Hi

[Ant54321]

Hi,

I need some advice on what to do with my problem.

For the past two years I've been suffering with some sort of anexiety to do with going for number 2s. I've been too the doctors and they have told me it's not IBS. Every morning without fail I have to go to the toilet, if it's a work day it's worse I go 2/3 times before I leave for work and once again when I get to work and usually once more on the way to where I am working that day. This is because I'm not always around a toilet with my job so I've got it into my head I need to go to play it safe. On weekends I'm a bit better unless I'm planning to go somewhere in the morning. Afternoons and evenings I'm absolutely fine apart from the odd need to go, which is a one off. Which makes me think it's not IBS. When I first went to the doctors they told me the waiting list for any help was about a year so they said there was no point me being added to the list, which looking back now I could of been seen twice!

Before this all started I would go once or twice a day before and after work like clockwork.

I avoid eating breakfast now because of it, which I know isn't good.

Certain days I am better than others and over the two years I've noticed certain foods make me worse the next day. Currys and Pizzas make me really bad, tomato based dishes sometimes affect me as well.

I've got to the point now when I'm sick of it, even though I'm used to my daily routine I don't want to have to put up with it anymore.

Has anyone got any advice on how I could fix my problem?

Thanks.

[MeganG]

Hi there, I'm sorry you are going through this and that, by the sound of it your Dr is being really shit!

To start with you clearly have some kind of digestive condition, sensitivity or allergy. You need to keep pushing your dr to take you seriously. I was ignored for years and have ended up with a fistula and all sorts of other issues.

What I would advise is taking it in to your own hands too. Start a food diary and record what makes you react most. Then cut it out your diet. It can be tough. I can't diary or animal fats, which is hard but I had to take the decision to put my digestive health first. No pizza for me

Good luck and feel better x

[Hidden in reply to MeganG]

You can eat pizza - if you're out ask for no cheese and if it's a bought one do what I do buy a cheese and tomato one scrape off the cheese and put on your own toppings. Waitrose ones I've found are best

[Gingercookie]

Hi!

I agree with MeganG that you seem to have a food allergy or intolerance, so deffo start a food diary and also invest on a food allergy test if you can. In the meantime, I'm pasting here the reply I gave to another similar case. It has worked a lot for me. Also, on the psychological side of this: the more you're anxious about it, the more you'll have to go. It seems a silly obvious thing to say but it's not. If you manage to relax and convince yourself that it won't happen so many times, it will soon start to be better (talking from experience here).

Now the dietary advice I was talking about:

Try to reduce or avoid if at all possible fried stuff, canned or packed foods and prepared meals (also sugar, caffeine and alcohol but I guess you are already there). Also, try liquorice and cinammon herbal drinks after eating or when you feel stomach pain (they are unexpectedly helpful!). Also, what has worked wonders for me is reducing meals to 3 a day, postponing breakfast (or the first meal) until 11, 12 or even making it lunch. Intermittent fasting. Great stuff! Chia seeds, sesame seeds, linseed, algae and coconut are a great help to regulate stuff. And very importantly: if you can buy your food locally, or organic, or both, I've noticed an incredible difference since I tried. Never thought I would, honestly.

hope it helps!!

G

[Ant54321 in reply to Gingercookie]

Thanks for replying,

I think a food allergy test might be a good idea. Are they expensive?

I've been taught a breathing method for when I feel the need to go and that has helped at least with the mini panic attacks. I'm thinking of going to see some sort of therapist would you think it's worth the money?

I think I'll definitely do a food diary just need to remember to do it!

I've thought back many times on what could of started this. And I think energy drinks may have triggered this, I used to have one in the morning around 10ish and it all started with the sudden urge to go halfway through the day with no toilet near me I would have to drive to the nearest loo. Then I think I got it into my head that I need to keep trying in the morning to get it all out. Which explains where the anexity comes from

[Gingercookie in reply to Ant54321]

No probs.

I think a food allergy test os very worth the spent. They are quite costly, especially in the UK, but you may be able to save up while doing other things and determine then if you need it depending on how it all evolves?

Therapy is deffo worth the money and the time! It was my salvation, quite honestly. Again, if you're in the UK, talk to your GP about it and request a referral to a CBT therapist. I reckon the first tier of 6 sessions would be enough.

I find the best way to keep a food diary is plan your meals in advance. I have an excel with my meals planned Sunday to Friday, which I update on Sundays when I prepare my meals for the week. Then it's just a case of adding if I've eaten anything additional, which I try not to. Becomes easy after some time.

Oh sports drinks... the devil!! Haha Thing with them is that they replace lots of minerals in your body but they have tons of sugar and may dehydrate you (actually, they do). Your body starts doing very weird things when it's either sugar loaded or dehydrated, so you can only imagine. For what you say, looks like it was your case and it was so upsetting you got conditioned to avoid the situation as best as you could, but it's not working anymore, so I honestly think therapy is the best thing you can do to help you overcome it and give you the tools so it doesn't repeat

Cheers!

G

[Hidden]

You doctor shoukd send you for a colonoscopy to make sure there is no other bowel condition that is causing your symptoms. If he/she will do that don't change anything because it coukd alter the resukts

However, it would do no harm to keep a food and symptom diary in the meantime

[binky10]

I am the same.

the consultant told me to use 2 glycerin suppositories in the morning. That will make you go and you will feel more at ease.

I am still awful if I have to go on a coach or car journey if I am not driving and often feel like I am going mental.

[Ant54321]

Hi,

Just an update.

In the past 10 months I've had blood tests and stool tests and I've came back completely normal. I've also tried hypnotherapy but it didn't work and isn't for me. So I went back to the doctors and he recommended CBT. Which is controlled behaviour therapy, it's the best thing I've ever done. Every couple of weeks I have an hour long session over the phone and have found the results have been fantastic. I'm not comeptly back to my normal self but I'm getting there. I eat breakfast every morning and also for the past 3 weeks I haven't had to go to the loo once I've left the house. The urges are still there but I'm slowing learning how to ignore them and it's working, I end up forgetting about them and feel fine for the rest of the day. I no longer wake up in the morning dreading how my stomach is going to be, instead I'm looking forward to testing myself. In the next few months I'm hoping to be back to normal.

Thanks for all your help and advice