seriously fed up

[janke]

I`m not expecting any answers but a bit of sympathy would be nice! I`ve had ibs most of my life with the last 3 years being worse - and over the summer is has got much worse with diarrhoea most days and stomach ache all of the time. Have had all of the tests, done fodmap, tried probiotics. GP and consultants have run out of answers. I am so fed up of having to start every day like this. GP says if I get more down to talk to her about anti-depressants - but they won`t magic away the IBS or solve any other the other family problems which are also stressing me out. I really don`t want to start taking more tablets which quite possibly will upset my stomach more. I feel like I am on the edge of getting seriously depressed and I can`t let that happen as I have a very elderly father who relies on me. Just hearing from others who are in the same boat would help

[Louise88]

Hi Janke

Sounds like things are really getting on top of you at the moment. Just remember that all the current stress with family and IBS, it will pass. Things do calm down and get better, so remember to hold on to that, bad times do pass. I would do the following things, write out a list of all the things you are worried about, sounds like Dad is the biggest worry. Are you able to get some help with that situation? Who is able to help if you ask them? Do you need to consider professional help for him? Remember that this is almost always inevitable as their needs become too much for one person to cope with. Any feelings of guilt, whilst only human, must be put to one side, they need more than you have, getting them that help shouldn't make you feel guilty.

Remember you can't do everything, but you can list everything and set a plan in motion, just by doing this your stress levels will settle.

Then list all the other worries in order of importance to you, then deal with each as if you were giving advice to your best friend.

Once you feel a little more calm you will put your own health problems back into perspective and feel in charge of the, rather than letting them rule you.

I have IBS - I take a very low dose of an anti-depressant and it works well - don't rule it out.

I hope you feel better soon

Louise

[Nicki1984]

I certainly sympathise especially when it sounds like you have tried everything. Have you tried taking some digestive enzymes from holland and Barrett they may support you to break down your food. I would also recommend counselling I do think IBS takes its toll mentally and then can further upset your digestive system. Good luck xx

[janke in reply to Nicki1984]

Thankyou very much both of you. We moved my father into a nursing home at the end of last year but he has only just settled and still relies on me to visit most days - I am working on reducing that.

Louise your practical suggestions are helpful. I am working on reducing my stress levels as much as I can - unfortunately this year we have had a succession of things going wrong all at once.

I`m now feeling a bit better than I did earlier. It is just so depressing waking up every day and instantly being aware that I`ve got stomach ache etc yet again.

[Nicki1984 in reply to janke]

I'd say the stress of everything going on is certainly contributing to your current health. Hope it eases for you soon x

[Hidden in reply to janke]

Its always the way isn't it that everything goes wrong at the same time and small problems build up.

[Niblet1505]

Hi, I can't recommend Enterosgel enough. Literally changed my life. Of course you can't get it from the doctors (because it's something that actually works) and it can work out expensive but it's worth every penny. I buy the box of 15g sachets (10 in a box) from Amazon . It comes in a tube or the sachets but I found the tube hard to measure. I take 2 a day now (down from 3) which keeps my stomach settled and I haven't had diahorria since I started taking them at the end of June. It's given me my life back and by doing so has eased my anxiety massively xx

[janke in reply to Niblet1505]

Thanks Niblet - that sounds interesting. Did you have any side effects from it? I was put onto Questran (for possible bile malabsorption) but they made me nauseous and I had to stop taking them

[Niblet1505]

No none what so ever and as it isn't medication you can still take any normal tablets as usual but take an hour before or after you have the gel. It acts as a sponge and absorbs gases and toxins in the stomach which is then expelled from the body within 12-24hours. I use to live on Imodium but haven't touched them since taken these. Finding this has been completely life changing (not even exageratting) Please keep me updated if you give it a try. I gave my friend a sachet as she suffers with bad stomach aswell and she was amazed how quickly it helped and ordered a few boxes the next day. I honestly can't praise it enough x the website has a lot of info about it so worth having a look. Hope it helps x

[Pat645 in reply to Niblet1505]

Thank you for this. I am definitely going to try this. Right now I take 2 Imodium a day - it has changed my life from daily cramping and dia all morning every day, to very rare episodes. Enterosgel seems like a better option because it's not a 'medicaton'

[Niblet1505 in reply to Pat645]

Honestly, I used to be the same but found that immodium just made me feel very bloated and blocked me up and It got to the point where a couple of times even immodium didn't work. I honestly can't praise this enough. It settles my stomach very quickly. I literally love it lol! I started taking 3 a day for 3 weeks at my worst and before my holiday (my anxiety about flying was also through the roof) and now I've reduced it to 2 but also keep sachets on me. Worth every penny. Hope it helps xx

[janke]

Niblet - thanks again. I`m on holiday next week and hoping that the break will calm things down - if not, I will get some when I come home. I might contact you if I need any more advice about them - hope that is ok?

[Niblet1505 in reply to janke]

That's absolutely fine. I really feel for you. It got to the point that I didn't want to leave my house. They do sell the tube in Boots and Holland and Barretts which i keep at work for emergencies. Hopefully the holiday will help. Have a lovely time and feel free to contact me if need be chin up xx

[Hidden]

I agree with Nicky re counselling as if you are stressed this may calm you down and in turn improve your awful symptoms. You have every sympathy with me.

Very best of luck

[Firefly2]

Hi there. I can relate..I take care of my 91yo mother. I have found that self care is the only way to cope with this kind of stress. You have to take care of you too. Give yourself permission to have some fun..or do things you enjoy especially when you start to feel the stress mount. You have to ask for help once in a while..or on a regular basis. There are agencies that do home healthcare..maybe take a day off and have someone come in to help. I treat myself to yoga, or just sit in nature, get out with friends for lunch or dinner. What ever is fun for you you have to schedule time to do it. You HAVE to take care of YOU too.

[bizzywords]

Oh my goodness - this is happening to me too at the moment so I totally sympathise. I don't have diarrohea but lots of bowel movement first thing in the morning - about twice a month (2 or 3 consecutive days each time). I take Immodium so that I can go to work but sometimes I feel so ill that I cannot go into work. I also get a "shivery" feeling in my body. My elderly father is also very ill (cancer) and him and my mother need a lot of help from me at the moment and this is quite tiring. I'm going through a bad menopause - so I'm going through all that too. My IBS started 8 years ago and it was originally linked to the menopause, however, I've got to the point where I am thinking of asking for anti-depressants. I had them 7 years ago and they were good because they relaxed the bowel and the IBS stopped, however, they made me feel hungry and I put on a lot of weight. I am seeing a new GP who thinks I might have got diverticulitis and not IBS! It does rule my life and I too feel like I've had enough. Rant over now ... the day I find a cure for mine, I shall post it all over this website!!! We need to try and remain positive and hope this is just a phase for us and it won't be forever.