My IBS take the from of regular cramping and diahorroea - cna anyone offer any advice to help alleviate the symptoms.

[lukas]

I'm hoping being connected to this sitecan help me. I was diagnosed with IBS 6 months ago after spending the previous 6 months panicking that I noticed changed bowel habits from seeing that TV ad about bowel cancer. Life's become a living hell because I worry every time I go to the loo - and the worry makes it worse. I've had tests for inflammatoy bowel diseases, 2 internal examinations blood tests and tests for H Pylori - all negative but I'm still worrying because when this flares up I get days on end of pain, bloating, and frequent trips to the toilet. I know I need to get this under control and get some perspective back. GP prescribed anti depressants (apparently to stop me worrying) and mebevarin as well as omeprazole for acid - not a great cocktail. I eat well and do stacks of exercise but so far nothing is improving the symptoms and it's starting to become debilitating and affecting my work which is stressful enough without this. I'll listen to any positive advice if anyone out there can help.

[Hidden]

Ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist so you can get a colonoscopy and/or a gastroscopy done which will put your mind at rest about bowel cancer.

If you take some time to read through other posts on here, you'll see that your symptoms are pretty normal for IBS.

Also ask your GP to refer you to a dietitian, preferably one who has been trained in the FODMAPs diet - this helps a lot of people on this site including me - in fact it turned my life around and I'm about 90% symptom-free unless I slide off it too far and/or too often.

In the meantime, I can point you in the direction of the best info for FODMAPs if you want to give it a go.

[PatV in reply to Hidden]

I agree and also investigate probiotics in a form you can tolerate. My sister swears it saved her life. Healthy Trinity was the brand, but comes in many forms,.

[whatsit]

Hi I've had all tests came back negative but I had diarrhoea for 3months I take probiotic and follow fodmap diet and this sounds crazy but I took fybogel drink in desperation this is for constipation to add bulk and it stopped my diarrhoea no more gurgling stomach as soon as I open my eyes in the morning, only took fybogel for a week so keeping my fingers crossed this is right for me

[angbri]

Go get tested for SIBO (small intestine bacterial over growth) I have had ibs for 20yrs & I'm 3months in on this treatment since testing extremely positive & I'm so far 50% better w/ another 3months of treatment, I should be 100% good to go. SIBO goes un diagnosed in so many ibs patients. For right now go on the low fodmap diet. Also keep In mind most doctors treat SIBO with only antibiotics, but bacteria can come back, so u need special diet and big doses of probiotics for quite some time to heal the stomach. Also naturopath dr has done more for me than any gi specialist has. Keep fighting & stay positive, u shouldn't live with this.. Something Is causing it. Don't give up until u have an answer

[TaichiDancer]

sometimes a relaxing hobby can help. I do Tai Chi and knit and I find them very relaxing. As they are quiet they are good for when I am up a fair bit of the night with it and need something to keep occupied with too. Meditation is great for relaxation too. I hope you feel better soon

[lukas]

Thanks to all of the members who responded - I will take up some of the advice given. Clearly I need to think about the diet and talk to the GP about additional tests. One thing he has been insistent upon is that my symptoms were largely brought in by stress and anxiety in the first instance and then fuelled by worrying about the implications of the symptoms. Initially I kept saying this couldn't be the case as I have always been able to deal with stressful times of which there have been plenty over the years. Maybe its cumulative because I can definately see a pattern where when I get chance to relax/have a few days off the sympotms recede significantly and then ramp up again as pressures increase - usually workload/deadlines etc. So will have to look at the work life balance - just ont sure I am prepared for dealing with htese symptoms indefinately and I don't want to live on antidepressants and omeprazole long term as I hate filling my body with drugs. If anyone has found a way to deal with the vicious cycle of anxiety leading to onset of IBS and then the fuelling of one by the other (and overcoming it) I'd love to hear from you. One thing I will say at this point is just identifying how this affects so many people and the many ways of challenging the symptoms has been really helpful because I found little sympathy from my family or the GP who can't seem to understand how debilitating the discomfort can be at times. Suddenly feel I don't have to deal with this alone.