Need advise please. chronic IBS flair up or something else? - Giardia ?

[RobWilde]

I recently had to phone an ambulance as pain was new and unreal.

i live in the UK and its no exaggeration to say that IBS has controlled my life since getting food poisoning over 3 years ago. ive had alternating C and D but mostly I've been regular. My IBS symptoms have mostly been nausea, pain high up in my abdomen, food intolerance's and a no appetite, during my first year of IBS i lost over 7 stone in weight and became very skinny while i was trying desperately to do my own a food elimination diet. i have been to the hospital and had every test under the sun and IBS is my diagnosis. I "manage" my condition with a very strict diet.

Last week i got really bad constipation - high up in my stomach. it makes me feel really sick so i often have to take Cyclizine (an anti sickness tablet). the pain this time got so bad and kept me up all night at until i had a BM at about 9am that smelt bad like an infection, pain that followed took me to another level and i had to call for help, the ambulance took me into hospital but i didn't do another BM so they couldn't test it for anything. i was discharged by 4pm after some strong painkilelrs and giving an emergency appointment with my GP who put me on another program for CBT.

Since then ive been having smelly watery BMs and im having bad eggy burps that's making me feel sick, and through online research could i have giardia, or have contracted a bug?

The doctors in hospital and my GP looked at my history of tests and just decided it was a really bad flair up.

im just looking for your guys opinion on what i should do? dose this sound like an IBS flair up? What do you do when doctors refuse to repeat tests or give you any treatment?

[Ibs17]

Have they tested you for gallbladder, gallstones? If pain is in upper right of abdomen, just under ribs and gives pain in back,worse pain you have ever known, us women say worse than childbirth, then go back and ask for a scan at least, keep going back, or park yourself in A and E if you can bear it. If possible a different one from where you went before. If you start feeling really fluey, have high temperature, violently sick, high pulse rate get help from GP or hospital straight away as that is an infection. I’ve had this loads of times thinking I just had a virus, I know now with advice from GP it’s an infection in gallbladder or bowel.

[RobWilde in reply to Ibs17]

Thanks for replying, i have been checked for gallbladder problems and have had 2 scans that should have showed up stones, pretty sure ive had the works.

its just so frustrating that in this modern age when a doctor sais you have IBS its like them pretty much just saying - oh your fine, and still expected to carry on with a normal life and its all in your head but its just not the case. ill keep at them though, i want my life back

Thanks

[Ibs17 in reply to RobWilde]

Ok , I know how frustrating it is , it hasn’t improved in the 24 years since I was diagnosed, I had had it for many years before. I don’t know if it’s the same for men but a lot of women end up in so much pain, have no energy, can’t sleep. They then say you have fibromyalgia, excercise, eat healthy and take these meds, oh we won’t tell you that’s in your head too, and we are giving you old antidepressants we can’t give out anymore, they will help you too. I have given up I am only seeing a doctor or consultant if I am hospitalised due to infection or complications. I have problems with gallbladder and have been told you can have it out, BUT!,! It will make the IBD worse, it can’t get much worse now. So no I won’t be having it out, then it gives them the excuse not to treat me anymore. The dermatologist is doing a patch test so that may throw up something random, although food intolerance test didn’t. I can’t take Buscopan or loperamide ant diahorea tabs anymore as I have glaucoma and it affects my eyesight if I take them now. There is nothing else so I just have to suffer. I don’t know if it’s any better in any other country.

[sweetsusie in reply to Ibs17]

I had chronic diarrhea for years and finally found a doctor who prescribed a medication called "Welchol" for me. It's very expensive, though, so he's switched me to another one called: "Colestipol." They both are miracle drugs...stopped my diarrhea in it's tracks. I finally feel free. Hopefully, your diarrhea is not going to last much longer, but if it does, you might want to see if your doctor will prescribe. These drugs are also used to lower cholesterol (but not very well unless they're used with a statin), and type II diabetes. No worries.....I don't have type II diabetes and am doing fine on them. I can totally relate to how awful this makes you feel and I hope you get better soon.

[Ibs17 in reply to sweetsusie]

Are you in the UK? Never heard of these meds at all. I have been to see Gastrologist three times in twenty odd years. First time had barium X-ray and a tube put up my nether end, air pumped in until I screamed the place down. Oh yes you have IBS, eat loads more fibre, everything wholemeal, loads of veg and fruit, beans etc and be thankful that’s all you have. Went back many years later as symptoms became unbearable lots of time of sick, having to get family out of bathroom mid shower to go. Consultant said I’m not prodding you about, I’m not doing tests go away it’s just IBS. Oh and don’t eat wholewheat, fibre etc it’s bad for IBS I know I said I’ve been gluten free and dairy free for years. Go to see nutritionalist, oh you can’t eat anything on this sheet or this one, eat what doesn’t upset you. Then I saw one about my gallstones, oh yes we can take it out but it will make IBS really bad.So you can see I have been offered nothing really. Thank you for the reply and suggestions.

[sweetsusie in reply to Ibs17]

I'm in the US, lbs17. I'm not sure you can get either of these in the UK, but it sure would be worth tellilng your doctors about them. If they would prescribe these to all their patients that have diarrhea, it would be a wonderful, freeing thing. I have had my gallbladder out, so I don't know if that's what started my chronic diarrhea, but now that it's cured with medication, I just say YIPPEE!!!

[sweetsusie in reply to Ibs17]

One other thing, lbs17; Here's a website with info. about colestipol: looks like it's available in the UK:

nice.org.uk/advice/esuom22/...

[missymo]

I know how you feel.😥😥everyday as soon as I eat o

[missymo]

Any bowel disease is vile. I've had a lot if surgery which was nothing at all to do with bowel but it's the bowel that seems to suffer.miserable life Every Day with it& it's exhausting 😭

[Ibs17 in reply to missymo]

Hi Missymo it stinks doesn’t it, they dont understand the effect it has on us. I am down to two days at work now and still struggling, I can’t take any anti diahorea meds either so if it’s bad have to phone in sick. It’s miserable, good we have support here. Take care xxx