IBS flaring up - remind me how to get back to normal please

[Whenisitmysleepytime]

I have had a really bad episode since 12.30 last night, not slept, going to the loo every hour or less, terrible cramps. :(
It had been pretty good for ages - fine during pregnancy and afterwards. But dd is now 1yo so I'm guessing all my hormones have gone back to normal and whatever was making it better is long gone. (my ibs wa always worst in the run up to AF)

Anyhow how do I get back on track?

I stay off caffeine. So that wasn't the trigger this time.
I have been eating more treats/ croissants/ bread than usual as we've been away from home, staying with family who hae enjoyed spoiling us.

Any quick fixes would be good too as I feel like death. :(

Not sure about a quick fix (other than paracetamol for the cramps and maybe imodium) but you definitely have my sympathy!

I find fatty food to be a trigger for me but I believe that wheat can also be a common trigger for IBS, maybe try and cut this out of your diet for a couple of days and see if it makes a difference?

I find fizzy drinks is a definite trigger. Once I stopped them my IBS cleared more or less right up.

Rather than imodium, I find the supermarket's own (eg Morrisons) anti-diarrhoea capsules work incredibly well.

Hmmm
Well today I've had a banana, some shreddies (normally fine) and one piece of toast. Still feel rough but not going to the loo as often. Will be trying rice and chicken for tea so should be safe. I've also had gallons of peppermint tea which is helping - as is balancing a hot cup on my bloated tummy.
It has been SO long since it was this bad. I'm wondering if it's stress related as I'm back at work on Monday after being off for half term. in whih case it'll get worse no matter what I do.

Ibs is a pita!

Do you take probiotics? I find they help me a lot.

Sounds like you may be allergic to something? I find wheat and eggs make my IBS so much worse - and sugar doesn't help either.

I might start the prebiotics.
I don't have any allergies as such but too much bread can be a trigger. I've probably just had too much of too many possible trigger foods lately. :

TMI alert - is bloody (pink) mucus when going to the loo something to panic about or is it normal considering how sore my tummy is?

I swear by three mint tea from pukka. Normal peppermint tea makes mine worse and this stuff is miraculous - it seems to help even before I've finished a mug.

Probiotics work wonders for me. Sometimes when I feel really rough I force one down. I find buscopan helps before meals too. You can get it OTC. Hope it settles soon.

Thanks!
I have drank gallons of peppermint tea- it is working but
Managed a pretty good dinner (chicken curry And rice all gluten free- just in case) then felt lousy but not awful
My stomache is still really sore and I still need the loo more than is normal. :(
Going to bed soon, hoping a decent sleep will help.

Bananas are one of my main triggers - I haven't eaten one for over 15 years. Shreddies also set me off. I read your post and instantly clenched my stomach - everything on it makes me flare up .
For instant relief, I always find not eating for a few hours, lots of water and going to bed with hot water bottle held to afflicted area helps, if you can do that. Peppermint in any form helps me normally.
The pink mucus I have had after a particularly bad attack - it was my lower intestine and rectal area, inflamed and slightly bleeding which caused it. Not from constipation as such, just more the whole GI tract shuts down and starts clenching and the pain seems to cause the pink mucus. I had peanut oil injected into the area 2 years ago and it hasn't happened since.
I would avoid the white rice in this case.

I had the same thing with both pgs no ibs during and for about a year after. My DS turned 1 recently and i have been suffering again - I think it is due to the reduction in breastfeeding as my af have just returned too.
Have you tried the FODMAP diet for ibs- it is really helpful but quite restrictive initially. You have to eliminate a lot of foods BUT whilst following the diet is the only time in about 15 years I have been symptom free.

I did an elimination diet and found wheat was my trigger. Brownies in particular cause agonising spasms! Ouch!

I think Cerazette mini pill cured my IBS which I had from teens to 40. I also take aspirin and probiotic tablets daily but I think its the mini pill that's done the trick. If you were better during pregnancy then it sounds like hormones, so worth a try.

By the sounds of it wheat is likely your trigger this time as its one of the harder to digest foods - I find too much will cause me problems & it does for my DD too

As its diarreah good bland bulking foods will help stop it, so things like white rice, are good, I also find adding the spice turmeric to the cooking water really helps sooth everything - I do this for DD when she has bad flare ups & it works wonders - if its bad she will have a couple of days of white rice with turmeric & nothing else, this usually turns it around & gets her well again

Myself I use a herb called Cats Claw & have found that to be brilliant for me, though its no good for DCs, but I can highly recommend it

HTH

I should have added, DDs Hospital dietician recommended the bland bulking diet & staying off any roughage, fruit juice etc etc