Ruthy1960

[Ruthy1960]

Can anyone let me know anything about post infectious IBS after a viral stomach bug. I think I must have it as I'm plagued with colicky diarrhoea after this bug. I've had to sometimes have an immodium plus comfort just to get some relief. It's a nightmare and I've spoke to the doc recently who asked for a stool sample which was clear. I see her again next week but just wondered if anyone out there had heard of this. Thank you. 😞😞

[Beckybexx]

My suspected IBS is post infectious. I had campylobacter food poisoning last August. A consultant said it can take up to a year to recover, he suggested probiotics which I think are helping a little with the urgency anyway. Post infectious can leave you lactose intolerant too I believe so I’m experimenting with that too.

Good luck x

[knitwitty]

Hi Ruthy,

I can only tell you what happened to my son about 5 years ago now. He had a bout of food poisoning and developed, what the doctor referred to as post viral IBS, he was told it could last for up to 18 months . He was studying for his A levels an the continuing symptoms were put down to anxiety, exam stress and the post viral IBS, he was fobbed off by various doctors and given antidepressants when he first went to uni ( later we found out that the particular type of antidepressants would only make him worse) until eventually he was so ill he had to defer his place for a year. More trips to the doctors and various stool tests which they kept losing, and then being confirmed clear. He seemed to improve at home and eventually he returned to uni, when his symptoms returned with a vengeance his new doctor did some blood tests for coeliac disease which came back high positive, he then had a biopsy which confirmed the diagnosis.

I am not relating this to you to worry you, but I would push for a blood test and possibly a biopsy to rule out coeliac disease as it seems that it is very under diagnosed in this country.If you do go down this route you must eat gluten containing foods for at least 4 weeks prior to the blood test otherwise you might get a falsely negative result.

My son showed no signs of IBS or coeliac disease prior to his bout of food poisoning so maybe it triggered an immune response, I suppose we shall never know now.

It took almost 4 years for my son to get his diagnosis and I would not wish anyone else to have to suffer for so long or be fobbed off with excuses rather than investigations.

Good luck and good health, I hope you are soon feeling better.

[Ruthy1960 in reply to knitwitty]

Hi, Thank you so much for your reply. I am gluten intolerant already but tested negative for coeliacs. I do have to eliminate gluten already and normally I'm fine with that. It must just be a flare up I'm suffering at the moment. Hope your son is ok now. 😊😊

[dg8867]

Hello Ruthy, What was your stomach bug? I had c-difficile and became post infectious 3 years ago. I was having inconstanace issues along with the same diarea as you and then to constipation. I had worked it out to taking liquid imodium with 1 of my meals per day. As i had gotten better over time, i lessened the amount and quanity to 1-2 times per week. I also highly recommend drinking "Keiffer" which is a lactose free liquid "milk" yougurt. It works much better, and faster than taking probiotics in pill form. The pills are just dormant bacteria and don't always work well for the money you spend on them. This was eccential to replace the good bacteria lost due to infection and any anti-biotics i had taken. Give it a try, it took months to regain control of my stomach issues but i am much,much better now than i was when this started. Good luck and i hope this helps you!!