IBS is a horrible condition isnt it

[morehen]

I know it could be worse alot worse but im having an IBS flare up and its so crap

I really think i have IBS although having to have tests etc to rule out anything else, had it years or what ever it is.

May i ask your symptoms

Tell me about it. Mine's affected by gluten, caffeine and lactose at least. Currently sat in Cyprus on holiday trying to get out of the waiters and chef what I can eat 🤔 I'm sat in hotel room eating crisps that I know are safe 😅 I was tested for celiac 5 years ago and it was negative and they won't retest because of that one.

My symptoms are severe stomach pain, diarrhoea, gas, mood swings, loss of libido and more. Accidentally ate something night before we flew and spent an hour or so on toilet before we went to airport.

Recently diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption- same symptoms as IBS which I’d been told for years was what was wrong with me. BAM is under-diagnosed & not well known by medics. Consultant said that 1/3 of those with IBS probably have BAM which can be regulated with medication though not cured. Look up SECHAT testing. I still get flare ups but far fewer......hope this helps someone;)

You have my empathy.

It's one of those debilitating disorders that one is just meant to crack on with.

i go between diarrhoea then constipation, wind, going hot and cold and mucus

Im showing symptoms, have been for years. Gas, bloating, rushing to the loo after eating, gassy. If im going out for a meal i take immodium to stop me having to rush to the toilet.

I was tested for coeliac 3 yrs ago and came bsck negative. GP said my lethargy was down to dietary and I started taking vitamin B12 complex from the chemist. They are brilliant!

Last night i ate pizza. It had jalapeño and spicy chicken. BIG mistake. This morning My arse felt like my mouth did whilst eating last night. Never again im eating jalapeños.

Yes, I have it. I have some symptoms most of the time, although they wax and wane. Bloating, a bit loose on the loo sometimes, cramps in my abdomen, aching joints sometimes, mucous occasionally. Exercise, kefir and buscopanic help me. Stress makes it worse, as does Christmas, humid weather (like we're having now) and sugary and wheaty things.

Buscopanic? lol

Buscopan. (Prescribed for a buscopanic)

Hi
Don't want to hijack but wondered if these symptoms sound like IBS
Started 2 months ago, if I eat more than a tiny amount I get severe stomach pains about 1-2 hours later. (don't need to go to the toilet) .
It doesn't seem to be what I eat, just the amount. I've lost 10kg in weight in 9 weeks.

I've had an ultrasound of liver, pancreas etcwhich didn't show anything sinister. I've had my gallbladder out so not that. (I've had breast cancer so tend to be a bit paranoid)

GP basically said it's IBS so go away and try the FODMAP diet.

Any ideas please?

I take 1 buscopan a day and it's made a massive difference.

wineoclockthanks, I think gall bladder removal can trigger bile acid malabsorption a pp suggested so maybe look into that.

Aching joints for IBS? Didn't realise that was connected 🤨 Elbow hurts like crazy when I have wheat.

IBS is basically a catch all when they can’t give you a proper diagnosis isn’t it? It becomes a process of elimination to try and sort yourself out.

In our house DH and DS have deduced they are lactose intolerant. DD has particular issues with onions. All of them can end up in a really bad way if they if they ignore their triggers.

IBS can’t be seen on scans or on a scope test. It’s just about eliminating food that triggers it. A low FODMAP diet works well for a lot of people.

After years, like a PP I got diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption - the treatment was life changing for me.
I still have mild IBS which flares up at times of stress or if I eat very fatty foods, but nowhere near as bad. Always worth trying to get further testing done- it really is miserable.

Reducing dairy made a big difference to me. Milk in tea/coffee seemed to be the main culprit. Switched to almond milk and I haven’t had a bad IBS attack since (you know, the cramps that are so bad you think you might be sick/pass out, sweaty, shaking). I still have yoghurt and occasional cheese and that’s no problem.

It's awful. I was diagnosed in 2013 but had suffered for a few years before that, trying to get people (and my doctor!) to understand I didn't have 'just an upset stomach'. Everytime I start to think I've got it figured out and can control it, something else decides to join the party! I can't touch citrus fruit or juice, or seafood. Pears, kiwi, pineapple, too much onion, too much caffeine, and sometimes egg can all set me off as well. And sorbitol...no no no. The slightest bit of stress will have me on the loo all day! Yes to the mucus, it's grim. And the bloating, I have to keep a spare work shirt in a bigger size for days I'm really bloated! I hate it, I feel like it has such an impact on my life because I'm always thinking about where the nearest toilets are.

