Is this IBS? What do I do?!

[Newnamewhodiss]

Im at my wits end, so please if anyone has any help they can point my way I’d be very grateful - I have a doctors appointment booked for end of April (soonest they had) but I’m getting desperate!

I’ve always needed to goto the loo pretty desperately straight after a big meal, but this past month I’m having the most crippling stomach cramps after eating pretty much anything and am spending what feels like hours on the loo.

i can’t pinpoint what is causing it - as honestly, everything seems to trigger it! We have just got back from holiday and I’ve tried sticking to grilled meat and salads, I’ve cut out fizzy drinks and processed meats as much as possible, but nothing makes a difference.

is there anything I can do before the doctors appointment? Is it worth paying to see a nutritionalist? I take Imodium if I have to (airplane / meetings etc) but it pauses things rather than stops it.

sorry for the name change, my husband was being a dick and I was moaning about him under my last name so didn’t want them connected!

Also, not a poo troll - cutted up pear, your minge, penis beaker etc…..

Noone here can tell you if it's IBS, you need to wait for your doctor appointment.

The fact it seems to have come on suddenly might suggest a bug. Have you tried a 24 hour fast with just water? Then dry food like crackers only?

I have IBS (essentially everything else ruled out) and it comes and goes. Stress definitely impacts it. Doctor advice is simply to take immodium. I have found that actually a worse diet (beige food) sets it off less than eating healthy, annoyingly.

I also use Mebeverine now, I had it confirmed by the work online GP that I could use it and ordered online. It's similar to Buscopan. They both stop the spasms in the bowel that cause the expulsion. It does seem to stop it and if we go out I usually take one before we go. Might be a placebo but who cares. Might be worth a try, Buscopan is over the counter.

Or you could speak to 111 for advice.

Well, there are foods that commonly cause this kind of thing. I'd suggest trying excluding those to start with and see if it makes a difference.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-intolerance/#:~:text=A%20food%20intolerance%20is%20caused,such%20as%20cheese%20and%20yoghurts.

With respect to the cramps - Buscopan can help,

I’m happy to try a fast if it will help!

stress has been off the charts to be honest (see above dickhead husband, moving house, running a struggling business etc) so that could be something I hadn’t considered.

i had wondered about a bug, but it’s been more of a gradual increase than sudden on set - I would say before it was probably once a day after evening meal, now it’s every meal plus extra in between!

I know only the doctor can advise, but I’m bloody miserable and end of April feels like ages away. I hadn’t realised they only advised Imodium for IBS - I thought there would be more help than this. I’ll Google buscopan / mebeverine now too. Thank you

I’ll have a look at that link, thank you!

It is miserable. I was on the loo right times a day,passing undigested food and liquid. Sometimes unable to get off fir ages due to cramps. I'd have had to leave work if if hadn't been for lockdown and hone working. I used to have to leave meetings to go as there was no warning.

I've had all sorts of tests, to no avail. I've had it for yeas but in 2020 it went on for weeks and weeks so for the first time I actually got medical advice. Cue a million tests plus a two weeks cancer pathway. 2020 was stressful for everyone, I know, but I also had my dad died, my mum isolated three hours away (though I stayed with her a lot, stress in itself because she was not an entirely pleasant person [she died last year]), I was out of work for the first time ever, started a new job remotely later in the year, relationship breakdown, start of COVID my work and business went insane, so busy, by July - deathly quiet.....etc etc.

You could try peppermint oil capsules before eating, a natural anti spasmodic. My DH manages his similar situation this way

Sounds potentially more like IBD to me. You need to see a doctor for some tests to find out what it is for sure.

If stress has been off the charts that won't help.

Fasting will definitely help. If your digestive system is struggling then giving it a break is a good idea.

Personally I keep liquids up during a fast, I usually have peppermint tea.

You can also use something like complan which are meal replacement drinks for people who have trouble eating.

My digestive system often struggles after a bug so I try to reset it with a fast and then using complain and building up through plain rice etc.

www.complan.com

Bile acid malabsorption may be something worth looking at it’s diagnosed as IBS/IBD a lot.

Where was your holiday?

I've had something similar which went on for ages and it's horrible.

Best to get to GP for tests. Don't know if your surgery does this but if you turn up before 8.30am you should be seen same day? Mine's nearby though.

i have the same problems. For years. Ive read and read and I believe i have gastrocolic reflux.

imodium us my best friend. I cant go for an impromptu meal. Has to be planned!

