ibs

[milliepops]

Have you got it and where is your pain ? Also, what are your 'stools' like and what other symptoms do you have ?
Would appreciate answers as I am gettin 2 the end of my tether with it x

[Eve]

Have you seen your GP about it diagnosed and had any advise, tried any lifestyle changes to help it? There's lots of advice on the net as well.

Mine drives me mad as well, have been being investigated to see if I have crohns on top of IBS, and seeing gastro so bear that in mind with my response.

Pain wise, from a lot of discomfort (including some very bizarre noises), like a washing machine feeling to feeling there's something rotten inside me. The main pain is round my colon area (down the left side) and I get it on the lower right side as well.

I mainly have very loose motions. At their worse it is just huge amounts of water like stuff. I have also had it the other way and felt like I've had a very painful blockage though further up in the system.

Both can go on for weeks and be very draining.

There is a lot of urgency, the urge comes on very quickly and painfully and there have been times when I've not quite made it. I also have a lot of discomfort afterwards for a while.

Gas as well (huge amounts of air) and bloating.

Sore bum symptoms (I recommend johnsons nappy cream). Usually prompted by going to the loo, at worse feels like I've been slit with a knife up there.

Stress makes it a lot worse, had just been through a relationship break up, moving out etc... and it was evil through that.

I also get random intolerances, mostly dairy and wheat. They vary so sometimes I can tolerate them fine, sometimes only in small doses and sometimes not at all so keep a close eye on what I eat and how I feel. I use soya and lacto free milk and watch how much I have of both to try and get my system to get used to tolerating them in moderation.

I have also suffered from bad stomach ulcers and acid reflux, though that is more under control now thanks to medication and changes to diet.

Hope that helps somehow.

[Lakitu]

I'm pretty much the same as Jenna, I did a trial and error exercise with my food and found that bananas, bread and oddly, boiled eggs (eggs done others ways is fine). Fried food of any kind is a no no for for me too.

[cazzz1975]

similar to jenna, I tend to have a lot of cramp, unlike jenna I tend to be more constipated and have thinnish looking stools along with pain on delivery (if you know what I mean) I tend to also get quite flushed in the face and feel like my stomach is distended.
I cannot eat bananas or gassy veg like cabbage or onion, anything salty and fatty foods, I tend to get flare ups quite often, I dont know what triggers them, probably stress!

[Schutzengel]

Pain is lower left side. Mild constipation. Lots of trapped wind and bloating. Generally caused by something I've eaten that doesn't suit me. Unable to eat any citrus fruit, strangely I can eat the occasional banana, mainly stick to apples and pears, avocado is fine. Anything spicy like curry, chilli, pickled onions, any thing fried, is definitely a no no. Anything in the brassica family, i.e cabbage, broccoli, and peas affect me. Although cauliflower and carrots are fine. Sometimes it can be several weeks between attacks, which usually last about a week. My pharmacist recommended 'Colofac IBS', a tablet which is taken with a glass of water 20 minutes before you wish to eat, as symptoms are often worse after a meal. I'm pleased to say that these tablets work very well for me. The only proviso is that if it doesn't clear up in under 2 weeks, then it is advisable to see a doctor. Hope this helps. Poor you, it's pretty awful isn't it. Hope you find something that works for you.

[Tups]

I've had it since my teens (a long time ago!) I used to get loads of stomach cramps and constipation with it but the cramps have disappeared now I've taken the advice of a fellow sufferer and have branflakes, sprinkled with fine oat powder (Holland and Barret and, I think, Sainsbury). Wish I'd discovered the oats many years ago!

[milliepops]

Thankyou SO much everyone, everything thats been said sounds so familiar, will definitely try out the stuff thats been said.

Jenna, I would describe everything as you said, word for word and I am about to be tested for Crohns. What do they do ?

[Eve]

Hi :) Just spotted your post on mine in A&N.

Family history can be important as there can be a hereditary side to it.

