JEEEEEZE what's going ON in there?? Anyone up for a bowel/ibs/ibd/wtf thread

[MrsBrady]

Fed up? Stuck in? Off work? Can't eat? Can't play? Can't or don't want to burden your nearest and dearest? Fancy a bit of a vent?

I'm currently on day infinity of partial house arrest

dx with microscopic colitis this time last year- all good

now having a total bastard of a flare that's been going since January and shows no sign of fucking off

I. AM. SO. BORED. OF. THIS

last week I had to take a poo sample to the gps. Again. The receptionist showed me the elaborate way you're supposed to arrange the bag and label, but I said 'ooh don't worry shsowing me love, that's the last one of these you'll be getting from me'

and less than a fucking week later, there I was again this morning, with me warm bottle clutched in my fist. And I STILL didn't know how to fold the label

I'm worried it might be uc instead. The symptoms seem to tally.

I really really don't want uc. I really really really don't want Crohns can't spell it

anyway. Enough about me. How about YOU

Hello all. Six weeks ago I had a sudden onset of digestive issues. I went out for lunch, somewhere we go regularly, ate something I often choose. An hour later my stomach started churning and gurgling, then I suffered explosive diarrhea.

This has carried on ever since. All seems fine, then the churning or gas starts, and I know I will be in the bathroom. It is starting to affect my work as I commute to different offices by car, on one day I was really suffering (but I shouldn't really complain as I did manage to contain it) by the tine I got home to a toilet.

Will soon be visiting the GO as it isn't going away.

I've been dx with crohn's for about 9 years, but looking back experienced symptoms since childhood. If I'm honest it's not a massive deal for me because although the pain I was in at diagnosis was horrendous, I rarely get any issues these days as I'm well managed with drugs.

I'm also a member of my local ibd patient panel, I like feeling like something positive is coming out of it!
Unsure what my next step drug-wise would be though!

Bold: I've got the opposite problem- I'm constantly constipated. If I do poo it's always small hard lumps, even if I've been drinking lots and go every day. I also get awful stomach cramps and terrible gas.

Bold: ^THIS!!^

I have cyclical constipation linked to my menstrual cycle.

In the days leading to my period, I seize up completely and nothing shifts it.

Lactulose, senna, Fybogel, Dulcolax, Dulcoease - name it I've tried it.

Then my period starts and then it starts up again with any laxatives that I've had in the previous day/s seem to start to work all at once causing diarrhoea. Lots of it.

I'm also taking lofepramine with the noted side effect of constipation.

I'm 48 and in perimenopause. I seem to be stuck in the 'periods about to start' mode for the past two weeks.

I'm taking senna and developed haemorrhoids.

I have a 'kit' I take with me - tissues, alcohol gel (for cleaning surfaces), wet toilet wipes, nappy sacks and a small can of Impulse/So/Charlie so as not to be too antisocial when in public toilets.

I'm fed up too.

I had no ideas so many people suffered from bowel issues. My sister has what I believe is normal IBS -she's had since her 20s it only comes on with her period, certain foods and stress. Most of the time she's fine through and it doesn't massively impact her life. Mine came out of nowhere at 40 years and nothing I do helps much. I've tried everything - low fodmap, gluten free, I'm on amitriptyline, acacia fibre supplement, I have acupuncture, probiotics, probiotics etc etc. it's a nightmare. My aunt who's a doctor keeps saying it will get better and that she's never seen bowel issues not to resolve within a few months or so. I think she had a similar bout for about 5 months or so. I come on forums like this though and realise that people suffer for years and years and then I get really scared that I'll be I'll forever

How are you doing OP? Are you not Mrs Brady anymore? How confusing

I got referred to get my piles sorted, only to have the doctor look and say they were too small to treat. He gently explained that I need to see a dermatologist because the skin around my anus was worn out from over use. This is a side effect of 10 yrs of non stop loose bowel movements.
i am now waiting for a colonoscopy. The last time i saw a gastro doc he said there was nothing he could do and that I should just learn to live with the pain.

simmi1 I'm sorry but you cannot compare IBS to an IBD at all. I understand that you have to live with horrendous bowel symptoms, but until you have had to go through bowel resectioning surgery, fistulas, living with a colostomy bag ect it really is incomparable. i dont want to make this seem like competitive suffering, but i have to say it how it is.

I saw people further up thread wondering what steroids they would be given. Orally it is always prednisolone, usually start at 30mg a day on a reducing dose scale for 5 weeks. If you need IV steroids (Ie the drugs of satan) it will be Hydrocortisone.

