IBS aged 84

[annjoy]

I have had ibs for over 20 years, had all sorts of tests, 3 colonoscopies, the last one just before Covid started. The last 3 months have been so bad, I rarely have a day without diarrhoea and stomach pain. Coupled with this I have haemorrhoids, rheumatoid arthritis and had a stroke a couple of years ago. Because of the IBS I am afraid to leave the house, even to go in the garden, as I am afraid I won't make the toilet. I am on all sorts of medication for all my problems but only loperamide for ibs. Hate seeing doctor about it as this usually means lots of unpleasant tests which show nothing. The ibs is definitely the worst of my problems!

[No2Sunshine]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that you can’t go out. I know that I was told I had IBS when I was 20 but actually turned out to be coeliac! And I was 50! So with no gluten, (dairy and me and bowels also iffy) what an improvement. I find if I want to go out shopping I have some rules. Eating then then going out straight away is a no no, certain foods trigger me too. I hope you can get it sorted, and get some freedom.

[Purpletara]

Hi, sorry to hear of the problems you're having. IBS is a bitch to have. I've had it about the same length of time as you. Know where you're coming from about tests - I hate colonoscopies with a vengeance! I get woken n the night with pain and diarrhoea. The doctor has put me on a low dose of amitriptyline last thing at night and that's helping. I have been on buscopan/mebeverine for years but they aren't working for me now so now take alverine citrate. If you have had all of the tests and everything is ok i don't see why your doctor can't try you on one of these to see if they help.

It must be lovely to have a garden. With the summer coming you need to get out in the sun. Does the loperamide not help?

Take care, look after yourself and know you are not alone with problems with your IBS!

[edwangy]

Ask your doctor if you could try an anti spasmodic ie mebeverine or alverine citrate

[xjrs]

I will personal message you with some general advice about IBS in case you haven't seen it before.

[Whitesugar]

I do hope you’ve been tested for Bile Acid Diarrhoea. It is a condition often missed and not on a GPs radar. Useful website is bad-uk.org

[Laxmik]

Please also test for sibo. Also look into food intolerance test.

[Eastbourne11]

Hi I had ISB D for years. I read that mal absorption of bile (MAB) could be the cause. In desperation I wrote to doctor and said “I do not want tests just prescribe me Colestramine (light 4 g powder)”. You have nothing to lose, try it for 1 week but follow instructions how to take strictly. It works immediately. Good luck. Junel

[Sonata2]

Hi, I think, from my experience of IBS, Buscopan works better than Loperomide, which did nothing for me. But I find when I'm having IBS pain, I need to take the maximum dose. Originally, my doctor prescribed a lower dose. Maximum dose of Buscopan - 10mg tablets - take 2 four times a day. Secondly, I take peppermint oil capsules as well as buscopan. I get Apercap peppermint oil capsules, prescribed by my doctor, or similar. Colpermin peppermint oil capsules are the same thing, but expensive. Peppermint oil capsules are very helpful in dealing with trapped 'wind.' I take with or just before meals. I don't take them before lying down to sleep or rest - taking them then can give me indigestion.

My biggest breakthrough - taking kefir. It's cultured milk. UK Supermarkets sell it. If you are lactose intolerant, you might be able to find kefir made with water -- or get a starter and make it yourself. After taking for 2 or 3 months, my IBS improved. It works much better than any other probiotic or prebiotic tablet or drink. I take in a talk glass with a dark fruit smoothie added - looks exotic! But -- a warning! It sounds as if your guts are sadly inflamed or irritated. Because of that, you would need to try just a small spoonful of kefir to start with. If you didn't react badly to that, you could try very gradually increasing the amount every day. Obviously you need to know that you're not lactose intolerant before taking any kefir. Someone who isn't in the acute phase of IBS, and not currently suffering, could probably start with a larger amount.

You gut bacteria are likely to be very disturbed. Kefir or a probiotic may be needed fairly long term to restore good bacteria in the gut. Also, as others have mentioned, there is a possibility that you may have bile problems, though that may not be the case. I just picked up this info: "Your gallbladder stores bile until you eat, then releases bile into your small intestine to help digest food. Bile is made in the liver. It contains a mix of products such as bilirubin, cholesterol, and bile acids and salts. Bile ducts are drainage "pipes" that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and from the gallbladder to the small intestine."

There is a medication which effectively stops diareah, which you could use short term; Imodium (UK trade name). The problem is it can cause constipation - so then you need laxatives. But I think it could calm things down for you, and hopefully take away some of the stress.

The other thing, of course, is to find out which foods you are intolerant to. Keep a food diary. Consider a short term exclusion diet. Onions are the worst thing for me! I find high fibre a problem, but do need some fibre. Tomatoes are helpful fibre for me, in moderation. We are all different. The Monash University app, (plus maybe other apps and websites) will tell you which foods are high FODMAP. I have trouble with many fruits and vegetables, including the higher fibre veg. For a long time I couldn't eat fruit - now can often, but not always, eat a small amount. Improvement thanks to kefir! However, I don't seem to have problems with dairy. Can eat a small to moderate amount of wheat. I do well with a small amount of "half and half" bread - halfway between white and brown bread.

Another med which might help - as mentioned in another reply here, low dose Amitryptaline (Triptazol) at bed time.

Also consider some of these strategies: learn meditation, relaxation techniques, hypnotherapy for relaxation and to help with stress, and CBT.

I don't understand why they keep giving you colonoscopies. Each time, you have to clear your gut with laxatives before the procedure. Result: the bacteria in your gut are further disrupted, and need time to recover again, plus kefir if suitable, or probiotics. This is as well as the stress involved, which isn't helpful with gut problems. ONE colonoscopy when symptoms are first investigated might make sense. Doubtful about repeated ones, unless you have a high risk of cancer. I was very lucky - had xray and CAT scan instead of colonoscopy, though still not pleasant, and still had to clear guts with laxatives.

Wishing you the very best of luck with all your health problems! Hoping things improve for you very soon. 😍

[Mrskelly3]

Try loperamide. It works wonders. I get it on prescription or you can buy it in the chemist. I take 2-8 a day depending on what I'm doing. Slows your bowels down.