TMI thread… anyone suddenly develop IBS later in life?

[Countingdays]

and what have you decided to do about it?

Since having 2nd DC 18 ago I’ve developed IBS. I don’t know if it’s hormonal or what but I’ve noticed a change in bowel movements. I got stool tests to rule out anything sinister so it leaves IBS.

I can’t work out the food triggers - I can eat the same meal several times and be fine, then that one time I’ll be running to the loo.

I’m now having plain lunches at work because it’s so unpredictable, and if I am going out to lunch / dinner with colleagues / friends I will proactively take OTC meds just out of pure fear.

I did consider doing the whole food diary and cutting out obvious triggers but at 35 it is such a daunting exercise to now dramatically change how / what you eat. Like onion and garlic - how can you cook without them?!

So has anyone suddenly developed this and if so what have you done to address it? Do you just accept it or have you actively changed your diet? And if you have, how has that changed your life?

TIA

I did a one week exclusion for each food I suspected

I went a week excluding just one food

And then on Saturday I ate it knowing I'd have Sunday to recover

My irritant was wheat (I already knew about the peanuts)

I hope this helps you test different possibilities

Could other factors be at play as well as a possible food trigger/reaction?

I had an IBS diagnosis as a teenager. In my case I was/am slightly over sensitive to over indulging on high fat/carb like cake, and milk is another problem. I don’t like milk so avoid it. However at the time I was very anxious and this was a bigger trigger for me. My anxiety was successfully treated but when stressed I still get occasional mild symptoms - and at such times I am overly aware of my ‘insides’ and notice every little grumble or twinge.

If you haven’t already you need to see your GP to rule out underlying conditions.

That is helpful although it’s come on so out of the blue I wouldn’t know where to start with exclusions…

Mine was salt. I loved it on everything and thought if it was Maldon crumbled over food it couldn't harm me.
What it did was draw so much fluid into my system I had to run to the loo after eating.
Much of what we eat already has salt in. It stopped the day I ceased adding extra.
Heart stopped random palping as well.

Possibly, stress could be a factor - I mean I don’t have any major events in my life but can’t say 2 DC, FT job and general responsibilities are all smooth sailing. Don’t really know how to remove those though!

I’ve done a FIT and cultures test. Also bloods. Nothing underlying from those. Is there anything specific you think I should ask for?

Interesting… I could start there.

There is a homeopathic remedy my new era for IBS. It's number 8 , its the only thing that stopped my stomach problems. Could it be peri menopause making your stomach bad?? I found my trigger foods were anything overly greasy or fizzy pop x also talk to your GP about the FODMAP diet x

I would really hope it’s not peri this early!
I’ll look in to number 8 x

Look up the Monash app and it will have a traffic light system for all foods. Re things like onions, you may find you're ok with spring onions or replace with celery. Restricting foods isn't as simple as avoiding it and then eating it. If you get the app, there is information on how to do this. I found using the app and recording my diet and other 'activity' meant I could see that onion, garlic, pasta and most breads were triggers. My stomach issues changed dramatically doing this. Try lactose free milk too. Good luck.

Hi, I've had issues for years and tried everything (and I mean everything!) The only thing that has worked is taking Symprove. It's a liquid probiotic.

Thank you, I tried some probiotics but honestly they made it worse? Suppose they’re are so many different ones it’s a trial and error

Symptoms can develop at any age, but coeliac disease is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60 years

From
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/coeliac-disease/coeliac-disease/

Which bloods did you have done?

I have become sensitive to gluten around the same time as menopause.
I can and do, still eat small amounts - if there is cake or a slice of toast on offer I will have it, but I’ll get eczema type patches in my hairline and eyebrows. A pizza or pasta meal will mean diarrhoea the next day.

Me too, I've tried loads of probiotics that didn't help at all. For some reason this has made a massive difference. I used to have the runs every day, couldn't eat onion and garlic and lots of other foods. I'm now fine.

It happened to me. I'm not cured but I am 80% better.

I can't have anything with onions in it, including onion powder. I have to be careful with gravy granules etc. I use leeks and celery instead.

I have to be very careful with tomato based sauces as it's very acidic. I can eat it two days running then three days off which is fine for me as I like cheesy based things too.

I can no longer eat boiled or fried eggs as I get excruciating stomach cramps with it as well (been too scared to try scrambled). I used to eat a lot of eggs 😕

Instead of trying to avoid, try and mix and match instead, ie spag bol one day (tomato) then cheesy pasta the next.

Oh, and all spices are no-go.

Oh wow, that’s an adjustment! I’m going to try the probiotics first and then if that doesn’t help I will have to start doing some eliminating.

I got it following a giardia infection, @Countingdays, when I was in my mid-30s. Since then I have also developed lymphocytic colitis (probably a bad, and rare, reaction to a drug I was given for heartburn).

My GI consultant recommended that I should take Cholestyramine 625mg, two tablets morning and two evening.

He says that, for a lot of people, bile acid malabsorption is at least a part of their IBS. Bile acid is produced by the liver and excreted into the small intestine where it helps with digestion, but is reabsorbed before it hits the large intestine where- because if it does get into the large intestine, it causes irritation and inflammation, which causes the bloating and diarrhoea. He says people with IBS don’t reabsorbed the bile acid properly so it causes the problems.

The cholestyramine binds to the bile acid, and stops it causing the inflammation in the large intestine.

I have been on it for years, and it definitely does help with the symptoms. It’s not a complete cure, but it does make the diarrhoea less frequent and severe.

DSis was diagnosed with UC in her 30s although looking back she said she first developed symptoms in her late 20s when DDad was dying and in and out of hospital.

Any dietary restrictions should be done under the guidance of a dietician and only after eating normally and keeping a food and symptoms diary.

I did do a bit of ChatGPT (I know I know but it’s easier to have a bit of a brain dump with a bot than tens of back and forth GP appointments) and it did mention the bile absorption thing. Interesting that you mentioned it.

I was having crazy symptoms and especially when running. I had a colonoscopy and ultrasound which found nothing other than a small polyp.

I was inflamed and bleeding a lot.

Symprove worked really well for me, until it didn't.

And then, quite by accident, about a month ago, I worked out my trigger food. I have stopped eating it and am so much better. I was planning to get a test for lactose intolerance as it was about the only thing I'd not done, but haven't bothered now. I take a half dose of Symprove each day too.

Hopefully this isn't another false dawn and I will be ok now.

"by accident" as I was visiting my mum for a few days and was so much better and so started to wonder what I hadn't eaten, especially as I'd visited her before and wasn't any better at all!

Struggled with ‘IBS’ for years until I was diagnosed with Graves, Hashimotos and as a result, hypothyroidism.

My advice would be to ask for full blood tests.

I now know to steer clear of gluten and soya mostly. I can have dairy in small amounts.

Hi. I did, in my early 40s. Quite sudden. The low FODMAP exclusion diet is a hassle, but does have decent evidence behind it. I never did the full thing - my GP said the most frequent triggers among the fodmaps are wheat and dairy so to start by eliminating them. It was definitely easier than excluding all fodmaps at once and made a huge difference. I tried reintroducing both (separately) per the protocol and the effect was pretty immediate. I found I am ok on lactose free dairy and cutting out wheat. It has dealt with 80% of the IBS. I don’t know what the triggers are for the other 20% as I haven’t done the elimination to find out, I’m OK with how I am now.