To think I’m probably dying (or at least have IBS)?

[NeverOwnAHouse]

Might be a little melodramatic but I’ve just had an ‘episode’ and I get one of these around once a month/once every couple of months that cause me utter agony so thought I’d ask if anyone’s experienced it - or if it’s something like IBS? Doctor Google always tells me I’m dying so here we are.

Basically, I get these ‘episodes’ that wake me up - usually anywhere between 2-4 hours after eating where I’m in unbearable pain and my stomach looks like I’m 9 months pregnant. Now comes the TMI bit...

I basically have to sit on the toilet for a good half an hour before everything moves at once - both ends. I’m violently sick and have the worst (ahem) bowels ever. Before this happens my stomach is as hard as a rock and I feel like I’m so so bunged up that everything just needs to come out. Which it does; with aplomb!

It’s been going on for about 3 years now, but it’s so inconsistent that whenever I think I’ll see a doctor about it I’m back to my usual self (literally as soon as I’ve been to the toilet I’m fine again)!

I’ve tried matching it to the food I eat but there doesn’t seem to be any pattern.

So, am I dying?

I get this quite frequently too but I'm never sick with it as I scared of it. It doesn't matter what I eat it just seems to come out of no where. Doctors just say its ibs.

Hey there, I have had similar symptoms since my teens (now 36) and tried to tell various GPs many, many times over the years but was always fobbed off. The symptoms seemed completely random apart from guaranteed reactions to peanuts until I kept a food diary for two years and realised that I often (but not always) react to mushrooms, mature cheeses, all other nuts and seeds, tea, and sometimes react to eggs, softer cheeses, coffee, weissbeer and other random things, and the list is getting longer as the years slip by. After a major reaction, just about anything will set me off so I usually live on water and plain salad for a couple of weeks when that happens.

Just over a week ago, I reacted to some Korean battered fried chicken (I'm guessing it was the spices) and managed to get to the doctor in time for her to witness my pain and faux 8-month belly. I was very lucky because this particular GP was new at my local practice and her eyes perceptively lit up when I came in with what turns out to be her specialty. She did a tap test and heard my belly rebound like a tautly inflated basketball. I thought it was hilarious.

As it stands, she is 90% convinced I have coeliac disease even though what I thought were obvious things (like bread) were rarely on my list as a trigger. I'll get the results next week.

I've since been reading up on coeliac disease and have come to know that I misunderstood it before. I actually tick a depressing amount of boxes, including one or two very serious side effects resulting from not having dealt with it earlier.

I truly, truly hope she's wrong, because the coeliac diet is extremely strict and, combined with all these bloody allergies and intolerances, I will have a difficult time continuing to find joy in food.

At least I can continue to find joy in wine!!

I get d&v at ovulation so another idea to track. Aren’t bodies great.

Re salpingectomy, I was wondering if your pains were caused by adhesions from previous surgery. But if you were suffering before you had the op, probably not.