Have you ever suffered from IBS and managed to get it under control?

[Thewholeshackshimmy]

Or, ideally, no longer suffer from it. I would love to know how?
I have suffered on/off for 20+ years. It was really bad in my late 20’s when I first got it and although it never went away it was more controllable in my 30’s after I had my children. However, the last 4/5 years I have symptoms every single day and it is driving me insane and frankly, making my miserable.
Two years ago I had a full colonoscopy, a gastroscope, an ultra sound scan and ct scan. Luckily all results came back clear. The very helpful and understanding gastroenterologist told me it was ‘just’ IBS and he couldn’t help me. Told me to go back to my gp. They can’t help either, I’ve tried all the IBS meds they offer which either makes things worse or no help at all and have a draw full of other, off the shelf stuff which gives minimal relief.
I can switch between constipation and out of the blue diarrhoea but am mainly ok in that area but what I do suffer from daily is acid, burping, nausea, pain in stomach, gurgling/growling in stomach and intestinal/bowel area, lots of bloating and flatulence. It’s a daily cycle of an unsettled, unhappy sounding gut.
I am low fodmap, I have no alcohol, coffee or other stimulants. Just drink water. No artificial sweeteners or excessive sugar consumption. I exercise (walk an hour a day) and I listen to gut directed hypnotherapy and the headspace app.
I do everything recommended for IBS yet still I suffer every day and it is now completely controlling my life.
I am 48 so not sure if my hormones are contributing and exacerbating the issue?
I know IBS is a common complaint so am hoping someone on MN has experienced this before and managed to control their symptoms and can offer up some advice that I haven’t yet tried.

Anti depressants for my anxiety have helped me immensely. Mine was very much linked to my stress levels. Often I'd know I was anxious by how my gut was acting before my brain actually registered it. I do still have a few foods I avoid but I mostly don't think about it any more.

ADs for me too. Prozac.

I can switch between constipation and out of the blue diarrhoea but am mainly ok in that area but what I do suffer from daily is acid, burping, nausea, pain in stomach, gurgling/growling in stomach and intestinal/bowel area, lots of bloating and flatulence. It’s a daily cycle of an unsettled, unhappy sounding gut

^ This was exactly me. I felt like I had a red-hot stone in my lower gut, and I used to want to lay on the floor and toddler tantrum as I felt so ill. But like you I was constantly told by medical pro's that it was 'just' IBS, and 'here, take these drugs for it. It won't make it go away, but at least you'll stop pestering us'!

Then discovered purely by chance that I had developed an intolerance to both dairy and wheat. Stopped eating them, and it was as though the sun had come out.
I now have none of the aforementioned symptoms, and am 2 dress sizes smaller. Oh, and yes to the no-sugar too.

PS - I was in my early 40's when this began to manifest itself too.

You don't mention in your OP whether you have been tested for coeliac disease. I have also suffered from IBS for over 20 years but when I cut out wheat a year ago my symptoms dramatically improved. Now I am eating it again so I can have the blood test and it has got worse again. Might be worth trying for you?

I had it badly for a few years before I was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia. As soon as it was treated, the IBS cleared up. Now I only get the odd flare up of my B12 levels get too low between injections.

I have this too. Can you keep a food diary to see if anything triggers it? I've found that if I eat too much cheese/creamy sauces etc it can trigger it, so dairy is probably a thing with me.

I've also found intermittent fasting helps.

Same as some others here. B12 injections, cut out wheat and lactose, take Silicol gel if something really irritates me and I now take vitamin shot drinks containing kombucha and probiotics. Booze and or stress definitely worsen it but I just about have it all under control after first having problems in my childhood and I'm now in my 40s! Mebeverine prescribed by your gp can help too.

I had a lot of the same symptoms as you, OP. Sometimes so painful that I was on my knees on the floor. All the doctors for years had told me 'eat more fibre', and when, finally, I was referred to a specialist, I was told the same as you: We can't see anything wrong, so it's IBS.

I gave up with doctors and gave up fibre. Both seemed to be making the problem worse, not better. Problem solved. Spent about a year being furious with the NHS for the 44 years of discomfort, pain, and thinking I was fat (due to permanent bloating), and now I just avoid fibre altogether. Flat tummy, doesn't behave like a washing machine, no pain, perfect... er... 'elimination'.

It might not be the case for you, but it took about 2 - 3 days for me to see an improvement, and less than a week to be completely better. Worth trying as an experiment, perhaps?

Thank you all.
Should have mentioned that I haven’t touched dairy for 15 years, that did seem to solve my initial diarrhoea issue but not the other symptoms sadly.
I have had blood tests for coeliac and a biopsy was taken during the gastroscope which came back clear for coeliac.
I have gone through long periods of giving up wheat/gluten but really feel no different. I have kept a food diary for over 5 years and honestly, apart from rich food or too much sugar, I can’t see a connection with any particular food which is so frustrating.
I do need to find my correct level/tolerance of fibre, too little and I’m ibs-c, too much and it’s the other way.
I’m not going to lie, I have quite a bit of stress, normal every day stress like looking after my 13 and 15 year old then much bigger stress as I help look after my mum who has Alzheimer’s.
Maybe I should try antidepressants but I’m so scared they will make my symptoms worse, vicious cycle of thinking I suppose!

