Yes I know you're not all GPs but would like opinions - is this IBS or stress?

[Moomin]

Far TMI of course as this is a thread about bottom-functions, but anyway... these are my present symptoms:

• Very loose and messy poos every morning
• Itchy and sore bum from trying to keep it clean all day
• Bloated feeling on and off all day
• Pain sometimes after eating - colicky and windy
• Smelly horrible farts some days
• Feel very tired and lethargic

Job is fairly stressful at the moment so could be stress, as my stomach is the first thing to go when I'm wound up. These symptoms have been on the go for about 2 months now but the bloaty feeling and pains has been worse recently.

have you tried probiotic supplements - you can get tablets form Boots which I found did help with bloating and pain .

Have you been to your gp yet? 2 months is a long time to be in pain for and it's easy to 'normalise' discomfort.

It's also important to find out what the matter is before you start taking supplements as they may do more harm than good. YOu don't want to be self-medicating for something you haven't got!

the syptoms sound like those I got with my Ibs, but as you say IBS can be exacerbated by stress.
Would you be able to try an exclusion diet to see if a certain food is triggering the symptoms? It's a pain and you have to be super organised, but worth it if you find a food you can avoid & therefore feel better.

(my ibs is caused by an intolerance to lactose, so probiotic supplements, eg, would make me worse, but peppermint oil helped a little)

do see your GP. NICE have an IBS pathway that he should follow.

Another differential is a Giardia infection I'm afraid (endemic in the Sydney tap water supply for example), so be prepared for a stool sample!

I have IBS, have done for about 16 years, mine is definitely made worse by stress, I would always have a bout on a Friday at work! My tummy swells up and goes hard and v painful.

I'd go to docs to see if they can advise. But I've found that cutting out processed foods as much as I can has helped loads.

I have heard that it can be caused by a parasite, I really should investigate this more, but am stupid!

HTH

Echoing Highlander...

I was told I had IBS by a locum doctor after similar symptoms that would come and go over a few months. A few months later I saw my family doctor who thought it might be giardia. She put me on a massive dose of anti-biotics (the onl option for giardia) which made me really ill for a few days... but then I was all better

hmmmm, thanks for replies. Guess it's the doc's then. I just hate going with bum-related nonsense but, as pointed out, it's getting beyond a joke now. I don't eat an awful lot of processed food at all but I also know I've not been very good with my 5 fruit and veg of late so I expect that's not helped.

It's pretty grim going to the doc with bum stuff, and so undignified! Over the past few months I have had so many rubber gloves and cameras shoved up there . Much better to sort it out though.