Does anybody here have IBS (the constipation type)?

[Notthepootrolljustworried]

TLDR; if you have IBS-C diagnosed what symptoms do you have, beside the obvious.

As my (changed) username says, I'm not the dreaded poo troll. I'm just a bit worried and posting here in the hope I can ease some of that worry.

I've suffered with on/off constipation for that long now I can't pinpoint when it started but I do think starting a certain medication (noritryptiline) about 18 months ago made it worse and it's pretty much constant now. My stools are number 1 on the Bristol stool chart so clinically constipated, I just don't know why.

I just accepted it as how my system was, figured it may be IBS C and didn't pay it much mind as its not 'that' serious but after suffering with some additional stuff (upper centre abdominal pain, lots of gas which I thought was gastritis from prev ibuprofen use) I've looked into it a bit further and have now put the wind up myself, no pun intended.

Ah I forgot to remove the poll. Do ignore that.

Nope, but I have IBS D and the exact same worries as you.

the phantom pains I find increase when stressed and/or actively thinking about it!

I have mixed type:

stomach swelling
tenderness in abdomen
urgwnt need to poo
cramps when need to poop that are pretty severe
vwrybad smelling poops

like others anxiety / stress makes cramping far worse.

Yes. It happens once or twice a month for 2-3 days (have noticed an association with when I ovulate and when pre-menstrual) and I get the occasional episode which lasts 2-3weeks. I get chronic flatulence and bloating. It's as if all the muscle action in my gut 'freezes' and I don't hear any of the usual gut sounds. I feel lethargic, exhausted (think 8pm bedtime) and have brain fog too (feel like this is because the toxins aren't being eliminated as it were!)

Yes me.

Avoid bread. And pasta. (Just have it minimally ) also gravy is a trigger

Oh, and I had an episode years ago which lasted for MONTHS. I had a constant dull ache under my ribs on right side, thought there was something seriously wrong with me. And this stress fed into it more. I'm much more relaxed and assured about it now so episode's only last for days.

When dh was really bad with it, it was almost like a post viral thing with a stomach ache. He was barely making it out of bed most days.

He did the fodmap exclusion diet and is largely fine now, so really recommend that, as soon as we understood the fodmap groups, it all made so much more sense.

I don't follow a FODMAP diet but anything 'complex' to digest (lots of salad and veg) prolong my symptoms when I have a flare up. I try to eat simple foods like fruit and rice dishes.

I'm a chronic constipation sufferer. Have been for years so totally sympathise.

I went on holiday once. Had no suhar while there (all inclusive and didn't fancy the deserts), loads of sun, swam loads so lots of exercise, and also drank loads of water every day. I was very pleased to note that my poos were healthy and impressive logs. If you suffer like I do, you will know what a difference that was!

I need to try to replicate that lifestyle here really, can't see it happening anytime soon sadly.

Oh, I also have 2 or 3 days of normal pooing just after I come on.

Maybe linked to hormones?

Good luck op, I'm hoping for some good advice on this thread...

Sugar

I had IBS-C for 30 odd years. Cured it with low FODMAP diet. You have to be super strict with the diet and then the reintroductions. Some I had to do a few times to be sure. So it takes a while. But I now know exactly what my trigger foods are and can either avoid them or take a digestive enzyme.

The best thing for constipation I found was vitamin c tablets and/or linseeds with plenty of water.

Also get a poo stool if you don't have one already.

I am a mix - ibs c usually and trigger foods cause pain, cramps and ibs d and exhaustion etc

Have you had your gall bladder checked?

Thank you for the replies

I do have a stool which I use to sit in the squatting position, it does help but not enough so that I'm able to go fully iykwim?

It's interesting that a link between menses has been mentioned as for the past few months the week before my period, so pms week, I've been having what I thought was a gastritis flare up (the upper abdominal / epigastric pain)

A couple of days ago said pain was triggered by a 'cooler' drink from Costa (berries) and ive also had triggers from ice cream (a one off IIRC but it triggered an episode that lasted almost a week and was very painful)

Also; a particular type of processed cheese.

Enchiladas

Fruit cider (etc)

I used to get the same pain in the same location when I take ibuprofen, which I was on long term hence suspecting gastritis, but I don't take that now and am still getting flare ups of the epigastric pain.

They're particularly bad this week as I've been put on iron tablets and omazeprole (the omazeprole as I told my GP that I suspect I have gastritis and wouldn't be able to tolerate the ferrous sulphate on its own)

It's only now I'm putting all of this together, the pain and the constant constipation.

Hi @Powersout, I have just found this thread. Did your constipation last for months? I’ve had it since the summer plus the right hand side pain and backache and bloating. Did they ever say what caused it?

@Notthepootrolljustworried hi - wondering whether you ever got this resolved?