I've been told for years I have IBS, as I have symptoms of being tired, bloating and excessive wind. I was recently told to take a myriad of supplements, meditate and take probiotics. I am trying low FODMAP, but don't feel any different.
My symptoms have got so bad, that I have uncomfortable with bloating all day long, from the moment I wake up til the moment I go to bed, I can be both bloated and hungry. But worst of all, the wind builds up so much that it just comes out, and really noisily. It's horribly embarrassing and disgusting. My stomach gurgles and pops all day, and I've been given medication that does stop that, but makes me burp instead.
I'm a single Mum, only 39, and fear I can never have another relationship as I couldn't possibly share a bed with someone. I have noDoes this really sound like IBS (I have no trouble with going to the toilet)? What else can I do? I feel desperate! Surely this isn't life now?!
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PipandK
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So sorry to hear this PipandK. I found that doing a regular daily meditation did help me a bit, but dietary changes don’t seem to make much difference.
I am pretty sure that mine is stress-related, and I read a book “The body keeps the score“ by Bessel Van der Kolk which helped.
I'm no expert but it does sound like it to me. I get bloating, wind (both ends), cramping, pain, nausea as well as toilet issues but everyone's symptoms are different and I'm not an expert.
The first thing I'd do is keep a food diary, there are several good ones online but honestly a spreadsheet with date, time, food and drink and symptom columns is fine, as it might allow you to spot connections. I know its a faff but it can really help. If that doesn't help then you need to ask for a referral to a dietician. Assuming you're in the UK the gp will likely throw a fodmap sheet at you and tell you to follow that, but keep asking because the fodmap is hard to follow and bad for you long term if you don't have proper guidance.
It is possible to live a happy normal life with ibs. With the right medication and the right diet you can find a way to live with it. And the right guy will understand that this is a life long illness and that you are more than an illness.
I don’t know if this information is of any help my GP put me on to 10 mg of amitriptyline a day and for the stomach gurgling and wind I take over the counter medication called windsettlers, it has solved the problem for me I purchase it from Amazon good luck
Do you know what your triggers are? First step would be to find out what they are by keeping a wellness diary this will help to identify what your triggers are and learning what works for you have a read about the dairy here theibsnetwork.org/blog/how-...
There may be other factors that are linked to your symptoms that have nothing to do with food, ie stress, anxiety life style factors, work. Taking medications, may well not be the answer.
Taking medications and diet, lifestyle changes etc will help but once you have discovered your triggers, there may be something causing them that you are not aware of and then you can start to look at what works for you diet or medication and self-management. A healthy diet isn’t always the solution some parts of that healthy diet may be a trigger food for you. Have a look at this factsheet here IBS (bda.uk.com)
Have a look at the range of details factsheets one on bloating Bloating-and-Wind-booklet-web(1).pdf (theibsnetwork.org)
and if you are a member log in and access medications MEDICATIONS-factsheet-booklet-WEB-00000002-.pdf (theibsnetwork.org)
Have you looked at and worked through the self-care programme? There is a huge amount of information on there re symptoms and medications There can be nothing as embarrassing as gas | The IBS Network, if you are a member be sure to log in to access all aspects of the self-care programme
Thank you, this is really helpful. I have no idea what my trigger is, I have felt bad every single day for weeks, so I don't know how I'd find a pattern. I don't eat badly, always healthy, don't have a lot of dairy or wheat. I don't think my stress levels are more than normal. I workout a few days a week. Sleep a good 8hrs.
I will read all the blogs you have suggested though and hope to find something there. Thank you 😊
You might actually be stressing more because your symptoms are getting frequent and unfortunately that’ll only makes it worse , meaning your stress levels go higher. Vicious circle.
I would seriously look at the stress of trying to fix issues are not also the source of some of those issues. I have been dealing with "IBS" in quotes for a reason for over 20 years. As you have been seeing symptoms can vary and sometimes they are unbearable. I have tried it all with no real results. It is when you break it down to the basics that sometimes you might find that the journey to health can sometimes also be the cause. Trying to get healthy when Dr's and in my case myself really try everything with no positive results is extremely stressful. Symptoms are also stressful but nothing is more stressful than all of those combined. Narrowing down the cause to that of foods is relatively easy if that is actually the cause. A food journal, not cheating for a few weeks can show many things.
The most important thing I have had to teach myself is that the world will not end if I have to cancel on someone or not do something because I feel bad. Good friends and family will understand. Having issues with bathroom use or gas or other issues are what they are and while embarrassing happens to everyone and reducing that stress and anexity is key to feeling better. Anexity is a huge problem with IBS and gut issues the snowball of symptoms when ibs snowballs with anexity and symptoms and you feel you lose control things go really sideways being able to control those factors is key.
The worst of my symptoms are bloating and wind. Prescription medication hasn't helped. I was prescribed Mebeverine recently but found it to be ineffective. For some weeks now, I have been greatly helped by Buscopan Mint and take it 3 times a day 30 minutes before a meal. I also take Alflorex, a probiotic recommended by the IBS Network. Hope this is helpful
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