Not just IBS???

[Just-hanging]

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone had any advice/help to the following:

nearly a year ago I had my first baby, the birth wasn't great i was in labour for 3days and then a cup and forceps were used. My after bleed didn't stop for about 4months and I was prescribed antibiotics which didn't help. At this time I also started to get constant diarrhoea and got told it was just IBS (I've had tests to rule out anything nasty) once my after bleed stopped the diarrhoea eased abit. But my periods were a complete mess and I had spotting in between. I got my doctor to put me back on the combined pill which has helped but I still get bleeding and pain after sex. Since being on the pill bowel movements have improved again but still have issues.

I recently went for a colposcopy and they found some abnormalities so I am being booked in for a hysteroscopy to get things checked out.

I also get horrendous pelvic, hip and lower back pain.

My mother thinks that during the birth maybe something could have been knocked and hasn't healed.

I was just wondering if anyone else had anything similar or could give some advice.

I've seen a gastro who said it's not linked and it's "just ibs and that's my life now"

Which I don't believe and am bored of being told this

Thanks

[Nicki1984]

Hi

Not sure if I've spoken to you before?

I believe some of my issues started after having my daughter but hard to know 100%. What tests have you have in regards to IBS? Iron levels, coeliac, infection/inflammation? Have you had a stool sample tested to check for bacteria? Are there any foods in particular that set you off?

In regards to your pelvis/back ache. I'd suggest seeing a physio as lots can happen to your body from carrying a heavy baby around. I was diagnosed with sacroiliac dysfunction and needed to strengthen my muscles again after having c-section/carrying baby around had weakened the muscles. As I had left it for so long it also affected my piriformis muscle in glutes and am working on this at the moment. Can't say I'm 100% back to normal but I don't get much pain now just the odd niggle.

I do think our hormones play a part in things after having a baby this can affect lots of things it's not something I have looked into and don't know what tests are available to check hormone levels.

Let us know how you get on x

[Just-hanging in reply to Nicki1984]

Hiya

I don't think so?

But thanks for your reply.

I've had a colonoscopy, blood tests and stool tests. All came back clear. I haven't found any trigger foods, I've done an elimination diet and kept a food diary. I've also tried the low fodmap

I spoke to my GP about the pain as I did have awful pelvic girdle during pregnancy and had to be referred but was referred so late they couldn't do much. I know my pelvic muscles are extremely weak and I do strengthen exercises but they don't seem to do much.

My GP just said that I needed to lose weight and that once I did that the pain would ease. I am overweight and know I should exercise more but that's going to take time. I try increasing the amount I exercise each week because I don't want to injure myself by going too quickly.

When I see my GP again I will get them to refer me for physio again

X

[elag in reply to Just-hanging]

Dear LynLoo

I feel for you an what you have gone through. I have no advice for offer but would like to pick on something about your weight loss. I'm not in same boat in sense that I've never been overweight but can relate to you wrt exercise and not wanting to do too much for fear of injury. I've done a lot of sport in my life and used to run a lot in particular. I still am very active but have more of less given up on high impact sport at the moment (no injury, just no motivation for it any longer). I cant tell you how much I 100% agree with you about staying injury free because waht makes a difference to our weight and more important our physical and mental wellbeing is the ability to sustain the increased activity level over a long period. I've found that the most efficient strategy to lose some weight is to have an active life during as many of your waking hours as your lifestyle (work+family) can offer you. I lost tons of my pregnancy weight after my first baby because I spend the following autumn and winter (on mat leave then) pushing him around in his pushchair (walking most of the morning, light lunch, same in afternoon or seeing friends with whom I'd also walk). This is a long time ago but even nowadays and 15 years on, one of the best way for me to lose weight is to sit around less, forget about the car (in Cambridge so the cycling is easy) and move, move, move. Then if you want to tone and increase your muscle mass then more intensive exercise anytime. You've probably been told but pilates for core works well, and so does yoga (the latter is my main activity at the moment). To burn calories, the bike is good and you dont have to carry your weight which if you are overweight is ofc easier. As you lose the weight the sport will become easier, more enjoyable and you'll less likely injure yourself (pains in the knee, feet, hips in particular shouldnt be disregarded if they last). You've probably heard of HIT and internval training, yes it's great to lose fat quickly but long term it's hard to sustain in the sense that it's rarely the sort of thing that people will do on their own in their living room. Sorry this is very far away from gut health and I wouldnt be offended if a moderator decided to take this away from the board!

I wish you well.

[Just-hanging in reply to elag]

Hi there

Thanks for your advice. I already do some walking in the morning and spend the afternoons playing with my son and cleaning the house(the mess never ends) I keep moving as much as I can without keeping him in his buggy for long periods of time because he gets frustrated - he's learning to walk and wants to be on the move all the time!

I have tried Pilates and didn't like the one close to me but have been looking at online videos to try at home.

I've always had issues with my weight either being underweight or overweight and atm I'm over. I have a knee injury so a bike isn't the best option because of that.

Maybe I should get out the house earlier and do more walking. I don't drive so I have no issues with walking to places.

I'm hoping that losing weight will help strengthen my core and pelvic area which would hopefully help the gut issues

[Kory]

Hi there, I ASSURE YOU: when doctors are telling you "that is just IBS" actually they do not have a clue what is is maximum health... it's actually a nonsense to take medication for IBS, it will worsen your problems over time, i speak out of experience, had IBS (diagnosed by "reductio ad absurdum" only after all my tests, and they were many, were all negative) over a 5 years period (think it was triggered, maintained and accentuated by overwhelming stress, poor diet and lack of exercise) by the end of which period i literally thought I will die. I healed myself last year, in a short period of 3 months, by avoiding any type of medication (not even an aspirin), avoiding any type of medical doctor, changing my diet to a raw organic vegetarian one and exercising everyday for at least 30 minutes. YOUR BODY IS SMART, IT WILL HEAL ITSELF, YOU JUST HAVE TO LET IT WORK AND DO NOT INTERFERE STUPIDLY!!! Since then I feel much stronger, have an outstanding physical and psychological stamina, my digestion got back to normal (after horrifying diarrhea bouts) and life is wonderful again! No more IBS - by eradicating the root causes of it, and not trying to repress the symptoms... This guy helped me a lot, with his short explanations, he made me change my lifestyle and although I do not personally know him, I am very thankful I got over him on Youtube accidentally... life changing experience if you suffer from a dis-ease and do not know the REAL causes... hope it helps you too: youtu.be/MYKdLeL3SGo(Not working as expected?)