IBS Enquiry

[sarahlovesdogs]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share my IBS experience and see if anyone else is affected similarly.

Sometimes, usually in the night, I'll wake up in so much pain its unbearable. It feels like cramps/spasms in my lower abdomen, and I can barely move because of the pain. Often, the pain makes me physically sick, and always makes me constipated. I just wanted to know if this affects anyone else? Its the worse pain I've ever felt every time it happens and it last around a few hours. I can't even watch TV etc when it happens as the pain is so severe I can't focus on anything else. Usually after this happens I'll recall what I have for dinner the previous evening and avoid that food again. Any tips would be appreciated too!

[Sallybt]

Hi Sarahlovesdogs, I can relate to your symptoms apart from physically being sick. I had chronic lower abdominal pain , it doubled me upon in agony more or less every time I ate and particularly of a evening and I had constipation and diarrhoea. I lost a lot of weight and was persuaded by worried work colleagues to go to the doctor. It was a long time ago 1971 and I was going through a very stressful house move when I was diagnosed with what was then called spastic colon now known as IBS. I was left to get on with it told I may need more fibre in diet but I may not. I juggled with my diet, ( did find in those days white wine was a trigger can’t drink any alcohol now) I have always had to be careful with fibre. I now have SIBO (small intestine overgrowth bacteria) so on SCD diet which is a struggle. You may find fibre is irritating your gut you have to get the balance right . I have had to stop all brassica vegetables and porridge which is so annoying as I like them and so does my bowel movements. You just have to find what your trigger is by elimination which takes time. Trouble is what suits one does not suit another as we are all different I think stress plays a part for me. It ‘s so frustrating , Buscopan helps me now when IBS flares up. Hope you get sorted it is so so miserable. Sally

[sarahlovesdogs in reply to Sallybt]

Hi! Thank you for getting back to me. Its so reassuring to know I'm not alone in feeling so much pain and to know that other people understand the extent of the pain too. I'm so sorry you have had IBS for so long now! I track most foods that result in a flare up and completely cut these out of my diet, but luckily I can still eat most of my favourite foods for now. I've tried Buscopan and unfortunately it did nothing for me, I now have medicine from the doctor, however this is supposed to be taken before a flare up - which I cant always predict!

[BlackIsleGirl]

Hi, I can totally relate! The pain can be utterly debilitating and excruciating and I sometimes wonder if the medical profession actually get how bad it can be.The low FODMAP diet was a game changer for me. It doesn't work for everyone and the elimination phase sucked but I'm now on a modified plan that works really well for me.

Keeping a food/symptom/stress diary helped me massively because I could see what I was and wasn't reacting too. Sometimes it can take a couple of days for me to react and sometimes it's a combination of foods or foods and stress etc etc. Time consuming but worth it for me.

[sarahlovesdogs in reply to BlackIsleGirl]

Hi! Thanks for getting back to me I'm so sorry you have to go through this as well but its so reassuring to know its not just me! It's hard to describe the pain to others as I think they just think I'm being dramatic and exaggerating when I say its the worst pain I've ever felt, if I didnt know it was IBS I would probably phone an ambulance!

I make a list of every single food that has triggered me before, but unfortunately stress really affects me as well and makes foods that are usually okay a trigger I will definitely try to stick to a lower FODMAP diet

[Luisa22]

The last time I got something similar to this was after I'd spent a pleasant evening at my friend's house. I'm not sure it was related to food I'd eaten though. as I'd only eaten my 'safe' foods.

But although it was a nice evening I think I got a bit stressed. Not in a nasty way -just driving a few miles at night when tired, having been tired all day, having to eat much later than I normally do, and getting a little bit cold out in the garden for a while. Just my routines being upset and little extra stresses.

And that evening later on I started with trapped wind pains and they were terrible and went on half the night. I would have paid money for one of those long satisfying farts! The pain really was horrible. So I feel for you.

[Merlinjardin]

I have IBSC and normally my bowels open every day. Past week or so been less motions very hard. Then I got the cramping pain, like giving birth. After 24 hours I passed a lot of motions . Now feel better than I did. I had not changed what I eat or drink. Have been bad for over a year, not taking any laxatives for a year now. So I think the constipation is causing the pains. My stools were getting softer but now hard again. With no change in diet, don’t know what’s going on in my body.

