IBS-C sufferers - do I have symptoms like yours?

[zooopta]

I think this might fit
I'm searching to see if others with the IBS-C diagnosis experience the same as me or if I need to look into something else

I have these daily stomach attacks with constipation and my quality of life is shit. I am close to tears a few times a day when it flares. I can’t wear clothes anymore as any waistband is makes me swell in agony so I just don’t go out and wear my nightie at home. I am feeling depressed now being only 29 with a toddler I can’t enjoy most days with
Really hoping to find some wise MNers who recognise these symptoms and can help me.

TLDR - can't pass gas build up, can't go to the toilet naturally, have lost a lot of weight, no appetite any more and constant constipation that never clears on its own all tests 'normal' or 'negative'

I avoid onion entirely since July 2021. Since pregnancy I can't digest it at all and suffer miserably for days if I've eaten something with even a trace of it in a sauce. But when I haven't I am still not right so.... I just don't know anymore

It starts in the morning like a hungry belly that won't rumble. Similar feeling as indigestion with back pain. I will grab my stomach and actually roar the pain away before it leads to
• A headache like my head is being squeezed and I can't focus on anything else while that's happening
• A build up of gas in my stomach and back that won't come out (no farts) although I can occasionally do a couple of burps
• feel full from my throat to bellow my bellybutton that makes me feel nauseous until I can burp
•Feeling like my belly is being squeezed from the sides into the middle
• the 'attack' in my stomach feels like my insides are being twisted
• I go to the toilet 1 or 2 times a week but it doesn't feel natural and I still feel full of stool after going. My bowels never feel empty and I often have to (sorry TMI) push from inside my vagina to get stuck stool out
• I will waddle like a heavily pregnant woman after going to the toilet as I am still constipated, uncomfortable and feel heavy low down
• Really sleepy after an unsuccessful bowel movement (starts/stops) and feels like the stool is low in my bum
•Have lost quite a bit of weight due to not eating (through fear it will trigger it getting worse) and now the lowest weight I have been in my 20’s (9st1lb I’m 5’8”)
•I co-sleep with ds and the noises from my stomach wake him up when I’m lying down
•I’m either barely sleeping or suddenly sleeping too much but still tired. It’s making me feel like I’m close to tears (the stress of feeling so shit won’t be helping)
•I can’t lie on my right at all. Only my left or I get a stretching/ripping pain from

The GP has given me a few things to try to clear constipation but hasn't said why my body is suddenly not working or accepting any food. Why can I not pass gas? I feel like this is a big part of the problem

Morning and evening I take a fybogel sachet.
I was given sennosides 7.5mg to take 2 at night (was taking these daily until I had 3 large bowel movements within 14 days and finally felt empty) but read these should only be 3 days use so stopped 2 weeks ago
I’ve given myself a big dose of lactulose a few times
Omeprazole 20mg I am desperate for around 6 times a day
Hope somebody recognises this as IBS-C or something else?

Just to add - don’t think it’s related but haven’t had a period since conceiving ds in Jan 2021 so when I got to the gp in the beginning I was convinced the bulges and heaviness in my vagina was to do with my ovaries, womb or from pregnancy. Emergency internal and abdomen US ruled out any issues but said I should be checked for prolapse which I did and was fine. They also said I had a full bowel which was surprising to me as I had been to the toilet that day and didn’t feel like I needed. And that’s when gp started me on constipation meds saying the pushing of stool could have been why it felt like my insides were going to fall out
•Also have a haemorrhoid that has never gone away since giving birth and probably some internal too but have been doing suppositories so shouldn't be that?

Urine, stool and blood tests all ‘normal’

Thank you for anyone who got to the end of this xx

Sorry to hear that you're going through this. It sounds awful.

How much water do you drink?

Is there anything that helps ease things? Warm bath?

This sounds awful. Have you been investigated for everything else to check nothing is causing a blockage? I have IBS but the opposite from you. I have done FODMAP eating for 8 weeks which hugely helped, esp no onions, garlic, bread (except sourdough) wheat,. Have you tried peppermint capsules or tea, might help with gas. You need to have this investigated, push your GP.

This sounds awful for you. Mine is much milder than this but I have found genuine real improvement with water and some flaxseed every day. As soon as I stop it is bad again.

Have you looked up gastroparesis/delayed gastric emptying?

An anti-emetic/pro-kinetic such as metoclopramide may help if so.

Have a read up and ask your doctor.

Omeprazole 20mg I am desperate for around 6 times a day - not sure I understand this, could you explain ?

I'm assuming op has severe heartburn?

