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[Vera1943]

I started suffering with IBS five years ago. I’ve tried everything to see if it would help but nothing works for me. When I’m really worried I take imodium before leaving the house a d I also find a dose of fibregel helps a bit. However over the last few months I have been waking up at night with terrible cramps and then I may have to get up out four times to get to the loo and then I feel quite dreadful next day. This happens about every two weeks. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Grateful71]

I've been struggling with my digestive system for about 10 years but the last 4 years have been really challenging. Like you I take medication when I'm worried but try and keep it to a minimum. I went on a low fodmap diet for about 7 months but that was probably a bit too long for me but it certainly helped short term to ease my symptoms. I worked with a dietitian but could do with going back to see her as my system is really sluggish and it makes me feel ill. Maybe try a few changes of diet and see if anything in particular is irritating you 💛

[Vera1943 in reply to Grateful71]

Hi, I do keep a diary and every time I have an episode and write down what I have eaten the day before but nothing ever shows up. I have tried every kind of medications that are supposed to help but nothing makes any difference. I also suffer with dreadful gas and bloating some days worse than other.

[Grateful71 in reply to Vera1943]

I find a few foods trigger me but my symptoms are linked more strongly to anxiety and work stress. I'm trying to deal with this but finding it hard, have had to take anti anxiety meds recently 😔

[Carrjan in reply to Grateful71]

I am having to take diazepam in the day and Nitrazepam at night due to panic about my symptoms. Gastroenterologist examined me and said prob IBS. Having a CT scan n 3 days tine. No diah or constip. Some wind. Today intense pain. Both sides and across middle of lower abd.. Drs cant suggest anything but paracetamol which is no good. Some times massaging my back just above the hip bones helpsor hot water bottle there. Lying in my tumy gives more relief than lying on my back.

[Grateful71 in reply to Carrjan]

I am doing 30 mins of yoga for digestion morning and night which can sometimes help. Any kind of relaxation for the anxiety is good but if you are like me I need alot of movement to keep things moving. It's not easy 😔

[Vera1943 in reply to Grateful71]

Hi I do keep a diary and every time I have an episode I write down what I have eaten the day before but nothing shows up. I have tried every kid of medication that is supposed to help but nothing works. I also suffer with terrible gas and bloating, some days worse than others

[Carrjan in reply to Vera1943]

I do that too and cant work out what it is causing it. I have cut right back on FODMAPs for last 3 weeks but all this week have had another attack.

[BlueKeith]

I've had ibs for over 20 years and had the longest spell ( over a year) without symptoms. I thought it had gone for good until I had noodles in my Chinese food. I have been logging a food diary and the the main culprit are pasta and noodles Weetabix and food with a lot of cooked tomato in like Bolognese sauces . Just from them noodles I've got heartburn gas constipation but the worse part is pain in left side of abdomen and feeling unwell. It's like the bowel is cramped tight and not letting anything through making it infected or something. I get a fever on night at its worse.

[xjrs]

Did you have all the usual tests to diagnose IBS (blood and stool sample tests)?

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 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.

If you are also suffering from pain, you may be suffering from visceral hypersensitivity (functional abdominal pain) - there is info about it here:

iffgd.org/lower-gi-disorder...

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.

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.

[Vera1943]

Thank you for all helpful tips! I have certainly got some reading to do. Colofac doesn’t help me . This was prescribed for me by dr but didn’t help . I think I might try. Alflorex as this is about the only thing I haven’t tried. I have had all the usual tests including colonoscopy and ultrasound and I never thought I would have that feeling of disappointment when they can never find anything!

[eliz45 in reply to Vera1943]

Have you had a test for celiac?

[Vera1943 in reply to eliz45]

Yes that was done quite early on,

[bobbyrita]

as I have mentioned before last year I had IBS brought on when my best friend died. I also am bipolar II. My psychiatrist prescribed another antipsychotic Vraylar which also acts as an antidepressant it was magic. my ibs went away. it has been 6 months now.good luck

[swarke22]

Hi, I’ve had ibs on and off for years many times including stress. I had several colonic hydration. They got rid of 6kilos of plaque in the bowel which sticks to the wall of the bowel making the bowel exit thinner. 6 kilos I lost in one weekend. I also started on a good probiotic. Ibs is generally a result of the modern diet. I like to have one done every so often. Hope it helps. Find a good one.

[Vera1943 in reply to swarke22]

Wow ! This seems worth a try particularly in view of my age. Many years for everything to get clogged up!

[Batteria in reply to swarke22]

This seems worth trying. I have no symptoms at the moment. I’ve been clear for a year. But if it starts up again I will certainly consider colonic irrigation. Thank you swarke. Bx