Help with ibs-d , very bad smell wife going mad with the bad smell .

[Oneman80]

Had ibs-d for years , over the last few months the smell seems to be getting worse tried different things over the years but dont seem to do any thing , take buscopan and fibre sure . Ive just started trying kefir but doesnt seem to be doing anything . Has anyone got any recommendations , how to get rid of the smell the wife is going mad . The wife works in nursing he and says she has never smelt anything so rotten

[Viklou]

Lol. Mine smell absolutely horrible like something has been dead in there for a while, I must say this is kind of a foul sour smell. I think it's something to do with bacteria or just rotting guts. I live on my own so only me who has to live with it but sometimes in public toilets people walk in and comment on how bad it is. I'm now beyond being embarrassed about it and have previously had cubicle conversations with those that comment and actually people have been educated in IBS at it's worst

[Catatvet05]

Hello, have you tried taking a stool test? It could be an bacterial infection in your stomach or in one of your intestine? Maybe try reducing your sugar and grain intake? Also, ask your gp if you can be checked for Candidas.

[amyj]

Have you tried peppermint oil capsules? Lots of people consider them very helpful--like a cure--for diarrhea, but I've only found them to give me minty fresh poo. For sure, you should consider seeing your doctor on this since it is a rather recent change in your bowels.

[xjrs]

Just wondering if you are a meat eater and do you eat red meat? I have known people who have given up red meat and they no longer have foul smelling flatulence.

Here is some information about IBS that I have shared with others in this group in case any of these tips are of interest to you:

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 excess gas, pain or disordered bowel movements. There is an interesting infographic on this here:

gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/....

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 and Kings College fodmap apps, they 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.

You may also find assistance with anti-spasmodic medication such as mebeverine (Colofac) or enteric coated peppermint (may help with the smell?).

You can find some info on self management here:

theibsnetwork.org/the-self-...

If all of the usual IBS remedies fail and you are experiencing diarrhea, it is worth getting tested for BAM (Bile Acid Malabsorption), which can cause constant diarrhea - there is a separate test and treatment for that. Good luck.

[asbayford]

The low fodmap diet

[Ibsqueen94]

Depends what I’ve ate sometimes I can eat something that doesn’t agree with me and you know straight away by the smell. Maybe try a food diary and see if you have intolerances to certain things

[Sonata2]

Lots of good advice on here. Keep on taking the kefir. Try to take every day for several months. It helped me straight away but even more so after taking it long term. It’s been a huge help for me, but need to take it for a while. I’m now taking kefir permanently about 3 times a week. Probiotic pills do help people but didn’t work nearly so well for me as kefir. I buy from supermarket. Most kefir is made with milk, so not good for anyone with any degree of lactose intolerance. Kefir can also be made with water.

[Beth673]

Morning,

I have both types of IBS, for the past 9 months I’ve had IBS D consistently. Had a colonoscopy recently - Waiting for results. I’ve also been referred to dietitian. She’s not putting me onFODMAP just yet, I’ve been told to cut caffeine, until healthy snacks and what seemed bizarre - high fibre foods. 🤷‍♀️ But it makes sense, I eat loads as that’s what everyone tells us is healthy to eat. Maybe your fibre supplement is not doing you any good at the moment since your D is bad. Also BioKult probiotics helps me a little, it might help you? 🤷‍♀️

Fingers crossed it gets more manageable soon.

[Oneman80]

I was looking at the low fodmap , ive started on the peppermint tea , thing what confuses abit im sure on the fodmap it says kefir is high so shouldnt be taking yet people say its good , i think it is helping abit i have around a glass of the milk and then some yoghurt . Many thanks for all the suggestions .

[ShrewdCaff]

Try medicated charcoal capsules after your meals. Helps mitigate the worst of the smell

[Oneman80 in reply to ShrewdCaff]

I looked into them but i take blood pressure medication and read that it can have an effect on medication by absorbing it.