Any other IBS sufferers out there?

[girliefriend]

Hello I have had IBS I think on and off for a while but since Christmas it has been getting a lot worse, terrible stomach cramps, diarrhoea, headaches, feeling light headed and generally feeling like crap! I've been ref to Gastro people at the local hospital but wondering if there are any others of you out there and if you have any magic cures?!

At the minute I'm trying to cut out wheat to see if that helps, which I think it has marginally

Hello

I've had it for a long time. I was diagnosed about 20 years ago. At that time there wasn't really any treatment offered.

I went on a gluten free diet for 12 years. I think it did help, but marginally so. It excludes you quite a lot socially though and i felt quite drained on it. I think the free from type foods are a lot more readily available now though. At the time you had to order your gluten free flour from Boots and bake any cakes, biscuits or pizza bases you wanted to eat.

Mine is now very settled. I think (after many years) I realised mine is related to stress and being able to go to the toilet at home.

I now work from home. But when I didn't, if I hadn't managed to go in the morning, just clammed up and couldn't til I got home at night - leading to many hours of constipation, pain and bloating followed by diarrhoea.

I didn't find laxatives helpful at all - just loads of wind and more bloating. Did try Colofac for a while but it didn't make any difference for me.

What works for me - and is probably not good medical advice - is to have two glasses of red wine of an evening. I then seem to "clear" first thing in the morning.

Also, coffee and chocolate work as laxatives for me.

I know different people suffer with different symptoms though. Mine was more constipation then diarrhoea but I know others with constant diarrhoea.

I think it's about trying to find a balance that works for you. The one thing I would say is to look at whether you are feeling stressed.

Thanks for your reply I think there is a definate link to stress and anxiety, I seem to get urgency when I need loo (sorry if tmi ) and that stresses me out and makes the whole thing worse. The stomach cramps are new and unfort wine is off the menu for me as I had less than a glass of red wine on fri night and felt really ill on sat

wine does it for me, as does fish when i eat out.
i seem to be sensitive to a 'bug' in food, and once it gets me i'm screwed for weeks.

never constipated, always immediate bad cramping followed by diarrhoea. can be awful if i'm out on a night out. constant worry about finding private loo.

stress also a trigger for me.

horrible condition......

hi girliefriend, sorry to hear your suffering... mine is settle now but still flares up if I have to much cheese, ie pizza, lasagna, for some reason melted cheese is worse for me.

I used to have terrible stomach cramps and diarrhoea first thing in the morning, took me ages to work out what caused it, but like I say, now its settled, so no magic cures here, just trial and error.
Good luck at the hospital, you having both ends looked at?

I'm a long term sufferer though I seem to have improved massively in recent months; I am hoping it is due to age! My symptoms were mainly to do with going out in the mornings; I think the stress of worrying about there not being a loo brought it on with a vengeance! I coped by spending all morning dashing back and forwards to the loo and downing loperimide until I dared to venture out. I would still get cramps but they would usually subside though not always. Food was a relatively minor issue but pasta, bread, garlic and spicy foods were bad! Rice & meat=good but def. not the major factor. I have read that there is a specialist hypnotherapy centre that has a very high success rate, I just never got round to it. Also antideppressants can sometimes help and there is a standard drug which my GP never mentioned to me (M something)! Also codeine for the diarrhoea.Try the Gut Trust website. Oh and it could be caused by something else, I once had giardia which is a parasite and can be treated with antibiotics. Good luck.

OP - Sorry to hear you're suffering so much. It is awful and so painful. And can be v embarrassing at times.

It probably sounds really extreme but I find not leaving the house til the afternoon helps me. I do the school run. But it gives me the peace and quiet to go in my own time.

Not very easily achievable, especially if you need to work.

Someone did suggest to me yoga and meditation once, but I didn't get very far with it. In hindsight I think it probably would have helped as I'm very sure now that I don't have much stress and I'm a lot better, mine was stress related.

Hope you find a way to feel better x.

Please can I join? Diagnosed in last couple of years after camplyobacter and salmonella!

Triggers seem to be stress, cream, some spices and cheese.

The thing I find the hardest is how quick I have to run to a loo (not always possible on A1 or in town) I do now know all the toilets within a 20 mile radius!

Thanks all it does make me feel better to know Im not alone!!! I keep thinking calling the condition 'irratable' bowel is such a massive understatement - mine are bloody furious!!!

Although am noticing a difference since cutting down on wheat which is good in some ways and very annoying in others!!!

I work 3 days a week and work in the community, its not always easy and I do have to dash home at times. Mornings are the worst for me as well but sometimes the cramping can last all day Not sure what they will suggest at the hospital but I suppose its a case of ruling out anything else.

I've heard about hypnotherapy helping (think it was on embaressing bodies!!!) might look into it.

Thanks again xXx