IBS without bowel symptoms?

[BlackInk]

Hello

Has anyone experienced IBS without bowel symptoms?

I've been having stomach trouble for at least a couple of years, worse now than it's ever been. I've lost a stone in the past 6 months or so due to nausea, stomach pain and pressure, indigestion etc.

I've had an endoscopy which revealed a small hiatus hernia, which I was told shouldn't be causing any problems. Prescribed acid reducing medications made me feel worse. My B12 and ferritin are low despite decent diet.

I have various other odd symptoms, but it's the stomach issues that are really getting me down. I feel ill pretty much every day and it's absolutely physical not psychological.

GP said it's probably just IBS despite the fact that I have absolutely no problems with diarrhoea or constipation. Is this possible?

Thank you :)

I’ve had IBS for 20 years. My every day problems are indigestion and burping, grumbling and growling guts, wind, trapped wind and bloating and a generally unhappy grumpy digestive system. I also get pain when the wind is really bad.There are some good IBS support groups on Facebook where you can ask about symptoms etc and you’ll always find someone on there with similar issues. I’d love to tell you there was a cure but like I’ve said, I’ve had it 20 years and have tried EVERYTHING but I just can’t get rid of it, I bloody hate it!!

Have they checked you for Coeliacs? The weight ,oss and pain are signs. I didn’t really have bowel issues either but had the other symptoms you name.

Have you had your gallbladder scanned?

I thought I had IBS for years. Most of that I had indigestion, burpy symptoms, sometimes an upset tum, sometimes I had real bowel pain.

Turned out it was my gallbladder, replete with stones.

There are a few things that mimic IBS symptoms, lactose intolerance, colitus, crohnes, wheat or gluten intolerance.

If you have been tested for any food sensitivities I’d check this out.

I suffer and find that peppermint oil capsules are very effective in calming an upset tummy. It’s only a recent find for me after scouring some forums and so far it’s working well and I only use as needed. I also found out about a pill called Lactase which helps the body process lactose (I read somewhere that it’s common to become some what intolerant to lactose in adulthood) so I’m trying that too. Other things are a really strong live gut bacteria called Acidophilus, it comes in capsules that you take first thing in the morning with water, and also taking Feroglobin as I’m prone to low iron and figured it can’t harm.

All these things can be easily bought over the counter, and I can’t reliably speak for the effectiveness as it’s only very recently I’ve started taking these but looking hopeful so far. My symptoms were making me miserable and doctor advice was to just try cutting certain foods from my diet, but it’s a process of elimination and takes time so whilst I do that I thought I’d try these things too.

I hope you get to the bottom of your issue and manage to get it sorted. It’s utterly miserable and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.

Thanks everyone - that's interesting as even the IBS websites say it's very unusual for it to present without bowel symptoms.

I've tested negative for Coeliacs and HPylori, and had an endoscopy that was clear except for a small hiatus hernia. I also had an upper abdominal scan, which was clear except for some small cysts on my liver, which they said was normal.

I'm really wary of cutting out food groups. I eat a decent vegetarian diet (including dairy and eggs) but am already low in B12 and iron so don't really want to limit my intake unless I really have to. Is it possible to get tested for food sensitivities on the NHS?

Thanks again!

You are entitled to request an appointment with an NHS dietician. I am under one and experimenting with various foods etc. Have you tried the low fodmap diet? Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked for me but many people on the Facebook support groups I follow swear by it and say it’s helped them immensely.

Also, are you sure you are ok with dairy? I was a vegetarian for 15 years and I had terrible symptoms with dairy and had to go dairy free many years ago. You could try cutting it out (either go lactose free or consume alternatives) for a week or two and see if you get any relief?

as a side note, you mention the b12 deficiency, If you’re taking some acid reducing medications (ppi) like lansoprazole or omeprazole they inhibit the uptake of b12 and you can end up deficient even with a decent diet. You need stomach acid to absorb the vitamins and minerals and the PPI reduce stomach acid so even taking supplements sometimes doesn’t help as you simply can’t absorb them. My Gastro specialist mentioned it to me when I was put on them and I am also deficient

Thanks Sammy

I'm not on PPIs (I tried them for about 6 months on and off but they didn't seem to help). I do take antacids (Rennie's type) though - always before bed and sometimes at other times too.

My B12 is very low and I was given a course of 5 injections over 2 weeks in November. GP says I need to wait 6 months then go back for more tests.

Thank you