Just wanted to say thank you to you all, I called the doctors and have an appointment for later today as I’m just miserable. Feels like a miracle to get a same day appointment so think the receptionist must of felt sorry for me!

I have this and it's like a switch being flicked when you need the toilet - it's instant and god forbid you aren't near one! Also the poo is usually a yellowy bile colour.

Just to update again - The doctor was lovely, has said she really doesn’t think bowel cancer but needs to rule it out. I’ve got 3 different pots to poop in to check for proteins, bacteria and blood. Shes also requested blood tests which I’ve got booked for 3 weeks time. She says she doesn’t think an infection as been going on so long, so we test for the other stuff and rule things out one by one. I actually cried as I said I was so miserable. She was lovely. Said don’t bother doing fasting at this stage, if it’s happening after every meal then it’s unlikely to be an allergen and there’s no point being miserable and hungry. I felt like she knew what she was on about and took me seriously, so fingers crossed I can stop shitting myself all the time soon!

I did wonder if this was the problem I have, especially as I had my gall bladder out twenty years ago. But the GP referred me to the hospital three years ago and despite following up with them several times I've never been given an appointment, so not seen the gastro team to find out.

So, then the GP said it's probably IBS.

Good luck.

The problem is, if there isn't something manageable wrong......it's immodium and Buscopan for life I'm afraid.

You could also try the Nerva app. I paid for it and gave it a go as I have IBs and part of it is definitely stress related.
Some of the tests will also likely be to test for H pylori if I’ve spelt that right.
Once they’ve ruled it out my GP suggested the fodmap diet and said she’d refer me to a dietician for it. She also prescribed meberevine but I’ve not tried it yet.

@Newnamewhodiss
Just to update again - The doctor was lovely, has said she really doesn’t think bowel cancer but needs to rule it out. I’ve got 3 different pots to poop in to check for proteins, bacteria and blood. Shes also requested blood tests which I’ve got booked for 3 weeks time. She says she doesn’t think an infection as been going on so long, so we test for the other stuff and rule things out one by one

I just wanted to say to you that if you have a lot of tests (blood/stool sample etc) and they come back negative but your symptoms continue, push for a scan of your bowel.

I don't want to freak you out but someone close to me had symptoms that appeared to be sudden onset IBS, all tests including bloods and stool sample were negative for cancer but after trying everything, this person had a scan and it showed bowel blockage and after surgery cancer was found in the excised tissue. The reason I am telling you this is that the earlier they get it the better. Hopefully it will turn out to be something much simpler but if you have no improvement and no cause is readily indentified, don't be fobbed off and push for a scan.

Perhaps try a low residue diet - might reduce the frequency if nothing else!

It essentially gives your gut a rest - you can eat things like eggs, banana, marshmallows to make your poo less liquid, but basically it's hardly any fibre at all.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=elht.nhs.uk/application/files/3315/8556/0327/DIET-002-LowFibrelowresiduediet-2019.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwixoZabwqSFAxWC_rsIHXaPCwgQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0Uk25ESOMN47N5drxUEGEp

@VanGoghsDog mine started after I had my gall bladder out. I take colestrymine and it helps a lot. I hated going anywhere and even a drink of water would set it off. My dd used to do competitions that lasted all day and then a 2-3 hour drive home with the team on the coach so i wouldn't eat all day just in case.
If I'm having a day in the house I won't take the powder (or poo-der as I call it!) but if I know I'm going out or going for a meal I take it and so far it's worked for me.

You will have to wait for your appointment. What I can tell you is that you should keep a detailed food and drinks diary along with your symptoms. It will save you lots of time once you are seen.

OP you don't have to fast - go onto a low FODMAP diet and see if that helps. It sorted my IBS fairly quickly (within days) & it's a relief to have a break from all the misery.

Longer term I found taking kefir daily was the only thing that "cured" me, though I always need to be mindful not to eat too many FODMAPS.

www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/i-have-ibs/starting-the-low-fodmap-diet/

I’m similar expect I take the tablets instead of powder. I’m currently having a massive flair up but can’t get an appointment. I’m eating bad carbs eg white bread and pizza normally things I swerve but they block me up so I can at least have 24 hours of being able to leave the house although the next few days are awful it’s a bit of a viscous circle as I’d got so used to the colesevelam working I feel a bit lost.
A sehcat scan is the only way to tell officially and will give you a % the fact you are needing to go urgently and don’t have time to wait is why it’s worth asking about.