Daily digestive issues, what am I doing wrong, am I missing something, how do I get better?

[Backtothe80splease]

I have suffered from a malfunctioning digestive system for decades but the last 6 years have been dreadful and nothing I do or try has helped to re-set things, it is gradually getting worse.
I have had lots of gastro tests over the last 5 years (2 colonoscopies, a gastroscope, a bile acid malabsorption scan, coeliac test, h pylori test, scans etc), everything comes back ok yet I am still struggling from the following issues,

Loose, sticky stool (No.5 on the Bristol Stool Chart). I have the urge to go as soon as I wake up and will often go around 3 times just in the morning (I just can't organise anything first thing, because of my overactive gut).

Randomly, a few times per month I will become more constipated (No.1 on the chart) but no idea why as I eat the same foods every day.

Dreadful nausea, burping, acid, growling guts (this often occurs mid cycle).

Bloating, lower gut gurgling, pain, flatulence and discomfort (this often occurs in the evening).

Rectal hypersensitivity/discomfort throughout the day and feeling like I need the loo, or I might poop myself!

A general feeling of digestive malaise throughout most days.

(I keep a food and symptom diary and just can not see a pattern to anything)

I have invested so much time and money trying to re-set my guts and gain some control back that I no longer have any more money to chuck at this and will need to try this alone from now on (I have recently given up work as it is really affecting my life now).

These are all the things I have tried, many I still stick to and some have not helped.

Low fodmap diet - I continue to eat this way as well as avoiding my known triggers which include dairy, wheat/gluten, high fibre foods, artificial sweeteners, eggs, chicken, onions, garlic, certain fruits and veg, caffeine and high fatty foods.

I only drink water with the occasional herbal tea.

I start eating around 10am (can't face food before then) and stop at 7pm so naturally IF due to my symptoms.

Exercise;- I walk the dog for an hour a day, each day and use my exercise bike. I am not overweight as I don't eat a lot, too much food at once makes me feel quite unwell.

Meditation/yoga every day (I listen to the Calm app).

I have paid £££'s for gut directed hypnotherapy over the years including the Nerva app which was lovely but did nothing to help resolve the gut problems.

Have tried various medications including Mebeverine and other antispasmodics, Peppermint oil, Pepto Bismol (sadly no longer available in the UK but it did help). I take Imodium a few times a week, It doesn't improve the stool consistency and I have to be careful that it doesn't stop me going so only take a few times a week but I don't think it does a lot tbh.

Tried Sertaline and Citalopram but they gave me bad diarrhoea as did PPI's prescribed for the upper gut issues.

I tried probiotics in the early days but they made me feel worse and tbh I am apprehensive to try again but maybe I should?

I really do not know what else to try, I am at a complete loss. I will add that I am in perimenopause and also have endometriosis which may not be helping the situation. I can't take hrt as it made my endo worse.

Tbh, if I could solidify my stool more and reduce the activity which always seems to be going on in there I would be a happy bunny and would put up with everything else, the loose stool and hyper active bowel really stresses me which obviously does not help the issue.

Any ideas how to ease all of this? Something which I may not have thought of?

Please do report back, I'd be very interested to see how you get on with them.

Nutri probiotics really helped reset my gut after antibiotic use.

I'm currently struggling with suspected constipation and using movicol daily...if still in pain they will CT scan in six months....

Thank you, I will look into those probiotics.

Seems a bit simplistic but have you tried kiwi for your constipation? My sister was only going once a week, her doctor suggested 2 kiwi per day and it has worked wonders for her. Mentioned it to my dh and he now eats 2 a day to keep regular.

