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BeckyPR profile image
13 Replies

Hello,

I haven't seen a doctor to get a diagnosis for IBS, partly because I feel embarrassed talking about it, but have done lots of research on my symptoms. I often get an 'uneasy' feeling in my stomach and at times intense pain. My stools are nearly always very loose and I often need to go with real urgency. I am so aware of every movement or feeling in my stomach or bowels. I am really struggling at the moment with anxiety linked to this and have got myself into such a state that just leaving the house worries me. I am constantly thinking about where the nearest toilet is and have avoided going anywhere too far or which means travelling by public transport. This is having such a big impact at the moment and i just wish that I knew how I could make this better. At the moment I just feel so much safer staying at home.

I would happily try anything that people think could help.

Thank you

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BeckyPR profile image
BeckyPR
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13 Replies
Mc89 profile image
Mc89

Please don't be embarrassed, many of us know exactly what you are feeling. Go to your GP, write a list of all your symptoms & questions. Anxiety does play a big part and is quite difficult to deal with but talking to someone is your first step to feeling better.

Good luck.

I agree with Mc89 you musr ho to your doctoe - believe me he/she will have heard and dealt with worse

In the meantime buy yourself a RADAR key - I can't post a link but just put RADAR key into your search engine

Gnasherdarcy profile image
Gnasherdarcy

Go to the gp

rosco1 profile image
rosco1

You should go to your doctor,there's nothing to be embrassed about..... It's more common nowadays,so your GP will understand. There is no test to diagnose that you have IBS,they go by your symptoms.

I have IBS to and am on my 4th tablet,non of the others worked for me. I can sympathize with you with the intense pain you suffer, I to suffer severe pain.

Hope this helps.

elwins profile image
elwins

I suffer with colitis which is similar, go to your doctors and find out what it is. Have you tried keeping a food diary to see if any particular food triggers your problems. I find wheat and corn cause me problems also orange juice as it is to acid. Best of luck.

runswithdogs profile image
runswithdogs in reply to elwins

Corn! It's in everything! Some FODMAPS foods bug me as well, but I can usually tell 5 minutes after eating something if it had cornstarch or corn syrup.

Hi you must see GP they will be used to whatever you have to tell them-there are so many of us.

I am just like you but have a consultant by now and have had many tests and meds-I am on spasmonal; they mit giv you mebeverine are colofac to start with and you must tell them about anxiety cos they will help with that too;anxiety got a lot to do with it.

Best Wishes x

Hi, please don't feel embarrassed as many of us suffer the either the same/similar problems. I mainly get the pain, sometimes nausea and more constipation than loose stools. You do need to see your doctor as before they can say you have IBS they will need to rule out other illnesses like Crohns or Celiac diseases. Before I was diagnosed I had a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy - I recently had another Colonoscopy as my symptoms were starting to change but everything came back clear.

Best of luck

Eternity78 profile image
Eternity78

This is an illness that can NOT be dealt alone without the guidance and supervision of a specialist GI doctor..it could progress to a more severe stage and can be a real disability..talking from my experience..so i urge you to see a consultant now because you are still in the beginning stage and your chances of controlling it is higher than when it reaches a more complex level .

Best of luck ,,

fatmama48 profile image
fatmama48

Becky; You have what I have had going on for 7 years. Please understand uppermost that your Doctor has heard it all before. No matter how you word your symptoms, so please make an appt to talk to him/her about it and start crossing off possible causes. Stress can be upper most as for many of us. Could be lactose intolerance, milk, icecream, cheese etc. Could be wheat intolerance. Read the labels on what you buy. Wheat is in sooo many foods. It would surprise you. Yeast breads can over time cause bloat and other issues. Some Brassica vegetables, like brocolli (my favorite sadly) cauliflower, check it out on Google.......Have you tried eliminating foods that you suspect may cause "the issue"? Keep a record of everything you eat and drink daily. Seriously. I wish you rid of this dastardly issue. Some days I still cannot leave my house, but I know and you will know when you can. Hugs.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

Like the others say, you've got to go to the doctor. It's maybe embarrassing for you but it's nothing they haven't seen before and you need to rule out that it might be something like Crohn's. If it is you want to catch and treat it as early as you can and ignoring or self treating it won't do that.

In fact worrying about what it might be will get you really stressed and won't do you any good either so pluck up courage and go.

You could always write down your symptoms - make a bullet pointed list - and pass them to your doctor to read then he / she could just ask you questions. That way you can spend a bit of time thinking and getting your symptoms in order and you can think about how long you've had various things etc. I find it easier to do that and get things clear in my mind before I see my doctor.

Good luck with it, if you have a choice of doctors at your surgery choose a doctor you like the look of and remember it is what is going to help you in the end.

Emyloujovi77 profile image
Emyloujovi77

Go and speak with your doctor, most are more understanding than you think. Just over a week ago I was diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder which has caused mild depression. I have found myself in a loop of worrying and feeling nervous on a daily basis thus causing a change in my toilet habits - diarrhoea, which then makes me worry more etc etc. My Dr has prescribed me with Sertraline to try and assist me in breaking the cycle, which needs to be broken. Trust me I am in the same situation, feeling nervous about getting back to my daily routine next week. Tablets will take about 4 weeks to start making me feel better but I already feel better after visiting my doctor, my family also now how I am feeling as it can be a very lonely world. My dr said that it is very common for people with IBS to then suffer with Anxiety I think the trick is not to let it get to out of hand especially if it's affecting your daily life.

runswithdogs profile image
runswithdogs

Nothing to be embarrassed about. Your doctor poops and farts as well, and is a professional. They won't be surprised by whatever you tell them. You could just open up with that you think you might have IBS and they'll get the conversation rolling with questions.

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