I've been experiencing symptoms such as sudden diarrhoea about once a week and bloating for a few months now, I spoke to my doctor about the symptoms and she gave me a few things to try but to no success yet unfortunately. However right now I'm starting to get really down about it, i daren't leave the house unless necessary (ie for work) for fear of it happening while I'm out and not being able to find a toilet in time. This just really isn't like me, I used to be out seeing friends, going on days out etc all the time but just can't now because I'm so fearful. Does anyone else experience this? I feel like I no longer have any kind of life
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cassiex
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I had this situation for over 40 years, always put down to IBS. Two years ago I was diagnosed with Bile Acid Diarrhoea which is now treated. In your situation it would be a good idea to go back to your doctor and ask her to investigate your condition. There can be many causes of sudden diarrhoea and you shouldn't be left to try and work it out on your own. I wish you all the best, it is a thoroughly miserable and debilitating condition to live with.
If you are diagnosed with IBS, here is some information about IBS that I have shared with others in this group:
IBS can be due to a number or combination of factors - these can be stress (including stress from early life experiences) which impacts the communication between the brain and the digestive system. There are lots of free webinars online at the moment regarding mindfulness meditation which might help. Plus you can ask to be referred for CBT or something similar to reduce your anxiety - I would have thought online appointments are available. Exercise can play a major role in IBS in terms of reducing stress, helping your gut microbiome and regulating bowel movements.
There is also not absorbing certain types of carbohydrates called FODMAPs very well, the residue ending up in the colon and bacteria feeding off them causing symptoms. Ordinarily feeding gut bacteria is a really good thing - when you feed good gut bacteria these produce by-products that have great health effects in the gut and throughout the body. However, in some people with IBS bad bugs might have the upper hand over good - these bad bugs may cause symptoms such as pain or disordered bowel movements. There is an interesting infographic on this here:
This is why it’s worth trying probiotics such as Alflorex (which has been scientifically studied for IBS) or Symprove to crowd out the bad bugs and make their numbers die down. If that doesn't work you can try the FODMAP elimination and reintroduction diet. This is normally under the guidance of a nutritionist via GP referral - this may not be possible at the moment so you can read about it online. If you download the Monash University FODMAP app it will tell you which foods contain FODMAPs and in what quantities. You can eliminate all FODMAPs for 2 weeks and then introduce each type of FODMAP one at a time starting in small quantities, increasing over a 3 day period and wait up to 4 days for symptoms. I go much slower than this - only introducing a small amount (1/4 to 1/3 of a normal portion size) of the same food for 3 days and then increase if tolerable or no symptoms and cut back to the previous amount if symptoms for longer and then try to increment again . I've read your microbiome can adapt to handling a new food if introduced very slowly and your bad bugs are under control with a good probiotic. Ideally you want to eat as many FODMAPs as you can since they are good for your health. Many people with IBS don't have diverse gut bacteria - it has been found that people who lack a diverse microbiome are more prone to diseases in general. In the long run, if you can get your symptoms under control, the ideal situation is to have a very varied diet - lots of different coloured fruits and vegetables, a variety of protein and carbohydrate sources including cereal fibres. This may seem a long way off, but with the right treatment all of this is possible. Last year all I could consume to control my IBS was white rice, protein and limited low fodmap veg. Using the approach above (particularly introducing Alflorex) I am now able to consume far more foods - more than I've ever dreamed of including wholewheat bread which is unheard of for me.
If you are also suffering from pain, you may be suffering from visceral hypersensitivity (functional abdominal pain) - there is info about it here:
It is where the brain interprets the normal activity of the bowel as pain - this is due to a wearing down of neurons in pain control centres of the brain which can be caused by PTSD, neglect or abuse in childhood, extreme stressful events etc. The first line treatment is nerve pain agents such as low dose amitriptyline. There is a theory that being on something like amitriptyline for 6-12 months can help the pain control centre neurons to regenerate. Note that amitriptyline can cause constipation, but this can be helpful in people who are diarrhea dominant. Unfortunately I couldn't tolerate these. Linaclotide (for IBS-C only) & Alflorex have helped me with this intestinal pain.
You may also find assistance with anti-spasmodic medication such as mebeverine (Colofac) or enteric coated peppermint.
I am experiencing the exact same issue - you are not alone! I'm currently waiting for CBT to try and help with things. I feel my life is generally good but it literally is just my stomach symptoms that make me feel bad! I've been prescribed some imodium to help me go out but I'm too scared to take it because I know the severe pain side stops when I go to the loo - I've taken it before, the pain starts and not been able to go because of a very low dose of imodium and have been left in agony.
I'm sorry I've not been very helpful- thought I would let you know what my doctor has suggested and tell you your not on your own.
I suffer with stress induced IBS and had it severely in my 20s amd 30s but got it under control in 2014 finally through a combination of CBT and using silicolgel which i cant live without although I no longer use it daily but just to manage stress flashpoint such as commuting, eating out, travelling abroad and before any stressful work meetings. It has given me the confidence to get out again after so many miserable years of embarrassing hours stuck in toilets or urgently needing the loo as my IBS is always windy bloated tummy and diarrhoea. I couldn't even sit in a theatre or restaurant without fear on not being able to get out by people to the loo. Knowing where a loo was everywhere I went was obsessive. However I finally realised that although I had only ever had one accident, all the other times my fear was real but I had always made it to a loo. I finally broke the cycle by having a pack of coping things with me, a battery powered fan to keep cool, sick bag, toilet paper, bottle of water always with me and when I felt the nervous trigger in my tummy I would use the fan to keep cool and quietly 'om' which no one could really hear on a plane or in a train but it would focus my mind and help relax me. Eventually I realised I was managing situations with less stress but then I also found silicolgel which completely changed my life as it gave me the additional crutch or solution I needed to break the cycle of fear around going out and needing the toilet. I take it only on days where I feel I may need it and can't travel without it. I will always take it when eating out or going to the theatre. plane travel is especially difficult for me and so it is always with me when flying. I haven't had any problems since 2014 when I started using it. I still carry a little pack of comfort items because psychologically this will always help me. I am definitely a 'what if...' person and so I just habe to be prepared. Oddly also i think my symptoms have improved as i have started to become menopausal. Hormonal fluctuations perhaps have altered my bowel habits now too but at least that's a plus of the menopause!I hope you find something that can work for you.
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