My 30 yr journey with IBS

[773584]

I was diagnosed with IBS around 30 years ago. My doctor said I had it gave my a few sheets of paper to read about it and that was it. Tbh at about 20 I probably didn't read or understand what it was all about. I have gone through the next 30 years trying to manage the bloating in my stomach, the constant diarrhoea, the stench from it meaning I hate to use toilets other than my own. The problem is when I have to go I have to go and often get people complaining about the smell as I leave. It's so bad that I often turn down chances to go and eat out with friends because I know immediately after I've eaten I will need the toilet. Also it's terrible going anywhere and not knowing where there is a toilet just in case. I don't understand the bloating in my stomach as I go to the toilet 4-5-6 times a day and pass lots of loud wind along with lots of diarrhoea. Would be nice to feel comfortable enough to begin a relationship with someone but having this condition it'd be hard to find someone willing to put up with it. I think I will go to my Dr's again and see if there's anything he can recommend or if there's test that can be carried out to make it more bearable. Hope other people can relate to my symptoms and maybe able to pass on tip's thanks for reading sorry if I've bored you K

[yelly]

Hi Im so sorry to read your story. I am in the same boat and right behind you at 25 years. Im at a low point the last month or so and had to give my work a leave of absence until i can get better. I suffer from cramps, urgency with loose stool and gas all day long. Im misereble and its affected every aspect of my life. Please know youre not alone!! There is stuff you can buy called poopouri. Its a little spray bottle of poop spray you spray on top of the water before you go and it works!! It will prevent the stench from leaving the bowl. Ive used it many times and its great 😊 All i want is to be regular and not suffer from this awful condition. Im hoping to make connections here so we are not suffering alone. Thank you for sharing your story!!

[Hidden in reply to yelly]

Have you tried FODMAPS?

[Suecoo66 in reply to yelly]

Home Bargains do much cheaper versions of PooPouri for around 99p!

[Hidden]

Have you tried Fodmaps?

[Whoopdedoo]

I was similar and have had food assessment which helped greatly and now on a Symprove top up plan. Made a world of difference to my life. Good luck

[Hidden]

Have you had hospital tests to determine a diagnosis recently ? If not ask your doctor to refer you to hospital as there are other bowel diseases and a proper diagnosis shoukd be made

[Marygulliford]

I so know how you feel, takes over your life literally! I've had ibsd for over 25 years, there is no cure, i feel, just management. I always take perfume spray when I go out and spray it before I go and afterwards. And take Imodium whether I need it or not if I'm out for most of day. I also take anxiety medication every day - basically anything that helps. You are definitely not alone. And I've taken to using disabled loos, as we need to use those as well ' not all disabilities are visible! Good luck.

[calista in reply to Marygulliford]

I take immodium too if need to go out and anti anxiety some days to manage ibs related anxiety,but have been told not to use them every day. Just wondered what anti anxiety tab you take that can be taken daily ?

Thank you.

[robbie9813 in reply to calista]

I have today been to see a professor for the second time and he is doing studies at Manchester university into ibs. He has put me on Citalopram for anxiety and you take that everyday. It should take about 6 weeks to work properly.

[Hidden]

Did you have any tests when you were diagnosed? I was diagnosed around 20 years ago but the doctor didn't actually diagnose me until I had had a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy - I've recently had another Colonoscopy as things were getting worse.

The only way to alleviate any symptoms is by changing your diet i.e. cutting out foods that make you worse. I have learnt that I can only eat very small amounts of broccoli, cauliflower, grapes and onions. I can't eat raw carrots, sweetcorn or raw onions - I suffer really badly with wind and pain if I eat those.

I am constantly looking at my diet and will continue to do so until I have found what foods I can eat that don't cause me any problems.

Best of luck

[VA80]

Hello

Please see my post "cure for IBS after suffering for years." It is based on cutting out artificial sweeteners which a lot of people think they have but they do not read labels carefully enough. Even immodium has artificial sweetener in it which is ironic seeing it is known to cause stomach issues (I suppose it keeps you buying it though, therefore making the manufacturers lots of money!)

Hope it helps at least 1 of you

Vikki

[kipper1958]

I know of people with similar symptoms being helped by using Manuka honey,which has to come from New Zealand and have a UMF value of at least 5+.You can buy it at health food shops,on Amazon and in the UK at Tesco's stores.Also Aloe Vera Gel from Forever,not the juice that you buy in shops.Google it to find a rep near you.Hope this will help.

