i have had ibs for a number of year now but over the last 2 years its getting worse i dont really no much about it apart from the obvious but my doctor gives me codine to help stop me from going but recently nothing seems to be helping im 26 years old i work full time and usually the codine will help me through the day so i dont go through the truma of going at work. i am going more frequently sometimes 4 times within an hour and it not nice when i do, i also get pains cold sweats and now it feels as i cant control it (have had 1 accident ) its ruining my life i dont drink (alcohol) at all but if i was to have night out im so scared it would bring it on. please can anyone give me some advice on what to do im scared its going to end up something serious.
Help please: i have had ibs for a number of year... - IBS Network
Help please
Since having IBS from food poisoning the only thing that I have found that works for me is Aloe Vera Juice and a daily probiotic tablet.
If you are going to try , get a good quality aloe product, do lots of research on the maker, I am currently using holland and Barratt juice with cranberry as it tastes ok.
It takes a week or so to get working .
It is so difficult to find your solution and I couldn't find my cause.
Lloyd
Hi, personally the first thing I would do if I were you is to ask your doctor to refer you to a gastroenterologist if he/she hasn't already, and get a colonoscopy done to make sure it's not something like Crohn's or ulcerative colitis rather than IBS. Also, have you had your gallbladder out at all, or ever had gallbladder trouble? If you have, if might be worth asking your doctor if you can try a bile acid sequestrant - apparently this can help too. In the meantime, everyone's triggers are different, my gastroenterologist told me that the usual triggers that most people get are dairy products, whole grains, caffeine, alcohol, fruits that are high in sugar, and stress. You could try cutting these things out of your diet (use soya that is fortified with calcium instead of milk) and then re-introducing them one at a time to see which ones affect you. I had to cut them all out!!! Also, if it does turn out just to be severe IBS, there are drugs other than codeine that can help; I take mebeverine (colofac) every day and also amitriptyline at night. I sympathise with you, when mine's bad I also get the cold sweats and the feeling I can't control it, along with palpitations too, but it is possible to find a combination of drugs and diet that will help you control the symptoms. Mine has been pretty stable now for almost a year. Take care.
Can I just ask about the gallbladder comment, I had my gallbladder out when I was 17 after a lot if trouble and serious illness ( hepatitis and pancreatitis). My ibs started about 3 or 4 months after and I put it down to stress of everything. Could you elaborate on what you mentioned, I've had so many tests and never once has anyone made any connection. Thanks
Hiya, it's quite commonly known as 'post-cholecystectomy syndrome'. What happens after your gallbladder is removed is that the bile produced by the liver is no longer stored in the gall bladder (obviously!) so it constantly drips from the bile duct into the intestines. This is irritant to the intestines and can result in diarrhoea and mild inflammation. I have it on good authority (a gastroenterologist!) that bile acid sequestrants can help with this by binding or neutralising the bile in some way (you do need some bile; bile is very important in digestion as it emulsifies the fats we need and helps break them down so that they can be absorbed and used by the body). You have to get it on prescription, so it's worth taking another trip to the docs and asking him/her about it. Good luck! 
Thank you, it definitely is worth a trip, been suffering in recent weeks! Have you had an improvement since? It's annoying that I've never had anything like that mentioned to me before now, I would have hoped the professionals would have known given my history. Thanks tho.
Well personally I haven't yet bothered with the bile acid sequestrant, as my IBS is quite stable at the moment. However I have heard good reports about it from others! My troubles started after I had my gall bladder out in 2001, my tum has never been the same since but it was only recently that I found out about the bile acid sequestrant. It will be my next port of call if my IBS gets bad again...!!!
Hi , many thanks for the reply. back in 2005 ish i had my gallbladder out as i had gallstones and to be honest its ever since then i have had trouble i noticed it was dairy products at first but as soon as i get up in the morning if i dont take codedine then i have to go within minutes. the bile acid i have read on posts on here sounds about right as when i have been a few times (judging from another post on thier problem when i have been its the same as they are describing) i would love to get it under control full time but my main concern is when im at work as i feel i cant do over time. i have had no tests at the doctors i went recently as i have started getting random pains from behind and he put it down to blood vessles and where blood vessels have clogged up it could be bruising.
