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!

I got a referral to the coeliac dietetics clinic which probably saved my life seeing as I was three st underweight with anaemia from IBS-D (IBS comes in types C and D, you can probably guess what they stand for). First she cut out all the standard IBS trigger foods, plus known triggers for me, plus fibre (suspected trigger). Then we gradually reintroduced suspects in a structured way until it became clear what my problem foods were. I still have occasional issues as my tolerance to triggers varies, and it's a quantity thing. So basically FODMAP, but customised to me. FODMAP is a dangerous thing to try alone as you risk malnutrition. Plus the dietician gave me some invaluable advice about managing my other related conditions.

I also have a buscopan, metaclopramide and Imodium prescription for emergencies, but it's the dietitician advice that lets me walk to the bathroom in an emergency without needing a change of clothing (tmi, sorry).

My 18 yr old son is being referred for tests for inflammatory bowel disease. He has had terrible stomach pains and is forever on the toilet, he's been like this since September and it's getting him down. I hate to see in like this. I would appreciate any advice on how I can help him.

Ive had enemas and its a bumrush im not easily embaressed id love to skip down the street

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

Well, you know, that says more about them than you. And if you really feel you'd be more comfortable going to the loo in there then do. And fuck 'em!

I agree use the toilet needs must sometimes

The blood test for coeliac disease is really unreliable, a false result doesn't confirm that you don't have coeliac disease. The advice is correct in that you shouldn't cut it out prior to a test, but a blood test can only confirm a positive.

I've never had a positive blood test but was diagnosed after a biopsy.

I have ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, so feel your pain. What I will say is that you should stop taking ibuprofen IMMEDIATELY! Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) are bad enough on the guts of people with normal digestive systems but can be really dangerous for people with IBD or IBS.

Have you had a faecal calprotectin test? That's one of the (stools) tests they can do to test for inflammation in the bowels. Your GP should be able to arrange this for you as all you need to do is give them a stool sample and then it gets sent to the lab at the hospital. Takes about 6 weeks to come back. You ought to ask to be referred to a gastroenterologist too, so they can do a colonoscopy to check that you don't have IBD.

Please, please,please get a referral to a gastroenterologist if you haven't already. GPs should not be diagnosing IBS. I have Crohns & was fobbed off with an IBS diagnosis for almost 20 years before Crohns was confirmed 4 years ago. My consultants get very annoyed as according to them IBS should only be diagnosed when everything else - Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis & Coeliac have been ruled out. I would also stop taking the Ibuprofen as it can make any bowel issues worse. Hope you feel better soon

Mine is caused by endometrial scarring on my bowel. Non dairy probiotics and aloe vera tablets work for me, with ibuprofen and hot water bottle on really bad days. Tiredness is a trigger, and I make sure that I keep hydrated.

Archiesnan have a look at a low residue diet - it helped me a lot when I was first diagnosed. It's basically very low fibre which means the bowel doesn't work as hard. Hope your son gets a diagnosis quickly

Thank you MrsPinotGrigio We saw the dr today and he's being referred, hopefully it won't be long.

Some great suggestions here!

I find bread really doesn't agree with me. I had a piece of toast an hour or so ago (nothing else to eat in the cupboards this evening) and now the pain is a million times worse. When I was ill and couldn't eat for a while it cleared up, so thinking it's probably diet related. Didn't realise ibuprofen was bad for IBS sufferers! The only other thing I have left at the moment is Calpol, lol...

The FODMAP diet has really helped me. Monash University in Australia have a handy iPhone app which gets you started. It's £6 but worth every penny.

I have found my people!

IBS is also ruining my life. Literally. I have developed a toilet phobia because I am so terrified of having an IBS attack when out of my house.

This past week has been awful, the middle of the night dashes to the toilet are wearing me out. They're happening every 2-3 hours in the night and it's just awful pain and explosive diarrhea. Then next morning I have that sick, uneasy feeling so keep thinking I am going to have another attack so won't leave the house just in case.

Then there's the addiction to Imodium that it's consuming everything I do. I haven't left the house without taking at least 3 tablets beforehand. Can't even travel in a car without them, or go for a walk without them. And more recently I've been taking in excess of 6 a day if I have a busy day and night meaning I need to be away from home all day.

I am at my wits end with it all and have a GP appointment on Thursday to get some help. I'm just hoping there IS help for me and not just 'well stop taking them' because I really, honestly can't.

Sorry, I have just turned this into all about me but I just wanted to admit how bad I have got to some people who might actually understand how I've got here.

Had IBS, was sent for tests and colonoscopy, all clear so was sent home with info on diet. After a bit of research I found the following most helpful for me - stopped having coffee on waking up, but it's OK for me to have later. Also stopped having milk on breakfast cereal (subs. Almond/soya milk), again milk is OK later on. Most important for me is taking psyillium husks every day, and these small changes have made a massive difference which mean I am fine now.

Slides onto thread.

My bowels and I have a chequered relationship, I have had colonoscopy, sigmoid colonoscopy, stool samples.
Been following low FODMAP and found that cutting out various things really help.

Add to the mix I'm a vegetarian.
Without a gallbladder.

If I eat wheat (I haven't eaten bread for 10 months now) but I might occasionally (like every 2 months) eat a croissant or a Hot Cross Bun for example; I get bloat.

If I eat any fat, I get pain on the gallbladder side ( I am very wary of fat, my diet doesn;t contain much, I cannot eat cheddar and don't like butter. But I eat some feta). If I don't eat for a few hours, I get pain.
Quorn sausage if I eat more than one .(But as a vegetarian, I;m limited)
Eggs seem to be okay (but I don't like them )
No fizzy drinks. No orange juice. No apple, No onions,
I have soya milk in coffee.

A couple of weeks ago, I got unexplained pain for 4 whole days, both sides, like labour pain. On those days I have Mebeverine.

I have very loose bowel movements {TMI ) but it's usually early morning. If I want to control this, I eat GF pasta.
I do use the disabled loo at work, meh if anyone gives me a look.

I do worry, I can cope now but is this my life ? Will my bowels disintergrate?

Wow - I'm so glad to have found others with the same symptoms. It's so embarrassing to talk about the actual symptoms. Pain is ok to mention, the rest, not so much!

You've given me confidence to pursue further with GP and also to address the toilet issue at work.
Thanks my friends!

Was just coming on to say what SingingSamosa said further up - DON'T take ibuprofen.

I have Crohn's & IBS, ibuprofen & other NSAIDs inflame & irritate the gut lining.