[Algorfa]

Have you tried any probiotics. You may just not have enough food bacteria in your system and too much bad. Have you done a stool sample. You should go back to your doctor and request tests to be carried out.

[Hidden]

I have done diarrhea, and constipation. I had IBS for 25 years. The cause in my case was food intolerance, and emotions. I have published an article "Food intolerance: what are you reacting to?" on my blog, SickofIBS.com which may give you some insight in what you are reacting to. I am just a former IBS sufferer, not a dietician, but on Twitter my article was liked by dieticians, so it must be making some sense. For the emotions part, take a first step in the right direction and have a look at sickofibs.com/well-being/a-...

Hope this helps you,

Alison

[Lanidove]

Hi

What are you doing holistically toaddress the IBS . It seems that if you are eaten BG wrong foods when your out that is making you sick .. how are you treating tje syndrome ?

I believe it is curable but you have to follow a plan and be commited to it .

I wish you all the best 🌸

[dingleshaw]

Hi there ive had the same problem for many years until ///////i had to go on some tablets but the doctor gave me omeprazole to go go with my other tablets, now I have no bloating or wind problems anymore just thinking it might be worth trying something like nthat, feels like heaven now after many years of suffering hope this helps

[JudithS]

I'm another long term sufferer, albeit with IBS-C. I can sypathise, and particularly with how this impacts life overall, not doing things you'd otherwise enjoy, relationships too.

I had tests done in my early 20s including sigmoidoscopy and barium enema. The latter was a horrendous experience and maybe I was sent for it to stop me ever asking my GP to investigate further ever again! Once those showed that there was 'nothing wrong at all' as my GP put it I suffered in silence for more than 20 years. I took laxatives without fully understanding what I was taking until I started to read up myself about them (on the then new internet!).

A move nearly 10 years ago, a new GP, and another set of tests focussed on chronic constipation issues has helped no end. Tests now are much better than they were then and information much more available.

So if you are a long term sufferer and have been assessed recently its probably worth seeing the GP and insisting on some investigations.

[winfong]

I think we've all been there. That's what's so great about this group. Don't worry about boring anybody here.

I've actually had IBS for 40 years, developing it when I was in university. Right now, though, things aren't so bad (fingers crossed). I put it down to 1) dumb luck, 2) reducing anxiety (whether thru lifestyle changes or pharmacology), 3) eating properly (soluble fiber, fruits & veggies), 4) taking plenty of supplements (methylcellulose, stool softener, probiotics), and 5) getting regular exercise.

We're all different, though, and it tends to be a long journey of discovery for each of us. Just figure what works for you.

[Jacinta-Mistry]

I’m exactly the same but I have the constipation with the IBS and I can only eat so much fibre or my body won’t digest it so it’s 2 laxatives 3 times a day and then the toilet with loud wind, diarrhoea, loud farts and it all o hate it! Since I’ve been diagnosed in July I’ve never been been to friends or not taken them so my stomach just feels like a brick and everyone else is eating having a good time, I can’t eat so I’m sitting there not knowing what to do with myself. My daughter is ok with it as I open the winter and use DETTOL spray and garlic the toilet after avery use buy unfortunately if I have to go when she’s in the bath and i have to go it’s not very pleasant. My parents have a downstairs toilet so when we’re there people always say use thwt thatvws I lost the muscle mass in my legs from losing 10 stone in 5 months., u can’t win flcin can u!!!

[Meleber in reply to Jacinta-Mistry]

Sounds like some of the symptoms / problems I have too. I still don't know what exactly is going on in my abdomen despite several visits to hospitals and surgery to remove a Meckel's diverticulum (shortly after surgery it appeared that this wasn't the underlying cause of my bowel problems unfortunately). It could still be something congential, an anatomically anomaly so that's why I asked for a referral to a GI surgeon, to ask to do an explorative laparoscopy in my abdomen, my right lower quadrant.

The diet that to some extent works for me is very low in fibres (white bread) and very, very low in fat but do take MCT oil additionally. MCT oil is better absorbed by my intestine than the 'regular' fat and causes by far not that much problems as 'normal' fat does. I also take extra sugar/glucose for the calories.