IBS - more than enough info, sorry

[mysterymoniker]

but I have GOT to get on top of this

I've got the 99% polypooic variety (ie: diarrhoea predominant) and whenever I follow general IBS dietary advice it makes it worse - I think the no dairy and lots of fibre diet is aimed at the apooic sufferer. I very rarely get

I shed my own bodyweight in poo anything from 6 to 12 times a day and during a bad patch (like now) my guts are constantly churning and griping, I know it will settle later in the day but have to rearrange my morning as it's dicey going out in this state

anyone else got similar symptoms and tips for managing it?

I very rarely get constipation*

no tests, it crosses my mind during a bad bout but then I make a mental note to try some other dietary based approach - am a bit pathetic when it comes to going to the GP, I really have to be at death's door which is stupid I know

I hit the houmous a bit too enthusiastically yesterday and that is usually a recipe for disaster

I have my fruit & veg rarely & well cooked

Peas, sweetcorn, cabbage, spouts, lettuce might as well not be eaten as they come out same as they go in (colour/size/shape....)

I avoid fats they make it much worse - but strangely beef slows my gut down loads (almost to the point of but not quite constipation) Garlic is OK but not spices

I find beans on toast the only thing to settle it

I have days I can have a small amount of dairy but they are quite rare

I think it's very individual

Colpermin can help

I don't eat meat very often but have noticed the same - probably am eating too much fruit and veg

Hmm, definitelya good thing to double chedck your tests- they told BIL he was had severe IBS for eyars, sadly a msidiagnosis and he is waiting to need n ileostomy at 31.

DH also has IBS, most of his literatuire says fibre can work either way and either calm or irriate the bowel. have you tried lowering intake, or switching to a soluble form?

Stress is a big trigger for me - I used to have a reasonably bad polypooic case, and now I'd say it's mostly gone.

Can you try yoga or other stress reduction techniques?

just had a lovely long(ish) bath, works wonders - whether it's the warm water or the time-to-self thing is hard to tell

might pluck up the courage to call GP or pick up some colpermin, over the counter I hope?

yes colpermin is over the counter & yes a bath works big time

I get very bad IBS and for years have taken codeine phosphate - prescribed by GP and is very good at the stopping the symptoms described.

I used to have codeine, I think I felt a bit stoned on it though?

tummy has settled after a day of accidental fasting, let's hope it can take the cwt of mashed potato I want to eat now

Have you tried a GOOD quality probiotic. I don't mean the silly yogurt drinks like Yakult, Actimel. A great product is Lab 4 Bio-Acidophilus by BioCare.
Also, it maybe worth trying a digestive enzme supplement. Perhaps stay clear of the fruit as this can make diarrhea symptoms worse.

v v v bad night

think will check boots for that product later

It does sound to me like you need a trip to the docs. Have you ever been formally diagnosed - I ask as you said you had had no tests and I wasn't sure if you meant you never had them or you haven't specific tests.

I would get it checked out as it could be something like Crohns and besides that you can't carry on like this. I have had IBS but never as badly as you seem to have it. It must be totally debilitating.

You need to let the doctors have a go rather than trying to work it out for yourself.

Peppermint capsules are good - I think that is the Colpermin but I had another kind. Avoiding too much fruit and veg. Even things like pulses which are quite fiberous and hard to digest can make it worse. My cousin has Crohns and has to avoid peas which I found really odd when I first heard that but apparently they are too hard to digest. Similarly sweetcorn and broad beans.

I hope you feel better soon.

thanks - it's my first bout since I last posted on this thread, that's why I looked for the thread to see how long it had been, but it was very bad because I was up all night, just getting in and out of the bath and on and off the loo

when I discussed it with the doc ages and ages ago we both just assumed it was IBS, but it was much less troublesome then

I think I'll have to be brave and talk to GP again - they won't actually want to go rooting around up there will there?

My DH suffered with what the doctor called IBS for many, many years. He had a really bad bout of it about 4 years ago and said enough is enough. All the doctor ever did was relief symptoms and give him antibiotics, but that wasn't solving the problem, so he called NHS Direct.

After describing his symptoms, they told him to go to A&E. After various tests he was diagnosed with diverticular disease and within months he was whipped into hospital and the bad part of his colon removed. He is 100% better. Never looked back.

I'm not saying that that is what you've got, but IBS is such a big umbrella and you shouldn't be left to suffer like you are, without your doctor sending you for more tests.

You must be persistant with him and tell him its interfering with your life too much now and needs sorting. They will probably need to do unpleasant exploratory things, but if it gets you right, it's got to be worth it, right?

Good luck.

maybe they could rule it out with a blood test first? glad your husband got the right diagnosis and treatment in the end

wish I was a bit more forward going when it comes to sorting out health stuff, instead of just hoping for things to sort themselves out

I don't think this sort of thing can be sorted with a blood test tbh. Sorry.

I know its not the nicest place to have to deal with a problem, but just think how much better your life would be with the correct diagnosis. Face your fears and start looking forward. (I mean that in the nicest, friendliest way of course!)