I was diagnosed with IBS C and D a few years ago and have tried lots of different treatments, but nothing seems to work.
Even though I’ve drastically changed my diet, I don’t seem to ever go a single day without excessive gas, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhoea. I have a real problem with excessive mucus, especially when I’m blocked up. I can’t remember the last time I did a “normal” bowel movement and the whole thing is making me miserable.
I’m at a stage now where the thought of skipping meals entirely is appealing, just so I don’t have to deal with the consequences.
Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated!
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Etak11
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I’m so sorry you’re suffering so much. I totally understand.
I virtually stopped eating about 6 years ago for the same reasons and I have to tell you that it only made things worse. I became so utterly constipated and underweight that I was told I’d have to go into hospital and be drip fed if I didn’t start eating.
I’ve tried peppermint capsules, charcoal capsules, mebeverine, fibre supplements, fybogel morning and night. Everything seems to make my symptoms worse!
Currently, I’m sticking to a predominantly low FODMAP diet. No gluten, dairy, beans, onion, garlic, kale, cabbage, broccoli etc. But I’m still getting symptoms - doesn’t seem to matter what I eat.
Every night I go to bed bloated and with a feeling that my full bowel is putting pressure on my bladder
Better to eat little and often xxx
Hi, Have you checked to see if your meds cause diarrhea? I like to eat 6-8 prunes at night with a cup of hot tea. Hope this might help!
Definitely don’t stop eating, that won’t help you at all. Have you seen a doctor about it recently ? Or a dietitian?
Have you tried cutting out all junk food, fizzy drinks, snack foods and that sort of thing. My gut has improved no end since I went totally gluten free - ask to be tested first if you want to see if you are coeliac - I didn’t but you have to be eating gluten for the test to work. It could be dairy foods or sugar in your diet that is causing your problem.
You could keep a food diary and see if you can work out foods that trigger your symptoms. Might be worth trying yoga or Pilates or some sort of relaxation like meditation.
On the other hand I’ve come to the conclusion that as I’ve been checked out and nothing sinister has been found that my ‘normal’ is to lurch from one extreme to the other. Not very exciting but that seems to be how my body is going to work.
Just don’t stop eating - if you don’t eat you will definitely become constipated and as weegmac says the end result won’t be good.
Currently, I’m sticking to a predominantly low FODMAP diet. No gluten, dairy, beans, onion, garlic, kale, cabbage, broccoli etc. But I’m still getting symptoms - doesn’t seem to matter what I eat!
Every night I go to bed bloated and with a feeling that my full bowel is putting pressure on my bladder
I don’t eat junk food but I do eat some processed snack foods - maybe I’ll try cutting these out...
I can totally sympathise with you. I have been told most of my adult life that I have IBS D, But have never managed to control my condition. I know there is no cure only self administered, symptom management. As the years have gone by, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to manage this illness. I dread holidays, outings , flights and long drives. How will I manage, will this be the day that I actually soil myself in public. Lately I have developed issues with my bladder and acid reflux too. I'm struggling to know what to eat that won't cause me pain, embarrassment and discomfort. I just want a normal life without all this drama. I went for a scan last week on my gall bladder, suspected gallstones. I found myself lying there actually hoping I had them, as the treatment would probably be easier to deal with than never really getting to the bottom of what is actually wrong with me. Last week I got a different doctor and he questioned if my IBS was a medical diagnoses. I was dumbfounded by his question? As I have been told by every doctor most of my adult life that this is what is wrong with me. I feel like I am back to square one , and continually banging my head off an imaginary brick wall. sorry I was meant to be offering you some support, but I'm just so fed up of being side-lined by the medical professional. I feel your pain.
That’s awful, I’m so sorry 😞. I had terrible IBS-D for years, then I cut out wheat. This helped me loads. But I also found out about 8 years ago that I have three little gallstones. So I radically cut back on fatty foods and I’m careful with dairy. This helped a lot too.
Do you ever suffer from constipation? Unbeknown to me, I was having diarrhoea BECAUSE I was constipated. I was so backed-up, that I was having overflow diarrhoea. I’ll not bore you with the details unless you want to know! Let me know and I can talk you through it, xx
i know how you feel! I suffer badly with IBS C, with horrible yellow mucus when I am bunged up bad, especially when i’m under stress, things in my routine change or i go abroad. I find a sachet of laxido every other day helps and trying to drink as much water as I can. Definitely don’t skip meals before it’ll make you feel worse and you’ll still have bowel movements as it’s the bodies way of getting rid of waste which will still happen, even if you’re not eating as much. I hope you feel better soon xx
I am suffering the same way as you. Am currently seeing a hypnotherapist privately but no improvement yet. I have also just bought the book The Kefir Solution by Shann Nix Jones and in the early stages of reading and digesting before starting the diet. It does look encouraging so will report back with any success. Basically it's consuming goat's milk with live Kefir grains.Cherry
Good luck with finding an answer to this distressing complaint.
SO SO SORRY- 5 years on no improvement . I use coonic irrigation every day for the last 5 years. My wife is in a near mental breakdown but HOW can I help. Like me smile and hide - johnny no mates/
Take Linzess 290 mcg 30 minutes before breakfast and you will go when constipated. Also buy Intestinal Formula #3 by Dr Shultz on his website. You will never ever have a problem again
I'm so sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. Yoga and meditation have been one of the saving graces I have had in my arsenal during flare-ups. The fight between you and IBS is one you can win and the best way to be at peace with yourself is to accept that you can win and will keep trying. I can understand how so many months or even years can go by without relief and the toll that must take on someone. All I can say is don't give up the fight yet! keep researching and reading and trying anything that obviously will not cause harm to yourself. I wish you the best
Sorry - I can`t help as I am in the same position as you. I get very cross when people (doctors) ask what causes a flare up. They don`t seem to appreciate that I don`t have "flare ups" - it is bad all of the time.
Hi Sorry to hear your problems. I myself have had the same for years. I lost my husband a few weeks ago so you can imagine the problem is terrible. My life is a misery due to the diarrhoea I am scared to go out most of the time and never go out without my car. The only thing helps is Immodium Plus ordinary Immodium does northing. I have been told that I cant get the immodium plus on prescription anymore but the Lopermide tablets do not help at all. Just to let you know you are not alone! know what its like. If I find anything that helps I will let you know. It ruins your life ah!
Look after yourself , contact me if you want to chat sue
I feel for you! I have suffered for over 25 years now. Like you, I stopped eating but soon found out that it didn't help! I've tried FODMAP also wheat, dairy exclusion diets with no joy, had colonoscopy, tests etc... which haven't shown anything abnormal. Traveling anywhere is a nightmare!!! I now rely on Imodium - I take 2 caps the night before I travel & 2 more & don't eat anything before I set off. It works but my goodness it causes painful trapped wind so I have to take peppermint caps to relieve it! Then it's non stop farting!! Not ideal I know, but at at least I can travel & meet up with friends without worrying about finding a loo & spending more time in there than I do with them! Not sure if my reply helps much?
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