Struggling with IBS

[Ibsgotme]

Hi all, glad I stumbled onto this as I've been struggling lately with ibs. I don't get bloated pains etc. My biggest issue is that most times I eat food I run straight to the toilet. I don't have a good diet. I haven't had solid stools since as long as I remember it's always been the runs. Has anyone suffered from this and has able to change things or take medication to go back to normal stools when going to the toilet? Thanks in advance.

[Maureen1958]

You haven't gave a lot of information but I am wondering if you may have BAM (Bile Acid Malabsorption). See link below to see if it's like what you are experiencing.

gutscharity.org.uk/advice-a...

Maureen

[Ibsgotme in reply to Maureen1958]

Hi Maureen, yeah that looks very familiar but I went to see a specialist and had a colonoscopy and they came back to say that it was ibs. They didn't mention the above, is this something that a colonoscopy would pick up? Thanks so much for your help

[Maureen1958 in reply to Ibsgotme]

No, BAM is not IBS, but it's often overlooked. You would need to have a SeHCAT test for it in the UK, unless you are lucky enough that your GP will let you trial a bile sequestrant to see if it helps. My GP wouldn't let me trial it, so I had to go through the test. I didn't quite meet the criteria unfortunately. I think maybe if I had known about the test earlier, I might have reached the criteria to try a bile sequestrant. I did the test about 5 years ago but I have had IBS for nearly 40 years and it is not as runny as it used to be now! So I often wonder if I would have reached the criteria to be given a bile seqestrant back then.

[Pammy124prms in reply to Maureen1958]

ive had ibs for 50 years its a nightmare had tests done all ok but i have to go in the middle of the night now as well really playing up atm the runs 4times in the morning then nothing til nighttime. if i go out i have to know where the loos are

[Maureen1958 in reply to Pammy124prms]

Hi Pammy, take a look at BAM (see link below), it's often overlooked by doctors for some reason. Perhaps you could ask if you could trial a bile sequestrant to see if it helps.

gutscharity.org.uk/advice-a...

Feel free to ask me any questions about BAM and I will do my best to answer if I can.

Maureen

[Eliana5]

Hi..have you tried to request a (painless) test called an upper and lower barium follow-thru? I had it done as I was having the same issues. I had lousy insurance at that time but it was still paid for. You just go in and swallow a small cup of barium solution. It tastes like a thick vanilla milkshake. Then you lie flat on a table while a machine goes over you. There is a Doctor or gastro looking as it travels thru your body from your trachea to your lower small intestine. It might help to rule things out and find out what's going on..good luck 🤞

[Eliana5]

I just replied to you but it may have been sent to the wrong person. Just look at the end of this thread for my reply.

[711debbie]

I'm havng the same problem but it came from my third booster shot. I take s. boulaardi at breakfast and that seems to be helping a bit. It's usually used for travel diarrhea but is also supposed to be good for IBS. Good luck!

[Ibsgotme in reply to 711debbie]

Thanks for this. Is there any one in particular you would recommend? I'm in the UK. Thanks again

[711debbie in reply to Ibsgotme]

Not really; I'm in Slovakia. There's probably lots of choices on Amazon.co.uk or Holland & Barrett. But I'd keep it simple - most come in packs of 10 for travel but I found one that has 60 capsules. Maybe NOW or if you have money, Pure Encapsulations

[Flyonawall]

Try improving your diet for a start.Fodmap monash university.

And as others have suggested exclude other possible conditions.

But instead of doing nothing while waiting for other tests,or medicating go onto the Fodmap diet.Nothing to lose.

[Edgar77 in reply to Flyonawall]

I was tested positive for BAM even though I have IBS mixed. It is not painful just involves 2 scans a week apart. Not .any hospitals can do it, so you may have to travel far. I am border line so no medication for me.

[Art78]

Hello, I, too, have had IBS for about 40 years and now very rarely get the bloating and pain but it has left me with diarrhoea and loose stools. Certain foods do effect me ie. soft fruits, white wine certain cereals and especially over eating, I have just learnt to live with it which is sometimes very difficult. I try not to go anywhere where there are no toilets and if I do, I take immodium the day before even the instants as they are not very instant for me. I do get it wrong sometimes and have a accident which can be mortifying but I never go out without a change of panties, panty liners and Germaloids. I had a Bile Acid Malabsorption Test years ago which was negative. My GP arranged it at our local hospital. A gastric specialist once said I have a very sensitive gut so I have just accepted that and tried to live my life and above all try not to get too stressed about it all! Hope this helps.

[Ibsgotme in reply to Art78]

Thanks very much. Very informative

[xjrs]

One thing to start with might be to review your diet since you mention that you have a poor one. If you have a restrictive diet, for instance eating lots of processed foods, low in fibre, low in fruits and vegetables, this can lead to a gut bacterial imbalance, since the good bugs in your intestines are not being fed properly, allowing bad bugs to take hold. A dominance of bad bugs can lead to IBS symptoms. The more diverse your diet, the better for your microbiome and the better for IBS. The best diet for the gut is the Mediterranean diet (fibre, wholegrains, fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, pulses, olive oil, oily fish, small amounts of lean meat). Also a lack of fibre could lead to diarrhoea, since there isn't anything to bulk out stools.

I would try things in this order:

1) Gradually try to improve your diet, introducing more healthy foods and fibre. Just add one new thing at a time in small quantities for a couple days and then try to increase. Keep a food diary.

2) If a more healthy diet including fibre are making your symptoms worse, try a scientifically studied probiotic such as Alflorex or Symprove (Alflorex worked well for me) - this might help to shift the balance towards good microbes more quickly and make you more tolerant to different foods. This should be a 3 month trial. Then try step 1) again.

3) If during the 3 month trial of probiotics your symptoms gradually get worse and worse and coming off probiotics improve symptoms, speak to your GP/gastro about SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). This is a rare condition and has a distinct set of causes. The problem is, there are no accurate tests for it. Don't let anyone other than a gastro convince you that you have this.

4) If probiotics don't work ask for a dietitian referral for the FODMAP elimination and reintroduction diet. This should be a last resort since FODMAPs are good for you and your microbiome.

5) If all else fails, ask for a test for BAM (bile acid malabsorption).

Good luck.

[Ibsgotme in reply to xjrs]

Thank you so much!