Had symptoms for years.

[crucigera]

Good morning folks. I have had problems for years with concerns about travelling not knowing where toilets were should I need one. However the problem has got worse and I saw a doctor. I told him about the past history and I had two lots of blood tests and a stool sample sent away for tests and an examination of tummy area and internal back passage examination. He said the second blood test show my anaemia had improved after a couple of weeks and the sample showed a small amount of blood and was likely to be from my haemorrhoids which I have had for years. He has put me on Folic Acid tablets as he said I was low in it. Toilet visits are occasionally a dash and movements are loose with excessive gas. I have joined the IBS Network and will be hoping to learn more from being a member. Currently running an Excel spread sheet I have set up with meals eaten and any reactions afterwards. Early days so nothing really definite yet with regards foods eaten and their effects on me.

[Bits1961]

I hope this link may be of help to you the card is free(even postage) and their web site also ful of good information... bladderandbowel.org/help-in...

[crucigera in reply to Bits1961]

Thank you very much for that. I will have a look asap.

[Carlettejaque]

I know exactly what you mean about travel and the need for toilets. I have suffered for 45 yrs. It destroyed my career, my social life and relationships. I haven't had a holiday in over 30 yrs. I don't travel at all. IBS can ruin your life. But, there are things you can do. Go on the low Fodmap diet. I was told to avoid fruit, particularly banana. Try cutting put all dairy/lactose for a couple of weeks (including lactose or whey in ingredients) Many people with IBS have intolerances the biggest being lactose and dairy proteins. Next is yeast. Some are wheat intolerant. I am dairy, dextrose, yeast and sunflower oil intolerant. I also cannot tolerate pain killers and many medications. Omeprazole was a killer for me.

The problem is that IBS often causes leaky gut. The wall of the large bowel weakens and food toxins get through the gut wall and into the blood stream causing some intolerances. Discovering intolerances can be difficult. I had private tests done.

I would recommend the low Fodmaps diet, don't eat porridge, avoid dairy for a while. Don't drink alcohol or fizzy drinks. No garlic or onions or hot spices. No curry. Once your system recovers your fears of travel may subside. Hope all thus helps.

[crucigera in reply to Carlettejaque]

Thanks for your words. But I am finding different advice depending on the individuals concerned. Your avoid Bananas for instance. My biggest concern is my toilet habits being how shall I put it, today lacking and previously lose with intestinal gas ever present. I am starting Lactose free milk tomorrow and presently have Porridge for breakfast with water and only a little milk in my tea. I will take a Ducolax tonight in the hope of getting things moving again. It seems weeks since my toilet habits were more normal. I have cut out chocolate, pop, as much bread as possible, very few crisps consumed, cheese, and cakes are a rare treat. I am taking probiotics and I am taking Folic Acid prescribed by my doctor. Thanks very much for taking the time to reply to my post.

[Whitesugar in reply to crucigera]

I feel so much for you. I had this problem for over 40 years with always a diagnosis of IBS. I can't tell you the number of times I was in trouble travelling, cars on motorways, planes, trains, walks in the country etc. I always tried to carry on, but it was hard. In fact when it first started all those years ago doctors didn't really believe in IBS. My new life started when someone actually took me seriously. I had many tests under an NHS consultant and the result is I didn't have IBS, but a condition which is under diagnosed called Bile Acid Diarrhoea. It is easily managed with a drug called colestyramine which I take as a powder once a day. I haven't had the problem once now in two and a half years since I started treatment. It was miraculous. There are other options. If you have been tested for all the usual bowel conditions it is worth researching this if you have regular, unexplained diarrhoea. See bad-uk.org

[crucigera in reply to Whitesugar]

Thanks very much for that. I am concerned that my telling the doctor about the symptoms I have had for years was perhaps the wrong approach I took. All of the symptoms I had were those that are IBS related. But in those days I managed without much trouble. However in the last two to three months it has become a big problem hence my visit to the doctors. Presently my toilet visits are just small amounts very lose and oily. That is complicated by my damned haemorrhoids which let me know that to many visits to the loo is a bad idea. I just hope that my blood tests and sample were correctly considered as I walked out the surgery the last time without a definitive, you have IBS.

[Suecoo66 in reply to crucigera]

If you are going to follow a restrictive diet to work out what your issues are you should probably invest in the Monarsh FODMAP app rather than follow the above. Or ask your Dr if he would refer you to a dietician. Some people can eat diary but not milk as milk that is processed into food can be OK for people who have intolerance to milk. I drink soya or almond milk but have diary foods including cheese and yoghurt.

[Suecoo66]

Google maps can now show toilets. There are also apps for locating toilets. Pre covid I would usually look for gagrages, pubs, supermarkets etc. If I have to travel I dont eat and take immodium.

[crucigera in reply to Suecoo66]

I have taken Imodium three times so far when I had to travel some distance. The first time just one tablet and the second time 2. Tonight I logged onto my Excel spreadsheet and imputed one biscuit and a Brown bread fish paste sandwich for my tea.Lets see what happens tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed I manage to short distance to bathroom without any accidents. Monday I start using Lactose free milk. Mind you I will only have it in my tea.

[Suecoo66 in reply to crucigera]

If you have a smart phone you can download an app to record your food diary

[crucigera in reply to Suecoo66]

Thanks I have set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my diet and any effects I get.

[Batteria in reply to crucigera]

I’ve been taking LACTASE tablets for years and have never had a problem with any kind of dairy since. Some chemists sell them and all of the health shops do.

[IBStired]

It is a royal pain when you are touring and you need a bathroom quickly and you can't find one. The worst was Rome. I even offered to pay a restaurant owner to use his facilities and he said no. This was my first very big trip away from home, alone with my sister.I didn;t want to make it an issue for her to worry about but it is hard to hide. One of the easiest places was Venice as they have many outdoor toilets, just no seats! You really work your leg muscles I can tell you. There is a drug which I take for gut pain and it is Buscopan. I live in Canada and this pain med helps but it doesn't control the forceful bowel actions. There is another drug I have not tried yet. It is called Constella. It is for IBS-C but it causes diarrhea! I don't need more time on the toilet with cramps and diarrhea. It makes it so awkward to play a game of golf, go shopping, stand in line waiting. etc. Does anyone out there get nauseated at the same time as cramping? Its tough to live a normal life when this is always in the back of your mind that you could have a terrible bout. Once at DIsney World, my family left the grounds ahead of me one night when it was closing because we all know, you go once, then you go another 2 or 3 times. I had to wait for another ferry to take me to the parking lot, later than everyone else! Aargh!!

[Murrayhurray20]

Hey, how often do you bleed from your hems?