What helps with your symptoms?
I’m at the end of my rope with this.
I’ve had IBS on and off for the last 20 years and it’s completely controlled my life. I am now almost 47 and it has become much worse the last few years, I don’t know why that is, maybe my age and approaching perimenopause?
I’ve had endless tests:-
Calprotectin stool test which was negative
Bowel cancer FIT stool test which was clear
A clear gastroscope and biopsies
A clear colonoscopy
Scan on upper digestive system which was fine
Scans in pelvic area (ovaries fine but have uterine polyps but doctor doesn’t think this and IBS have any connection).
The gastroenterologist wasn’t helpful and just said that as the colonoscopy was clear he couldn’t help me anymore.
If I’m lucky I’ll get a week per month when my digestive system is calm (I have no idea why this is as I do nothing any different to normal when I have the calm days) but other than that it’s a constant up and down with symptoms of constipation or much looser, trapped wind, lots of gas and wind, grumbling, growlings and gurgling (these even wake me up at night) trapped wind type pain, massive bloating especially at night and just a general upset and angry gut.
Ive tried the low fodmap diet twice under a hospital dietician and that doesn’t really help even though I know it’s works so well for a lot of people, I’ve tried hypnotherapy, reflexology, I eat well, exercise, don’t drink or smoke. Tried all the IBS meds (the only one which really helped was buscopan but that gave me numb fingers so am scared to take again).
I just do not know what else to do or try!
How do you cope with your day to day symptoms and what works for you?