To be sick of having an upset stomach every morning

[jamoncrumpet]

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.

Thanks guys. I feel very panicky about the idea of getting checked out but I know it's the right thing to do. I've had two c sections so it could be adhesions or something.

I used to be like that but in the evening, every night when I was eating my tea it would start, terrible stomach ache, would have to go to the toilet & be stuck there for 2-3 hours, I would end up sat on the toilet with my head in a bucket. As soon as i split from my husband it never happened again, so i can only put it down to stress.

Have you gone on an elimination diet? Basically eliminating everything but the most basic of foods, and staying like that to see if it settles down, and then gradually reintroducing foods back in? A more extreme version of FODMAP I guess.

How long did you try low fod-map for?

OP I could have written your post. I'm literally sitting on the loo right now for the 4th time today.

All I know for me is that dairy aggravates it, but even when I am really good about avoiding dairy it can still happen.

Following with interest to see the advice!

I have a friend with ibs who swears by aloe vera. And another friend with it who swears by essential oils - stopped her symptoms very quickly apparently.

I've also heard good things about slippery elm bark powder. Maybe a herbalist could help you?

After a recent visit to a gastroenterologist who advised cutting right back on caffeine (i was having up to 6- 8 cups of coffee or tea a day - now have only one) my IBS symptoms are much much more manageable. Caffeine is apparently a laxative!

I get this if I have reflux overnight. Getting the excess acid sorted stops it.

I have reduced my IBS massively since I stopped drinking caffeine. I also have flax seeds every day and they've made a big difference.

I have Ulcerative Colitis which is an inflammatory bowel disease. You usually get bleeding with this but not always.
If your diet/lifestyle changes aren't working then you probably do need proper medical investigation. Getting a diagnosis and the right medication really made a difference. I'd got so used to things being bad that I didn't realise how bad it was till I was better.

Many women find as they get older, that they just react to so many foods. I don't know why but I have found that along with cutting out gluten and reducing dairy to near nil (coeliac and lactose intolerant) I have found vastly reduced portion sizes and not eating after about 6pm have helped enormously. In fact when I go on holiday and eat out of this regime, I feel sick all holiday.

I’m going to guess adhesions on your bowel, I had the same issue for years and turned out to be adhesions on my bowel from endometriosis.

Have you asked your doctor for something like codeine or tramadol that slows down your bowels? I have a rare type of colitis (misdiagnosed for years as IBS until I had biopsies during a colonoscopy). I'm prescribed tramadol and find 50mg a day stops the symptoms (or 100mg if it's bad).

Slightly similar. I find that if I wake early but continue to lie in bed of the morning, if I lie on my left side, I start to get queasy; and need the toilet for a no.2 about 10 minutes later.. However I only need to go the once, then I'm fine - I'm a regular morning poo-er. I don't get the same feeling if I lie on my back or my right side; I've come to the conclusion that lying on my left puts pressure on something and gets it all moving. And I have to say, sometimes I use it to my advantage, for example if I'm a little constipated ....

Hi OP sorry you have been struggling for so long.
I was going to ask you if you suffered from anxiety as anxiety can give you a really upset tummy.
I know someone who like you has an upset stomach every morning but it was his anxiety. The right anti anxiety medication made a huge difference.
I also have endometriosis and chronic constipation but when I had anxiety last year I was the same as you now.(very unusual as I was lax dependant)
Surry a conversation with your GP

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit have a good elimination diet. If you follow it you will still get your appropriate nutrition. See also www.fedup.com.au and m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=128458328536&ref=content_filter

You need a dietitian to do it safely who knows what an elimination diet is. I believe RPAH is yhe only one is the only one in the world that is properly comprehensive.

If you are in the Uk ask here m.facebook.com/groups/380347182034474/?ref=group_browse

This might be of interest www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/symptom-factsheets/irritable-bowel-symptoms-ibs and
www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/symptom-factsheets/irritable-bowel-symptoms-ibs

I have been known to spend hours in the toilet with a toddler roaming free in the house. I have learnt what my problem is and life is better. You will have to try different things but there is an answer out there. Don’t give up.

I will say that doctors get little training in intolerances and allergies. Dieticians are better. Look for one interested in your problem.

My mil had this for about a year, had her pop tested and she had a parasite. I think she had a month on medication for it but then it was sorted. I am sure you have had many tests and have probably covered this but I thought I would mention it just in case you haven't.

I get this. It's much better since going gluten free but I still need to use the toilet 2 or 3 times before I go to work.
Colonoscopy and endoscopy were all clear. I suspect mine is partly due to stress and lack of sleep. I just hope it's better when my dc's leave home.

A multi digestive enzyme helped me. Worth a try? I still have to avoid trigger foods but the pain and diarrhoea has stopped.

I have recently been tested for helicobacter pylori, which can produce myriad symptoms. I have since heard of misdiagnosed IBS due to this bacteria too. It might be worth asking your GP?

Look into SIBO- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Most people with IBS have one of the different types of SIBO.

Dr Alison Siebacker and Dr Mark Pimental are the acknowledged experts, so worth googling them.

A small tip: try Aflorex probiotic

I used to be like this in the mornings, but it stopped as soon as I retired, I assume it was stress of life generally and, of having to be out of the house at a certain time. I now walk my dog early every morning, with no urges or need for a nearby loo, because I am not having to work to a timetable.

I had exactly the same issue as the OP, and I turned out to be lactose intolerant.

However, along the way I was given two different medications that really helped: mebeverine, which someone else in the thread has already recommended; and good old fashioned fybogel, which I can't spell, which is a fibre drink which just sort of calms everything down and makes it all easier.

I have stopped the mebeverine now, but I still take the fybogel. So long as I avoid most dairy I'm fine. But I do sympathise with you, OP, and hope you find a solution to your problems very soon. It's no way to live.

I have the same OP so I understand what you’re going through.

I think it’s mostly stress as on the mornings I don’t have to work I’m mostly fine, but sometimes it is absolute hell trying to leave the house and I hate having to ‘go’ at work- it’s so embarrassing.

Probably too much info but after having DD I got a fissure from constipation which never seemed to go away. So now it’s either upset tummy or bleeding when I go normally.

Honestly, I envy anyone who can just leave the house in the morning without having to worry about all of this!

Cutting out dairy has helped loads for me, and eating three small meals with nothing after 6pm. I finally have a GP appointment soon so maybe they will have some answers. Hope you are able to get some help.