IBS after multiple bowel surgeries

[Tiggers-poo]

Hi I’m a 58 year old woman, I have complex health issues. I have SLE ( lupus), type 2 diabetic, sjrogrens syndrome & an inoperable Brain Anurism.

The thing that’s giving me the most grief is the bowel issues due to the amount of abdo surgery I’ve had I’m full of adhesions after numerous hospital admissions over the past years I’ve been diagnosed with diverculitis, and IBS wth the adhesions giving me the diagnosis of a functional bowel disorder. I’m on 2 movicol a day, and senna if needed. I eat lots of fruit veg, drink loads of water and still feel constipated, I’m now doing weekly bowel washouts, not as gross as it sounds. My dilemma is that this last flair nothing seemed to work, I ended up taking 9 movicol over 24 hours with a moderate result but still that awful feeling of bloating, tight band across abdo. I’m reading tips on here that I’ve not tried and am greatful for any help advice. I’m a retired Clinician so am knowledgable about lots of stuff, but am aware I’m in my 7th year of retirement and surgery was never my joy.

[Rozzy46]

So sorry to hear about all your health problems. You obviously know a lot about your condition and what to do but I wondered if you've tried deep relaxation breathing on a daily basis to see if that helps ease and relax your muscles to help move things along? Prof John Hunter's book on IBS gives some helpful advice on this but there are also many videos on deep relaxation breathing on youtube. It might help just to try because it helps me when I get that tight abdominal feeling. I feel for you - it's miserable to have to deal with this kind of difficulty - stay positive because I do believe things can get better and certainly deep breathing and relaxation will help a lot.

[EOLHPC]

my profile is somewhat similar except have so far avoided bowel surgery. Am 65. Rheumatology + immunology + gastroenterology think my childhood onset mouth to exit slow transit dysmotility & hyperreactivity are mainly due to infant onset SLE + early onset SS & small vessel vasculitis, and early onset PID (hypogammaglobulinaemia) + hEDS are also underlying causes.

Over the decades, have been gradually diagnosed with a typical inflammatory set of upper GI conditions + have managed Intestinal Insufficiency all my life via self help inc exclusion high fibre Low FODMAP diet etc etc,

i’m now also in care with specialist gastro dieticians @ my NHS univ hospital in my 11th month on EEN (exclusive enteral nutrition) + a few ultra low residue foods & drinks eg plain rice cakes.

Prescription EEN + non fermentable low residue bulk forming methyl-cellulose (In the USA Citrucel, in the UK Celevac: 2 tabs a.m. & 2 p.m.) + my other combined therapy treatment plan meds (especially helpful re my lower GI tract are rheumatology’s 10mg pred & 1000mg myco cellcept)

It was our colorectal chief who promptly prescribed the methylcellulose Celevac at our first appt 2 years ago: it is KEY to managing my slow transit issues (i retained the video capsule for 21 days during VCE). I cannot recommend Celevac enough. But i hyperreact to movicol & all other such treatments...as well as any foods that aren’t ultra low residue....so celevac is a lifesaver alongside my EEN cartons (Nutricia Elemental 038 Extra - this marvellous stuff has so relieved my chronic malabsorption that i don’t even miss food). Thanks to all my prescrip meds + lifestyle management, am generally feeling better than i have since childhood

Maybe something in there can can be useful - hope so...good luck, Coco