Q&A about IBS: Post your questions to panel of experts - ANSWERS BACK

[HeatherMumsnet]

We're delighted to team up with Buscopan IBS Relief and a team of experts to offer practical tips and advice to help you take back control of your IBS.

The panel includes: Gastroenterologist Dr Anton Emmanuel, Dietician Helen Bond an IBS sufferer Nicola Gill, who's had the condition for 10 years and has learnt to control her symptoms  most of the time!

Submit your questions before Sunday 21 October. We will send over a selection questions to the experts who will provide answers to try and help you better understand, control and cope with your IBS. The answers will be uploaded to this thread on 11 November.

This Q&A is sponsored by Buscopan

[HeatherMumsnet]

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions on IBS. The answers are now available and can be viewed here: www.mumsnet.com/qanda/ibs-buscopan

[JacqueslePeacock]

Aha! Thanks for letting me know. Am eagerly awaiting the answers.

[HeatherMumsnet]

Hi JacqueslePeacock, sorry for the delay in posting the answers. We should have them back on 11 November. I've updated the dates on the thread.

[JacqueslePeacock]

Did I miss the answers to this? HeatherMumsnet says answers on this thread on 28th October...

[HeatherMumsnet]

The Q&A is now closed. Thanks to everyone who participated. We will send over a selection of questions to the experts and post their answers on this thread on 28 October 11 November.

[Smugsmuggler]

Is there such a thing as hepatic flexure syndrome?
I get almost all my pains on the right side generally 2 inches above and to the right of my belly button. Sometimes the pain goes down to my right lower abdomen. Sometimes it seems to go up and into the chest/lower ribs. The pain is not bad enough to stop me doing anything and I actually don't take anything for it, but I often stand chatting and absent mindedly rubbing the area at work etc.
I do get a bit of bowel disturbance, often 3-6 small ribbony or loose stools a day, but thankfully enough warning to get to the loo. The most predictable thing that sets it off is wine, boo hoo, not sure about other triggers. I have had an ultrasound, endoscopy, colonoscopy and various blood tests and I have had these symptoms for 4-5 years, only relieved by being pregnant!!It was heaven!!
I am fairly satisfied with the diagnosis, but occasionally I worry because I have never read of anyone else having symptoms in this location, except for one vague report on "hepatic flexure syndrome". Usually it all seems more central/lower/left side. I guess it would reassure me to hear someone else has the same pattern. Anyone?

[LegoCaltrops]

Hi - sorry for the essay by the way.

I've had IBS symptoms since I was about 6-7, am now 32. I mostly can't go to the loo, occasionally urgently need to. Tried several medications, including Buscopan, without much success. Buscopan recently left me unable to go to the loo for a week as totally constipated. I try to stick to a very high fibre diet, otherwise I can't go at all.

I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy (camera up bum) a few years ago which was excruciating & has left me with permanent pain & ongoing frequent bleeding, I also can't always tell when I need the loo until about 5 minutes before it's too late so I'm sometimes pretty desperate & in a lot of pain & bleeding by the time I can find a toilet. The hospital confirmed there was nothing sinister going on, but apparently I have a severe fissure which refuses to heal & keeps reopening every time I have an 'episode'.

I've worked out, over the years, that I'm sensitive to a number of foods which increase my problems. Including wheat, animal fats, onions, certain spices (especially chilies) meat if I have too much, mushrooms, bananas, sweetcorn. The list goes on...

The doctor really isn't much help, I don't know if I'm not asking/saying the right things, if they are just not bothered, or if I'm just asking for more help than is actually available.

I've had a blood test a few years ago which ruled out coeliac disease. Is there anything I can do or is it really just a question of living with my symptoms & making the best of it?

[BIWI]

... and always high fat, so lots of butter, on veg or used to fry; olive oil-based dressings on my salads, lots of cheese.

[BIWI]

My meals are protein-based - so meat/fish/eggs, plus salad or vegetables. Not really that restrictive!

I also eat a lot of yoghurt, usually for breakfast (full fat, always)

[girliefriend]

I had terrible IBS when I was 18 and it had a huge detrimental affect on my mental health to the point that I became very anxious all the time and more or less agrophobic. It was an awful time but somehow I managed to get myself better, was fine for about ten years and then it started again!!

Why??!

I keep off milk as that does not help but would struggle to find enough to eat if I cut out wheat, I find too much fruit or veg sets me off as well. Also even small amounts of stress are not good, have to reign in obsessive thoughts about 'will there be toilets...' as don't want this to take over my life. Have lost track of how many times I have had to grab my dds hand and shouted 'run' as we pegged it to the nearest loo poor kid!!

[girliefriend]

BIWI what do you eat?!

I seriously think I would starve if I cut all of that out of my diet!

[CaptainRex]

I get stress related IBS and have done for about 15 years, tried various medication and nothing seems to make much difference.

