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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick of having an upset stomach every morning

50 replies

jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:18

Yes this post is going to talk about shit.

This has been going on for years and years, since about 2004.

Every morning I wake up feeling slightly queasy and within ten minutes get the urge to have a poo. Ten to fifteen minutes later it happens again. And then again. Until about 10.30am.

Over the years I have tried really hard at all the following dietary fixes:

FODMAP
Gluten free
Dairy free (helped a bit, but not much)
Sugar free
Caffeine free

And I avoid dairy now but nothing else was helpful or conclusive. I've tried probiotics. Probiotics. All for sustained amounts of time (2-3 months at least).

I've tried Buscopan. Imodium. Minimal effect.

I have an IBS diagnosis but absolutely no medication or support with it. I'm not bleeding: I'm not in agony. So I just get a shrug and a 'get on with it' look.

But it's really bloody hard to get on with it when you have a 1yo and a 5yo that needs to get to school on time. DS was late for nursery a few times because I had to dash to the loo just as we were leaving the house. I'm really worried that it will happen when he has to be at school for 9 every day from September. But what can I do? I can't shit myself.

OP posts:
Original poster
jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:20

Sorry, pressed 'post' a bit too early.

I have lived with this for over fifteen years and I have had enough. It's affected my work, my kids' education. And it's embarrassing when we go away or stay with family and friends.

Has anybody recovered from this and what did you do? Share your secrets please!

OP posts:
H2OH20Everywhere · 01/08/2019 09:26

I had this - DP made sure he used the bathroom before I got up as I was prone to dragging him out the bathroom of a morning.

Low carb fixed it for me. It took me a while to notice, but the first time I had an amount of sugar after giving up I was rushing to the loo about 30 mins later. I was amazed how great an affect it had.

My other suggestion is pregnancy. Currently 9 weeks and I have constipation in the mornings, regardless of what I've eaten the night before.

H2OH20Everywhere · 01/08/2019 09:27

Sorry, I see you've tried sugar free.

miagerbies · 01/08/2019 09:27

Sounds quite similar to something my dm has. She has diverticulitis. It was found on a colonoscopy. She also is at her worst in the mornings.

ItsMischerWavy · 01/08/2019 09:30

Have you tried colpermin? I've found it very good

Original poster
jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:30

I have had two babies and the IBS is so powerful that I still had to go all morning.

OP posts:
Original poster
jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:31

Thank you @miagerbies - I have always thought it could be diverticulitis but talked myself out of it

OP posts:
Original poster
jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:31

Yes I have tried peppermint in all its forms

OP posts:
MayFayner · 01/08/2019 09:36

I had this but not as bad as you. After I had DS2 it was the worst as the combination of eating a lot of carbs to support bf and having, shall we say, continence issues from the birth was not good.

Now I have
-strengthened pelvic floor

  • stopped eating wheat and potatoes and drastically reduced sugar
  • take a probiotic
and it’s ok.

In your case I would go back to the doctor and say it’s affecting your ability to leave the house and you need have tests done.

Original poster
jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:39

Yes I think a GP visit is in order. I just got used to it being the norm and it's not is it?

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 01/08/2019 09:40

What time do you get up? Does it happen regardless of what time you wake? I’m just wondering whether getting up earlier would allow you time to let your bowels do their thing and still allow you to be places on time. Not a great or long term solution at all but it might be a way of getting your son to school on time.

Other than that ask your GP for a referral to a continence nurse service because it’s having such an impact on your life. They can really help with managing your bowel habits, sometimes with a laxative regime (which can sound counter productive but might help to regulate you enough to have proper movements) and exercises so you have more effective toilet visits.

Sympathies, IBS is so different person by person and the result of that is it can be hard to pinpoint triggers and get a decent management plan in place.

picklemepopcorn · 01/08/2019 09:43

Have you tried high fat? DS was prescribed a peanut oil which was supposed to slow everything down.

Mine has finally slowed down, around the age of 45. It could be hormonal.

WombatStewForTea · 01/08/2019 09:44

I'm like this OP - I'm diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The only difference is mine was accompanied by pain when going.
My IBD consultant said there are loads of people he sees who have "always had a dodgy tummy" until they're diagnosed.

