Question for members who have diagnosed IBS.

[Chim_Chim]

Question for members who have diagnosed IBS.

Is IBS constant? As in it never goes away. It constantly feels like your abdomen is cramping? Do you ever get points of relief?

[Weeg23]

No my IBS comes and goes throughout the day but i dont cramp everyday.

[Chim_Chim in reply to Weeg23]

Thank you for the reply.... I guess I dont have ibs?

Idk it's always hurting feeling like my side is in knots. I have had every medical test done and still nothing found

[Weeg23 in reply to Chim_Chim]

Everyone is different yours just may be more severe in that it doesnt give you a break like mines does.

[FRreedman]

The reason it takes so long to diagnose IBS, is because everyone is different. We all have some effects that refer to us only.

[Angelreader]

I don't, and wouldn't expect to, suffer from stomach pains constantly. When I have a flair up...sometimes for no reason I can fathom...it makes my life a misery however I can go weeks or months with no symptoms. I recommend seeing a FODMAP trained dietitian so you can identify which foods are your triggers (some foods aren't triggers on their own but can be when eaten with other types of food). It was money well spent for me, I went private as the NHS couldn't find me one to refer to 🙄.

[Iguvup in reply to Angelreader]

Can I ask, in the first phase of the elimination phase, were you really strict?

I’m seeing my dietician this week after 5 weeks of low FODMAP 1st phase. I was v good in first 3 weeks then it went a little down hill. Just wondering if I’ve ruined the elimination phase. I can obviously ask my dietician too. Just wondered how you got on.

I have bad bloating etc when I have been stressed and not slept well - even if kept to low Fodmap, so I can see these are v relevant triggers as well as food.

Also, I’ve found drinking plenty of water throughout the day lessens symptoms. I don’t usually drink much water, or other liquids.

Has anyone else found this?

Sorry, kind of relevant for this thread.

[Angelreader in reply to Iguvup]

Yes, I stuck to it like glue as my life had been such a misery for months. Definitely fess up to your dietitian he or she will be able to advise you the best. Worse case scenario is that you have to continue on complete elimination so you get the full 6 weeks?

I drink loads of water now, I always carry a 750ml bottle with a built in straw that cost me less than a fiver from the supermarket and get through at least 3 of these a day.

Stick with it, it's worth it. The reintroduction phase is even harder as you are technically still on complete elimination in between the 3 days of testing a food group. After testing you are back on full elimination for 3 days to clear your system.

Good luck x

[Iguvup in reply to Angelreader]

Thank you

[Viklou]

I have weeks that are worse than others. IBS is different for everyone. I think I've just become accustomed to it and take the better days as a bonus. I have bad pain sometimes that eases over time and also days where things are calmer. The fatigue however is constant that doesn't go away.

[auntyjean]

Have you thought about getting a private comprehensive stool test to see what your gut biome is and if any parasites. It's not cheap but worth it for me.

[epoot in reply to auntyjean]

Thanks for your comment, it seems this was a help? In all the years of suffering with IBS and many different invasive tests, a stool test has never been suggested. I’ve always found that very odd so will now speak to my GP and, if necessary, go privately..... fingers crossed!

[auntyjean in reply to epoot]

Is not available on the NHS. I found I had virtually no good gut bacteria and two parasites. Nothing seemed to work so I asked my GP to refer me to tropical diseases hospital. This is the only place that does specific stool and blood tests. I had treatment that is only available at that hospital and all pain and sickness now gone. I still have some minor bowel issues mainly because I have a floppy tortuous colon. I'm managing that.

[epoot in reply to auntyjean]

Thank you - am currently trying CBD oil but if it's no help after a few weeks, I will go to my GP (again!) I've made a note of what you've said which is a great starting point...

[epoot]

In reply to your question Chim_Chim, I get occasional calm spells but mainly have low level discomfort. Flare ups happen regularly and I can never pin down the cause. They can last for weeks and are often different types of pain (currently low down dragging pains that are stopping me sleeping...) The most frustrating condition!!

[xjrs]

Have you discussed with your GP about medication to help manage your symptoms such as antispasmodics (mebeverine/Colofac) or enteric coated peppermint? Have you had a referral to a fodmap trained dietitian? It is possible to manage IBS symptoms through medication, diet and stress relieving techniques such as exercise and meditation - however if there are things that you are eating all the time that are constantly irritating your IBS you can experience ongoing symptoms. There is a wealth of information on theibsnetwork.org about how to better manage IBS symptoms.

[Chim_Chim]

I have not talked to my GP about drugs to help and I just been dealing with a constant pain for the past 4 months that has made me doing my job almost impossible and it hurts my heart. I am a police officer and I'm so use to helping others but now I feel I cant do that. How can I protect others when I can't protect myself

[5catlover6]

Just work out what foods you cant eat. For me it is Rice, Onions, courgettes, avocados, peppers and mushrooms. Avoid your trigger foods and you should be ok. Also Never eat anything pre-prepared. Keep you food simple and cooked by you. Nothing in packets, you never know what is in them.

[Ernest2]

Hi Chim Chim,

IBS is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and has many causes.

Can you say what tests you have had so far.

Also which side is the pain in ?

Wishing you well,

Ernest

[Chim_Chim in reply to Ernest2]

Hello Ernest.

I have had a upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, 8 xrays, 4 CT scans, 4 MRI, lots of blood test, a stool test for inflammation and C-diff... all turning up negative for any abnormalities.

My pain has been for 4 months under left ribcage. It feels I knotting at times and other times if feels like my guts are trying to push out of my body like a zombie movie. The pain / pressure always hurts on the left side and never crossed over the to the right side... it never goes away either.

Idk what else it could be.

[Ernest2]

Hi Chim Chim,

Apologies, silly question I should have asked first:

Can you explain a bit more about your situation - where you live on the planet and which GP and which specialists you use (be careful about your security though and don't give your exact address etc.). Aside: You could put some of that in your HU profile.

Under your left ribcage is your spleen, and perhaps other stuff that might be upset.

I'm most certainly not a doctor, so can only ask questions to prompt thought.

What specialist departments have you seen so far?

Perhaps go back to the GP and make a list of what it could be, and what specialists you need to see.

And please don't give up on this. Sometimes it does take a lot of effort to sort things out.

Its not easy being a doctor, so try to help them to help you, if that makes sense.

Look after yourself.

Wishing you well,

Ernest

[xOceanx]

I was diagnosed with severe ibs.

I had lots of symptoms then it became daily, for a year every single day, the pain under left rib was always there, some days so painful I couldn't bend over.

Mine was food intolerances, but everyone is different, some can have same symptoms but different root causes.