I'm sure this will become a TMI thread but can someone please come and tell me I'm being paranoid about my dodgy digestive system?!

[dodgytummy]

Ok, I'm a regular but have name changed out of sheer embarrassment as I have RL friends on here and am a bit of a prude really, especially when it comes to poo conversations

I've had a dodgy tummy for quite a long time, a couple of years or maybe longer...? It varies between very very constipated and awful diahorrea (sp?) and seems to be getting steadily worse. I get quite painful cramps sometimes too.

I eat plenty of fruit and veg, drink plenty of water, don't have a lot of stodgy food or fatty/oily food but I can never match up what I've eaten to what happens after IYKWIM (eg if I'd eaten crap for a couple of days I'd expect to have a dodgy tummy but it doesn't seem to follow any pattern like that). I have quite a varied diet, I'm no food saint but I don't eat lots of crap either.

Does anyone else have similar? I have a GP appointment next week for contraception and am debating mentioning it, but will I have to give a sample?? >

I am generally in good health and rarely get ill but this is driving me mad

Sounds like IBS. Have you tried those digestive aid drinks/yoghurt thingies?

IBS by the sounds of it. Definitely mention it to your doc.

Or maybe some sort of food intolerance (sp) - wheat or dairy or something? Def. mention to GP.

Yes, talk to your GP about it - remember, all doctors have seen much, much worse than your problem , whatever it may be.

yes you should mention it. You should definitely definitely mention. Have you got any other symptoms? Tiredness, losing weight? It sounds a bit like IBS but you know as well as I do it could be something more serious.

I've not tried those yoghurts as I've never really been convinced about "bad bacteria" and all that.

Yes very tired but have a very busy going on so not a surprise. No, not lost weight, in fact I put weight on very very easily, but I'm not overweight, just average.

I'm often quite 'windy' too

Does anyone know how you get tested for IBS?

And for intolerances is it just trial and error with different types of food?

Try keeping a food diary for a month or so, as this could help you to see a pattern.

Too much dairy sets mine off, and once it is bad, veg/tomatoes make it worse. Recently quorn has started to make me ill.

Peppermint tea can help- I take peppermint oil capsules before eating when it's bad. This calms it down so I can go back to a normal diet.

Stopping smoking brought mine back- the nicotene helps supress it for some reason.

Definitely sounds like ibs - I don't think there is a specific test for it, it tends to get diagnosed once other things are ruled out. You should mention it to your gp as it has persisted for a while. Taking acidophilus or eating proboitic yoghurts can help as they do replace the 'good' bacteria.

Do check with your doctor though. They can give you a diagnosis and then you can get it sorted and not have to mention poo in adult company again!

Hmmmmm.

Funnily enough I gave up smoking about two years ago......

I'm guessing IBS in incurable, only treatable?

Yes, but very manageable for a lot of people.
Stress, ibuprofen and certain foods trigger attacks for me, but I recognise the early symptoms, take my tablets and stick to bland stuff I know doesn't upset my tummy for a couple of days. It goes away.

The pain stops for me with my peppermint tablets, but if it's a bad attack, I take painkillers.

I can go for a month or two without a twinge.

Once you find out if it is IBS, you'll learn your triggers and it'll calm down. Honestly.
In the meantime, peppermint tea and paracetemol might be worth a go.