarrhoea, gut pain. We've worked hard together over the last 3 years to try and get to the bottom of triggers and to try and improve his life. He kept a diary of food for a while and we identified a lactose intolerance. We worked hard to eliminate lactose (it's far more than just changing your milk!) This improved things but didn't stop it all. We then identified and tested a yeast intolerance (symptoms are different to the lactose but still very unpleasant). This all resulted in a real clean up of our eating. No yeast containing stuff (bread, beer, wine and all sorts of other things with yeast extract). Massively reduced dairy and the dairy we do eat is all lactose free. On top of that we are on month 3 of a complete diet overhaul and have ditched pretty much all pre-pared food. The exception is the odd can of baked beans. He also now takes a Biomel shake every evening (not sure if it really helps but he thinks it does). He has lost a stone (and I've lost half a stone) and is still losing and feels so much better but it does rely on my cooking all our lunches / dinners (we both wfh) which is mostly fine as I love to be in the kitchen but I will admit to occasionally wanting to just throw the towel in an make a cheese sandwich!

Finally stress is a real trigger and that he can only manage and not eliminate but one of the things that really stressed him out was not knowing when his arse was going to explode when we were out so sorting the IBS automatically reduced his stress.

We had reached the point where he was pooping only once daily and his gut felt "normal" for this first time in about 10 years, no pain, no bloat, no ridiculous gas, no diarrhoea. Then we went on vacation and despite it being self catering we were abroad and I really struggled to make the same food we normally eat and the change in diet threw him back into bad stomach and we spent half the holiday in the accomodation due to his unreliable gut (immodium really didn't help).

So yes - it can be that bad and improving it takes hard work and dedication to eating a really healthy, clean, wholefood, home made diet but it can really make a difference.

I have IBS and had a colonoscopy when the symptoms started which ruled out anything sinister.

Garlic and onion are big issues for me, as is stress and unfortunately I love garlic & onion and have a lot of stress in my life!

I can eat something and be bloated literally minutes after. I’ve learnt now what my “trigger” foods are.

I agree with demanding a colonoscopy and scans etc.

I was diagnosed with IBS. Yet since I had my gallbladder removed 10 years ago not had a single flair.

Have you also had full blood tests? I have IBS but the gp did really thorough blood tests, including a test for coeliac disease, and the stool sample tests before giving me a B12 injection and sending me away to figure it out basically. (B12 and folate deficiency showed up on my blood tests.)

I thought I had an issue with gluten because pizza makes me ill but I actually just can't cope with greasy/fatty foods. It's not always easy to figure out as it's so individual.

Like another poster I am also hypermobile (hEDS) but the GP just dismissed this having anything to do with it. Online says differently but it's 50/50 whether any health professional will take that diagnosis seriously in general.

As you can tell, I'm quite cynical now of getting any help with anything, but still think it's important to get all the important tests done.

Demand a colonoscopy. I know someone who had ‘IBS’ for years and was fobbed off repeatedly. One day she suddenly became very ill was rushed to an and e, diagnosed with bowel cancer and passed away 2 weeks later.

Could be diverticulitis?

I have IBS and bile salt malabsorption, been ill all my life

bloating and diarrhoea all the time, there is hardly any foods I can eat, if I eat lettuce I am up all night vomiting and pooing.

I also get heartburn and oesophagus spasms

I take Spasmonal and loperamide daily to help

So start the diet, commit to it, give it a good go and then push for alternative if doesn’t work

I have had bowel cancer. My colorectal specialist says that FIT tests have a sizeable false negative rate and that medical professionals who work in the field don’t rely on them, they have regular colonoscopies after age 50.

I would push for a colonoscopy and also change your diet.

Please, please ask for a Fit test (stool sample) and a colonoscopy. I think the Fit tests can be done privately if your GP refuses.
I don't mean to worry you, but my minor constipation and bloating turned out to be bowel cancer. I'm in my early 50s, but a friend has just been diagnosed at 41.
I know the likelihood is that it wont be cancer and I don't mean to worry you, but it's not worth the risk.

But yes, you need to go to your GP and get the tests for coeliac first.

I used to be like that every evening until I cut out the foods that triggered my IBS. I used to look five months pregnant, have horrendous gas, pain, it made it hard to fall asleep.

You need to figure out what your trigger foods are OP. For many of us wheat/gluten are a major trigger, for others it's dairy, for many its 'nightshade' vegetables, particularly when they aren't absolutely fresh. Other common triggers include alcohol, fizzy drinks, greasy/oily/fatty foods, spicy foods and caffeine, but you need to keep a food diary to figure out which foods trigger your IBS, because we're all slightly different.

Once you figure out which foods you can't tolerate, you can cut them from your diet and I promise you you'll start to feel and look much better. My IBS is largely under control now. The main issue I have is with stress, which I can't always control, but with knowledge, regular exercise and dietary changes you should get to a point where you can live a pretty normal life with IBS.

Have you been tested for coeliac disease?

You need to at least try the diet op

Try peppermint oil capsules to help with bloating seem to really help me. Keep in mind though it likely will make you pass wind /burp but helps reduce the bloating.