Random and unpredictable IBS symptoms are ruining my life

[Bloodymozzie]

I turned 46 and my guts went haywire.

It started with a couple of episodes of severe urgency and diarrhoea or multiple trips to the toilet, all with bad urgency. A number of occasions I simply couldn’t hold my bowel and I’d soil myself with loose stool.

My stool started to look like a yellow / orange ochre colour at times. I’d have up to 8 bowel movements a day.

I saw my GP, he did the usual bloods, FIT test, ultrasound for gallbladder issues, all come back clear. Issues would still rear their head, usually when I’d eaten a rich or large meal but some weeks I would be like it without any rhyme or reason. I tend to get sharp pains in the belly and back a gurgling sensation and loose stool would just pour from me - hardly any warning.

I’ve tried all sorts. Probiotics made me worse, Imodium helps but bungs me up, I take a range of vitamins and try and eat carefully. It seems that whatever I eat, within a few days of eating that particular product it will start to give me issues. I do think lactose may be a problem so I try to avoid or take a digestive enzyme before eating.

I’m now 50 and take oral progesterone daily even though I still have periods - this has helped a little.

Today was one of those days. Horrendous pains, just like severe period pain / childbirth. Then a lot of gas and loose stool and it went away.

I am so sick of this spoiling my life. I’m afraid to go places, I’m always worried I’m going to have an episode. Has anyone overcome this? Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated

You need to keep a food and bowel diary for a good few months at least. Food excluded needs to be excluded for a good couple if months before introducing slowly. Its a long term commitment but sooner started the sooner you can see any links.

Have you tried a Low FODMAP diet? That was effective for me (when I stuck to it). My hormones play a bigger part than food though I think.

Bile acid malabsorption? Good luck with getting a doctor to test for it/diagnose it though - they prefer the blanket of IBS.

I agree with others in that you need to keep a food diary to see if anything is setting it off. I have episodes of really bad wind (and have sharted) and I think I’ve tracked down the culprit but not 100% sure (I have GORD so I don’t eat a lot of variety).

This! Sounds like bile acid malabsorption. Have Dr's tested your faceal calprotectin? Have you had your gallbladder removed? I would keep making appointments to see the Dr until they take you seriously.