An Update~

Hey everyone,

It has been a LONG while since I last was on here (some may of noticed my return by replies; better late than never I guess ^^; ). Anyway got a bit of a status update for you all regarding my IBS-D situation~~

Medicine wise:

I’ve discovered that Probiotics just DO NOT agree with me in the slightest. I’ve tried so so many and they work for like two weeks then have the opposite effect

Metamucil did absolutely nothing for me so that has ceased. I’ve also stopped taking Iberogast cause that wasn’t doing much for me either.

I’m now taking 50mg of Doxepin each night to help with Anxiety which has eased things a little, or least made it semi manageable.

And (can’t recall if mentioned this) but I am taking Gastrostop capsules, just chemist brand, when needed. Was taking it every time I had to go out, but now I’ve cut it down to taking a dose then not taking anymore until the effects start to wear off in a few days unless otherwise required. The GastroStop has been a life saver though...gives me that extra sense of assurance I can go out with friends and family and to events or appts...without having to worry I’ll have a bowel explosion. It’s nice. The constipation get after isn’t but, worth it for those times.

On symptoms it’s been, on and off. June/July actually is the one year mark when all the symptoms started (2017 in August is when they kicked into full gear and realised it wasn’t just a gastro bug)...And ironically it was throughout May ‘18 leading up to June/July that it has not been happy. Something set it off and badly, nothing had changed in my diet or anything, even Gastrostop wasn’t quite settling it down. The bowel was going off and stomach has been cramping so so sooooo much worse than before. It hasn’t eased yet, still going and going super strong. Heat packs are my friend that’s for sure.

On doctor and procedures I am FINALLY going for my endoscopy and colonoscopy on Monday (4/6 at 12pm). Perks of been in public system to wait 6months for this haha, ah well! So I will finally have a definite answer of yes it’s IBS or no they found something else. Got all my prep stuff on Friday (1/6), been on the low fibre diet and then the liquid diet tomorrow along with...the flushing of the system. Not really looking forward to that but, it gets me closer to an answer...so worth it. Just set up my station in the bathroom, my phone with net and book, and I’ll be set lol x’DD Doc said sometimes the flushing out can reset the system, so I kinda got hopes for that but not high high hopes ^-^

In a way I kind of want them to find something else when they do the scopes, something to explain things more than blanket term of IBS...but I dunno. Guess wait and see now. Either way, I want this to be more managed before August, just cause I’m been a bridesmaid in September, and I really don’t want stomach/bowels to ruin my friends wedding! Fingers crossed.

And think that covers it for the update on IBS/stomach/bowel status. I’ll try to be more active on here, no guarantees just cause with this, the op, some fam dramas, preparing for the wedding/travel to wedding and general job hunting troubles...life’s been bit all over the place.

Hope you’ve all been well or, least coping and found some methods of relief.

-Keira, Out

[Ninorod]

What do these different IBS mean. Like IBS-D and IBS-C

[Hidden in reply to Ninorod]

It’s splitting the IBS into two sub-categories basically.

C means you’ve got more constipation based experiences while D is more Diarrhoea based experiences~

[Ninorod in reply to Hidden]

O ok thx

[Hidden in reply to Ninorod]

No prob

[Ninorod in reply to Hidden]

I have a quick question. So I did a stool test and I have no bacteria but I still have serious stomach pain and terrible eating habits due to bloating and other pains. Can I still be diagnosed with IBS

[Hidden in reply to Ninorod]

That’s definitely something you’ll have to discuss with your doc and they should have you do a few more tests as well as a possibly doing a colonoscopy/endoscopy (which I’m going for tomorrow to be the final test). Every other test has come back clear for me too so if this does than, it’ll be confirmation I definitely do or they’ll find another reason that’s causing it.

It sounds like you could have it though based on your symptoms. IBS is something that can’t really be tested for but, is the term they use to explain those kind of symptoms once every other potential cause has been ruled out. Since it varies from person to person it’s hard to determine it straight away. So they do stool, blood, urine tests, plus abdominal ultrasounds usually as well (least in my case) are done to kind of eliminate any other reason, then the endo and colon scopes are the final step if nothing else was picked up just to be certain there’s no other causes.

I can only say this based on my own experiences, but you’ll have to talk to your doc on it, and see where they suggest you go as your next step to diagnose the issue. And keep pushing for answers and tests to be done until you get confirmation or they find another cause. That’s something I’ve learnt to do after docs kept dismissing the issue ^^

Hope that helps? X’3

[Ninorod in reply to Hidden]

Wow thank you for the response. This really helped. Let me know what happens tomorrow. I had visible mucus in my stool so I knew something was up so I was surprised it came back good. I think I might have a bowel obstruction or something cuz I still have strong and sharp pains while breathing in deeply and stretching and twisting

[Hidden in reply to Ninorod]

I’m glad ^-^ I’ll definitely be posting the results I get after the scopes~ so keep eye out.

I hope that you’ll find your answers soon, do keep me posted on how it progresses from here.

Oh, You could try Metamucil, it’s not the best tasting stuff (mixed with juice it’s not too bad) but it’s good to help make things flow a little easier through the intestines and bowels. Works for some and not for others, but might give you a little relief?

[Ninorod in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. I will look into it. At this point I’m desperate to do anything. I’ll keep u posted Hank you and good luck👍

[Hidden in reply to Ninorod]

Agreed. Mean answers might not relieve any issue we have but it’s reassuring to least know what it is rather than just ‘stomach pains’. Plus then can work on remedies then.

Good luck to you too!

[Eastbourne11 in reply to Hidden]

There is now a test for IBS it is called IBSchek.

[Hidden in reply to Eastbourne11]

Well that’s gonna make life easier! Man why could t that of been out like last year lol. But that’s really good news ^^

[A_IBS]

Hi, just to mention about the probiotics. If you have a condition called SIBO, probiotics are likely to make symptoms worse as there is already too much bacteria where it shouldn’t be. This can be good bacteria as well as bad. Also, take a look at the ingredients as if it contains some sort of FOS this is high FODMAP. I accidentally ate FOS in the form of a Quaker ready to go porridge square thingy - bad move!! Oh and those Fibre One bars....even worse!! Anything that feeds bacteria can cause symptoms in us IBSers!

[Hidden in reply to A_IBS]

Have never heard of that before but that kinda makes sense! I’ve had my stool tested and nothing unordinary came back so I don’t think I have it buttttt got a friend who has had these kind of symptoms after eating so imma be suggesting they ask the doc about that~

Thanks for the handy tip ^^

[A_IBS in reply to Hidden]

Yeah they don’t check for SIBO by a stool test, it’s with a breath test. You drink a sugary liquid and breathe into a device every half hour or so and they read the results. They’re looking for an increase of certain gases that are produced by bacteria. It’s not just bad bacteria that can cause an issue. If you have too much good bacteria in your small intestine you can get bloating soon after finishing eating. Also because there is now little food for the bacteria in the large intestines to use it can cause constipation or diarrhoea. You may not get much luck with your gp regarding SIBO as it’s a pretty recent theory so definitely google as much as you can before you go to the docs. Good luck!!

[Hidden in reply to A_IBS]

They don’t? I did do a quick google of it and it was one of the tests. But as you said, breath test was number one method ^^ It’s something I’ll definitely discuss with my GP when I see him next, he’s usually pretty good and up to date with methods so worth a shot~

Thanks!

[Flik22]

All the best for your colonoscopy tomorrow! Keeps us posted with your outcome 👍Xx