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Original poster

Sick of feeling shit

31 replies

schnitzelvoncrum25 · 07/06/2023 16:16

Not a poo troll, MN can confirm etc etc etc.

Been struggling for years with my bowels and bum. Saw the GP recently who gave me pile cream and fybrogel and sent me on my way. I have had colonoscopies in the past which were clear.

Some days I'm ok then attacks will come from nowhere. Today I had a very normal lunch (cheese and ham wrap) and with an hour I was on the loo with horrific cramps and diarrhoea which then make the piles ten times worse. There is no obvious trigger but the anxiety of this happening makes it all much worse when I'm out and about. However today I was at home so it's clearly more of a physician trigger today.

GP just doesn't want to know. I would love to hear some of your IBS lifestyle hacks and cures. I think this is something that's getting worse as I age and the unpredictability of it is awful.

OP posts:
balzamico · 07/06/2023 16:30

Have you tried cutting out gluten? It's worked really well for dbro who suffered ibs for years

Original poster
schnitzelvoncrum25 · 07/06/2023 17:01

I've never really made any massive dietary changes because it seemed to happen pretty infrequently before but it's becoming more and more often now. Three episodes this week today being the worst. So I guess I ought to give something else a try.

The fybrogel says it's for constipation but this is not my problem at all, quite the opposite!

OP posts:
Patchw0rk · 07/06/2023 17:11

Poor you, I have been through similar but following the low fodmap diet religiously helped me work out my triggers. I also did no gluten for 8 weeks to see, but that made no difference to me.

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General health
Fannieannie63 · 07/06/2023 17:50

I did no gluten and lacto free milk and what a difference!! No wind and solved all my problems. Definitely recommend keeping a food diary.

LittleMonks11 · 07/06/2023 17:54

Lacto intolerance? I've been lactofree milk for about 20 years.

LittleMonks11 · 07/06/2023 17:55

And to see a different GP. This a not normal

champagneplanet · 07/06/2023 18:12

Definitely try lactose free for a while, also try gluten free. But try eliminating one at a time for an extended period otherwise you won't know which is affecting you.

The low fodmap is a good idea to try but quite detailed when you get into it. I have IBD and low fibre is always good when flaring try to slow down the system ie: less toilet trips.

Sarfar45 · 07/06/2023 18:16

Could you afford to see a private dietitian who specialises in gut health ?
My husband has ibs and has changed a few thing which have really helped. Lacto free milk, increase fibre from oat, seeds and nuts.
He doesn't cope well with whole meal bread but has found other fibre really helps. Processed things like biscuits really set it off.

prettygreenteacup · 07/06/2023 18:25

Sounds like me before being diagnosed coeliac. I never connected my symptoms to food as they were sporadic and I could be fine for ages and then suffer. I then spiralled into suffering more days than not and I was unwell all the time. Have you been tested for coeliac disease?

Pleasenomorecheese · 07/06/2023 18:27

Have you had your gall bladder removed or any problems with liver/pancreas?

Original poster
schnitzelvoncrum25 · 07/06/2023 19:49

Not liver or pancreas related I don't think. It could be coeliac or gluten. I really don't know.

I'm scared it's something worse. I had a colonoscopy 4 years ago and one prior to that 9 years ago. Nothing found. But a sudden change in bowel habits, constant bright red blood from the bottom...it's ringing alarm bells.

I've seen lots of different GPs at my surgery and all I get is "you're too young for bowel cancer". I just don't know where to start.

OP posts:
Topictwenty · 07/06/2023 19:51

you Didn’t say in your op that you were bleeding also! If that’s the case and it’s not your piles bleeding then you really need to be seen by a doctor very soon

SimplyTurquoise · 07/06/2023 19:54

A close family member had very bad food poisoning several years ago (diagnosed) and her gut has never recovered. Despite endless tests and varying trips to dieticians etc. she is very like what you describe.

She no longer has any coffee, choc, milk/cream, chocolate or spice as these are the main triggers. Plus fatty foods are a no go. She also gets an attack if she’s eaten too many raw foods ie. tons of salad and fruit as it’s a lot for her stomach to digest.

I’m a big believer in the microbiome and gut health.

Hope you find some relief.

Tryingtohelp12 · 07/06/2023 20:01

juet going to offer up my husband’s experience, feel free to ignore!! Husband has had increasing stomach issues over the last 5 years. 18momths ago ended up going for a private colonoscopy as nhs wait list was taking so long. Came back with no concerns, suggested IBS. Gp then recommended FODMAP diet (Google it). It worked to an extent but so restrictive difficult to stick too. Suggested to husband to try one of those food intolerance tests you see online for about £100. My sister did one and felt it identified triggers for her bloating. With nothing to loose he did one - came back as dairy 100/100 intolerance level!!! My husband has always drank a lot of dairy so honestly we were expecting it to be onions , garlic that sort of thing which had increased a lot over the past few years as I have cooked more! Since cutting it out he’s lost 1.5st (no other lifestyle changes) - the dietician (consultation following test) suggested his body previous had been working so hard to deal with the dairy that could be why he’d suddenly lost the weight and bloat he’s had for years. Anyway. I really recommend them ☺️☺️☺️ If you feel as bad as he did you really have nothing to loose!

