Tummy troubles and IVF

[Skittles11]

Hi Probably a TMI post - sorry about that

I have had tummy troubles for years off and on, my family have a lot of IBS on both sides, we all suffer from anxiety / low ebb. Mainly loose stools and some discomfort from trapped wind.

I have spoken to a gastroentorologist and had lots of tests done about a year and a half ago and some of those tests were redone about 2 months ago. All showed nothing of concern and I have no sickness or weight loss.

The only other thing they can offer me is a colonoscopy which I haven't been able to do because I'm always in IVF treatment or doing tests. The specialist thinks they will find nothing in a colonoscopy and therefore thought I should prioritise my IVF.

I know endo symptoms can also present similar to IBS, I did go to a specialist BSGE registered and he gave a recommendation but he wasn't too concerned so please be mindful of this in any of your replies as I have gone round the houses on the potential endo issue.

My query is have other people got gut related issues and how do you cope with them alongside IVF? Any practical solutions you've done that've helped? I felt quite low about it this AM and my mind was taking me to a negative place.

Thanks all

Xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Skittles. Have you had or thought of having probiotics before and during IVF? Might be worth asking your specialist if he/she feels it might help your poorly bowels. Good luck. Diane

[Jojo12345678]

Hi love,I suffer with ibs and we had our ivf treatment it was hard I'm not going to lie due to suffering with sickness and bloating but it does get easier your more focused on the ivf then the stomach issues I've had colonoscopy and all sorts but there is literally nothing they can do apart from keeping a diary so any foods that you eat and give you a flare up then you know to stay away I've been taking supplements due to not being able to eat alot of greens due to making me bloated and as you said loose stools which can be painful and a pain in the arse especially when still working but we are now 19 weeks pregnant with twins and yes it's been hard but trust me it's worth it in the end I've had to give up my job due to being in a warehouse and doing heavy lifting which isn't ideal but alot of rest a ton of water and what I found helped was ginger it settled my stomach as well as being good and clearing me out also try peppermint tea when your feeling sluggish it takes a hour or two to kick in but when it does it helps

Hope this helps sorry kind of rambled on lol 😆

Good luck with your ivf treatment x

[Tnthketnf]

Hi Skittles11

I have always had gut issues. Abdominal pain, severe at times ending up in a&e, at best discomfort, gas and diarrhea. When I was young around 14-15 I was told ot is IBS, learn to leave with it, diet, stress management etc. I haven't had a lot of tests. Blood tests and an ultrasound that involved me drinking a liquid that helped highlighting the gut. Growing up, in my mid 20s and starting the contraceptive pill (naively thinking I could get pregnant-I am so laughing at myself now) I noticed that for the time I was on the pill all symptoms disappeared! Some discomfort and gas every now and then but the horrible pain had gone. It was only then that it occurred to me that whatever it was, it was related to my menstrual cycle and more specifically my ovulation. I stayed on the pill for many years as it gave me a quality of life. When I finally came off the pill to try for a baby, everything came back. Several GPs dismissed me saying get pregnant and it will go away or it just mittelsmitz (ovulation pain). Eventually I was referred for laparoscopy for endometriosis which to my disappointment came back clear.

The fertility doctors/ nurses never cared, were dismissing as non concerning.

Finally I saw a rheumatologist who asked me to do a genetic test. I have an autoinflammatory condition, quite rare. It is still not exactly sure how it relates with my ovulation and the gut problems but it is . I am on medication for life for this and I have seen some improvement still not cured but much better.

It has interfered with the ivf a bit. After my very first retrieval I ended up in the a&e with diarrhea and Acute pain. They thought it was oohs. I think it was my autoinflammatory condition. All inflammatory markers were super high.

I am also convinced it is related to my infertility somehow. No doctor knows though.

[Tnthketnf in reply to Tnthketnf]

Just to say that I saw the rheumatologist during my ivf journey, I had already had 2 retrievals at the time.