Go back to your GP. Request a fecal calprotectin test (cheap so GP shouldn't complain). That looks for inflammation in the bowel - the difference between IBD and IBS

Original poster
jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:44

It could be hormonal but I was on the mini pill for 6 months and it didn't change much.

I have health anxiety and tests etc make me very very nervous. But I will suck it up and try to see GP tomorrow.

OP posts:
51Pegasusb · 01/08/2019 09:46

I second miagerbies my DM suffered for years, eventually had an colonoscopy back in 2015 (I think it was) and was diagnosed with diverticulitis. She could not leave the house until mid morning it was awful she stopped her job because of it. Now she is so much better, she has meds and a diet which works for her. She's working again now, which she's so happy about.
I'd go to your GP and ask about Diverticulitis.

Wallywobbles · 01/08/2019 09:47

Sound just like me. Probiotics made my stomach really hurt so I'd not recommend that. When I was on a VLCD it totally cleared up. The less I eat the better. I do still have some triggers. Raw onions are one. Chickpeas another. Fried food too. Bad bread.

TitchyP · 01/08/2019 09:52

Do you drink alcohol in evenings? I find I get this if I've had even just a small glass of something. Mine can also be anxiety related

Original poster
jamoncrumpet · 01/08/2019 09:53

I don't drink at all.

OP posts:
OliviaBenson · 01/08/2019 10:07

Do you have sweeteners? I had this and realised it was sweeteners in stuff- when I stopped eating/drinking anything with them I was much better.

They are in most fizzy soft drinks and a surprising amount of food, especially low fat ones. Worth looking at?

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 01/08/2019 10:08

I have IBS too, OP and like you I tried to control it with various dietary changes over the years and nothing made any difference. I was eventually prescribed Mebeverine by my GP and it's no exaggeration to say it changed my life. I used to carry Immodium with me everywhere I went, if I was invited anywhere even slightly out of the ordinary my first thought would be proximity to a toilet, it was always in the back of my mind when travelling. I still can't eat fried food (which is no big loss as I'm not keen anyway) but other than that I don't have to think about my IBS at all really if I take the meds properly.

EleanorLavish · 01/08/2019 10:11

51Pegasusb do you know what meds your mum is on? And what diet she finds useful. My mum has very extensive diverticular disease, which bleeds a lot.
I wasn’t aware of any meds which could help? She has never been able to pin anything down dietary wise either. Thanks.

yikesanddang · 01/08/2019 10:14

I have this. I'm actually coeliac but even now with the gluten free diet, I still feel sick a lot of the time. I find fructose particularly bad. And salad leaves. I think it may be the cellulose which is an indigestible fibre. Who knows. The dr doesn't. I just feel sick and run to the loo a lot. Sorry.

Trooperslaneagain · 01/08/2019 10:27

IBS too but unmediated - I manage by not going anywhere within 15 mins of eating.

I also don’t get embarrassed if I don’t make the toilet in time. Straight in the shower and clean clothes. Wash on!

Spidey66 · 01/08/2019 10:39

I had similar problems for donkeys years. Initial investigations (early noughties) all came back clear....told it was IBS. Tried immodium, amitriptiline, codeine, nothing worked.

About 5 years ago I was in tears at my GP because it was having such a negative effect on me. I was so ashamed of my problem, only my husband was aware of full impact.

I was referred back to gastroenterology and had what appear to have been more advanced MRIs etc than first time. I was told that I had a huge fibroid, which was news to me, as at the time my periods were OK. I was referred onto gynae who told me said fibroid was so big only a hysterectomy would shift it, so I had it.

Both gynae and gastroenterology said the fibroid was not the cause of my symptoms, but you know what? As soon as I had the op, the problem was resolved. The fibroid was the size of a 7 month pregnancy. I'm overweight so I think my blubber disguised it.

To this day, I'm convinced it was pressing on a nerve or a muscle or something.

Moral of story....get it checked, there may well be an underlying cause.

MissSmila · 01/08/2019 10:41

Look into Bile Acid Malabsorption- often misdiagnosed for IBS

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