To think ibs is ruining my life

[Perpetuallyperplexed27]

I know in the grand scheme of things it's not a terrible illness. Symptoms come and go and for long periods of time I can be totally fine and symptom free. But when symptoms do appear they happen fast and it's really impacting my mental health too. I've posted about it before but had a sudden flare up on Friday. Literally left work feeling fine and went straight to the school run. On the way I started feeling a little gurgley but nothing major. By the time I got to the playground I was sweating, hopping about and desperately trying not to shit my pants! Of course ds was the last child out 🤦🏻‍♀️ made it home but it was such a close call and must have looked crazy to the other mums.

On a serious note it's experiences like that that absolutely ruin what should be nice occasions. Even if Im ok the worry of having a flare up is there. Ds has recently started playing rugby and most weekends involve a home or away game. Home is fine as we have a pavilion type building with toilets but lots of the pitches are just on playing fields with no facilities. I've missed the last few away games because I've been worried.

I take precautionary Imodium but they don't stop the anxiety and obviously don't help in situations like the school run where I've felt fine beforehand and not pre emted a problem. Sorry for the rant it just really gets me down. Anyone else?

Hi op
Another one is slippery elm, you mix it with porridge and it coats the gut something to try

@FunOnTheBeach20 we sound so similar!

Op it’s awful. I’ve given up being embarrassed about it. Cutting out gluten has definitely reduced the explosions but it’s still there.

I agree with OP that it’s good to be able to talk about these things, and if some weirdo poo troll gets off on it, so what? I really couldn’t care less. I have suffered for years with IBS. Mine isn’t really triggered by certain foods, it’s more stress related, so cutting things out of my diet didn’t make a difference. But yeah it is horrible to live with. The constant worry of needing to be near a loo impacts everything and is really quite restrictive.

@Keepmewarm

It’s when people say “what happens when you eat wheat” and the truth is I get violent diarrhoea which can last for hours. I say “errr I need the toilet”

Yup. For years I barely left the house as I was too scared. I had accidents that are humiliating and disgusting to deal with.
I’m currently a lot better, but the fear and the worry are always there.

Probiotics
Fodmap diet
Buscopan for when it starts
Dairy free ( wheat doesn’t affect me)
Try to keep down my stress levels
That’s what works for me. I got off ompremazole so I’m happy.

Mostly stress triggers for me. Even waiting for a bus! Anywhere that doesn't have a nearby loo means a trigger, so I have to research everything! I have gone low carb though and helps a bit.

And usually just before I leave for work. Then I get stressed about being late so starts a cycle.
Currently off work with gastroenteritis so you can imagine how I'm feeling right now (not envy)

Weirdly enough, I didn't have a single attack when I was having chemo. Think my stress levels just maxed out and I actually didn't give a shit (lol) about anything.

Well I've just searched your other thread about the gynae issue, and it's possible the 2 are related. I have recurring bladder issues and discharge. I strongly suspect IC but don't see the point of going for a diagnosis. I know it's linked to my IBS, as IC often is

Have you been properly diagnosed with IBS? All tests carried out and other conditions ruled out? IBS is really only diagnosed properly when they rule out all other conditions. It’s impacting on your life massively so you really need to go back to the gp and rule out any other possible cause. I was diagnosed 23 years ago. Yes I still have flare ups and every day there are things to deal with but it is controlled overall now.

Low FODMAP diet.
FODMAPS work on a threshold basis, and every IBS sufferers. If you eat a little bit of a high FODMAP food you might be ok, but eat a larger amount or a little bit of a few different high FODMAP foods together and they add up. This could explain the seeming “no rhyme nor reason” aspect of your symptoms. Think of your FODMAP capacity as a bucket. Add a little bit- bucket can contain it. Add loads, the bucket overflows.
Look into SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth).

I agree with Mango, FODMAP diet is so helpful. It makes you realise it may not be one food but a combination. I have had mine under control so much better since completing the diet.

Have you been tested for coeliac disease? I was told it was “IBS” for years, finally got tested while living abroad, it was positive and since I’ve gone gluten free it has changed my life.

@PleaseSirMyGoat

I have both IBS and IC and agree they’re related. The urologist agreed they often go hand in hand.

I have ibs (d) caused by stress, wheat, dairy, my period and god knows what. Get attacks sometimes for no reason.