I think you should go to the docs and ask to be referred. You really do need to rule out other things, just in case it's not IBS and it can be treated and got under control. Good luck
Agree with Trekkiegirl in that you need to see a gastrenterologist and get some tests done to eliminate causes such as Crohn's and Coeliac's. You could also try asking for A SeHCAT test to see whether you have Bile Acid Disorder (BAD) which presents exactly the same symptoms as IBS-D and is easily treatable. 50% of people diagnosed with IBS-D actually have BAD.
In the meantime, why not try the low-FODMAP diet which is very successful for a lot of people on here? Most reliable info about it can be found at the website for Monash Uni (where the diet was developed) - there's a smartphone app availabe there for download - and in Patsy Catsos's book, 'IBS - Free At Last. All other info is often misguided and outdated so don't bother with it.
Roz
Hi I have had ibs for 17 years it got worse after having children and I was going 8 times a day at one point and always after food. I cut out smoking, dairy, spicy food, fried food, alcohol and started taking daily loperamide, alverine, buscopan, multi vitamin and probiotic. This has helped considerably and I'm only having episodes probably once every few months, although stress can trigger it as can my monthly cycle. I've not heard of codeine for ibs as I've found codeine too harsh for my stomache as my husband also has. Go back to your doctor and ask for something else and don't leave till you get it. Hot sweats, cold sweats, nausea, headaches, cramps, accidents etc are all normal unfortunately and happen to most of us.
Hi , many thanks for the reply. back in 2005 ish i had my gallbladder out as i had gallstones and to be honest its ever since then i have had trouble i noticed it was dairy products at first but as soon as i get up in the morning if i dont take codedine then i have to go within minutes. the bile acid i have read on posts on here sounds about right as when i have been a few times (judging from another post on thier problem when i have been its the same as they are describing) i would love to get it under control full time but my main concern is when im at work as i feel i cant do over time. i have had no tests at the doctors i went recently as i have started getting random pains from behind and he put it down to blood vessles and where blood vessels have clogged up it could be bruising. i have had alot of stress recently as i have just lost my mum who also had this problem but she had liver problems where she would build up with fluid so she always put hers down to that
Hi angel97uk. I am so sorry to hear you lost your mum recently and i would say that this is having a major effect on your bowel at the moment love. Definately go back to the doctors and demand some tests, ask him/her how they would like to cope day after day in pain and with intestinal hurry, i bet they would do something straight away. I agree with Roz about the diet, try eliminating food (do this while your waiting to see doc if your appointments are like mine and you have to know you are going to be ill 2/3 weeks in advance lol!). Regarding the lady who mentioned Aloe Vera juice i have heard many good reports about this and i used to be an agent for Forever Living who sell 100% pure aloe vera juice and with cranberry, you can buy it on ebay. It is pricey, but i know many people who have had great results with it, and if it works for you then the price is worth it. Aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory and can help to calm the bowel down, as i said i don`t sell it myself anymore, due to this and other illnesses and it does not help my other problems, but i have heard good reports. Sometimes it is trial and error. The holland and barret one is cheaper but just check out the actual aloe vera content, the purer the better. But first go to docs and if that doc won`t help you ask to see another one in the surgery. Sadly there are still some docs who poo poo the symptoms of IBS (excuse the pun!) so keep nagging until you get a result. Let us know on here how you get on. Good luck. Anjie x
Sorry about your mum. I lost my grandparents 7 weeks apart and for a few months after had my worst flare up of ibs, it goes hand in hand I'm afraid. It seems we have both suffered since being without gallbladders so perhaps a trip to the docs is in order for both of us. Good luck.
I really sympathise as I have had the same problems in the past. Not sure really what to suggest, but obviously you could try the FODMAP diet to see if this helps. I am 2 weeks into this, but not sure if it is doing anything or not or if I am just going through a calm phase anyway, even though my stomach seems to still feel bloated even with doing it. I also wondered if anyone had put on weight doing FODMAP as I seem to have put on around 3 lbs.
Thank you all so much for all your replies , i went to the doctors this morning and got a referal to the hospital so hopefully get some answers or something sorted. in the mean time she has tried me on 2 different sets of tablets to give them ago. will keep you all updated lol take care
get a second opinion my ibs turned out to be crohns
Hi Everyone , hope you are all well. Well finally went to doctors and got a referal to the hospital and i am currently waiting on the Camera (soz not sure on the big spelling lol ) they want to put a camera down my throat aswell 
in the mean time the hospital has prescribed me COLESTYRAMINE oral powder sachets has anoyone ever had these and what do they do ?
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