What is wrong now?

[Kathy1950]

I appreciate all you who respond to one another. I had most of colon removed from colon cancer. About 1/3 of color left. That was 4 years ago and now I am crazy trying to figure out how to ease poop cramps. I am 66 so I guess I am still trying to heal but geez. I have had several tests with Gastro enterologist giving me major attention always searching my body. However I seem to have a lot of your symptoms of some type of IBS but doctor thinks Ibs is for younger people. Is that true and wonder why he believes that to be true . Thank you for your help everyone. What a pain in the a.. Problem!!

[nobiker]

I am 69 and here's my story. Looking back over my life the signs of something being not quite right were there years ago, with sudden bouts of diarrhoea after eating meals, and in recent years the daily morning rush. My father always had a dodgy tummy and I thought it was a family thing and got on with it. More of an inconvenience than anything else. My daughter and sister are also the same.

However, it wasn't until last year after a period of acute stress that I developed severe left hand colon pain, bloating and discomfort, and after following the low FODMAP diet after recommendations on this site, the diarrhoea cleared up. My doctor took blood tests but I got very little help apart from being given useless pills. Finally I paid for help.

Having been through all the tests and blood tests I know there is nothing seriously wrong, but yes, the "diagnosis" is IBS. This is not really a diagnosis as there is no actual condition known as IBS, it is just a term given to a range of symptoms when they do not really know what the problem is. We all have to try to get to the bottom of what is wrong with us, and in the meantime try to live with it. That's not easy though and you have my sympathy.

In many ways, you may be lucky in that your doctor is unwilling to palm you off with the ibs label, maybe he will try to find out what is really wrong. Don't give up, keep on trying, but these things can certainly happen at our age.

The very best of luck,

No biker

[MaggieJemima]

IBS symptoms started when I was in my thirties only then called spastic colon

Had major surgery as a child following TB on stomach and has been suggested that lesions caused symptoms but both mother and her mother had digestive probs all three of us with gastritis recurring

Am now in my seventies and find stress and diet influence the condition ,the fact that I have white coat syndrome does not help!

So it is not age dependent.

[Tugboat]

Many years ago now, I too had some bowel removed due to bowel prolapse (descending part) - and suffered cramps and spasms immediately after surgery. It was and still is a form of IBS with bloating too. I avoid all sliced bread, finding sour dough the best to eat (clearly uncooked yeast affects me). Am easily 'bunged up' so have found porridge and muesli with spelt flakes helpful. Perhaps this will help you too? I'm in my late 60's - an operation was in 1998! But now manage it now quite well.

[crazy-daisy]

Hi. I am 56 and have IBS, so no, it doesn't affect only younger people! That's an odd thing for a doctor to say. Good luck with finding something to help you.

[Will1234]

I am 69 and have IBS symptoms since I was about 20 and seemed to start after a stressful event and a bout of gastroenteritis. Over the years the symptoms change and come and go , also vary but are almost always there .

I was told by doctors that IBS normally starts when you are young. I assume that is what you are being advised. People of all ages can have IBS but it normally kicks off at a relatively young age .

Will1234

[Hidden]

I'm 57 and have IBS - age doesn't have any bearing on whether you can have IBS or not. My mother also had it and hers was stress as she had a lot to deal with with my brother, he died last year but that was actually a blessing in disguise. My mum was very religious and I know her faith certainly helped her a lot and she went for 'healing' and then her IBS disappeared. It's what works for one doesn't always work for the other but I have to say I certainly admired my mother's strength with what life threw at her. My mother was an amazing person and I miss her every day as I expect most of you on here who have lost a parent feel the same.

I therefore think that stress certainly plays a very big part.