It's a PITA, often literally.
Milk
Soya
Onion
Sea food
Alcohol/ excess sugar
Running distance races

Mainly bloating/ flatulence/ cramping & diarrea. Some constipation. Ties in with my monthly cycle too building up in the PMT phase so I literally feel heavy and sluggish then releasing as my cycle restarts.

Buscopan seems to relax the muscles for both the retention and loose stages.

Adjusting my diet helps massively. I used to have a terrible reputation for being gassy which is now much better most of the time... alas social events have so much potential to get me going!

My backside is killing me

It's awful, and you have my sympathy.

I've had it since my teenage years, and it had waxed and waned.

I hate it. I hate having to plan each outing around proximity to toilets. I have feelings of panic if I feel myself starting to need the toilet while I am out of the house.

I use daily loperamide to control it as much as possible, otherwise it can rule my life.

Gosh.

It's very odd reading posts where I'm thinking "Y'up. Y'up. Y'up." So many things I'm recognizing.

My triggers are:
Stress - a fairly recent one
Tiredness - lack of sleep does for me
Humidity - sometimes the only way to get through is to have Coke (full fat), SnV crisps, and chocolate, even though i know I'll suffer in a different way later
Wheat - can eat a small slice of cake but not bread or pasta or any other wheat based product, and oddly gluten-free doesn't work either
Dairy - ouch, just leads to diarrhoea
Chocolate - headache
Sugar - headache, stomach cramps
Greasy foods - double ouch stomach cramps
Water - this one is a real bugger as I travel a lot for work, I have to take bottles of water from home for the time I'll be away.

Effects of having the wrong stuff range from stomach cramps, bloating, stupid tired, mood dips, overall lack of energy, headaches.

If I keep on an even keel and stick to plain meats, fish, majority of veggies, and porridge made with water, then I'm good. Sadly I'm dense and keep trying other things... Sometimes the effect is immediate and sometimes it's cumulative over a few days.

Today I'm researching and menu planning. There must be a better balance that what I'm currently doing.

As an aside, I've found taking Magnesium Malate really helps to keep things moving through, otherwise I spend far too long in the bathroom. I'm taking more than the recommended daily dose. Tried cutting down. Bad idea. Just getting back to my version of normal.

If anyone had ever said I'd be discussing my innards on t'internet in quite such detail...

Count me in.
Magnesium does help to keep things moving. Concentrace is brilliant. You get alll the main minerals from salt lake in Utah. Buy gel caps and take one witheach meal.

I avoid milk products...if you don’t want mucus that’s what you have to do
Gluten, gf products aren’t good
Sugar..only have dark chocolate..but have cut that out as a trial
I take digestive enzymes with each meal
I find it’s important to have a good clear out
Every other night I take castor oil capsules and two Senna tablets
I make green juice and put a glug of aloe Vera juice in it..to heal the digestive tract

I also treat myself radionically and homeopathically.
Also look at parasite cleanses..they can make you windy, gassy burry.
Have you had antibiotics..they can alter gut biome
I’ve stepped back on manufactured probiotics..going to do fermented foods instead

Am a work in progress.

I’ll also dowse my foods . If they more than a 2 detrimental I won’t eat.

You all have my sympathies it's awful. I've recently started a new job and trying to keep myself calm so I don't have to rush to the loo for everyone to see is such hard work. I used to work in an office where I was mostly alone but now there's 4 others in the room and generally I've no excuse to leave the room.

Anyone know if buscopan is bf safe? I only feed him morning and night

Not sure what my food triggers are, too much sugar is, and spicy things but I even when I avoid these I still regularly flare up. I've been so sore today and I'm dreading work tomorrow in case it hasn't settled. Really considering finding a different job where I'm not tied to one place.

I have it too.

Mine is mostly triggered by social anxiety.

I hate it. My body can literally feel like it’s trying to turn itself inside out.

It has been a bit better recently though. I have been controlling my anxiety with breathing which has helped but when it’s really bad I can’t do that. Imodium does help too if I’m out somewhere.

It's awful. The worst for me is the sudden gut cramping followed by a fart that is the stench of death. Doesn't matter how much I try I can't keep the buggers in.
The bouts of constipation followed by everything arriving all at once are bad, but the farting is worse.
Also more recently I've started to have a vasovagal response if my ibs is bad. So, go to the loo and almost faint.
The farting is still worse.