IBS HELL what helps you ?

[VLCos]

For 10 weeks I have had , bowel pain , wind other IBS symptoms. I don't get diarrhoea more constipation.

Family history of crohns .

I had a colonscopy this week which was clear. , biopsies taken so I presume I will get an IBS diagnosis. Tested negative for celiac.

I have these symptoms everyday , can IBS really be daily ?

And can any medication be given to help ? Living like this daily is so difficult I am glad it's not sinister but it's hard.

I have tried buscopan, mebeverine and windeze . No help

Is there anything else ?
Thank you

[nellyitsmeagain]

Thanks @NeurotrashWarrior I was thinking I might need some probiotics because I'm on omeprazole for hiatus hernia and inflamed oesophagus (I wonder if they're connected) and I've read that PPIs can reduce the levels of good bacteria - and as I'm suffering a bad bout of constipation I'm thinking they might help.

[zafferana]

I can't tolerate gravy either @madparrotlady12, which makes eating out really hard. I try to stick to grilled meat/fish with some rice on the side - that's fairly safe. It's horrible though when you feel like everything you put in your mouth is potentially doing to make you feel awful. Fizzy drinks can also be bad, but what I find hardest is that sometimes I'm okay and other times I get really ill and I never know which it's going to be

[NeurotrashWarrior]

Mad yes I have to be careful of chicken, the dark meat and gravy, garlic and onion (I use leeks to cook with) and currently chick peas appear to be causing issues which is annoying as I have a curry I love with them and also love hummus.

I seem to have to be careful with too much tomato, red peppers and chilli too.

[NeurotrashWarrior]

Nelly do you need one if you take kefir and yoghurt? I can't establish if the probiotic pills actually survive or not? Biokult was one I used to try and others have said is good.

[Allthepinkunicorns]

I have ibs and lactose intolerance. As long as I stay away from lactose I'm generally ok. If I'm anxious though ibs can be bad. Also fizzy drinks hurt my belly. I had to do a food diary and cut out things to confirm the lactose intolerance.

[madparrotlady12]

Hi I was diagnosed 14 years ago with ibs but didn't think my symptoms were that bad . Up until a month ago . How I have been able to leave my house to go to work I don't know. It all started I think when I put too much garlic in a curry I made . I honestly thought I was dying . Two whole weeks of severe stomach pains , griping, severe diarrhoea couldn't even keep water down . I was starving but couldn't eat because I was scared of the pains I would get also . Wind like I have never had it thought I was going to take off a few times 😂 anyways the diarrhoea has gone but I still have random stomach pains and feeling sick . I went to the doctor and he sent off a stool sample which I'm suprised came back as satisfactory. He give me these tablets for too much stomach acid 😳. Obviously they didn't do anything . I have to be very careful what I eat . Gravy is my biggest worry if I ever go out because oil starts it off . Anyone ever experienced these symptoms with it ? Xxx

[zafferana]

I've had IBS-C for about 12 years and I'd advise you to keep a food diary OP so you can figure out what your trigger foods are. For me it's wheat/gluten, nightshades, high fat foods (particularly if they'r spicy or high in sugar too - so Indian and Chinese food is bad, things like crumble on fruit very bad), certain alcohol (wine particularly), and stress. The worst of all is a combination of stress + trigger foods. I can be up all night feeling very ill. So, figure out what your triggers are, both foods and moods and times of the month - knowledge is power. I take a high dose pro-biotic every day and I also eat probiotic yogurt (Skyr is good for me). It's trial and error, but I feel your pain

[iswhois]

I have D. The only thing that really helps is eating very small amounts. When I go on low calorie diets the symptoms clear right up.

[nellyitsmeagain]

Hi, I'm also an IBS -C sufferer, I've probably had it since my teens and try to keep to a diet high in fibre - veg, fruit, pulses, seeds, yogurt, kefir. No bread and I keep the sugary carbs low. I find yeasty foods don't help as well as overly processed food. I also take magnesium and the things on humbles list

Can anyone recommend a good probiotic brand? I've been trawling the web today for them but I can't tell what's good or not.

