Need a rant. I am beyond fed up. I could do with some suggestions and a shoulder to cry on..

[ClayColon]

I have suffered from IBS flare-ups for as long as I can remember, but not like this one. I have now been severely constipated for over a year. I think it all kicked off and the end of 2021 when I was extremely stressed. Obviously the longer this goes on the more stressed and anxious I become. The bloating, pain and discomfort can be off the scale. Following the FODMAP diet has given me some relief from the bloating but I can still only get any bowel movement with the aid of industrial quantities of very strong laxatives. The stuff is dynamite and the resulting explosions are effective but brutal and leave me feeling awful for a couple of days. I have not had a "normal" movement for over a year and only medically induced evacuations.

I have had numerous visits to my gp and a consultant gastroenterologist. I have had examinations, blood tests, X-rays, colonoscopy & MRI & CT scans and they can't find anything wrong with me...

The consultant had prescribed Linoclotide which has had no effect at all. Struggling to contact him to ask for something else to try..

I'm back to the GP on Monday but I'm getting increasingly concerned that nothing can be done, other than experimenting with more nasty drugs and trying to manage my stress and anxiety.

grrrr

[b1b1b1]

check with a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon if you have dyssynergic defecation. It sounds like you might. This can be tested for and treated and/or managed. Google to find out more about it.

[meadfoot]

Your post is a mirror of my situation. Industrial scale laxatives making me feel dreadful for days then the whole thing starts again. Been lokevthis for a year too. Currently I am in so much pain I am in tears. Rang my GP who will contact my gastro, again, but I had a phone app with him on Friday and there is no plan B.

Heaven knows where we go from here but this situation is ruinous and I have lost confidence in ever being well and functioning again. I feel your pain and upset and am so sorry you too are going through this. My recent colonoscopy found nothing wrong. Good luck for some help and a solution.

[xjrs]

I suffer from severe IBS-C. I use Linaclotide, Alflorex probiotic and a very high fibre diet to manage it. The Linaclotide can take some time to kick in. For instance, the pain effects aren't at their maximum until 10 weeks. Let me know if you want some dietary advice about what to try to increase fibre further.

[ClayColon in reply to xjrs]

I’m interested to hear that the linaclotide took so long to kick in. I’ve been on it for 4 weeks now with no apparent effect.

[xjrs in reply to ClayColon]

Might be worth asking your GP about what should be happening at 4 weeks. Good luck.

[Breathless1943]

I don’t feel I can give you any advice,first because I don’t have a medical background,and second because I’m in a similar situation and I have been in chronic pain in the last ten years. What I can do is feel your frustration,pain,and stress at nothing being resolved by specialists. I’ve have seen Gastrointestinal professionals from one end of the U.K. to the other. I even had my gall bladder taken out because they THOUGHT it may be the problem. I’m on two medications that do nothing for me,and my GP is telling me now I’m addicted them,but if I try to wean off them the stomach pain is horrendous and I just feel ill. About a month ago I had another CT scan with dye,but that once again came back everything looks alright,see you GP. I would never go through another colonoscopy as the one I had was really painful,and I must say here I can take pain,but there is a limit.

I really feel for you,and wish I could be of more help. Because I know only to well Empathy may help,but it don’t cure pain. My heart goes out to you,and I wish you all the luck I can muster. 😢😢