IBS is ruining my life

[MyQuaterLifeCrisis]

I've been in agony for the last few days, bed ridden the whole of today except for doing the school run. This only started on Friday (though I've had flare ups in the past) and it's been non stop torture, I feel like I'm in labour! I'm scared to leave the house because I need the toilet all the time, though have chronic constipation so needn't worry really (sorry, tmi)

I can't really see a doctor, unless I want to wait two weeks for an appointment and then wait an hour to be called - I know they will just suggest taking paracetamol as they have before. I've been taking ibuprofen and buscopan throughout the day, which helps for a couple of hours and then it's back to square one. I just want the awful achey cramps to go away! I had a bowl of porridge for breakfast, and then a bowl of soup for dinner (no crap food) but it's still agony five minutes after eating, so now I'm too scared too.

Really need a long term solution for this that doesn't involve popping painkillers every few hours! Anyone experience this/have any suggestions?

TIA!

Agree with others re coeliac test. Get that done then cut gluten and see. If that doesn't work try FODMAP. I tested neg for coeliac but all my ibs symptoms have gone since giving up gluten 2.5 yrs ago. It's brilliant. I don't care about not having nice bread etc, no going to bed holding a hot water bottle to my sore stomach or random stomach upsets or constipation.

GP advised me to try giving it up after the coeliac test. He said he thought med science would learn more about ibs in years to come.

I am also an IBS sufferer. Had it on and off since my teens but had a massive flare up starting the end of last year that got so bad I was vomiting after eating. After tests for celiacs and whatnot I went on low FODMAP and it genuinely changed my life.

It is a really restrictive diet, but when the alternative is crippling pain its really not so bad and I console myself that it won't be forever. After much bother with my gp I finally got a dietician referral and am starting to slowly reintroduce foods back into my diet.

I am afraid knowledge about IBS is generally crap amongst gps, but do make an appointment and get things moving!

Don't cut gluten! If you've never been tested for coeliacs then ask your GP for a blood test but it's imperative that you keep eating gluten beforehand

Do what the hell you like, OP! I'm happily gluten free, haven't run it past my dr and haven't expired, turned green or developed massive splodges.

TMI for anyone who doesn't suffer, so please don't read if you don't like graphic details.

I suffer and it's horrendous. Incidentally stomach tablets help. I'm on some anti-acid ones. Potatoes are my friends. Potatoes and the next day I have a normal normal bowel movement and I feel like a normal person. The bloating, the cramps, the sweating, the white face, almost passing out with pain, having to stay close to a toilet, explosive diarrhoea, cramps, piles, HOLY SHIT - IT'S A PAIN IN THE HOLE.

And then there's the smell. And the farts. And the shame if you're at work (really wish I could use the disabled toilet where I can moan and sweat and explode to my heart's content

Mushrooms are the devil for me. Potatoes are my friend. Salt is not my friend (moreso for my stomach, but also seems to affect the other end and bloating).

I am afraid knowledge about IBS is generally crap amongst gps

Yes, I'd agree with that. My GP just told me to eat more fibre. This just made it worse - although being gluten free has made a massive difference, I still cannot tolerate a high fibre diet. And tomato skins are the work of the devil.

Im not well today either im really constipated and feel sluggish and tired i feel your pain i have to take movicol and oristan fruit and fibres.

Mebeverine genuinely changed my life. I was sceptical initially but it really worked for me. Other things that have helped include Mindfulness (my IBS is very much linked to my stress levels), Peppermint tea (for bloating and nausea) and cutting down on dairy when I have a flare up.

I have always had bowel issues i was packed full of fibre as a kid just made me more bagged up sorry tmi

Google low fodmap diet. I have crohns & IBS and it has really helped me narrow down and avoid foods that aggravate the conditions.

Please please please get yourself to the gp and referred to a dietitian. Do not alter your diet unless dietetic input is in place. Fodmap diet should definitely be followed with guidance of a dietitian only.

Oops clicked post too soon, was going to say ibs can be controlled so please don't suffer, hope you get the help you need.

and the shame if you're at work (really wish I could use the disabled toilet where I can moan and sweat and explode to my heart's content)

Why cant you use the D toilet at work felicity?

Because I'm not otherwise disabled and I think people would be looking at me for coming out of there (It's beside reception).

Get your gp apt and don't budge until they agree to sort out some proper tests. After years of IBS I had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, pelvic CT scan and two blood tests for coeliac. The physical checks were all fine, digestive system is functioning properly. Consultant suspected coeliac but said he couldn't get a positive blood text. To cut a long story short I gave up gluten and after several weeks my stomach and bowels recovered.

IME you've really got to push for answers. It's such a miserable condition to have but with elimination you should be able to reduce the symptoms.

Alcohol is also a definite trigger for me. Particularly beer I think.

Proper English tea in the morning doesn't bother me. Coffee does though. I can also become very suddenly dehydrated when out and about, so need to have water with me at all times. Wipes for your bottom are handy too for when out shopping etc.

It's amazing that this is seen as some sort of imaginery condition. Fact is, diet change rather than medication is probably going to be the best resolution, so no financial incentive to anyone to research.

Agree absolutely OP can cut out gluten immediately (gluten/wheat is in many soups btw).
But if OP wants to go down the GP formal investigation route, no point having the Coeliac blood test if OP is gluten-free; the result will be unreliable. Need to be eating gluten to form antibodies iyswim.

I was referred by my GP many years ago for IBS to see a colo-rectal specialist who stuck a camera up my arse, assured me I didn't have colon cancer and prescribed a diet with no onions, garlic or baked beans which was essentially a low FODMAP diet before its time. As it happened my IBS wasn't that bad and I decided that I would honestly rather live with the pain than live without alliums - and it then spontaneously improved further to very manageable pain free occasional symptoms. However you clearly are having much less manageable symptoms so low FODMAP may be the way to go - and perhaps a coeliac test.

After nearly passing out with pain and the swearing and the shakes, I tried low fodmaps and discovered the soya yoghurt I was eating to avoid too much dairy was a big culprit! And onions and garlic sadly. But following the diet for a while then being careful not to eat too many trigger foods has helped me alot and it's now manageable again. I didn't have a dietician but did work out the main culprits myself.

your ibs sounds awful, really feel for you. definitely need to have bloods done asap.

TMI -

i have ibs but no pain, just quick violent cramping which signal a bm is going to happen in a couple of minutes.

i hope you can make an appoint with dr asap - i had blood tests and came back normal.

i was prescribed buscopan and this literally has allowed me to get on with my life instead of stressing about loose bm minutes before im due to go on school run.

Can i ask a questiion about hydrotherapy ? And im sorry to be graphic do they make sure you are totally cleared out before you leave id hate to be bursting for the toilet on the way home

Sweating not swearing!

I had IBS symptoms (as did my late Dad, Grandmother, Sister and Brother). We all test/tested negative for celiac, and my Brother and late Dad had full biopsy tests for it, but still tested negative..

Shortly after my Dad and Grandma died, my siblings and I cut out gluten, and the symptoms completely stopped.

Our doctors all agree that there is some type of gluten intolerance that cannot be tested for, but leads to IBS symptoms.

Sweating and swearing in my case stripyhoglets

I feel your pain OP literally. My latest attack started on sunday morning and I've been in pain since then. Sunday was so bad I wanted to cry.

I have Omeprazole now to help with it. The nausea has pretty much gone but the rest still lingers. No idea what triggered it either.