Still unsure

[Casand11]

I'm still suffering with what the GP has put down to IBS constipation. I thought I'd cracked it after taking advice of eating 2 kiwi fruits in the evening and actually going to the loo quite "normally" for nearly 3 weeks with little or no stomach cramping,but today the cramps have come back and I'm back on the loo and was sick too. I know within a couple of hours I'll feel ok again and then have days of feeling alright.There's no link with anything I'm eating or doing so just can't work out what the problem is with my system,is this familiar with anyone else?

[winfong]

It does sound familiar. IBS is known for its unpredictability. It's also very complex, with a lot of things coming in to play. It's not a like a simple broken bone or a cut.

One factor is how you're feeling. Any recent stresses? Also, apart from the kiwi fruit, what else do you eat normally?

[Hidden]

I presume you've had no medical tests but given your age, maybe further consideration is justified.

[Trenholm]

Totally understand. My life is a roller coaster of diarrhoea and constipation with awful stomach cramps.

[xjrs]

Being sick isn't a normal IBS symptom. Have you had all the usual blood tests run and/or been referred to a gastroenterologist?

The pain could be related to visceral hypersensitivity (functional abdominal pain) - there is info about it here:

iffgd.org/lower-gi-disorder...

It is where the brain interprets the normal activity of the bowel as pain - this is due to a wearing down of neurons in pain control centres of the brain which can be caused by PTSD, neglect or abuse in childhood, extreme stressful events etc. The first line treatment is nerve pain agents such as low dose amitriptyline. There is a theory that being on something like amitriptyline for 6-12 months can help the pain control centre neurons to regenerate. Note that amitriptyline can cause constipation, which wouldn't be good in your case. I couldn't tolerate these. Linaclotide which is for IBS-C only & Alflorex have helped me with this intestinal pain. Linaclotide is also meant to help with constipation.

The reason why Alflorex helped me is that my IBS started with a bout of holiday food poisoning. This led to a gut bacterial imbalance, which is true for many IBS sufferers. This imbalance can also be caused by other things such as restricted or unhealthy diets and stress. When bad bugs dominate the system, they can oversensitise the nerves in the gut too. When put together with visceral hypersensitivity, with the brain incorrectly interpreting signals and then the gut sending even more signals than it should, it ends up being a double whammy effect. If this is true in your case, something like Alflorex might help to bring things back in balance. When I took Linaclotide, it reduced my pain by 50%-60%. After taking Alflorex my pain reduced to zero and only comes back when I am challenging with new foods and before my body gets used to them (or I have to continue to give them up). Alflorex which has been scientifically studied for IBS has made me more tolerant to a much wider range of foods. Having a more diverse diet increases bacterial diversity in the gut. Bacterial diversity helps to additionally keep bad bugs away, in turn helping IBS symptoms. There is also the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app to consider. This helps to calm intestinal nerves.

[Casand11 in reply to xjrs]

Thanks for your reply, I've been taking Alfloex for 2 months and certainly my stomach cramps weren't so severe yesterday. The sickness is almost triggered by nausea connected to what's going on the other end ! - and very little. I've had blood tests,poo tests and scan and all normal. Most days feel fine,today walked 10 miles quite easily with coffee stops and cake always seem to have stress in my life and seems worse since covid🤷‍♀️

[xjrs in reply to Casand11]

Great that you managed to walk 10 miles today. It's good to take time out if you are able. Things like meditation and mindfulness are meant to be good for IBS and stress. There is also the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app. If you need any dietary advice about improving the 'C', let me know. I often post my answers on this, so you could always look at my other posts. Take care.

[tummylife]

hi casand11 - i read yr message - i would suggest taking anti constipation pill - and try banana almond milk smoothies- try eating porridge morning and early evening - drink more herbal tea - do not eat too many eggs-try eating more salad with yr food as well- stay off biscuits cakes etc - walk round the block more -- try all these - its easy to forget certain things so get into a habit- stop eating at 6 - 7 pm - just drink the herbal tea in the evening - i know how awful it can be- also try and get some anti wind pills Windeze poills or something similar-- ok best of luck with that - hang in there tummy life -

[Luisa22]

I don't have IBS C, more the other way most of the time anyway, except only sometimes I get a couple of days of the constipation but not very often. But like you, I get days or weeks absolutely normal. I have given up trying to work out why IBS comes back. Because, same as you, it doesn't seem related to anything I eat or any stress etc. It just comes and goes as it pleases.

[Casand11 in reply to Luisa22]

It's very frustrating!