Flare up help

[Ericaxmai]

I’m in the midst of an IBS-C flare up. It started last night with a massive bloat that made me look pregnant, gurgling from gas moving around inside me and the inability to go to the toilet or pass the gas even though I could tell that’s what was needed. Woke up today feeling horrid. Ate a full breakfast and lunch because I thought it would help but I think it’s just added to the discomfort. I’ve managed (with struggle) to go to the toilet a few times today but there’s still more that’s stuck inside me and I know I will feel better once it’s gone but the waiting is exasperating. I get so unmotivated, stressed and upset and beat myself up for not being able to get anything done from how unwell I feel. It makes me have no energy, no appetite and makes me feel sick from how much is built up inside of me. Sorry for the rant but any advice that’s not just the usual movement, drink water, try not stress etc would be helpful because I just feel like I need to try something new 🤕

[xjrs]

I have IBS-C and have been prescribed Linaclotide for it and I am also taking Alflorex probiotic which has been scientifically studied for IBS. These in combination have reduced the pain I am in considerably and I have been able to tolerate more foods so that I am able to consume the extra fibre I need to have a BM. Linaclotide is meant to increase transit time and help with pain. Linaclotide reduced my pain by 50%-60%. When I added in Alflorex, the pain reduced to zero and only comes back when I am reintroducing foods back into my diet and before my body adapts (or I have to give up on that food).

To improve constipation in the short term you can try ground flaxseed on your breakfast, starting at 1 teaspoon and increasing at 1 teaspoon every 2-3 days - you'll need to consume extra water with it.

This is what I have for breakfast: 75g oat bran, 50g of all (wheat) bran soaked overnight in water plus 10 almonds & 1 tablespoon flaxseed ground together, 2 tablespoon chia seeds and 9 prunes plus homemade oat milk - all soaked for a further 15 mins (so the chia seeds form a gel).

Note that any increases in fibre need to be performed on a gradual basis.

There is also Shredded wheat (or GF version: Nutribrex) .

Before lunch I have 1 orange (which contains a natural laxative).

Before dinner I have one of these high fibre fruits:

2 small hard pears

5 dried apricots

90g Raspberries

2 kiwi

I bulk buy fruit and freeze where necessary to allow me to have this variety.

At other meals I have:

Quinoa

Wholewheat bread

Whole grain pastas (Spelt or GF: Buckwheat)

If you eat potatoes, you can try sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes since they have much higher fibre content, plus they contain a natural osmotic laxative (mannitol).

I also take 30 drops of ginger extract before bedtime to aid motility. You may need to work up the dose to say 7 drop increments each night.

I have been giving Optifibre a go, which has been helping but I need to be careful with the amount since it gives me gas.

Exercise can help with BMs. The government recommends 150 mins of moderate exercise (e.g. walking as if you are late for an appointment) or 75 of intense exercise (e.g. jogging) per week. I also have a bit of a walk around straight after breakfast to get things moving.

You need to ensure that you are drinking enough fluids (2 litres of fluid per day).

There is some good advice about constipation here:

theibsnetwork.org/constipat...

theibsnetwork.org/constipat...

[Ericaxmai in reply to xjrs]

Thank you so much for all your advice! I’m feeling much better this morning but will be sure to try out some of your suggestions to try prevent it happening again

[edwangy]

Hi there, I know how you feel. Try some stool softeners, they help me

[Ericaxmai in reply to edwangy]

Thank you, I’ll look into them

[Kdw1]

I'm going through the same atm and its becoming a usual occurrence it would depress you with the discomfort of it all especially when you've family to take care of x