New to this site, so pleased I've found it.

[niz70]

I am a 70 year old lady and have had various tests recently, the last one an endoscopy which was clear. Blood tests are negative re.coeliac disease but show I'm very low on iron, barium enema 5 years ago was clear. GP thinks I have IBS and after reading posts here I'm inclined to agree. Is it "normal" for my limbs to feel like lead, no energy and constantly queasy tho'? I also have chronic lower back pain at times and my tummy feels on fire! The griping tummy pain starts as soon as I wake up, then 6-8 trips to loo until I've eaten something then fine rest of day (re. loo) This last bout started after I changed my brand of museli, very sudden but continued after I changed to porridge or toast. I eat healthily and take exercise.

I'm so pleased to have found this site, everyone seems friendly with a lot of helpful advice, it's good to be able to discuss problems and symptoms.

I am due to go on a coach holiday in July and a bit worried incase I have a flare-up, best to stock up on Immodium I guess, any other advice welcome. Thank you.

[Hidden]

Hi,

I think you'll get a load of responses telling you that the symptoms you mention are normal for IBS. I certainly used to have some of them plus a few extras. I have to follow a low FODMAP diet and also eliminate a few other foods which are considered 'safe' on the diet. Although it's a tough regime, it gives me excellent control. However, maybe you won't have to go that far and your problems can be nailed down to just a few trigger foods. In your case, I would start by changing my breakfast; all grains except corn (maize) give me very bad problems, so why not try having cornflakes and/or fruit and nuts instead of oats and/or wheat to see if that makes a difference? It may take 48+ hours to know if you've got a result as food can take a long time to transit the intestines. What's considered a healthy diet for some people is perfect poison for others.

Best wishes

Pagan

[niz70 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Pagan,

Thank you for your advice, I will try different breakfast foods, process of elemination I guess.

[686868]

My GP told me that Immodium makes matters worse because the downside of immodium can be stomach cramps, so I no longer take immodium. Best of luck

[niz70 in reply to 686868]

Thank you for the Immodium info., do you take anything else? I've tried kaolin and morphine which helps with the cramps.

[686868 in reply to niz70]

I don't (I start the day with omeprazole)but things have been bad lately and I am showing slight improvement but not enough. A friend has today said I could try Buscopan which is also available over the counter in smaller than prescription dose. Because diarrhoea is the worst aspect she also says I should try getting back to food slowly with powder sachets (Complan, I think I was told) and mix thatwith whatever fluid I can take. I should have doen that first but I have been eating boiled potatoes. My daughter has seen someone today as she too suffers from similar symptoms to myself regarding what she calls 'food intolerances' and she has been advised that the sugars in the potatoes could aggravate her problem yet to be diagnosed. It has made me think perhaps that might also be app;licable to me now as I am rather bloated and have cut out sugar, but hadn't thought about the potato sugar

. I don't know what to say about K&M.

Hopefully others will be able to comment on al this.

[matusadona]

The limbs like lead, the stomach on fire upon waking but settled with eating breakfast and lower back pain are all problems I had. I've kept a detailed food diary since mid January, eliminated things that upset me and it's given my digestion time to heal. I'm slowly putting things back into my diet and noting the result. Better a restricted diet than the symptoms. I was advised to take a probiotic and that has settled my stomach with no rumbling after food. You will get lots of help on this site. Try the things that have worked for others, It's not a quick fix but you'll find the answers and gain confidence in your body again. I'm also 70 and our digestion changes with age so it's detective time to find the culprits and eliminate them. Good luck.

[niz70 in reply to matusadona]

I was relieved to hear that it's common to have the aching limbs, firery stomach etc. Do you take the probiotic as a supplement or have it in foodstuffs? Do you take it daily? Thank you for your advice.

[Genevieve]

I take a probiotic every day - Acidophilus from Holland and Barrett. I've not been taking it for very long, but thought it was worth a try for a month to see if it made a difference. I'm 66, by the way, and have only recently been diagnosed.

[niz70 in reply to Genevieve]

I am thinking of trying a probiotic capsule in due course, I would be interested to hear at a later date how you are getting on.

[maggi1954]

I have had IBS C for a while now. Never realised how awful you can feel. Its not just the stomach/bowel problems is it. I have achy limbs feel tired etc. Doctors are not really interested and dont agree that you can have any other symptoms other than bowels etc. I have found a great Gastroenterologist who just nodded his head when I gave him my list of symptoms and agreed that it sounds very much like IBS. I have tests, scans and gastroscopies etc, all clear. Its a group of symptoms that are so distressing and debilitating. I too am going away soon and I agree with the fear we have about lack of toilets facilities. Its hard not letting IBS take over your life, but when there are no toilets nearby it is also very worrying. I have all the same symptoms plus on occasions, I get a sudden lower left sided abdomen pain, this causes me to feel faint and I have to go to the toilet. All symptoms abate once I have opened my bowels, which is usually within 5 mins, but the sweating and feeling faint is very scary and I hate to think what would happen if I didnt have a toilet nearby. Does anyone else get the pain and feeling faint before defaecation occasionally ?

[niz70 in reply to maggi1954]

Sorry to hear about your sweating and feeling faint problems, I do hope you will be able to remedy this. It's reassuring to know that the achy limbs and tiredness is suffered by other people too, I always associated IBS with just bowel problems only.

[matusadona]

I take a probiotic capsule every day,after my evening meal. It was recommended by a friend who has similar problems and whose husband, a hospital consultant, recommended she try it. I bought the Super 20 Pro by phone from Healthspan because I buy omega capsules from them. It has 5 bacterial cultures. Their phone number is 0800 73 123 77. Happy to help.

[niz70 in reply to matusadona]

Thank you for the info, I was just looking at the Healthspan booklet which came today (I already order magnesium and plant sterols) and was debating whether to order the probiotic capsules. How many capsules do you take a day? In what way have you benefitted and how long have you been taking them? (Sorry for so many questions)

[maggi1954]

Hi, yes its the vagus nerve that causes the faint feeling too. Apparently quite common in IBS sufferers when have a sudden severe attack of diarrhoea. It is very frightening, especially if home alone ! I have heard that a probiotic could be helpful though havent tried tablets only the yoghurt varieties.

[matusadona]

I have been taking probiotics for 6 weeks. Healthspan say one per day and I have followed that regime. The burning sensation upon waking has gone. I had thought I must have an ulcer as my stomach felt so acidy. My stomach used to rumble loudly, after every meal. That has stopped. The food diary has helped enormously. At first I found it hard to identify the food that made me ill but cut back to the foods I knew were safe, then reintroduced foods one by one. I know it sounds like experimenting on ones self but we are all different so the triggers for each of us are different. Keep pushing through.

[gloden]

I m in my 70 s too but have had ibs for some 20 years. It seems to have changed as I have grown older with like you all say aches in the back and limbs as well as stomach. I also feel sick and tired. This site really helps. Takes some of the worry away thanks everybody xxx