irritable bowel syndrome ?

[sueuk]

Does any one know if this is caused by fibro ?

[Hidden]

I've had it for years Sue, I thought it was caused by stress but not so sure now. I'd be interested to know too.

[Hidden]

I have IBS and was told it's stress related . I'm 48 and have had it since childhood. I think it can also develop after a bout of illness such as gastroenteritis .

I know if I'm feeling particularly anxious or worried it kicks in so I guess stress sure doesn't help it.

My childhood was quite grim ( mum left when I was 4 , dad was a clinical depressive and step mum an alcoholic ! ) so I was always an anxious child , so I've always assumed that's why .

I know it's said that there are more ( I think ) nerve endings in the bowel than in the brain .

I'm in the middle of a very stressful time and to be honest I feel awful !

Hugs for you if you're suffering today too.

xx

[Cellbar65]

Hi Sue

IBS is not 'caused' by Fibro, there are a number of causes for IBS, stress being just one of them, but it is a well known fact that IBS is extremely common in fibro sufferers.

I was dx with IBS at the age of 12 when there was very little known about it - had fibro for donkeys years but was only finally dx with that in 2003 after heaps of hassle and stress! Got plenty of other stuff to go with it too but thats another story lol!

[sueuk]

Thanks every-one for your comments probably the stress of trying to cope emotionaly and financialy with fibro is causing IBS ! Vicious circle really x

[LindseyMid]

IBS is very common with Fibro. They have a lot of similarities, but Fibro is central and widespread and IBS is limited to the gut (which actually have a complex neurotransmitter system).

IBS can be managed through supplements, diet (including how to eat as well as what not to eat), lifestyle and possibly also medications. Hypnosis also has a good record in treating IBS.

You don't have to have control of your Fibro to get your IBS under control.

One of the FibroAction PAB members is Heather Van Vorous, author of 'The First Year: IBS' and 'Eating for IBS'. I recommend looking up these books (they are often found in libraries) or checking out Heather's website helpforibs.com for free advice.

[Hidden]

I have IBS , have in the past spent 7months continually on the loo

[Hidden]

One thing I found helpful was following a low fat diet . I don't have any medical knowledge so not sure if this is recommended but it worked for me .

Keeping a food diary can help too , note down what you eat and see if there's a reaction. A dietician can help with that .

My GP told me that IBS can start at " one end " and end at the other ! Which may explain why so many people with IBS also have gastric reflux .

[Therev]

I have suffered with what I was told was IBS for years that was until my Gp referred me to a different dietician who said that I might need to have a ‘low fibre diet’ yes you did read right a Low fibre diet, that means I can eat white bread to my heart’s content and don’t have to have vegetables, downside to this is I am not meant to have salad (which I love) but as long as I am careful what I eat and don’t go silly with high fibre products I am reasonably ok.

[LindseyMid in reply to Therev]

What this is, is a diet low in insoluble fibre and high in soluble fibre. Heather Van Vorous' advice in based on the beneficials effects of soluble fibre for IBS. There are also ways of minimising the unwanted effects of high insoluble fibre foods - everyone needs some insoluble fibre in their diet for their diet to be healthy.

[Ebony]

From what I have read IBS is yet another part of Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

As it is a syndrome many conditions can make up the syndrome. I have IBS and have had it for about 25 years but the specialist told me I was probably born with FMS

[Hidden]

I've found eating porridge and avoiding high fibre foods like wholegrain bread , and cooking vegetables until soft helps.

My IBS swings from diarrhoea to constipation so getting a balance isn't easy , the slightest change in diet can cause a change as can periods of stress and anxiety .

Trouble is, sometimes a restricted diet becomes so boring you crave something you know won't do you any good and then suffer the consequences.

[LindseyMid in reply to Hidden]

If you learn how to eat to minimise unwanted effects and also take a soluble fibre supplement, you can eat a wider range of foods. I had to be really strict for a while to get my IBS under control but I can now eat almost anything in moderation.

[sparkydawl34]

i have had ibs since i had my son 22 year ago and its only been over the past 2 year that i have managed to find something that actually eases the pain, bloating and sick feeling, one of the tablets i take is called colpermin and all they r is peppermint oil, the other one i take is merbrentyl, i dont know what i would do without these tablets as long as i take them the difference in my life is unbelievable xx