Is this IBS?

[Salsa55]

Is this IBS?

I suffer from excessive gas and have done for many years . It usually begins after eating and can go on for hours only being relieved by a bowel movement. Unfortunately they never feel complete and come out in small soft pieces. I have followed all the usual advice on foods to avoid, eating slowly, avoiding carbonated drinks, taking food and drink separately and am currently taking Bimuno- a daily digestive supplement. Nothing has made a difference. I also suffer from anxiety and am on Venlafaxine which I have tried to unsuccessfully reduce. Does this sound like IBS? Any advice would be welcome as I am now avoiding any events where food and drink will be taken.

[Helenbperks]

So sorry to hear this! As a Registered Nutritional Therapist and someone that has suffered from IBS/bloating/gas in the past, I now specialise in gut issues and I would recommend you undertake a GI-MAP test. This is a test I use with many of my clients in order to identify whether you have a bacterial overgrowth, parasites, yeast overgrowth etc. I always look for the root cause and go from there. Each person has very individual experiences and reasons for their dysfunctional digestive tract and a multi-disciplinary Approach is usually needed.

There may also be a possibility that you are suffering from a small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and that can be tested separately, identifying whether or not you are hydrogen or methane dominant.

I hope this info has been of some help and I hope you get some relief very soon.

[Maureen1958]

It sounds a good description of IBS to me. Have you spoken to your doctor about it or had any tests done?

[TheLegend1986]

You sound exactly like me, I went on for quite a while like it and was recently diagnosed with IBS, go to the drs, some of the tests I didn’t find nice but have to be done, however I was given mebeverine which helps relieve symptoms a little