Diagnosing IBS: Hi all, Does anyone know if... - IBS Network

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Diagnosing IBS

IBS- profile image
IBS-
11 Replies

Hi all,

Does anyone know if anyone IBS can be diagnosed? I have all the symptoms and suffering with severe constipation, it all started after having a c-section and certain food seems to trigger it such as bread, pasta, coffee etc... any advice would be appreciated.

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11 Replies

I would suggest seeing a doctor as there are a number of things it could be. If it's IBS eating strictly low fodmaps for a few days should settle your symptoms. However if you just recently had a baby it could be something else. Good luck I hope you figure it out; my IBS started after I had my first baby.

b1b1b1 profile image
b1b1b1

Agree with Roses - see a doctor.

IBS- profile image
IBS-

Thanks. I’ve been seeing a doctor for the past 12 months due to the problem and still no further... my daughter is now 2.5 yrs so this has been going on for a long time... I’ve see a consultant who diagnosed “slow transit constipation” sadly I’m still no further ahead...

AmandaJW profile image
AmandaJW in reply toIBS-

There are treatment options for slow transit constipation, maybe you could discuss it with your consultant. Don't be fobbed of with laxatives, there are surgical options. I know this because I have slow transit constipation and have had nearly every treatment available both medication and surgical intervention. Good luck and don't give up until you have answers.

IBS- profile image
IBS- in reply toAmandaJW

Thanks AmandaJW that’s good to know. Did surgery solve your problems or are you still having them? Also, did you find slow transit constipation has similar symptoms to IBS? I think they go hand in hand. Any info would be appreciated.

AmandaJW profile image
AmandaJW in reply toIBS-

For a long time docs just thought it was Ibs-c but when it got to the stage where I was going up to 5 weeks without a bowel movement they decided to do a colon transit study. Before the surgery I had to drink up to 12 litres of klean prep a week, it got to the stage where I couldn't drink it without extreme side effects so I had to keep going into hospital for a nasogastric tube and klean prep was administered through that but it meant a lot of hospital stays. Finally my gastro doc sent me to a surgeon, the first surgery I had done is called ace malone enema, they use your appendix to create a conduit from you colon to your abdomen so you are left with a stoma. Then you insert a catheter into the stoma and connect up to an irrigation bag and flush through liquid laxatives with warm water, you have to spend an hour on the toilet and continue to have bowel movements for up to another hour. To be honest the first year was really difficult, getting the mix right and finding the best time of day to do it. Unfortunately for me my colon is super slow so sometimes it was taking up to 4 hours to complete and I was up all night going to the toilet. The surgeon decided to operate again and this time I had sacral nerve stimulation. Basically I have a stimulator implanted just above my left buttock with wires leading to the sacral nerves which can increase motility in the colon. I have a hand held device to control it. I still do the flush everyday but now it's all over in an hour, it's not perfect but it's helped a lot, however if you suffer from pain, bloating and distention from ibs these surgeries will not solve these problems because I'm still suffering from this but it definitely improves constipation. Sorry for the long reply, hope it helps.

in reply toIBS-

Hi, I've been diagnosed with diverticulitis, and a nattowing if my bowels so everything runs slowly. Uggggh. One of the doc's I see thinks I've now got IBS symptoms. Wants me to see a gastroenterologist. All I was given is Laxido satchets. I've got a bowel overflow now. Maybe you have too

JohnS63 profile image
JohnS63

I've had the same difficulties in getting any clear direction and diagnosis from my docs. I'm in the UK.

It makes me wonder why there seems to be a reluctance by the docs in the first place.

Just may be due to the lack of treatment options if a positive diagnosis is made.

However, in the meantime, we suffer and bumble along with self remedies and self diagnosis.

I'm going to try another doc in the practice and hopefully one who has more interest in these sort of issues.

Could you do the same?

Susan1-2 profile image
Susan1-2

Since you just had a baby see a physiotherapist 2x week.

Strengthen your pelvic muscles with her. Don’t go it alone and do it wrong it will mess things up. Also, try Monash Diet exactly. Onion and garlic worst offenders, but the diet is balanced online. You can get the ap.

WoolPippi profile image
WoolPippi

hi. In my country IBS is an umbrella-diagnosis. When they've ruled out the other things. I have slow transit constipation, hence no IBS. I also have bendy tubes a.k.a. hepatic flexure syndrome.

I fire up my slowness by supplementing the hormone that stimulates the internal movements the bowel makes: serotonin. For this I take the pre-cursor 5-HTP.

The other hormone, that slows down motility, is dopamine.

Yes you're right, in your head these hormones are called neurotransmitters. Serotonin is the happiness hormone and dopamine is the concentration hormone.

Anti-depressants (AD) make serotonin bounce around your head longer. And around your bowel. Hence that loose stools are a side effect of AD.

Fibre is often a cause of slow transit constipation. Fibre is not per sé good for you. My GI told me. He's fine with me eating a low fibre diet. It's called Low Residue Diet.

Thirdly I avoid the build up of air in my intestines as much as possible. Air bubbles often block transit in my tubes. For this I do FODMAP which I have modified a bit with trial and error.

I also eat small portions. And I take a horizontal rest one hour after I've eaten. Meaning I eat, do a thing for an hour, then I lie down. Your food takes an hour before it's ready to leave your stomach. And once every 10 days I clean out the colon by drinking epsom salts (17 grams of Magnesium Sulphate). Also 2 grams of it C will clear you out, but your body gets used to it.

Guess what. No more bloating. Regular bowel movement. I sleep through the night. Yes I eat very restricted but I am happy now. (full fat cream and butter, cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea, body builders protein, egg yoke, gelatine, chicken stock)

Misslovely profile image
Misslovely

I use a tea called Slimatee which helps speed things along for me but for the most part i manage what im eating.

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