Hello,
At 16 I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. When I was 30 I was told I have Spastic Bowel Syndrome (which I think is IBS) after having a Barium Enema.
I have just turned 45 and over the
last few months I've been having increasingly more frequent bouts of Bowel Incontinence and feel I have no choice but to tell my GP tomorrow.
I have tried playing around with my diet etc but nothing has changed.
Can anyone offer me any advice please? :-\
Hi,
Yes, IBS used to be called Spastic Colon. I think you're right to see your GP about the increasing frequency of your problems, perhaps further tests might be in order, especially as it's a few years since you had the barium enema.
Pagan
Thank you Pagan.
I have to admit that I've been putting off seeing my GP about it because I hate any sort of rectal examinations / tests but it's got to the point now where my clothes are being ruined and I have to sit on a towel 
That does sound like rather too much to put up with, make sure you really get it home to your GP exactly what's happening - telling him/her what you've just written to me will make the point very well! You can't continue like this.
It wouldn't surprise me if you get a referral for a colonoscopy. I know we all hate our plumbing being tampered with, but at least you'll know exactly what's going on and a solution can most likely be found - then you'll wonder why you put things off.
If you end up with a diagnosis of IBS-D, you'll get loads of help and advice from this site and hopefully from the medical profession too.
Let me know what happens after your appointment tomorrow.
Best wishes,
Pagan
I will. Thank you.
Hi Pagan, Saw my GP this evening...I'm being referred to the hospital and will probably have a Colonoscopy.
So glad you've got a hospital referral even if it does mean a colonoscopy. If you really object to that procedure, you can have a virtual one instead (colonography) which isn't so invasive.
Keep posting and let us know how you get on.
Best wishes
Pagan
I will do. Thank you.
My daughter cured her diverticulitis completely through following the program of a British writer whose name I can't recall. Will repost when I ifind it.
So sorry to hear of what you've been going through, you're right to have pursued it with your GP. Horrible though rectal examinations can be it's better than being stuck with the distressing symptoms that you've had. I had a colonoscopy in 2010, also after suffering "accidents" and while the preparation for it isn't much fun (super-strength laxatives) you get sedated for the process itself and for my part I can only remember very little of what happened. Nothing sinister was found in my case and I have since got better at managing my symptoms through diet and medication. But it was still very important to have it checked out and that's why I'm glad you're going ahead with it; any dramatic change in symptoms should always be looked into.
Thank you for the support Bosslet. I'm pleased nothing sinister was found and you are feeling better.
It's not only a nasty thing to deal with on a day to day basis but it's also embarrassing.
I had to have a barium enema 10 years ago, & it`s no picnic, the worst part is that dreadful laxative you have to take the day before. i had the worst diarhea that i ever had with that stuff. Iv`e also had similar bowel problems for several years, & finally plucked up the courage to tell my gp because I was fed up with wearing tissue paper in my underwear in case of accidents. I`m now waiting for an appointment at my local hospital for treatment. I just wish that I`d spoken to my gp when I first began to have problems, then I would have saved myself years of discomfort.
Looks like we'll be travelling along this route at the same time 
Just had another thought about this; do you know about Bile Acid Disorder (BAD) which is treatable with colestyramine/Questran? There's a test for it called SeHCAT. Might be worth reading up on, there's lots of info on the web about it and Prof. Julian Richards is the expert on it so look for his posts/blogs.
Apparently not all gastrenterologists know much about it, but it may be worth mentioning on your visit to the consultant.
Pagan
I haven't heard of this but I'll definitely check it out. Thank you.
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