Bowel advice... bloated & urgggggh!

[Nix123]

I had endo treated a few years ago and my IBS symptoms miraculously got much better. I think I had endo for years before they found it - it was always passed off as IBS. Fast forward to now and I have it back... the wait for a lap is sooooo long and so I’ve agreed to try the mini pill (I will try anything at this point!) although not started it yet.

To add to this I am now in perimenopause (I’m 46) so have no idea what symptoms relate to what! My main problem really is my bowels, they just don’t seem to work!! I have endo on pouch of Douglas & uterosacral ligaments so I know that affects digestion. I’ve tried magnesium citrate which does get everything moving but leaves my insides feeling very sore and acidic. Anyone got any tips? I’m trying to remain positive & thankfully my work are very understanding but I hate not being the reliable, efficient person I used to be!!

[asoullessstatic]

I get these symptoms though I’m currently not diagnosed as my previous GP didn’t think bleeding from your rectum during a period, and having permanent appendicitis like pain, was a serious issue *insert the worlds biggest eyeroll here.* Now I’m on the worlds longest wait list for Gyno (48 bloody weeks).

The only thing I found that helped, was DulcoEase which is a stool softner rather than a laxative as I get badly constipated. It has docusate in it which works in two ways. It lowers the surface tension of stools that have accumulated in the bowel, allowing water and fats to penetrate them thus making them softer and easier to pass. Whereas magnesium citrate just draws water into the bowl in an attempt to make things easier to pass.

Make sure you drinks a big glass of water with it as this will help it work better.

The other part of it was figuring out what I can and can’t eat, I’ve noted that my symptoms get worse and I get really sore intestinal cramps if I eat breads, or oat cakes (and I’m Scottish so I bloomin love me an oat cake or too). I cut a lot out of my diet, and started adding it back in slowly and trying to figure out exactly what was making it worse. The Endo I believe is what is causing the symptoms but some foods can make it worse, so I’m currently in the process of trying to tweak which foods it is.

[Nix123 in reply to asoullessstatic]

Thanks so much for your reply - I definitely have those symptoms you describe, in fact I did consider if I had appendicitis a few weeks ago but I knew it was the endo back again! I've no idea how long my wait is - my appt with gynae is January but I paid privately to see her. She confirmed endo was back but then said I have to go back to see her in January to get on the NHS waiting list, so waste of time really. She did say the wait was long though. Doctors have no clue what it's like to be in pain every day and think it's so easy to just take an anti - inflammatory, but that just causes other issues. I'm on omeprazole as I'm sure nurofen was giving me acid stomach, it would never surprise if I didn't have an ulcer but I suspect the wait for that is just as long!

I've not tried Dulcoease - I tried Laxido but bloated like a balloon although it did work eventually but I will check out Dulcoease. I do know that when my bowels work properly I feel so much lighter and better in myself but it doesn't last long. I had an allergy test which showed dairy and gluten intolerance - I'm just really not very good at sticking to it and as soon as I feel better I eat the wrong food. My job is a PA so I spend all day organising someone else's life to perfection but when it comes to organising mine my brain seems to go on strike and it all seems like a big mountain to climb!

[asoullessstatic in reply to Nix123]

One of the unfortunate side effects of the ibuprofen family group of drugs (naproxen, mefemanic acid etc) is that they can damage your stomach lining, which is why the labels always say take with food as it can limit the damage. One of the main problems with NSAIDs is long term use can cause stomach problems, it’s just…one of those trade offs, very few drugs cause no side effects but it’s a matter of harm v benefit in the end.

I know the wait lists for gyno is horrific up here in NHS Grampian, and its annoying because ARI is the only BSGE center in the north I’ve got no option but to wait for it.

I’ve found Dulcoease is a bit more gentle, it does however take 2 – 3 days to really kick in, you wont feel the urge to go suddenly like stimuli laxatives, I found it kinda just…softens and keeps the whole system going.

[Nix123 in reply to asoullessstatic]

Great sounds just what I need, plus it's in capsule form I see which is even better. I shall get some tomorrow. Plus sort out my diet.... thanks so much for replying, I do hope your symptoms ease. And remember when you have that appendicitis type pain that I'm probably having it too!

[asoullessstatic in reply to Nix123]

I normally take one after every meal (or in the morning and at night depending on how badly backed up I am), with a glass of something (though lets be real its normally diet irn bru for me lol), and just stick with it, when I started using it during a really horrific flair up it took about 4 days to properly kick in.