Periods of diarrhoea every morning need advice

[keeponplodding7]

Sorry for the long post.
so for the last week every morning as soon as I wake I have cramps and have to rush to the toilet once twice or maybe three times. The thing is this isn’t the first time. I can think of 5/6 occasions over the last five or six years where this has happened for about 6 weeks at a time and I’ve been to get it checked out once with a scan and stool test etc. nothing was found and they concluded it was Ibs.
for the past week I have cut coffee, lived off rice, boiled chicken, and water and it’s not improving. I haven’t taken Imodium but now wondering if I should…….
I do wonder if it’s stress - I don’t feel particularly stressed but guess it’s a busy time of year etc etc and I’m going on holiday next week so panicking now about this a bit…..any advice/tips? Obviously if it’s still troublesome I’ll see a gp when I get back mid August…..

Could it be perimenopause, what age are you?

If you've been diagnosed with IBS and you're only having a flare up once a year (going by your account of 5/6 times in 5 or 6 years) then count yourself lucky. take the imodium, take it before bed each night. There are some people with IBS who deal with these symptoms every day or flare up every month etc.

Thank you. Yes I’m sorry I know it could be worse. I’m 42 so could be perimenopause bit maybe too early

Why does every single thing on MN get blamed on perimenopause!?

Either stress or a bug/bacteria

you can ask GP for stool test

I would make an appointment with doctors when you get back from holiday.

I had that about a month ago but it was down to stress. The doctor gave me Mebeverine to stop my stomach cramping which then helps with the diarrhoea. Not sure if you can buy it over the counter to try.

I have had similar, and I’m waaay past menopause. Random episodes but mostly in the morning, terrible urgency and loose.

Saw GP a while ago who did blood and poo tests and said nothing wrong, which was great but it didn’t change-as it wasn’t constant I managed but then had a couple of near misses, so went back a year later. Tests redone. Diagnosis IBS, stress exacerbates it, she said, gave stuff to slow my stomach down which made me feel funny (mobeverine?) but also omeprazole. Goodness knows why something for upper GI helps with bowels, but it does for me, so might be worth a try for you? I SHOULD do a food diary cos something gs set me off a bit but I can’t honestly be bothered and it isn’t bad enough to have to. But sympathies, it’s not great!

Grow up. IBS affects everyone differently, it's not a competition about who has it worse. OP is learning how to manage their newly diagnosed condition.

OP, I also have IBS (D) which comes in fits and starts.

Essentially, if the diet you're eating isn't helping, just go back to eating normally for now. You've had zero soluble fibre by thy sounds of it, so you need to firm everything up with better food.

FODMAP diet done under a proper dietician is the best way to identify your food triggers - if there are any. For me it's wheat, yeast and peas. Peas are actually the worst 😂 which is fine as I hate them.

It may not even be food that sets you off, it could be stress, poor sleep, hot temperatures, or you could have a small bug that's causing it.

Personally I only use Immodium if I have to do things like travel, otherwise I let it do what it needs to do. You could also look at things like peppermint capsules and fibre supplements.

That said I know it could be much much worse and do not mean to minimise the experiences of others with stomach/bowel issues

I take Fybocalm every day now and I am amazed at the difference it has made.

Thanks everyone so much. I will absolutely go back to the gp and sort this out or at least check its nothing else when I get back. Will check out Mebeverine too as that sounds really interesting.

Is it the Fybocalm ones? I did see those

Sorry yes I see that now! Going blind!

It's not unusual to suggest it as a possible factor in lots of health issues. It can cause a lot of different symptoms. Hormones affect a hell of a lot of bodily functions, including digestion.

@Iloveeverycat thanks for that tip I’ll try that!

It's not newly diagnosed if you read the post correctly. She has been given a diagnosis years ago and knows what is causing it.