[NeurotrashWarrior]

I can vouch for all of humbles tips, on top though, if there's any family history of underactive thyroid, perhaps mention to Gp too. Can be a symptom.

Gp did once give me a good run down of the sort of fibre that's best, definitely porridge well soaked / well cooked and apples, also pears are really good. She prescribed some tiny chocolatey pellets with a scoop that helped. But ultimately it didn't settle till thyroid levels were good.

Laxido is great, maybe try basic syrup of figs too?

[GoldfishGirl]

Second vote for FODMAP using the Monash app. I also recommend a broad based Disgestive Enzyme.

[VLCos]

@Toomboom ah I had my gallbladder out 2 years ago I'll mention it to my consultant when I go back thank you

[humblebumblebees]

Porridge with made the Scottish way with water, not milk
Linseeds - add to porridge / casseroles etc, or a teaspoonful swallowed down with water
Inulin (a prebiotic powder) - add to casseroles / gravy / porridge, or just half a spoon in a glass of water each evening. It's tasteless.
Probiotics every day
Magnesium citrate - high dose
Vitamin C - high dose
Natural live Yoghurt and Kefir
Sauerkraut

Keep some sachets of Laxido in the cupboard to use when dietary adjustments alone aren't enough.

Likewise Glycerin suppositories when needed

Regular exercise like walking / running / dancing to stimulate your metabolism.

[Toomboom]

I have recently had a diagnoses of bile acid malabsorption. The symptoms of this mimic ibs. I am now on medication for it and it is making a difference, still early days, but better than the constant runs to the toilet multiple times a day and stomach pain. It is advised with this to follow a low fat diet, so it may be worth you giving that a go.

I too had a colonoscopy earlier this year to rule out anything else [ my son has crohns ]. I then had a sehcat scan which showed bile acid malabortion . Mine is due to no longer having a gall bladder. I was never told at the time that this could happen in the future.

As you have had other tests, it may be worth asking about a sehcat scan.

[UpTheLaganInABubble]

Methane SIBO causes constipation rather than diarrhoea, but I think NHS tests only test for Hydrogen. You can buy a test privately for both types but it's £165

[VLCos]

Ah I see mine isn't stress related well I dont think so ..

No I have had a breath test for SIBO but mine cause more constipation than diarrhoea:-/

Silicolgel is something i have tried and did help but I thought it was for short term use ?

Thank you all for your help

[keepingbees]

Keep a food diary and see if you can see a trigger. For me it's wheat/gluten.
Peppermint tea and capsules can help. I know people who swear by Colpermin capsules.
I find Silicolgel really helps, you can get it in boots. Be careful not to have too much if you swing towards constipation though,

[UpTheLaganInABubble]

Have you had a breath test to rule out SIBO?

[Keepmewarm]

Antidepressants help me (and many others) because mine is stress related.
I have also completely cut out gluten. One sniff of gluten and I have an accident.

[VLCos]

Thank you . I avoid white bread and eat all the thing I think should be healthy but they arent doing me good by the looks of it.

Today I didn't eat because its just easier sometimes !

[delilabell]

@VLCos I get the exact same thing with the knowing before it happens. Sometimes it almost feels it with some food smells too.
I find that I can only tolerate white bread etc. I also cant manage anything other than butter. Any spreads make me have awful pain and dioreah. And I cant manage raw onion either.
I hope you feel better soon

[VLCos]

Sometimes when eating something I know it's strange but I just know it will make me feel Ill shortly even before it reaches the bowel . Only certain things

[VLCos]

Wow some good advice thank you all . It's so hard to see if even easing . I dont get a lot of cramps just general ache. I was sure colonscopy might seen inflammation but bowel looked fine .

@Keepmewarm why woudl antidepressants help ?

[Bol87]

Ohh & one final thing - probiotics! I take Biokult and they brilliant. They’ve made a big difference to my IBS.

[Keepmewarm]

Antidepressants