IBS symptoms

[Hullcity121]

Hello guys merry Christmas to all. Has anyone else had stomach cramps and bad pains what have lasted everyday for a few months with bad gas and alternate stools from loose stools to smooth long stools. Pain all over abdomen and in the sides (flank)any replies appreciated

[Poppi2015]

My daughter has been like that for 2-3 months now. She has what looks like mucus covered over her stools.

[Hullcity121 in reply to Poppi2015]

Yes same here changes all the time but belly cramps constant mucus is a sign of ibs I sometimes get it too.

[Poppi2015 in reply to Hullcity121]

Have you had any blood test or stool specimens done

[Hullcity121 in reply to Poppi2015]

Yes both and they came back fine

[xjrs]

Have you been formally diagnosed with IBS by your GP?

[Hullcity121 in reply to xjrs]

No I've just had blood and stool tests both back fine had an ultrasound of abdomin that was clear had a fatty liver from carrying abit if weight but other then then everything's been normal I had a upper endoscopy too camera down throat and I had a mild irritation whay could of been gerd

[xjrs in reply to Hullcity121]

'Normal' tests tend to point to IBS. Have you been referred by your GP to a fodmap trained dietitian to take you through the fodmap diet? People with IBS can be intolerant to certain foods which causes gut issues. By eliminating foods that you are sensitive to this can help control your symptoms. However this needs the guidance of a dietitian. If this doesn't bring things under control, you can consider going back to your GP or a gastroenterlogist to discuss antispasmodic medication including things like enteric coated peppermint, but it is best to try the diet (natural approach) first.

[Hullcity121 in reply to xjrs]

Tha is for your reply I'm just reading up on fodmap as we speak lol can you explain what it is if you have the time please.

[xjrs in reply to Hullcity121]

Fodmaps stands for "Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols". Hence the abbreviation. This link might help: theibsnetwork.org/diet/fodm.... It's a group of certain types of carbohydrates found in a variety of foods (mainly certain cereals, fruits and vegetables) that are poorly absorbed by many people with IBS. Their waste products enter the colon where bacteria in the colon feeds off of them, producing gases (which can lead to cramping & pain). Some also draw too much water into the bowel causing loose stools. Monash University in Australia identified them. This work has been continued by the Kings College in London and it has been adopted by the NHS for the management of IBS. There are some useful apps you can download - monashfodmap.com/ibs-centra...

kcl.ac.uk/lsm/schools/life-...

The first one is handy to find out which items and their quantities are low fodmap. The second one is UK based and it will tell you low fodmap products in UK supermarkets. However, fodmaps are very good for your health since they feed your good gut bacteria which have an enormous role to play in your health so you don't want to eliminate them all unnecessarily. This is why it is important to have a dietitian take you through the elimination and reintroduction stages to see if there are any fodmaps that you can still tolerate and continue with those. theibsnetwork.org is a great resource of information. If you subscribe, you can pose questions to their highly qualified medical experts in the field of IBS.

[rosco1 in reply to xjrs]

You cant get diagnosed properly for IBS

[xjrs in reply to rosco1]

It tends to be the default diagnosis when all other tests come back 'normal' but the patient is still experiencing gut symptoms. The reason I asked the question is that some people may assume that they have IBS and self treat/medicate when they could have something else that might need medical intervention (e.g. chrons, colitis & cancer). I knew someone who constantly took either senna or imodium to regulate bowel habit, didn't get the tests done and ended up having a bowel obstruction due to a blockage caused by cancer and nearly died. These cases will be statistically more rare than IBS, but you can't be too careful.

[Tig345]

Hi have you tried bay leaf tea it has helped with cramping. I have heard aniseed, fennel, ginger and chamomile tea are also helpful.

Lemongrass also has benefits

Avoid foods that cause gas...try plain gluten-free oatmeal (i have it without milk) but if you can tolerate but milk to help.

[Hullcity121 in reply to Tig345]

I tried peppermint fed bit not for.long enough still got.some left though at home not very nice at all.

[rosco1]

Hi, yes I have the same symptoms. Severe abdominal pain on left side above my thigh. Was told it was IBS, the older I get the worse it getting. Had all the tests that you can get and nothing has shown up.

[301246]

My IBS is worsening, mainly constipation but just had 2 days of diarrhoea. I have also lost over 4 stones in weight and feel I have malabsorption. Have been prescribed Oramorph for pain but I need more nourishment but all I get at A & E is morphine for pain relief.

[Hullcity121]

Mine seems too always be their but like tonight for example I had my tea pasta and bolognese yes not the most healthy but straight away it brings a horrible discomfort what lasts all night cramps and just bloating and uncomfortable. I sometimes get eggy burps and really bad wind where I cannot stop passing wind. When I bend over at work it can hurt sometimes it feels as if I've pulled myself in my lower abdomen some times it's a sharp pain then a dull ache. I get a stich like pain in my left side beneath my ribs in the soft part had these belly aches years ago had a camera up my back side all clear going back some time then died down. Now I've had bloods stool tests camera down throat ultrasound all came back with nothing major do from now I'm going 100 percent healthy eating and exercise now xmas is out the way