I have had IBS for 18 years, mainly suffering with constipation/incomplete bowel movements, occasional diarrhoea. I’ve been lucky in the sense that I’ve been able to control my symptoms for much of this time through diet/exercise etc.
Over the last year however, my symptoms have increased dramatically. I have been suffering with abdominal pain, indigestion, excessive wind/flatulence, loss of appetite, and an increase in incomplete bowel movements.
I have spoken to a doctor and was prescribed PPI’s for stomach acid; to no avail.
I have a busy home life with two young children, and work full time doing fairly intense shift work. My eating times vary a lot.
Has anyone experienced anything similar?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Yrs_yrs
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Hi Yrs_yrs, mine has changed as well in the last 3 years, with symptoms almost exactly the same as yours.
The daily abdominal pain has been very difficult.
I've never thought that I'm constipated but a month ago I started to take one sachet of Fybogel daily (not particularly keen on the ingredients as it contains aspartame)
There's been a huge improvement in bowel movements, appearing entirely 'normal' if that's not tmi. When the box is finished, I'm going to try plain psyllium husk powder.
I am also half-way through IBS Audio Program 100 by Michael Mahoney after reading about gut-directed hypnotherapy in IBS Network site. I've tried many hypnotherapy mp3s in the past but this one seems very effective (I appreciate we're all different.)
I ended up in A&E a couple of weeks ago with a different problem (uctd/inflammatory arthritis) and the doctor asked about abdominal pain.
He seemed sure that it's inflammation related which seems the opposite of what I've been told about ibs. However, steroids do seem to alleviate my ibs always.
Hope you find something to help, daily pain is so wearing.
I should have thought of that in the first place. I did Google it and the European food standard agency among others do approve it. As it is a low calories sweetener. However as you say most sugars are bad news it is just the lesser of two or more evils.
I agree that aspartame is not good for IBS and is probably not good for you. It is a chemical not found in nature. It is approved in the US also, but stillest to find an alternate. I believe Stevia is a natural alternative and is also very sweet. Many products now do use Stevia.
Since your symptoms have changed, your GP should be retesting you. I've been retested many times, particularly when my symptoms have changed or got worse suddenly. It could be stress related which can shift your microbiome and affect the gut/brain axis. Have you tried Alflorex probiotic, which has been scientifically studied for IBS? Also the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app which helps to calm intestinal nerves?
I have not tried Alflorex before, but will definitely look into it. Nerva I have seen advertised quite a lot recently, the reviews appear to be very positive. I have been sceptical about hypnotherapy in the past, but I am slowly coming round to the idea.
Hi, am similar to you re IBS, but a colonoscopy in 2015 showed I also have diverticular disease, have had diverticulits and 3 hospital admissions over the last few years. I am surprised that a doctor put you on PPI's without an endoscopy I take them because I have a hiatus hernia which gives me acid reflux. My suggestion would be to ask for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy, good luck hope things get better for you soon.
Have you tried ground flaxseed? I've had an increase in regularity and severity of flare ups in the last couple of years. Only thing the NHS did was put me in some group therapy session with a dietician, which didn't even get to FODMAP (apparently that was too advanced). However one useful tip was flaxseed. I have a heaped teaspoon with yoghurt for lunch and I really think it has helped - it also gives the yoghurt a nice texture I think!
Flaxseed was recommended to me when I had slightly high cholesterol. I adjusted my diet & exercise and brought my cholesterol down to normal levels. I still take it with live yogurt for breakfast which helps my ibs. ( also recommended to keep flaxseed in fridge) Incidentally, I retired 8 months ago and there has been a massive improvement in my incidents of IBS.!
Just a thought… if PPI’s did not relieve some of the symptoms… then it’s probably not your body making too much acid.. rather not making enough… which leads to SIBO and the associated bloating and bad bacteria… etc.
Discuss this with your GP and research… we produce less acid on queue as we age… do the easy test… teaspoon sodium bicarb in half tumbler of warm water … if you burp within a minute or two…you are okay …if you do not.. your stomach is not making enough.. this means food does not digest.. you do not get B12 … then all those extra problems start to manifest… best wishes…. To a healthier future.
I too have suffered symptoms just like yours for the last 15 years and I was able to control it myself with diet and exercise. When the symptoms came, the worry would start and I would be very anxious and get palpitations and IBS. When the symptoms eased, I would be ok till it flared up again. Even without a flare up, I was experiencing incomplete bowel movements, alternating with diarrhoea and was afraid to go out walking which I love and it helps with my anxiety which I have had since I can remember. Last December I was particularly bad, had a few tests and bloods all normal. I've had several visits to doctors over years, but I don't bother now because I know what it is. I would only go if I saw signs that were different to what Ive had these last 15 years.
I started to look into things as I do now and then. I did a charcoal cleanse for 5 days, then I went onto a good probiotic. I think this is vital and I've tried many over the years, and I seem to have hit on one that suits me. I also started to take Milk Thistle once a day and intoduced a little sweetcorn into my diet. In addition to my usual supplements, these are the only recent changes I've made and since making these changes my bowel movements have been normal and regular, better than Ive been in years. I don't take any prescription drugs, I walk and cycle as much as I can but the main thing is, the less symptoms I have, the less I will worry and get anxious and this makes a huge difference.
Easier said than done for you if you are working and have children. I'm retired and I can spend my time as I like now. If you can eat fruit, do so, and drink plenty of water, which is good for constipation. It's all trial and error. Good luck
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