Is it really ibs

I was diagnosed 1.5 years ago with ibs and I have been struggling ever since bloating gas headaches no energy very moody get very tired head rashes and anal mucus which is getting so bad now it's becoming embarrassing. I've tried different foods etc etc nothing is working. I've run out of ideas and feel as though I'm losing the battle.

Any ideas

[FionaGFG Administrator]

You should see your GP & describe all your issues. Mucus is not normal and he / she should do tests or refer you on. Always best to be on the safe side. Often we try everything ourselves and actually instead of suffering we should bite the bullet and have a good chat with the doc. Write some notes to summarise yr symptoms, times of day it happens, how you feel after bowel movements, family history of diseases and explain the effect it all has on you. Keep us posted.

[Lynxcat]

Hi Hadenough, I have known someone who had excessive mucus in the stool and they were referred on to see a Specialist at the hospital. Although it can be a sign of a variety of diseases it is often caused through an allergy or difficulty with a particular food or sometimes several and in some instances it is linked to malnutrition. Malnutrition can occur even when a person is not under weight - in Western cultures it is often when the body is unable to process micronutrients, vitamins and minerals this sometimes then shows up as mucus in the stool.

It is best to go back to your doctor and ask for a referral. The sooner it is pin-pointed the sooner it can be eliminated.

In the person that I knew, the Specialist was unable to find an actual cause. They were advised to take a colon cleanser for six to nine months called 'Colax' and eventually it righted itself.

[Hidden]

I had this for 7 years, nearly destroyed me. Daily debilitating diarrhoea, fecal incontinence at times, spasms, cramps, severe pain, bloating, hungry and worn out all the time, hair loss, etc. 8 bowel movements before even leaving the house for work.

Misdiagnosed by NHS as IBS. Was told it was my fault because i was anxious. They kept trying to palm me off with anti depressants.

This year i finally empowered myself ( i have thyroid disease and pernicious anaemia too ) and went to see a private specialist who told me to simply cut out gluten. *NHS tests had shown negative. Well within 48 hours i had normal bowels for the first time in 7 years. Now i need to get vit and min levels up - NHS of course refusing to offer any support since according to their test i don't have coeliac!

[Hidden]

Thank you all for your answers I'm going to get a appointment with the doc but not hoping for to much being on the NHS.

Going to seriously try the gluten free diet (any ideas on this would be appreciated) I'm glad I had some replies as I felt so isolated with this.

[gfmum1]

Going back to the GP is definitely the first step to getting better but I would also say have a look at the FODMAP diet, which is more than just going gluten free but can be very helpful for IBS.

I smiled when I read your comment about the NHS: the usual advice is that the FODMAP diet shouldn't be done without the help of a nutritionist but in my experience, as a non-coeliac you won't get the opportunity to see one (even some coeliacs don't;-))

[asborne]

Not sure about going gluten free could be the answer. Several years ago diagnosed gluten free, then after 2 years developed IBS with mucus ++ etc., Before I could eat gluten without getting sick, now unable to tolerate gluten at all also now lactose free and maybe dairy, so on soya milk. So clalled Ibs still troublesome. Sorry not any help for you. Have both conditions now ...at least with IBS was able to have varied foods without looking at ingredients and after going to loo several times in morning was able to eat and enoy food. So take care before discontiuing gluten altogether. Depends what tests you have had done...any chance of retests or diferent opinion.