Potential IBS/Acid Reflux?

[Ajs1993]

Hiya,

I've recently, for the last few months, been having some digestive problems.

This has come and gone a few times, and the periods of feeling unwell/well have lasted between a week to three weeks.

I'm yet to be diagnosed with anything, but the doctors are suggesting IBS/acid reflux.

Typically, my main symptom is nausea, which comes on fairly out of nowhere, and lasts fairly consistently for a couple of weeks. Lately I've noticed it seems to improve after eating, then gets worse again when hungry a couple of hours later. Additionally, I once had some minor stomach ache type pains for a while, though not really cramping, and I can get loose stools, although they are never super urgent or frequent. I have had some soreness/discomfort in the bladder area too.

I've eaten totally normally during the times where I felt well, and never got any immediate reactions to any food. I haven't really noticed any particular reaction to any specific good as yet. The nausea starts fairly our of nowhere, and seems to last for a while regardless of what I eat at that point.

The doctors have now suggested a low Fodmap diet, which would include cutting normal breads/pastas/apples etc - but I ate these consistently all throughout feeling well/unwell, so I'm not sure if they can possibly be a trigger?

Basically, does anything like this seem similar to anyone else's experience? And where's a good starting point as to what to eat/not eat?

[Hidden]

Acid reflux is quite different to IBS. Reflux is the valve in the chest not shutting completely allowing stomach acid to regurgitate. IBS can be the result of many things including anxiety and stress. It can also be caused or aggravated by prescription drugs, or others for that matter.If you are taking prescription drugs check the fact sheets for them and the possible side effects. If you experience anxiety or stress the cure is simple, stop worrying, the hard part is actually doing it!

If none of the above applies then yes do the fodmap thing and try to find what food or drink is causing the problem. Also being overly active can stir up the stomach juices bringing on IBS flare ups. The term IBS is a catch all when what you have can not be diagnosed as anything else. In other words they have no diagnosis so you are told IBS. As such there are no rules to go by and many of us just have to figure it out for ourselves. Eliminating as many foods as you can from your diet to start and then slowly reintroducing foods one at a time checking if there is a problem with each as you go. You eventually build up a list of foods you can or cannot eat. Once you have a diet then stick with it as one bite of forbidden food can set you back to square one, like an alcoholic. The endless cycles are no fun, you need to be focused and strict with yourself.

[drax83 in reply to Hidden]

IBS can give some indigestion and with me burping. The real reflux acid problem is more associated with a Hiatus Hernia, which I was discovered to have after Ct scans in 2016. Wierd my late mother also had a hiatus hernia, which I don't think is hereditary? Many other conditions can lead to reflux acid, and should always be treated because excess acid can lead to ulcers. I would not recommend peppermi t based medicine. Peppermint oil is quite astringent and make problems worse not better

[NOTHINGBUTPAIN76 in reply to drax83]

True

[xjrs]

In the first instance, has your doctor run blood and stool sample tests to rule out anything else? Your doctor can't diagnose IBS just from symptoms. Here is information about the tests:

nhs.uk/conditions/irritable...

[NOTHINGBUTPAIN76]

Hi yes I’m the same. As you feeling ill and sick. Wrenching to. Today the has prescribe tables for it I get them to moz. I’ll let you know what they are. And how I go. M