Help me get on top of this IBS flare, please!

[jamoncrumpets]

Had IBS since my late teens, but now being investigated for IBD as my GP thinks it's gotten more chronic and life denying than it was before.

Flare up started Thursday evening, with pain, wind, cramping, weird taste in mouth etc. Alternate constipation and urgency all through the day yesterday, along with acid-like feeling in my entire stomach and bowel region. Today, wind, urgency and diarrhoea.

Took my regular Omeprazole for the acid, was originally off anti diarrhoeal meds because of the constipation but have just taken 3 Imodium (sanctioned by gastro doc a few years ago).

I'm taking my propranolol for anxiety, hoping that slows my system up a bit, but I really need to get on top of this flare as I still have most of the weekend in front of me, a disabled child to care for, a pre schooler to keep amused etc etc. DH is working away until Monday.

How would you hit this? What would you take/eat/drink? Weirdly I think drinking water aggravates the issue, as I live in a super hard water area.

You have my complete and utter sympathy.
I have had IBS for 24 years but it’s been almost daily for the last 5 years, it is absolutely doing my head in.
I am still under the gastroenterologist but have had endless tests which have come back clear (thankfully) but I am still none the wiser as to what is causing it.
I have the same symptoms as you as well as this constant, angry, gurgling from my guts. My digestive system just seems so angry all of the time.
These are the things I have tried, sadly I am not getting much joy but I know they help many people (I am on lots of FB support groups), they may just give you some relief too 🤞

The low fodmap diet (very boring but helps a lot of people)
Going diary, sugar and gluten free
No artificial sweeteners
No caffeine
Gut directed hypnotherapy such as the Nerva App (or there are several free ones on YouTube)
Peppermint oil capsules (these help to a degree but flare up my upper digestive issues so a bit of a catch 22 situation there)
Mebeverine
Alverine Citrate (only just prescribed these so not yet sure if they will help)
Amitripyline or Nortriptyline (I tried the latter which did help but got other side effects so had to stop but seriously thinking of trying again as they were helping)
Immodium (I do use this on my IBS-d days but it constipates me quite a bit) a new gastroenterologist has prescribed my the liquid form so I can take just half a teaspoon when I need it.
Pepto Bismol really helped me but seems to be unavailable in the U.K. now (bloody typical!)

I don’t know if you have tried any of these and really hope you get some answers as it’s a truly miserable complaint to live with and not many people get how depressing it is.

We are in a very hard water area too, I don’t think our water helps me. I use a Brittany water filter jug now.

Have you ever tried co-codomol?

For the wind I take Rennie Deflatine. If I can get on top of the wind then the pain tends to settle. Also try guided meditations (Alexa is good for this) to relax.
Plain eating, I absolutely have to avoid salad, pulses, beans, nuts and bread when I’m in a flare up. I also cut right back on caffeine (can’t do without it totally though!). Porridge Oats with added seeds (flax seed, sesame and sunflower) seems to help and is an easy filling meal if I can’t face a cooked meal.
Plain soups like chicken seem to be ok too.

Yes but it makes me a bit woozy so don't like to take it when kids are around

Peppermint tea. Probiotics. Immodium. Gaviscon.
Hold your breath if you feel a burp coming on and sit up really straight, really helps the acid feeling to be less burny.
If tap water is triggering you, buy some bottled water or a water filter.
I feel your pain.

What should I eat for dinner? A bowl of plain rice?

Colpermin? Settles my IBD a little.

I am currently in a flare and my go to is white rice, salmon and green veg in a bowl and microwaved for 2.5 mins. Every meal.

i can’t take any prazoles as they give me super acid diarrhoea, and ami/nortriptyline give me really bad upper GI symptoms.

to drink evian water (its soft) or flat lemonade.

once the diarrhoea starts subsiding I add in corn-flakes or Rice Krispies, and white sliced toast.

have you been taking ibuprofen or any nsaids? I took 2 yesterday hence flare today. Just cannot tolerate at all any more.

Really hope it calms down for you soon

Hi @jamoncrumpets firstly can I say how sorry I am that you're going through this. I don't think my IBS was ever quite as bad as yours sounds, but I do acutely remember the 2 minute warning and knowing the location of every public loo without even thinking about it!

Over the years I've tried all the usuals; dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, mebeverine, hyocine, peppermint, ginger, probiotics, abdominal massage...

What I have found most effective so far is a third pint of kefir every day, I started on a quarter pint and worked my way up as it takes a little getting used to but only about a week. I drink the biontiful brand because the amount of probiotic strains looks super impressive. The thing with kefir is it's pre and probiotic together. I also continue to take peppermint capsules which I totally pooh poohed at first, because if the prescribed meds didn't work why would these? But they suprised me. I also drink peppermint tea and ginger tea as and when.

Not going to say I never have a flare up, but they are now maybe once every couple of weeks or more.

I still can't eat Weetabix tho! 😩

I have IBD and I sooth a flare up with eating pretty much only:

live natural yoghurt - lots
porridge
bananas
avocados

avoid all nuts, seeds, citrus, wholemeal anything, alcohol.

I have to eat like this for at least a week each time, sometimes longer

Have you tried Enterosgel? I have IBS D and have been going through a bad flare up. This has really helped calm everything down. I only take it once a day but you can take it 3 times a day. Helps with the wind and stomach feels much calmer. Only drawback is that it's expensive. I truly sympathise with you.

Turns out this flare is brought to you by water and lucozade, food was a v bad idea

I once had a bad flare up... the worst in over twenty years.
My husband called an ambulance.
Paramedics were concerned that I'd be waiting too long at A&E so they called a doctor out.

He said, "try taking Gaviscon before you eat."

I thought that was far too simple.

So I did and it worked.

I'm not saying that it'll be the answer to your problem but maybe try it.
It settles your stomach BEFORE you shove food in it.
I had to keep to bland foods for a while like rice, poached white fish etc... but I was able to add things every few days.
Up until that point I was existing on half a slice of unbuttered toast and camomile tea.

I really feel for you.

Best thing you can do is keep a diary tracking food intake, exercise, gut symptoms, mood and bowel movements, water intake etc - then from there track trends and see if anything jumps out as to what's going on - you'd be surprised the data you'll get just from doing that for a week or two - good luck. Also - have you considered a daily postbiotic to get back on track and bring that balance back to your gut?