However my question / problem is that around the time I ovulate but not every month, I am kept awake most of the night with an agonising pain around my diaphram area from my intestines. I've been presceribed mebverine which doesnt seem to help as they think its colic related to my ibs but dont seem very interested to causes or what I can do to not get this awful pain.

[tak1ngchances]

When I get a particularly severe bout of IBS, this is what happens:

• Sharp acid-type pain in my stomach (left hand side, up near my ribs)
• I go completely pale, pure white
• Profuse sweating
• My arms and legs go freezing cold and tingly, like pins & needles

Then the pain intensifies and gets stronger and stronger until I hyperventilate and/or faint.
This usually happens if I haven't eaten for a while and then grab a quick snack, especially something sugary. I get it maybe 4 or 5 times a year.
On a day to day basis, I get sharp stomach pains, gas and diarrhoea.

The only thing that really helps is lying completely flat on my back, getting under a v warm blanket, having a hot water bottle and a cup of peppermint tea.

[KateBeckett]

Norbet - that is the pain I get which I described as 'colic-type' pain. Hotwater bottles and warm baths a go-go here when it starts!

[NorbertDentressangle]

I regularly get symptoms that match those of gallstones/gall bladder problems (pain up under my ribs, particularly on the right, and pain round to my back. Only eased by hot water bottle). This can happen every 4-8 weeks, lasts a day or two (not solidly) and then leaves me feeling almost bruised for a day or two.

A scan showed no problems with the gall bladder and the doctor suggested it is a type of IBS (part of the gut going into spasm). They gave me meds (I've tried Buscopan and Mebeverine) but TBH they don't seem to make a difference but I wondered if thats because I only take them when I've got an episode rather than all the time? Do they have a cumulative effect?

I don't really get any of the bowel/poo related IBS symptoms, I can't pin it down to certain foods and to me it doesn't seem like any type of IBS that I've heard of.

Does it sound like IBS to you? If so what can I try to stop this pain recurring?

[mousmous]

why are gp's so keen to diagnose ibs without prior investigation.
a family member went with annoying and worrying symptoms i.e bloody, slimy stools, cramps, diarrhoea.
instead of investigating they were told it's ibs and to learn to live with it...
private and expensive investigation then showed something was amiss but therapy is working.

[Meglet]

sparkle go and see your GP. Mine did take a few visits to get their arse into gear but I've since had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, abdominal scan and blood tests. All clear so at least I know my insides should work properly. Now I just see a dietician every few months now while we try and tweak my diet.

[IDismyname]

I've had massive problems with IBS for over 20 years. Tried everything. Had investigative surgery, the lot. Cut out wheat. It helped a bit. Cut out dairy - also helped a bit. Went on a low GL course for about a year under a nutritionalist . Felt better, but still not great. Tested twice for coeliac disease, twice negative.

Eventually - after massive row with my GP who said I was wasting money on charlatans, and I asked her quite what else I could do as her stupid suggestion of living off Immoduim and Senokot for the rest of my life wasn't an option - she referred me to a dietitian at the local hospital.

I was put on a FODMAP diet for 8 weeks and then went back to see the dietitian. Its an elimination diet that takes out a range of foods that aggravate the digestive system. It was discovered in Monash University in Melbourne Australia and Kings College in London are the UK branch of this eating plan.

I felt as though my insides had healed a lot in those weeks. I've reintroduced the foods slowly that I was off for 8 weeks, and now I know what sets it off.

I'm now lactose free, wheat free and egg free. Mushrooms are a no-no too! (My insides turn into non stick for 48 hours afterwards!). I also go easy on pulses, brassicas and loads of veg. Most raw veg I cannot eat either.

IBS occurs for so many reasons, but if you suspect its food related, then asking to be referred to a dietitian via your GP might be a good idea. FODMAP info online seems a bit scarce, probably because you should do the diet supervised.

[isitme1]

Hi,
My ds is 3 and currently undergoing tests.
Is ibd and ibs the same?
He suffers from blood in stool, mucus poo, aches and pains in arms and legs and cramps.
Thanks

[PenguinBear]

My question is: how quickly after eating something my body doesn't agree with can IBs symptoms appear?

If I eat a certain type of take away, within 20 minutes I am stuck in the bathroom with accompanying stomach cramps. Why do I get such a quick reaction when the food obviously hasn't reached my intestines? It has happened numerous times so definately isn't coincidence.

Also wondered why sometimes I feel incredibly nauseous and then about 5 minutes later the stomach cramps start?!

[MissSmiley]

I can really relate to the colic type pains. I had these for years before any tummy symptoms. But bizzarrely only about twice a year. Eventually it was after every meal. Someone would have to rub my back and eventually after hours it would subside.
Narrow tubes and indigestion are what we used to blame it on...
And I can't bring myself to talk about accidents even now. Way too embarrassing - just know you are not alone.