Fed up

[Ericaxmai]

I don’t know what I’m meant to be doing and not doing. I have suspected IBS-C and have felt horrible for 3 years now. Ive never been officially diagnosed but all other tests came back clear e.g. blood tests and stool tests. It seems as though no matter what I eat it doesn’t make a difference. Gluten and dairy make my stomach issues worse and I’ve found that as soon as I eat them I experience symptoms like smelly gas, feeling sick and bloated etc however sometimes I can have them and be completely fine so it makes no sense and I’m always left feeling confused. However, yesterday for example I haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary and I am in agony with trapped gas and bloating and I’ve not done anything to trigger it. I’ve tried the low FODMAP diet but even then have stomach issues and just find it really boring and hard to follow. I just feel like no matter what I do I feel unwell and I don’t know what to do anymore and feel like no one takes me seriously. My symptoms are feeling sick, bloating, cramping, constipation, gargling in the stomach, and mucus/sticky stool on occasion. Does anyone know of anything else it might be other than IBS because it seems no matter what I do or eat I have issues and it doesn’t feel normal

[Barney100]

Hi obviously not being a doctor I cant comment on any sort of diagnosis but your symptoms and random nature of it seem familiar! I also felt the Low fodmap diet helped a bit but was so miserable to follow that it wasnt worth it. For me, I try to east as plain foods as possible but also continue to eat out etc from time to time as I enjoy it and it doesnt make me that mush worse. Drinking hot water helps a lot as well. Without much interest from doctors, I have had to learn to listen to my own body more, do what is right for me both physically and mentally. It doesnt always work but the other solutions which I have tried are often very expensive, dont help much and are terrible psychologically.

[Maureen1958]

The trouble with IBS is that it isn't an illness, it's a name that they give to anything to do with the digestive system that doesn't fall into the category of any other illness you can have with similar symptoms. Basically, if they don't know what it is or can't put it down to something else it gets lobbed into the IBS bucket and they leave you to it!

[Catty1234]

Hi ericaxmai , I do sympathise with you it’s trying to find food that doesn’t aggravate the gut , combined with the right kind of laxative and which type fibre insoluble or soluble to consume to help . I find it’s trying lots of things to see what works , the trapped wind is very painful , drinking peppermint or ginger tea can help so can simethicone , windeze. I hope you find some relief soon x

[b1b1b1]

You might want to have a test for SIBO. The sticky BMs are a SIBO symptom.

[Beempty]

You have to remember with digestion it begins in the brain, I have IBS and when I am under stress my symptoms get worse. I am taking laxado for bowel movements and eat alot of fiber,; also I trust my Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist practice, The Lotus Sutra, easiest English translation by Burton Watson. It helps me because it is not outside myself.

[Luisa22]

I do understand, because the way I respond to foods doesn't make sense either. Sometimes I will get flare ups (ibs-d) even when eating low Fodmap really safe foods for me. And sometimes I get a time when I am completely normal and can more or less eat anything with no repercussions.

So even when I stick to all my safe foods and low Fodmap I still get tummy troubles, and sometimes when I try high Fodmaps I'm fine.

Stress can be a trigger, but I don't get much of that the way I live (retired now and a quiet life) So I don't understand IBS at all.