??IBS

[Sgal]

Hi there. New to this forum. I have been struggling with abdominal pain for last few months. It’s not constant but get a flare up every now and then. The pain is in a strange place above my belly button. I get pain sometimes sharp and achey, and it feels bloated. I’ve been back and forward to the GP. They initially said gastritis, then the finally seen me and arranged bloods and an abdo ultrasound. All clear. They said I may have IBS.

I have thought I’ve had some elements of IBS for a number of years and always managed with some peppermint tea and watching my diet. I generally have a morning rush with loose stools.

This pain feels high up. They have me medication to take before I eat but the pain doesn’t come after eating. And they don’t seem to work. I have tried buscapan and it dulls the pain but it doesn’t take it away.

I am going to go back the the GP but was wondering if anyone has any similar situations?

I take a load of vitamins and minerals and trying to find a good probiotic.

Thanks

[b1b1b1]

Fodmap diet. There is a lot of info about it available on the internet and it has quite a good reputation for helping with IBS.

[xjrs]

I will pm you with some tips.

[Rossan]

Hi Sgal,

I've had a few different types of aches in the gut over the years; sometimes like a stitch that doesn't go away, sometimes sharp & persistent, sometimes brief cramps before BMs.

If you're not already, my strongest advice is to keep a diary to record all

* food & drink,

* bowel movements; when & what type. Google 'Bristol stool chart' to classify types

* pains/aches. when & on a 1-10 scale of how bad.

* any other relevant info for you: medication, stressful times etc.

This will help you find out if there are foods or events that trigger the pain. It will help you as you communicate with the doctors as it's often difficult to remember when & how frequent things occur. I keep mine on a Google spreadsheet & can share it easily with my doctor & dietician.

Assuming you're in the UK, have a look at the IBS Network charity. It's not a lot a year & they have lots of advice on avoiding common triggers (assuming the IBS diagnosis is confirmed). They have a helpline too with a nurse which is great when you're starting to investigate your condition & need to chat things out.

I'm doing the FODMAP diet just now, but it is very demanding on your time to plan as it involves rearranging your whole diet. For many years I was able to manage my symptoms by just avoiding wheat & caffeine. It depends on how much this pain is impacting your ability to get through the day.

If it's relatively mild, I'd advise starting out with smaller changes, cutting out one thing at a time for 3/4 weeks and recording any changes in your diary. Common triggers are alcohol, wheat, dairy (particularly high-lactose like milk), very fatty food, very spicy food. You can get more advice at the IBS Network.

Good luck!