I have had ibs for years and very similar symptoms, I had loose stools every morning for years which is extremely distressing, I seem to be ok at the moment and the regime I have which means I only do 1-2 relatively normal poos a day is- mebeverine in the morning, a Rheal clean greens or balance Tonic each morning (not gut feel as that made me empty out everything I had ever eaten in a short space of time…good if you have constipation though!), propranolol 10mg for anxiety as needed as peri related anxiety sets off my bowels, and peppermint tea in the evenings after dinner. I take hrt which may have helped.
i do a permanent low fodmap diet but can tolerate some dairy and gluten in small quantities. If I am having a flare up with a bad stomach, I eat plain rice or sushi for lunch and dinner as rice seems to slow down my digestion and calms my stomach.

Thank you, I may try all of those things and see if they help 🤞

So do you take the mebeverine all the time, as a preventative? Although I have symptoms most days I only take this medication when things are particularly rough, maybe I've been doing it wrong and need to take it every day?

I've had so many people tell me propranolol helps with their anxiety, I would prefer something like this rather than antidepressants, not sure why my GP has never suggested this. The physical symptoms of my anxiety drive my panic attacks.

I use mebeverine every day first thing in the morning, and then maybe one later if I need it, but it’s to relax everything and stop spasms before they start, which they do as soon as I have a drink or food in the morning.
I take the propranolol as I have experienced intermittent anxiety since peri, mainly for me around travel and feeling ill when traveling (needing the loo a lot) and the anxiety makes the gut and bowel issues worse, which makes me more anxious about travel and it’s a vicious circle. As the propranolol helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety, I experience less thoughts, iykwim. I only use it now when travelling and when speaking at conferences or presenting at events.

So I've been trying the Wild Dose for two weeks now. And feeling good in myself, although still bloated sometimes. However I don't feel good today - nauseous, bloated. I don't know if it's coincidence, but I missed a day taking them. Have been eating badly over the Christmas period and haven't had noticeable acid reflux feelings until today

I keep meaning to try propranolol, I experience so many physical symptoms from my anxiety, I'd love some relief from that and like the idea of something I can take as and when.
It doesn't cause any digestive issues for you? I've read some reviews where people say it's causes them diarrhoea which I certainly don't need!

Good to know it's been helping you, I've been looking at wild dose for a while now and wondering if it could help me?

For what it's worth, I was very like you. Everything improved massively when i started Mounjaro. Maybe because it slows the gut down so much? Anyway, that's all I can offer

I know a few people who say Mounjaro has eased their gut issues. My BMI is 20, so it's not an option for me.

@Backtothe80splease I've been keeping a little symptom diary and the persistent nausea has gone. The acid reflux has reduced a lot. My stomach is more predictable now. I'm going to keep taking them, I feel they're making a difference for me. I still get bloating, sometimes bad bloating, but I'm feeling a lot better so will persist longer on them. It might be worth a go doing a one pack trial. I've only taken 2-3 pills a day with dinner, and I've had positive effects. Maybe if I take more it might reduce the bloating, but I can't be bothered to carry them around and remember to take them at work

Some probiotics are a bit intense, I found the stronger ones give me a very busy tummy but bio-kult everyday seems to be a little more gentle.

So, yesterday I had a telephone consultation with one of the GP's from my surgery group. She is based at another practice but specialises in hrt and my regular GP had referred me because she was unsure which hrt to prescribe, she had asked my gynae and he said he knew nothing about hrt. Someone rung me on Thursday and offered me this cancellation so I grabbed it.

Anyhow, I was explaining all of my peri symptoms including the gut issues. She retrieved my records and said they had received a letter last year from the endo gynae department stating that it's most probable I have bowel endo, yet no one has mentioned this to me, all I have received is the MRI report and the consultation in which he dismissed my gut issues and said they were not related ffs.

So maybe this has been the cause of all of my digestive issues for the last 27 years? I'm now going to have to battle to get a consultation with the gynae to discuss this.

The endometriosis journey is so long and arduous.

@Backtothe80splease have you considered a hysterectomy?

Scratch that it doesn't stay fixed

That is very encouraging, I need to order myself some.

I hope they continue to help you.