Hi, I have been suffering stomach pain on and off since March .. and after some tests the doc diagnosed IBS. I was unconvinced as I thought why at the age of 66? .. when I've never had stomach issues all my life.
Grateful for any tips for pain relief. So far I haven' t managed to pinpoint any triggers .. flare ups seem to be random ..and sometimes last a day .. sometimes several days. In the first instance (beginning of March) the ache did not completely go away for 4 months .. just got worse some days and subsided on others. I feel very confused.
Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks
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Hayhead
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I was 67 when I was diagnosed with IBS. Before diagnosis, I'd had on-going symptoms for 4 months, pretty steadily, and a few days in 2018 which had been 2 years earlier. Of course I didn't know what it was then. I only found out when I was 67. So I guess it started when I was 65.
I'd eaten healthily for too many years to count, and lived a healthy lifestyle. Prior to that, I'd always had a strong healthy gut except for a short time with gastritis when I was 12, which got better. That seemed so far away for me I'd forgotten about it.
So yes, there's nothing to stop IBS starting at any age it seems.
Yes, it's confusing. It confuses me too. With me it's not so much pain (though I do get a bit sometimes) -it's mostly the quality of bowel movements, i.e I was diagnosed with IBS- d.
it comes and goes and doesn't even seem diet related, even though I gave the low Fodmap diet a fair trial, and found out which foods are more likely to cause problems. (lentils, beans, root veg, capsicums, tomatoes, onions, roughage of any kind....etc.) So I don't even fit in on the low Fodmap diet! Because some of the ones that upset my gut are low Fodmap!
Have you been told about the low FODMAP diet? A good GP should really refer you to a dietitian to guide you through this;the diet and the re-introduction' phase, where you gradually experiment with high Fodmap foods. I had to do a DIY on it. But some people respond really well to low Fodmap diet
Anyway, did the doctor check your pancreas, gall bladder, liver?
And where is the ache? Lower or upper tummy, and which side?
I sometimes get a few days when I get tummy ache /discomfort (not really 'pain') way down on the lower left a few hours after dinner. Feels like my colon is being stretched. Not sure why it comes and goes with no rhyme or reason and doesn;t always have to be related to what my bowel movement is like the next day.
Foe me, IBS does come and go, and I seem to have little control over the way it decides to do things! No matter what I do.
I did have various tests ...don't really remember what each was for ..but seemed pretty thorough. Colonoscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound ..and some blood tests.
I spoke to a dietician online ..I'ĺ need to look back to see what advice she gave ..but seems to remember she said there was nothing much to change..just monitor. At the time I spoke to her I'd had a couple of weeks free of pain and though it had gone for good! Not so
I am a vegetarian..so eat lots of the foods above 😏.
The pain moves around ..sometimes on left side ..but more often across whole abdome...going through to my back. I haven't tried any painkillers as yet but one doc said paracetamol? I should prob go back for another visit ..but my last visit seemed to imply that I should only come back if symptoms changed. They haven't really changed as such ...but are intermittent
Thank you for the contact ..I don't personally know anyone with IBS ..
HI Luisa22,I know your reply wasn't aimed at me but you just described my symptoms exactly and better than than I can !! Hayhead , your not alone ,chin up you'll get there ,hope you feel more confident soon
if you still have a lot of pain that radiate round your back then go back to your gp. A ultra scan or a colonoscopy does not show a disease gallbladder. I had the same as you 2 years ago my gp sent me to a gastroenterologist who straight away sent me for MRCP this is what shows up the functioning of pancreas gallbladder and liver. Mine was a diseased gallbladder with blocked stones, sludge and a inflamed ulcer. I had my gallbladder removed nearly 2 years ago. I have been fine since removal. I am 71yrs old. Insist to have a MRCP I was lucky I didn't have to. Some GP's just say colonoscopy,blood tests, ultra scan is ok, but if you still have same pain get it sorted and do insist on this MRCP. I wish you
They are similar, but a MRCP is better and shows problems with the pancreas bile ducts gallbladder and liver only which a MRI doesn't. Please let us know how you get on . Sue
I was 66 when I was diagnosed with IBS, having had symptoms for about 1 year. Prior to this, I could eat just about anything. I had lots of bloating and excessive wind and was spending a lot of time back and forth to the toilet. I had all the tests; colonoscopy, hysteroscopy, endoscopy, bile malabsorption. I did discover I had developed a tortuous left colon which can cause IBS symptoms too. The FODMAP diet was recommended. Most foods seemed to affect me in some way, but some more than others. I now limit the intake of foods which gave me the worst symptoms. I would suggest you visited a dietician before embarking on the FODMAP diet. Stress and anxiety are also key triggers.
Since I developed these symptoms, I have met so many others, mainly women, but also a few men, who also suffer with IBS. It is really very common.
yes, getting older does seem to bring symptoms on. Mine started with intermittent stomach pains (all over but sometimes in the gallbladder area).
i have discovered triggers while doing the low fodmap diet and over the last 18 mths that has helped a lot. I feel that alterations in diet take quite some time to stabilize, especially to the health of your microbiome.
Biggest causes of pain and overnight indigestion were fructans, fats, tea and coffee. Nausea is a result from eggs and avocado and sometimes from just a rushed breakfast. I cant tolerate more than a few spoons of chick peas, lentils, beans etc., they just cause next day diarrhea.
flareups still happen and I recently had an ache in the gallbladder area for 3 weeks but nothing has been too severe and blood tests for liver and gallbladder were normal. (I have gallstones but so far no intense pain and have managed to avoid having the op despite gastro medics thinking I should have it. ) Also stomach gas afflicts me mainly at night and then disappears for 1-2 days, no answer to that yet.
i would say dont eat too much fibre, it takes a while to figure what is just right, try a gluten and dairy free exclusion. Keep to no more than 3 pieces of fruit daily and 5 vegetables, drink enough water, get daily exercise, dont go out until about an hour after eating and you have had a bowel movement.
good luck, it's a 'journey of discovery' as they say.
Thank you so much for the advice. I will be experimenting with foods and monitoring. I am vegetarian .. and certainly do tend to eat lots of chickpeas, lentils and various beans ...
When I eat more than 1 or 2 slices of wheat bread in a single day, I get stuck. Wheat creates mucas in the bowel, and makes the food stick to the pipes rather than pad through them.
If you mix any wheat heavy days with foods like juice from a whole lemon juice, olive oil (plenty), appe cider vinegar, then those ingredients counteract the effects of the sticky mucas.
Latolouse is also useful at adding moisture to the pipes, to help unblock stool, if taken after the wheat or before bedtime.
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