Mrs Brady, my DH is on prednisolone started with 40 mg a day now 8 weeks later down to 5mg. He has had many colonoscopies the most recent confirmed ulcerative colitis, his first diagnosis was ulcerative colitis ,which starts in the rectum, it has now moved up to the middle, which is ulcerative colitis.Im not sure if this goes further up it can be crohns.the first course of steroids he had worked a treat(except for the weight gain)this second lot are hardly touching his symptoms,

sorry. his first diagnosis was ulcerative proctitus !

fanjo sorry about saying I hope it's not Crohns in my OP

I knew I shouldn't've posted it as soon as I pressed the key

Caught poor DH. It sounds at least as tho the hospital are on it. I hope he gets the right med combination soon (tho I bet he doesn't fancy doing elimination diets and the like)

as for not talking about it, unless my OH wants a blow by blow account from me he has to leave the room -I'm definitely on the TMI side

as for IBD/IBS I do find friends with IBS have no clue about IBDs and think they're pretty similar- but then of course that's because we have a culture where everyone is very coy about shit let alone shitting blood and so noone really knows what's going on

I have UC and have been in a flare now for the last month after having been in remission for over a year. I take pentasa and mercaptopurine and since the flare started I have tried rectal foam steroids and am now back on oral steroids (hello moonface and insomnia).
I spend all my time either on the loo, looking for a loo or crying with the pain. I have still been going to work though because I am determined to battle on as long as I can.

mrs brady thats ok maybe I'm being over sensitive but I've got stomach ache and am in a foul grump about it all

fanjo after 6 months of minorish flare I just threw manhandled a ladle that wouldn't go in its proper place

if I was 5 years into a Crohns flare I'd be more than oversensitive, I'd probably fuking kill someone

(if I could summon up the energy required- not likely)

God MrsPnut

just saw your post

to you too

well done for getting to work! I hope the meds kick in soon

MrsPnut, my DH is also on Pentasa grannuels, and I reckon is in the same position as you.
MrsBrady, its not the embarrassment of talking about it, its the thing that the meds aren't working that he wont talk about.
I do feel for him as he is constantly knackered.

Well my doc says it takes five days from when you last ingested it for anything to leave your system.
If he system is inflamed from any months or years of eating/ drinking foods that harm then it's not going to happen overnight.

My spleen doesn't like cold salads very much. It's why I have green soups at lunchtime.

This is why I took up dowsing. I fancied an ice cream today. First in months maybe this year. I dowsed it first . Got a positive that it wouldn't be detrimental . So bought and ate one.

Been fine. If I'd got over a six I wouldn't have had one.

I've been asking the nutri so maybe that's all helped.

Before I saw my private gp I had seven weeks of avoiding the foods I specified earlier. I felt so much better when I went to see her.
Have you all been checked for h pylori and candida overgrowth. They can have a big effect on digestion.

Also, you might want to ask your docs if you could trial an anal irrigation system. If you eat right so there's no inflammation, and clear your bowel you might find that poo accidents become a thing of the past.

Here

www.coloplast.co.uk/peristeen-anal-irrigation-system-en-gb.aspx

I started having raw juice for lunch . Did it for about .6 months and decided I didn't feel at all good on it. Despite all the juicers talking about its health giving properties.

I swapped to warm soup and began to feel so much better.

DH chomps merrily away on his lunchtime salad like a rabbit let lose in a farmers field.

Anyway my spleen is a lot happier.

agelessherbs.com/spleen-qi-deficiency/

To all the posters with IBD i feel for you my DH has UC diagnosed 6 years ago and our life has been hell! My DH is now on 4 weekly immune suppressant injections as the oral drugs affected his liver.

This year so far we have missed our dds first day back at school after Xmas, Mother's Day, DH's 40th and just today Father's Day as DH is constantly unwell or immune compromised so we avoid certain situations, we also won't be having a holiday this year as it would be too soon after his injections started.
Sorry to those suffering IBS but you cannot compare this to IBD, my DH is going through all of this every day and could still face major surgery it is a living nightmare that affects the whole family.

I got diagnosed with UC in January and I have a question for the more experienced IBD sufferers if they wouldn't mind?

I have massive problems with my joints any joint anywhere will suddenly stop working with intense pain and this lasts for 3-4 days. I know this is a symptom of UC but is there anything that can be done to treat it or help at all?

Wishing everyone a good health day

Loves, have you had your vitamin D levels checked? When I had problems with my joints, it turned out my vitamin d levels were only 7.
Taking a high dose supplement made a massive difference to my pain and joints.

Lilybensmum poor DH. And poor you. It must be so hard, being in the supporting role- I think it's as bad for partners as it is for sufferers

missed our dds first day back at school after Xmas, Mother's Day, DH's 40th and just today Father's Day

this

I've missed DH's 50th, my 50th, our first anniversary, cancelled one holiday already WAAAH, school concerts, kids with music exams next week and DH will have to go instead...half the year has gone and I've been indoors for most of it. Gah

and that's only microscopic colitis. Least I hope that's still what it is. I just need to see someone on the GI team