To tell IBS to just FUCK OFF

[Summerbreeze3]

Sorry I just needed a rant

I’m so fed up of IBS and the impact it has on my life.

Tonight I ate dinner, had some yogurt and fruit afterwards and chilled out on the couch watching telly. I felt fine, and haven’t had any IBS symptoms at all today. A few hours later, all of a sudden I had a wave of cramps and nausea and immediately had to run to the toilet. Since then I’ve had to go 6 times and the nausea waves have thankfully gradually stopped. This all came out of nowhere and I haven’t been unwell at all today.

This is what I hate most- the unpredictability. If I had some warning and felt nauseous before the IBS symptoms kicked in, I’d be able to go home or prepare, but tonight I went from being absolutely fine to having a big IBS episode in a matter of seconds. This isn’t unusual for my IBS and its so hard to predict when it will happen and I’m so scared of something like what happened tonight happening when I’m out with my friends or at work.

I’ve tried fodmap, food diaries, avoiding gluten, avoiding dairy, avoiding wheat, going vegetarian. Nothing has stopped it.

I hate IBS so much!

Have you been to the GP for tests? Could it potentially be stress related, or even a bug/mild food poisoning?
I've never experienced nausea as part of my IBS, so just wondering.

I suffer from IBS too OP - sorry you're having a rough time

I had to miss a work night out recently because of a flare-up - weirdly, working night shifts seems to trigger it!

I take it you've spoken to your GP and asked for a referral to see a specialist?

I had 20 years of the GP saying I wasn't following my diet and that's why my ibs was so bad - then I found out I had bowel damage from some other surgery so no diet was going to work

B12 & D helped for me and avoiding artificial sweetners

Hope you have a more peaceful gut tomorrow

Yep I'm with you OP, 27 years and counting. I know what my triggers are but still have sudden onset unexplained bouts occasionally.
One thing that I have noticed is that I get an attack like you described once a month at a certain point in my menstrual cycle - took a while to catch on to that one as I was so focused on diet, but its definitely hormonal.

That sounds awful OP. I hope you start to feel better from tonight's episode soon.

Have you have all other conditions for example Inflammatory Bowel Diseases [different from IBS] like Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis ruled out? Could you ask your GP if there are any other tests that you need?

Also have you considered 'Histamine Intolerance' or reduced histamine tolerance as a possible cause of symptoms? I have it and have to avoid a range of histamine-rich foods as well as anything that is aged (e.g. mature cheeses), smoked (e.g. smoked salmon), leftovers etc.

Mine turned out to be Coeliac disease.

@sorryiasked

Yep I'm with you OP, 27 years and counting. I know what my triggers are but still have sudden onset unexplained bouts occasionally. One thing that I have noticed is that I get an attack like you described once a month at a certain point in my menstrual cycle - took a while to catch on to that one as I was so focused on diet, but its definitely hormonal.

Me too. I get similar attacks about a week before I’m due on. Started tracking it on my phone and it’s like clockwork.

I'd speak to your GP again maybe? I found FODMAP diet along with tablets changed my life.

Yep. I do get some warning though - a strange gurgling like a tap turned on - I get the nausea with the pain too. I take 2 or 3 immodium when I get an attack which reduces its length.
Its spoilt eating out for me as I have to be really careful whay I chose and not eat too much or it triggers it afterwards.

It's horrible, isn't it?

You have my every sympathy.

I know you say you've tried various diets, but just to say that when I started low carbing (to lose weight), it was a complete revelation to realise that my IBS symptoms had disappeared.

I've had IBS for 26 years.
I've had to omit so many things from my diet
Eggs, dairy, fruit, wheat, alcohol..the list goes on.
No one understands if they don't suffer from it. It's horrible.

I hate the unpredictability and it’s incredibly painful for me as well. Luckily buscopan and an Imodium usually sort it out 90% of the time for me.

Has your GP tried ypu on mebeverine? Really helped me. I'm also much better if I reduce processed/junk food/high sugar foods/alcohol. Hope you feel better soon

IBS/ Ulcerative Colitis.
My whole life is planned around this. I can only eat 15 minutes away from home.
I went on vacation 4 hours away ( Drive) and couldn't eat before or during trip. Had to get room service to eat at hotel.
I do NOT eat at parties...I did one time and I was in their toilet for 1-2 hours with a line outside knocking on door.
I could go on and on, but you get the drift. Absolutely Miserable.
I had a colon resection ( means shorter colon) because of a tumor.
I empathize to the max with all who have this debilitating condition.

forgot to add...Art by DestinyBlue..permission given if she is identified as artist..oops.

I have IBD, not sure if it’s similar? My consultant said that diet works for some and not for others. There’s no evidence with colitis that certain diets makes it better. Oral and suppository tablets made it better, but the odd thing that has completely sorted it, is nicotine. I used to smoke for years, then gave up and went on to vaping. Gave that up, and about 6m after that’s when I had problems and got the diagnosis after a colonoscopy. Have been on all the treatment, but recently had some stress in my life and took up vaping again. I’ve not had any tablets or issues since. I know it’s not sustainable, but am looking into nicotine tablets for the future. This only seems to be the case for colitis and not cronhs, look at the official website and they also have evidence of this.

@Qwill I vape... I've tried everything. I just have to stay close to the bathroom and when I leave I have memorized all the bathrooms along the way. I went from 155 to 130 after my resection in Oct. I needed to lose weight, but not this way. I have anemia and had to have a blood transfusion.Miserable ( My hematologist said that I have enough iron, but my body isn't processing it.

I sympathise OP, this happens to me and I’m still in the process of having other things ruled out by the Gastro dept.
Mine’s not coeliac’s or IBD so definitely leaning towards IBS, I’m not sure what’s left but waiting for my next appointment to discuss it next month.
I get the awful cramping, sometimes the gurgling, and sometimes go days without going for a number 2 which only makes it worse when it does happen. I’ve never experienced nausea with it though.
I’ve been having fybogel everyday to help with the regularity but it doesn’t help with the urgency for me

I've given up trying to work our what sends me to the loo 6 or 7 times a day. I hurt take an immodium daily before I go to bed an an extra one in the morning if I have to travel more than an hour in the car.
Touch wood after a year of this I lead a relatively normal life now.

Try drinking Apple Cider vinegar with the mother before food

Diet can only go so far. The brain gut link is really key too.
Gut directed hypnotherapy is evidence based. Try this - try.nervaibs.com/get-started/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=_nerva&utm_term=nerva%20ibs%20relief%20hypnotherapy&utm_content=445403411744&gclid=CjwKCAiA6seQBhAfEiwAvPqu130yp48Ia6NAPv7FJgOCK_arauvab3_Pk-P9UZYI41XNlAlBH4zRnhoC_gUQAvD_BwE

Have a look at the FODMAP diet this is what my GP recommended to me.....most types of fruit and definitely yoghurt would have set me off when mine was really bad! Second Mebravine as well.

The OP says she's already tried FODMAP though @Mayorhumdinger19