Sorry, so around 4-6 times a day I feel the need to take omeprazole to get the gas out. It helps make me burp

Thank you all @whatabeautifulwedding @PTSDBarbiegirl @lndnbrdge91

Peppermint tea helps!
I got a big tub of Tums from Amazon and they help mildly too

I walk about the house with a hot water bottle tied round my tummy with a housecoat. It helps the pain in my left side under my hip bone

I am drinking 2-3 litres of water a day usually but some nights I realise I've not drank throughout the day

I do take medication for chronic back pain and some of them can cause constipation but I've l been on the same painkillers for 10 years and never had these problems before so I don't think it's that. But they are dihydrocodeine, paracetomal, gabapentin and diazepam

@LookUponMyWorks no I haven't, thank you I will look into this now

The symptoms are like indigestion. But crippling and nothing relieves it all day and night

I have a telephone app for a medication review on the 27th. If I go to the GP with suggestions they are often ready to prescribe

But I'd rather understand where I'm going wrong for this to happen and try to prevent the daily flare ups

It feels like my body is attacking me from the inside

I read up on gastroparesis/delayed gastric emptying - I recognise the symptoms except the 'even though there is no blockage in the stomach or intestines' part. As on 3 occasions I have had (sorry - TMI) very large bowel movements completely emptying myself making my stomach flat, hip bones and rib cage showing with no bloating. Able to pass gas as well. Then I'm happy, in a better mood and much less irate. But guaranteed the next morning is day 1 of it starting again. Tummy full of wind and stuck

I feel DISGUSTING. I don't want to be touched, cuddled or even company. My brain is constantly thinking about how I feel physically shit (pun intended) and I go through waves of just not taking care of myself. I just want to go into the fetal position in my bed and be left alone to cry and sleep. It's so shit!!

I'm so sorry for everyone that suffers with IBS or whatever gastrointestinal problem this is

omeprazole reduces the amount of acid your stomach produces. It's effect isn't immediate and you wouldn't get greater benefit in acid reduction by taking more than 40 mg.
I've not heard of it being helpful in releasing wind.
I imagine taking large doses may cause unwelcome digestive side effects.

dihydrocodeine, paracetomal, gabapentin and diazepam - some powerful drugs there OP . Some of them could be contributing to your digestive problems.

These common side effects of dihydrocodeine happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Constipation -Dihydrocodeine slows down your digestion and this can cause constipation.
Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
Feeling sleepy
Confusion, feeling dizzy and vertigo (a sensation of spinning)
Dry mouth
Headaches

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/dihydrocodeine/side-effects-of-dihydrocodeine/

I don't think omeprazole has an effect on wind - it's for acid reflux/heartburn. You should also only be taking once a day, twice at the most but only if recommended by your doctor.

Anything with codeine in won't be helping you, could you ask for an alternative?
Fybogel needs you to drink more than usual otherwise it can make the problem worse.
If you're getting left sided paid it would be worth getting investigated for diverticula disease as that can cause lots of the symptoms you are describing too.

I think it’s an absolute vicious circle. Take drugs for pain, get constipated, not
hungry, don’t eat, not enough food to push things along…..
if you are hungry or not you need to eat on those drugs you are taking. I would do this for a few days and see how you go:
wake up: large glass warm water with lemon slices
breakfast: freshly squeezed orange juice, muesli, probiotic yoghurt, 3 prunes in prune juice
— 20 min brisk walk—
snack: whole green apple, bit of peanut butter and large glass of water
lunch: whatever you fancy and a glass of water followed by a kiwi fruit
—3 sun salutations in full—
snack: handful skin-on almonds, glass water
dinner: whatever you fancy followed by mango and pineapple

Ok, I hear you all. It's clear I'm using far too much omeprazole for the wrong reason. I will start only taking one morning and night. And maybe a peppermint tea each time the buzzing starts going up my spine would help

I know what you're all saying re the drugs and constipation but in all these years I have been taking codeine I was always in a routine of only needing the toilet 1/2 times a week and not experiencing any pain or discomfort between. The couple occasions over the years I felt I needed to go but couldn't I would just do a big dose of lactulose and feel great again

This is way more than that however, reading replies I know there are some things I can do that might help
Like, I didn't know I had to up my water intake when using fybogel.....!! So I've been taking it twice a day from 6th June and not adding any extra water in at all. No wonder my stool is so hard, dry and slow. I can't believe I didn't know this
Thank you @Blossomandbee and pp's I really think upping the water will make a big difference

I don't want to change a lot at once as I want to see what is helping but I know I definitely need to work on eating and physical activity. And water. Lots and lots of water

If you ask your gp for a gastro referral look into prucalopride & linaclotide before you go.

