Anyone suffer IBS? Need some advice

[amehh]

Hi! Sorry if this is all TMI but just after some advice from ladies who suffer from IBS as I'm really confused.

I last took my pill 25th Dec but DH has been pulling out (TMI!) Since 8th Jan as it wouldn't be ideal to get pregnant this month (although still wanted!) And I was just waiting for AF (est 28th Jan If 28 day cycle)

I'm currently having blood tests etc as doc suspects I may have IBS (mild symptoms since end of Nov and gradually getting worse). The past week I've had sore boobs, tired, frisky(!), bloated mostly after 4pm, rumbly gas (doesn't come out), feeling a bit sick and last night I had period type cramps in the evening after we went out for dinner from 7pm until about 9:30pm. I did a cheap test on Sunday which was BFN.

I know it's unlikely that I'm pregnant but is it a possibility or does it sound like IBS/some digestive issue? They have very similar symptoms it seems and I don't really have anyone I can talk to who understands!

Sorry for the ramble, please help! All advice welcome.

I have IBS, my stomach gurgles a lot and I have cramps on a regular basis. I don't feel ovulation which many other feel. It's really frustrating as some of the signs of AF or BFP are symptoms of IBS. Cramps I get at AF are different though. Not much help, sorry! 😬

Hi, agree with above, it's really hard to distinguish symptoms of ibs from pms/ early pregnancy signs- I find that my IBS often gets worse before af anyway so I'm forcing myself not to read too much into them. I have had IBS for a long time and intermitedly get all of the symptoms that you described and not been pregnant yet but it's impossible to know for sure until you get af or BFP. IBS can be affected by so many factors including diet, sleep quality and stress. It can be a complete pain but there are things that you can do that may help. I swear by peppermint tea, stress reduction and avoiding certain foods. Has your GP spoken to you about trying a low FOD-MAP diet? It has good evidence behind it and helps you identify triggering foods. It's bit miserable but hopefully you won't have to do it for too long before it gives you some insight. Good luck with things!

Hiya, I have diagnosed IBS and have just come off my pill also. The symptoms you describe are exactly the same symptoms I have been getting which I think is a mixture of my IBS and symptoms of the synthetic hormones from coming off the pill leaving my body. I done a lot of research before coming off the pill and a lot of women have reported having these symptoms when coming off the pill!! Also another thing to research/remember is that our hormones are also linked to our digestive health and if you stop taking/start taking the pill or if any changes to your hormones happen then this can cause digestive upset - Again I only know this through researching it so I had an idea before I came off my pill as my IBS is quite severe! I hope this makes some sense and that your DRs get to the bottom of your symptoms! Good luck in your journey and I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks to all of you (sorry I don't know how to tag your names!) It's good to know I'm not on my own!

I've only just seen my doctor this Tuesday and had bloods yesterday so no diagnosis yet but everything I read points to IBS. The only advice I have so far is to lower my fibre - I usually have a high fibre diet due to being vegetarian and also I make an effort as I used to struggle to go to the loo! Now I'm the opposite and my GP said lowering fibre might help for now while we figure out what is wrong.

That makes a lot of sense that perhaps coming off the pill has disrupted my digestive system - hoping it might settle down soon as last night was miserable.

I ordered some one step ov tests and they came with little pregnancy test strips so just did one to check and BFN so at least I know it is just my dodgy guts!

Hi @amehh (just put a @ in front of peoples user names to tag them )

I have had IBS for about 6 years now and I live on Imodium I have to take it at least twice a day to be able to work/leave the house, have horrendous cramping and get awful bloating every evening/night to the point where I look like I'm 8months pregnant (I WISH!!) also get a lot of nausea and am very tired all the time.
I have had every test the NHS can provide and been given every medication they can supply and unfortunately nothing has worked! I cant pin point any particular food that flares it up because even drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning gives me diarrhoea I last went to my GP last week to be told that there are no IBS specialists on the NHS so I am now going private to see if there is anyone out there who can help me! I really hope they get to the bottom of it for you! Its horrible not feeling well and not knowing why! I am the same since coming off my pill doing pregnancy tests JUST IN CASE and getting a BFN its so confusing when the symptoms are so similar! I really feel for you as I'm going through the same thing! Please feel free to message me if you need to chat/rant or anything

@Riley1989 thanks for showing me how to tag!

Gosh that sounds so bad, I really help going private can sort something for you! Luckily I'm okay until about 4pm when things start getting uncomfortable but the progression of symptoms over the last week is just pants and I'm hoping it doesn't get much worse! I've picked up some herbal teas (peppermint and chamomile) to have after 2pm in case it's caffeine that's not helping and got some activia yogurt and white bread just to make little changes and see what helps initially. I originally thought it was just stress of moving house and then richer food and more frequent drinking (not lots but just a few more nights than usual) over Christmas that was setting it off, plus I suffer with runners trots (TMI!!!) But I haven't drunk in January and back to normal food and it's still here so that's what made me go to the GP to start with (convinced I had bowel cancer of course).

DH and I want to TTC as soon as we can from my next cycle so I'm hoping this might settle down as I just feel gross and tired at the moment!

Are you planning to TTC or already trying?

Hi again @amehh!

I am waiting for my first cycle to come and go before we actually start TTC as just come off of cerazette BC and haven't had a period in 13 years so want to know what my body is doing a little bit more before we start TTC
Stress is defo a trigger for me! I don't drink any alcohol because honestly its really not worth it for me! I also find that if I'm tired my symptoms are worse! You never know it could just be everything combined and its all got a bit too much for your tummy and once your hormones/stress/change of diet has been sorted you will feel much better!! That's what I'm hoping for you anyways! it does get very wearing having this all day everyday … if I'm honest I'm so used to all my symptoms now I don't actually remember my life without IBS! I really hope everything settles down for you soon and sending you lots of baby dust for when you start TTC xxx

Just to say that you should be tested for coeliac disease before GP diagnoses IBS, this is according to NICE guidelines.

Have you tried a low FODMAP diet? It's worked wonders with me - no bloating for months (and I used to bloat multiple times a day before I started it).

@riley1989 that must be so difficult, I really hope you get some fresh ideas with the private docs. I have my FX for you! Yes we moved house in November, married a week later and then straight into Christmas and DS's birthday so I'm hoping maybe I've been stressed (although I don't feel it!) And got offered a job yesterday so that might contribute too. Helpppppp!

@epicclusterfuck I had bloods taken yesterday so think that's being tested for too :) the GP just said it sounds like IBS (And doctor Google has convinced me too!) Also my mum then told me my grandad had been diagnosed with spastic colon which is an old term for IBS

Well.... I am 61. I have had IBS since I was a child.

My thoughts.....the best thing you can do is try to forget that you have it. Relax, anxiety makes it worse.
Work out which foods are ok and which aren’t, then simply avoid them.
You probably don’t need to bother with the fodmap, you’ll work it out.
You might be completely different from the classic cases. Me, I can’t eat green veg but root veg are fine.
If you need lots of Imodium, that’s fine.
Oh, and stock up on toilet Duck and bleach!

Hi everyone, just updating that all my bloods came back normal, as did my samples so just waiting for another appt on 14th to discuss what next. Haven't had any bad cramps since I posted and have cut caffeine after 1pm and changed to white bread etc, no real change in my BMs but at least I'm not as bloated and crampy.

Thank you again for your messages, it was good to not feel so lonely, I was quite down last week!