New to the forum

[GreenandGold]

Hi, my issues started a year ago, in the last few weeks though the IBS had gotten so much worse, was on linoclotide for about 6 months worked initially but now back to the bad old days of pain and fatigue and alternate days of constipation and diarrhoea, now been back to gp and has now changed med to mebeverine, first day on them. Hoping for success, in for bloods on Monday as the tiredness is a worry for me, I'm absolutely shattered all the time, yet can't sleep...wouldn't wish this illness on Donald Trump😂

[Luisa22]

I know what you mean. I wish you the best on the new medication,

I also get times when I feel quite low. I get exhaustion too around the times of any flare ups. And even though I don't literally get problems with tummy while I'm asleep, I end up waking after only 5 or 6 hours sleep during those times. Then I have a busy day, and rinse and repat the following day! I get sleep deprived. No point going to bed early. I still wake after only 5 or 6 hours sleep whatever I do during those rough phases. Like my body is set on high alert somehow.

But suddenly all that changes, and goes back to normal until the next time. The problem is I never know when or even if, that will happen. It usually does but anything can happen.

I'll just say that my blood tests were all fine and normal which was bizarre when I felt so grunge and thought something far more serious had to be going on. I wish you all the best for your blood test results.

[GreenandGold in reply to Luisa22]

Thanks Luisa, yeah I've been convinced for ages that it's something more sinister, hence lots of research and self medication to avoid having to go to the GP ,but I've taken the step now and let's see what they find, as for the sleep mine is so weird, I have some kind of internal body clock that just wakes me after 2 hours of sleep, I can get back to sleep but only for the two hours...not linking this to the IBS but I'm sure this broken sleep pattern doesn't help. It's good to have this forum now, as it's really difficult trying to explain this to friends and don't want to be "that friend" thats always ill or banging on about illness.

[TheOtherHalf in reply to Luisa22]

@Luisa I also relate to the not sleeping well when the IBS is worse. I feel like even though I am not up and down to the bathroom with it during the night, my guts are nevertheless 'busy' and 'unhappy', and I keep waking up during the night, or waking early and not being able to get back to sleep. Of course, when I told my GP about the fatigue and the not sleeping and it's getting me down, she said I was talking in a 'slowed down' way, and tried to give me SSRIs for depression. Yes I'm bloomin miserable when I'm feeling unwell and sticking to a no-fun diet and lifestyle in the hope of finding the elusive trigger - I'm not a robot 😂

[Letswalk]

I have been taking Mebeverine for a year now and symptoms are much better. I hope you improve on this.

[TheOtherHalf]

Hi GreenandGold,

I am sorry to hear you are having all this trouble. Mine is also alternating constipation and diarrhoea. I sometimes still have terrible flare-ups of diarrhoea and pain, but usually, the mebeverine keeps me at my more normal bearable level of discomfort with the IBS, which is manageable. Meveverine is certainly the best IBS medication I have tried. I hope it is the same or even better for you. In my case, I have had worse IBS since developing active coeliac disease, and I am currently looking at other potential aggravators. I am thinking that I might be one of those coeliacs who reacts to the avenin in oats as well as the proteins in wheat etc. Fatigue is a huge problem for me too and apparently, my haemoglobin and sodium levels are still low, which would account for some of that. I really wish you all the best with this GreenandGold, because I know how miserable and debilitating it can be xx

[GreenandGold in reply to TheOtherHalf]

Thanks other half, only been on the mebeverine for 2 days, can't say I'm seeing any improvements yet, just come back from the football and feel like I've played 90 mins myself🤭 It's the exhaustion that is driving me mad, also does anyone else sometimes feel nauseous with IBS, feel really sickly today, pain not so bad but just feel like I want to throw up constantly.

[binks in reply to GreenandGold]

I find buscopan helps a bit more than mebeverine. But none of them are great! And yes, I feel nauseous when my ibs is niggling away. And full blown about to be sick when I’m having a flare up!

[Art78]

I have had IBS for years, probably since the 90's when I was training to be a nurse and so I thought it was just the stress of that but it never left!

I have taken Mebeverine on and off for years also, and found it very helpful. I only take it when I have a flareup, bloated tummy etc. and I had tried alternatives and found this by far the best. It can take some time to notice the difference but keep at it. Good luck GreenandGold.

[GreenandGold]

Thanks Art78 ,here's hoping