Tbh I’d personally try taking movicol up to 6 sachets/day every day for a few months. Then take it from there. Better to go for the gentle movicol combined with good regular habits - after breakfast take 30 mins to sit on the loo. Even if nothing happens it helps train the gut over time. Gut loves habit.

Might be worth giving this a read

www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/side-effects-of-omeprazole/

You could also look at FODMAP diets to find out what the trigger are - if onion is an issue, you might also find garlic, leeks, chives and spring onions are a problem.

If you do FODMAP you should have proper support from a dietician (not a nutritionist!) because if you Google FODMAP you'll find highly conflicting information on what you can or can't eat. I did it with a dietician to find migraine triggers, but none of mine are actually food!

Found my IBS triggers though! Peanuts and peas are the WORST for me, then yeast, then wheat. The NHS are highly unlikely to see you for this, or if they did then it'll be a very long wait.... Private dieticians aren't megabucks - I think I spent less than £300 over six months of appointments. Worth every penny.

@Blossomandbee I'm reading about diverticula disease ... I think you might have just really really helped me, thank you so much. I am going to call my dr this afternoon
It was the left side stabbing pain that gave me the kick up the bum to contact the gp to begin with. I had been feeling rubbish (probably toilet related) for a while and lost a lot of weight but when the pain started I thought my ovary had burst or something serious needed checked. Or, had a hernia as there is a visible bulge
Obviously the ultrasound ruled out any ovary or womb problems so my gp just moved on to treating constipation.... I wonder if I should ask for a colonoscopy referral?

I wouldn't be looking for a colonoscopy, no. I'd ask them to look at your medication first - dihydrocodeine, paracetamal, gabapentin and diazepam will cause all sorts of stomach, gut and bowel problems..... Exclude that first.

Maybe time for a good conversation with the GP about your medication regime and asking for a referral to a pain clinic would be one option? My mate has done a pain course, and is now on just one pain medication instead of 3 per day and feels she's in far less pain day to day as well. She has PTSD, centralised pain disorder and physical disabilities which cause daily issues and pain too.

The GP can also advise on proper use of omeprazole including dosing, and the side effects you're likely experiencing from all the medications.

Or maybe you could ask to speak to your pharmacist? Ask for a full medication review and maybe they'll book you an appointment. They do that in my area, but we also have a pharmacist working at our GP surgery who does a lot of that too.

@zooopta a sigmoidoscopy (which is less invasive) would diagnose diverticula disease.
Don't be fobbed off if they tell you it's an old persons disease and you're too young, it's really not. I was diagnosed in my early thirties and many in my support groups are too.
It can be very painful but diet can help manage it. You need a diagnosis though so you can access antibiotics if you get an infection. Good luck, I hope you can get some answers either way.

OP I can’t comment on why you need those drugs for back pain but they sound like bad news to me. I’m convinced that sadly, although sometimes drugs are definitely needed temporarily, if you get stuck on them, all sorts of things in the body go out of whack. We evolved to eat a mainly plant based diet, drink mainly water, with hardly any sugar, and to move A LOT. I think walking is the cure for a hell of a lot of things and can do no harm to the rest. I’d start by walking 5k a day and then build up to more than that - maybe one in the morning to see if it shifts things along and then one in the evening after dinner. Drink loads of water (but not to bloating level - judge by your urine colour, pale straw is what you’re aiming for). Try to gently wean yourself off the pain drugs. Go gently and gradually on yourself. Throw in a bit of gentle yoga at home if you can - Adriene on YouTube is free and accessible - you don’t have to be bendy. Yoga with gentle twists and knees up to chest, on the floor, I’d known to be good for digestion.
Try these things, they can’t hurt, and might restore your natural rhythms bit by bit.
On menstruation - unless you are breastfeeding, your periods should have returned - maybe it is because your body thinks it’s under nourished? You had better ask GP for an endocrine specialist.

I have had IBS for over 25 years, I am ibs mixed and currently ibs-d but can totally empathise, severe constipation is horrendous.
This sounds very simplistic but has helped my sister, friend and dh who all suffered from awful constipation, especially my sister who is on thyroid meds and amitriptyline and would often only go once a week to 10 days.
My suggestion to them (often advised on all of the FB ibs groups I follow) is 2 kiwi fruit a day. They all go once a day now!
We didn’t think it would help at all but really has. Dh religiously has 2 every day.

And ask the gp to reassess your omeprazole meds, long term use of PPI’s isn’t great.