[edwangy in reply to Merlinjardin]

I've noticed the same lately, stools harder and dryer. I'm wondering it's to do with the weather warming up that we all may be a bit dehydrated and need to drink more. Just a thought

[Merlinjardin in reply to edwangy]

Yes could be also I am not very active have felt so unwell.

[CraftyQ]

Hi I was experiencing something similar on an evening. The cramp was unbearable and I was tested for ovarian cancer with a blood test, ultrasound and CT scan all clear. I took quite a bit of Ibuprofen for the pain which in the end made my stomach worse. I noticed that I was also a constipated. I was diagnosed with IBS and have been working on the FODMAP diet with a dietician don't take any Ibuprofen and have increased my fluid intake including peppermint tea. I also realised alcohol was a trigger. I now rarely get this particular pain, go to the toilet regularly. I still have a few problems with upper right side pain. I take mebeverine and if I do get the lower pain I find buscopan, paracetamol and a hot water bottle help. I think it's deffo linked to dehydration with me.

[JayceeJC]

I have had an ongoing issue with IBS. It doesn’t seem to be related to any type of foods. I tend to eat very little these days and avoid meals and just pick if I’m hungry Checked for coeliac, crohns etc and all negative. If I know I’m going out or long travel or have an appointment or something I dose myself up with Loperamide and although given Codeine sulphate I avoid as I don’t want to get hooked and rather put up with the stomach cramp. However recently we were travelling on a motorway and without any warning I got a terrible stomach cramp and the urgency for a loo. Of course there was nowhere close so we left at the next junction and found a lane and I ended up in a bush in a field for at least 10 mins as I go and then 5 mins later go again. So embarrassing, I find myself imagining that I can’t hold it and have an accident on the car so I feel sick too. Coming home from the trip the same thing happened and I ended up behind a fence in a lay-by. Pain then eventually goes. I was diagnosed with diverticular only because I had a colonoscopy but this condition doesn’t seem to affect me as I didn’t have symptoms and don’t seem to be related I’m told. I have fears on the day I’m going anywhere which could make it worse. I don’t know what to do but keep fingers crossed. I recently had to go on a 75 min flight and I got through it only by dosing myself up for days before. It was only a small airline aircraft with one toilet so as you can imagine I was thinking all sorts of things. I guess I just have to live through this added anxiety and stress.

[JulieB5200 in reply to JayceeJC]

Hi, I totally understand everything you shared.I am so fed up of ibs controlling my life. If I’m going anywhere my first thought is am I going to get to my destination without needing the loo. I mostly go in the first few hours of my morning so I don’t like morning appointments anywhere!Infact just this morning my friend called for a coffee and a chat and I’d to break away 3 times for the loo.Sometimes the cramps are so painful I can feel the sweat rushing to my head.Horrible condition which I think most people without it don’t fully understand how distressing it can be.x

[edwangy]

I have this pain more or less 24/7, and the have for months, keeps me awake at night. I've had to take sleeping pills which don't work anymore so I'm also permanently tired.

You mentioned your food the night before, well, food usually takes longer than that to digest and it would more likely be the food the day before that which is in your colon/bowel. It depends on what food you've eaten, some foods pass through quicker than others eg fibrous foods like certain fruits and vegetables, whole wheat etc whereas proteins and diary usually take longer.

So it can be very difficult knowing what your triggers are, I've been trying for over 40 years and still find it hard.

[Zantecat]

Hi sarahlovesdogs, I can totally empathise, the cramps can be worse than giving birth. With me I’m lucky if I get to sleep at all some nights, and that is so draining, I have had to plan my work around a job where I work later so that if I have a bad night hopefully I can grab a couple of hours late morning.This doesn’t help you much I know, and I do the same trying to work out foods that cause symptoms, I’ve had it for over 40 years but am no further forward, so I hope you get better answers than I have.

[kitna]

Hi, I have very similar symptoms to you. I too get very bad pain which lasts a few hours and occasionally I am sick. My doctor prescribed Mebeverine, I know some people have said they don’t work for them but so far I feel they are helping me. I also try not to have too many of the high fodmap foods. I hope you find something to help you. I must admit reading things on here has helped me a lot, even knowing others feel the same. I also know that many have it much worse than me. Take care