Stress is my trigger.

Fibre definitely can cause the problem, also inulin/resistant starch. Inulin is in some foods naturally and others develop inulin when they cool, so potato cooked one day and eaten the next, for example.

Worth making a food diary and looking at fibre/inulin.

Also, eating small frequent meals rather than 3 meals a day.

Try a very simple bland diet for a while to make it easier to log foods and check symptoms. You could go milk, chicken, rice based for a week, or peeled potatoes and eggs, and see what impact that had.

Obviously not an Elimination diet, and not for any period of time, but just a week at a time to see what happens.

Eating only one meal a day is the only thing I've found to keep it in check.

Cross posted with the dairy free, sorry.

I had similar symptoms until I went cows' milk/lactose free after starting some medication that had nausea as a known side effect (I initially cut out all dairy because I felt too sick to even think about the stuff).

Sorry if it's TMI, but I used to sound like a sodding trombone solo every morning, bunged up for weeks on end with random diarrhoea, burping, bloating and generally felt rubbish all the time from childhood onwards from stomach issues, a permanently stuffed nose and sinusitis and migraines. As soon as I cut out the standard milk, yoghurt and cheese and everything changed within a few days.

I can now have small amounts of lactofree milk if I really fancy some, butter (I avoid dairy spreads as they are all terrible for triggering it) cheese occasionally, Kefir/Skyr and any amount of ewes' or goat's milk cheeses and yogurts. I'm still not 100% as I also have EDS affecting transit, but I'd say I'm 98% with some exercise to keep my abdominal muscles working and keeping cheap bread and pasta to lowish levels in my diet (2-3 times a month).

All those years of being told nothing could be done because it was

a. 'spastic colon' b. Some people just get headaches or c. It's just IBS, women get that, you'll have to get on with it

• and it turned out to be something that could be dealt with easily by changing what generally made up a huge proportion of my food and drink.

Stress is a trigger for me as is lactose. My biggest success factor is taking sertraline.

How much caffeine do you drink OP? I find that triggers my IBD & IBS. I also found prebiotics, probiotics and fish oil (the latter always in the middle of a meal) helped. Stress is a huge trigger for me too and I am naturally quite anxious so that doesn't help!

Addressing my anxiety got mine under control. It took a few years, but I no longer suffer with it and it was really quite bad at one point. I do think though, as with many conditions, that it's highly individual and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. Really hope you get some relief soon.

I cut out all gluten (even no marmite) and eat a bit less.
It's a pain but far less of a pain than before. I'd had years of stomach pain and anal fissures caused by IBS and this was the easiest way out. I don't have to follow low FODMAP this way.

NeverDropYourMoonCup it’s interesting that you mentioned EDS. I have thought for some time I have it and that my mum and grandad also suffered, they have also had gut issues. How did you get diagnosed? My gp doesn’t take me seriously on this.
jevoudrais did you get any gut issues as initial side effects from the Sertraline? I have been offered it by my GP but am scared it will give me diarrhoea.

Goldenphoenix no caffeine, just water. I would love to try probiotics, it’s one thing I haven’t ventured into as some reviews say they exacerbate symptoms. Which ones do you take?
Thank you BadgeronaMoped I definitely need to address the anxiety it’s a vicious cycle of symptoms/stress over symptoms and back again. I’ve recently booked up for some EMDR therapy and hoping that may help.

I do need to find my correct level/tolerance of fibre, too little and I’m ibs-c, too much and it’s the other way

That was the thing that took nearly a week to correct itself when I gave up fibre. All the churning and stuff stopped really quickly, then it took a bit longer for the elimination bit. Fine after that. Turns out we don't all need fibre to stay regular, after all, and I've never been more comfortable.

Mine was out of control in my 20s and 30s and despite all those investigations they kept saying it was IBS.
Mine turned out to be Endometriosis.

Have you ever been tested for SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth?

I'm starting an IBS journey for bloating and it seems so daunting as there's so many different approaches and advice!

I can however recommend the Monash university app as a good source of fodmap info.

On the probiotics question, I realised that mine had added FOS which can be a trigger so look for some that don't. You can buy 'pure' gut bacteria from places like Holland and Barret which might be worth a try?

TheFoundations I will try it out.
Dizzybintess my sister has gut issues and endometriosis. I have read that it can run in families. I too have gynae issues uterine polyps, a possible adenomyosis and reoccurring ovarian cysts. I have been waiting for a hysteroscopy for the last year. If/when I eventually get my appointment I will ask about the possibility of endometriosis.