Codeine is the only thing that works to stop the cramps. Takes an hour to kick in so you have to take it at the first rumblings and i might have 1 urgent loo visit but it will be 1, not 5 and upwards for a bad attack. Ask your gp

Sympathies, it’s awful and I’ve been in similarly hellish scenarios.

FWIW I stopped having milk (a little cheese and yoghurt seems to be OK) and haven’t had an attack since. Had a few ice creams on holiday this summer and had another attack. So I’m totally committed to very, very limited dairy now.

these kind of posts simply encourage other posters to add their own, often graphic stories - which is exactly what the trolls want.

Who gives a shit? (pun intended!)

If the options are:

a) people who are suffering get some support and a chance to discuss a real concern with others who share it PLUS someone has a wank to the thread

OR

b) everyone shuts up and doesn't get the support they need and the wanker has to go elsewhere for their kicks

I choose a) any day of the week.

OP, I have IBS too. It's a fairly recent development (last 3 years) triggered by a horrendous bout of food poisoning. I'm fairly lucky in that it only usually impacts me for the first few hours of the day and then I am fine but I know The Fear. xx

Let me make something clear: I give a shit about pervs.

I don’t want someone wanking over one of my posts, something that I shared in good faith.

No one should be happy about sharing something (be it poo related or otherwise) with a poo troll. It shocks me that so many Mumsnetters don’t care about it.

I don’t want to be duped into participating in someone’s fetish.

@Perpetuallyperplexed27 I’m surprised to hear that you don’t want advice, only stories. Personally, I don’t think it’s very helpful to just share stories - surely you want to see an improvement in your symptoms?

I would rather talk openly about my symptoms. I do so on here aware that I am putting information out into the public sphere, so I take precautions to remain anonymous, and retain an awareness that anything I post could be interpreted or used in a possibly fetishistic way.

Hearing how others fare really really helps me, especially on the bad days. And that is worth more to me than not feeding the poo trolls.

@Haworthia
There is no obligation to post. If you don't want to share a personal story about anything, then don't. The rest of us can make our own choices.

I gave up dairy and wheat (every last molecule as even a tiny bit set me off) and all my symptoms went. Well worth a try.

@Asta19 You’re missing the point entirely. I’m happy to share with genuine people. I was happy to share today until a poster upthread expressed some doubts about the OP’s posting history. Then I felt stupid for not noticing the red flags (tell me about times you’ve shit yourself!).

I’m just amazed that so few people care about men wanking over their anecdotes.

... or appreciate just how likely this is on MN.

It's not about whether you care or not, either. It's about the number of trolls this kind of post attracts (and encourages) to read MN - especially in AIBU.

Totally agree with you @Haworthia

@Haworthia red flags? Seriously? The fact that you are jumping to such wild conclusions says more about how your mind works than mine.

Advice helps and I always take on board what people are suggesting. But ibs is different for everyone and even doctors agree that there is no cure or universal treatment. I ask about experience because ibs is a taboo topic and it isolates you. You feel like you're the only person stressing about where the toilet is or allowing your life to be controlled by your bowels. So yes hearing that I'm not alone in having 'the fear' or finding myself in certain situations does help. If you can't understand that I really don't know why you've posted.

As I've said before if you have genuine concerns then report to MN. But all this poo troll nonsense is getting boring now. I think some posters really need to grow up.

I do sympathise. IBS is horrible.

Another vote for the FODMAP diet here. There is even a app (the Monash one) which is really helpful with guiding you through it. I suffered terribly (got worse as I got older) until I used it to identify my triggers - onions (who knew! Very common apparently) and wheat. Former worse than the latter and, as said by a PP, small amounts okay until it hits a threshold and then the symptoms last four days

All in all I am now almost symptom free unless I actually make the decision to eat a trigger food (which I always regret!)

Just to answer some of the sensible questions too - I haven't had a massive amount of tests. I had a colonoscopy about 10 years ago and submitted some samples then too - all ok. I've been fobbed off by doctors a few times since but I guess I've never persisted much because while my symptoms are severe when they occur, I can go months without any physical issues. But because attack's can come on with no warning and no obvious triggers I'm finding that the mental side of it is actually worse at this stage - ie the worry of being anywhere without a loo, going to new places, travelling long distance in the car and so on just in case something happens.

The anxiety actually contributes to the physical symptoms a lot of the time too.