I had been told by GP's I had IBS for years then saw a locum one day who said I shouldn't just be fobbed off with IBS and that something wasn't right andhe though it was inflammatory bowel.

I've had a raised ESR (blood test for inflammation) for a couple of years now and a lotof swelling and pain in joints and have been seeing a rhumatologist.

When they found out about the tummy problems, they referred me to gastro internally.

I was referred to a gastroenterologist. They did a load of blood tests and I went for a barium swallow and then a colonoscopy and camera down my throat.

These tests can show inflammation and thickening of the bowel wall and ulceration and similar.

It is likely they will do other tests to rule out things like infection like testing your poo.

I have to go back and see them in November for the results. I know they found a lot of fluid in my bowel on the barium swallow and 4 polyps on the camera scans.

Hope that helps :) x

[Eve]

Sorry, should have clarified, there is a link between arthritis type symptoms and inflammatory bowel disease.

As I'm only 29 they referred me to check that out in case it was inflammatory bowel causing the arthritis type symptoms.

Rhumatology put me on medication (sulfasalazine) for the arthritis which is also used to help treat inflammatory bowel so had really helped my tummy as well.

[Scarlett]

Hi Jenna,

Your symptoms do sound far more like IBD than IBS. Have you been tested for Crohns or ulcerative Colitis? Also do you ever have any bleeding or bloody stools, as that tends to be the main thing they look for with UC- as the ulcers bleed. If you have painful joints it totally sounds like IBD. Are you also a workaholic or an over-achiever??! (There is a link!)

[filthiestfis]

I too have had IBS for several years now but was diagnosed in 2005. They test you for everything like Chrohns to colon cancer and when they have ruled all that out then they confirm that it is IBS. You have your blood taken out and your rectum checked for any abnormalities. It's all rather painless.
For a while I was taking Fybogel but it didn't really do much for me. Unfortunatelly, the only thing I can rely on is Loperamide (better known as Immodium) which I take whenever I get the runs, which is quite frequently.
Yes, there have been times when I have been in a public place and not found a toilet and not made it in time and its a problem.
I too have found that stress make the problem worse and my symptoms include bloatedness and diarrhea (often).

[weeal]

Hi Ive been checked for Coeliac twice they were so sure it was a gluten intolerance and 2 of my family are coeliac but its not that.
they eventually after 2yrs said it must be IBS but im not convinced. I now dont eat anything gas-producing (most greens) and Im not sure if I have a lactose intolerance or not.
I just keep experimenting with my diet.

Stress can make things worse tho!

[Eve]

IBD would make so much sense and I have a suspicion my late nan had it as well (illnesses are not really talked about in the family much).

I had an interim letter which suggested that the tests they had done so far didn't show anything obvious , I guess like IBD, and if all else fails they will go back to IBS.

Fybogel didn't work for me either, I've used loperamide but tend to take codine as it has a similar effect and kills pain too. I need the painkillers so works for me but not a good solution as they can be habit forming.

Spasmonol isn't bad and I have to admit, the Sulfasazine has made things better, more comfortable anyway. Am guessing it has reduced some of the inflammation.

It's bugged me for years, as far back as 12 they thought I wasn't digesting my food properly and had me in hospital but just get IBS from most doctors.

I do get some blood but don't think it's occult, more from, I assume, piles or fissures. They removed at least one of the four polyps they found but going to check if they could be causing any pain or bleeding.

I get this gross mucus sometimes as well.

My dad has been having a load of problems recently and has now been referred to a gastro and my uncle has had problems but they were thinking his may be Addisons (he nearly died - they called the family in as they didn't think he would last the night - and ended up in a coma once).

I've had various blood tests (ruled out Lupus and RA for now and Coeliac), have a persistent raised ESR and often raised white blood count and low blood pressure and blood sugar and sometimes low iron.

GP did the poo tests and rules out infection or parasity things.

Gastro did bloods, camera up and down (found the 4 polyps but no follow up yet) and barium (ditto, just said a lot of fluid in my bowel).

Oh and I am definitely a workaholic and