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

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

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?

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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