LittleMonks11 · 07/06/2023 20:01

Please call the GP tomorrow and get seen. You should not be bleeding like that. Sooner you get to the bottom of it the better. Ask for a different GP. Tell the receptionist your symptoms. You need to start ruling everything out. Hope it gets sorted OP.

LittleMonks11 · 07/06/2023 20:02

Tryingtohelp12 · 07/06/2023 20:01

juet going to offer up my husband’s experience, feel free to ignore!! Husband has had increasing stomach issues over the last 5 years. 18momths ago ended up going for a private colonoscopy as nhs wait list was taking so long. Came back with no concerns, suggested IBS. Gp then recommended FODMAP diet (Google it). It worked to an extent but so restrictive difficult to stick too. Suggested to husband to try one of those food intolerance tests you see online for about £100. My sister did one and felt it identified triggers for her bloating. With nothing to loose he did one - came back as dairy 100/100 intolerance level!!! My husband has always drank a lot of dairy so honestly we were expecting it to be onions , garlic that sort of thing which had increased a lot over the past few years as I have cooked more! Since cutting it out he’s lost 1.5st (no other lifestyle changes) - the dietician (consultation following test) suggested his body previous had been working so hard to deal with the dairy that could be why he’d suddenly lost the weight and bloat he’s had for years. Anyway. I really recommend them ☺️☺️☺️ If you feel as bad as he did you really have nothing to loose!

This is how I discovered my lactose intolerance. I paid for a York Test many moons ago. I'm fine now.

Tryingtohelp12 · 07/06/2023 20:03

Just to add I would deffo rule out something more sinister before going down the diet route… go private if you can if your GP won’t arrange a colonoscopy

SimplyTurquoise · 07/06/2023 20:12

Bright red blood is often from piles - is it that or internal bleeding, which is usually much much darker?

Nofixedabodewell · 07/06/2023 20:18

Tryingtohelp12 · 07/06/2023 20:01

juet going to offer up my husband’s experience, feel free to ignore!! Husband has had increasing stomach issues over the last 5 years. 18momths ago ended up going for a private colonoscopy as nhs wait list was taking so long. Came back with no concerns, suggested IBS. Gp then recommended FODMAP diet (Google it). It worked to an extent but so restrictive difficult to stick too. Suggested to husband to try one of those food intolerance tests you see online for about £100. My sister did one and felt it identified triggers for her bloating. With nothing to loose he did one - came back as dairy 100/100 intolerance level!!! My husband has always drank a lot of dairy so honestly we were expecting it to be onions , garlic that sort of thing which had increased a lot over the past few years as I have cooked more! Since cutting it out he’s lost 1.5st (no other lifestyle changes) - the dietician (consultation following test) suggested his body previous had been working so hard to deal with the dairy that could be why he’d suddenly lost the weight and bloat he’s had for years. Anyway. I really recommend them ☺️☺️☺️ If you feel as bad as he did you really have nothing to loose!

Could you please give details of the specific test?

Fluffyhoglets · 07/06/2023 20:25

Mebeverine taken regularly. Low fodmap to identify triggers - i cant eat high fat food like creamy puddings, whipped ice cream. Rich creamy sauces etc. as that can trigger the swift and painful cramps as can eating too much. I take immodium to stop the cramps.
but with bleeding you need another test - its very unlikely to be bowel cancer if your previous tests were clear - but it is possible.

Tryingtohelp12 · 07/06/2023 20:34

Didn’t want to say in case I came across as a salesperson!!! 😂😂😂 he did the yorktest and my sister did one on supplylife. I think they are essentially the same - they send you a kit and you send them a blood prick sample!

EducatingArti · 07/06/2023 20:39

I went gluten free and went from having violent IBS attacks every 10 days or so to being able to come off all my IBS medication. I very rarely get an attack now (maybe twice a year?).
I don't have celiac disease but there is obviously something in wheat that I am sensitive to. My asthma has also been much better since I went glute free ( which is essentially the same as wheat free).
I actually started the gluten free diet to see if it helped with fibromyalgia symptoms, which it didn't at all!

Original poster
schnitzelvoncrum25 · 07/06/2023 21:24

Topictwenty · 07/06/2023 19:51

you Didn’t say in your op that you were bleeding also! If that’s the case and it’s not your piles bleeding then you really need to be seen by a doctor very soon

I have seen the GP for this. I have piles and she said she could see that was where I was bleeding from. Doesn't explain the bowel issues though :-/

OP posts:
Bovrilla · 07/06/2023 21:25

I used to be like this. Literally running for the loo.

Once my gallbladder surgery happened it disappeared. The cramps and runs were clearly linked as I haven't had an attack like this since.

scullie · 07/06/2023 21:46

It's expensive but a liquid drink called Symprove completely cured my IBS, escalating symptoms similar to yours. Sorted out the bacteria balance in my gut. Hope you work out what it is soon, it's really miserable feeling like that.