I'm a 56 year old man who has suffered from IBS since the age of 20. These past few years it has been getting steadily worse.
My main symptom is pain which can be extremely severe. Lately I've also been suffering daily attacks of proctalgia fugax- just to make my miserable existence infinitely worse. I take Pregabalin for the gut pain on an as needed basis. It does help sometimes, but I can't take it every day as it's quite constipating which makes my symptoms worse. I've tried hypnotherapy, but it was so difficult for me to relax enough to benefit from the treatment. I suffer from social and generalised anxiety which I've been told is most likely a contributing factor. The whole thing is driving me almost crazy. I know stress can exacerbate the symptoms, but it's this terrible affliction which is causing most of the stress! I often wish I could just die as there seems to be no escape from this frightful pain.
I feel that no one understands. It's like a waking nightmare; a living Hell.
Written by
WeTheStrange
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I am so sorry to hear about your situation, I have actually just had an exacerbation of my ibs and it is so miserable. I have spoken to a dietician who specialises in working with the FODMAP diet as I feel that any day I could have a relapse and so it is something I need to do properly with the right support
You need to take a high amount of magnesium citrate or oxide. About 800 to 1200mg. I have had Ibs c almost my whole life and am now in my fifties. This is the best natural supplement to take for this condition and I have tried many. Even my consultant recommended it. I take it every day. You must take it on an empty stomach just before bed with lots of water. I would start with a high dose initially just to clear you out. Even if it means taking a few capsules. I sometimes take 6 200mg capsules. Capsules are the best not tablets and it has to be citrate or oxide as these are the ones that work for constipation. There is a lot of information about constipation and magnesium on the internet. There is a site called Ibs tales that discusses this. The ones I take are either Now foods Magnesium citrate, Solgar Magnesium Citrate or Life extensions. I get mine from the US on a site called iHerb, but you can get them on Amazon. There are other magnesium oxide products specifically for colon cleansing called Mag 07, Colosan and Oxypowder. They are a bit expensive but are amazing. I use these in between. No cramps no bloating, just relief. You can get these on Amazon as well. Don't suffer any longer. By the way I also follow a low fodmap diet through a dietician but this alone does not help constipation.
It's nice to know I'm not alone in suffering this horrible condition.
The first thing I would suggest that you can do on your own in the comfort of your own home is meditate. My existence had become anxious and chaotic and I couldn't find the way out. I started to meditate with the free Calm.com app.
At first I didn't feel much difference, but after a month or so I did. It got me out of the swirling negative thoughts that blocked everything out, into a much better place.
I wouldn't have believed something so simple could be so effective. Now I don't meditate every day, but if I start feeling a little off or cranky I meditate, and feel much better after 10 minutes.
Hello im sorry you're suffering so much with the pain, but you are not alone. if i could offer any advise from my journey it would be to try Buscupan, you may have tried it before but the Buscupan tablets are poorly absorbed by the body you only absorb 10% of the 10mg dose of 1 tablet, so if you were to need 10mg you may need to take as many as 10 tablets. i myself take 6-8 when i have a very painful episode. i had this treatment recommended to me by a professional
i know that sounds scary but Buscupan will cause you no harm, it may make you constipated as it can slow down gut activity but for this i recommend a teaspoon of Dulculax Pico liquid laxative. Dont take the Dulculax tablets they're something different and will blow your insides out, but the liquid is much more natural feeling.
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