To ask what your IBS flare up feels like?

[Cleavage]

And how long they can last and what sets them off? I’m not talking about the obvious toilet issues, but how do you feel in yourself?
Do you feel fatigued? Are you in pain? Do you feel dizzy or get brain fog?

Anyone?

It varies.

Can last anything from a couple of hours to 2 days.

Usually very strong cramping, as painful as being in labour. Feeling very sick, usually end up feeling wiped out for a day afterwards.

I've no idea what triggers it. It's often worse just before my period but not always. No obvious food. Maybe stress.

Thank you for replying.
Ive been feeling terrible for about a week now. My insides ache. I keep having ‘attacks’ like this and have for a while but this one feels worse.

Also had a CT virtual colonoscopy a couple of months back and all clear so am certain it’s nothing sinister but it is really getting me down!

No! I’ve never heard of it! Off to Google it now

Ah I see it is a probiotic - I have been taking a probiotic supplement for a couple of months now. It seemed to help at first but my stomach is in bits now!

My attacks used to make me feel rubbish for days.

In my case it was anaemia and lactose intolerance that was causing it.

Once I sorted those things out I felt much better.

I can't believe it took me so long (too long) to work out lactose was a trigger for me. I feel like such a twat for not realising it sooner!

Do you know that it is definitely IBS? I ask because I had a few weeks of terrible stomach aches, dizziness etc, and I got to the bottom of it and realised I am intolerant to both lactose and gluten. Once I gave them up, the awful attacks stopped. I don't know why it all seemed to start so suddenly. Actually, I think I've been intolerant for years without realising it, because I've always suffered from bad headaches, which have gone away now too. So I should say, I don't know why it all ramped up so suddenly.

I agree with PP that it's important to get checked out if you haven't already to rule out other things.

Generally I get absolutely agonising pain, as a PP said mine is worse than labour and feel nauseous and just very uncomfortable. Thankfully seems to only be every few months that it's really bad, usually lasts around 8 to 12 hours but stomach feels a bit delicate for a day or two after. I find a probiotic helps and I take buscopan at the first hint and hope for the best.

I don’t know for definite that this is an IBS flare up but I have had IBS for years and years and cut lactose out of my diet about 15 years ago. Never tried to cut out gluten though.
IBS attacks for me were always usually pretty mild but I feel generally pretty terrible now. My back and joints ache and I feel so fatigued. The fatigue seems to be worse in the morning and gets slowly better throughout the day and usually after I have eaten something. Have had lots of blood tests recent and all were fine - vit D, iron, thyroid, liver and diabetes check.

Mine's triggered mainly by anxiety and if I have too much dairy. Worst attacks have me paralysed on the bathroom floor on and off the toilet, feeling really sick and awful cold sweats. They last for a couple of hours but do wipe me out for a few days. Otherwise I'm okay.

When my anxiety is under control, my body works as it should!

The fatigue and joint pain is a definite red flag for a food intolerance. These things are listed as symptoms for things like gluten intolerance, along with digestive issues, pain etc. Please do check it out!

Generally I get very bloated and nauseous. Then the pain begins. Deep bowel pain, I've laid on the floor before because of it, I go shaky, hot and cold shivers, feel like gravity is heavier than usual.

Plus then I need to find a loo immediately.

And I have no idea what causes it tbh. Possibly bread. Am being referred for chrons and cealiac testing