Change In Long-Term IBS Symptoms. Any Suggestions?

[Yrs_yrs]

Hello everyone, first post (M 43)..

I have had IBS for 18 years, mainly suffering with constipation/incomplete bowel movements, occasional diarrhoea. I’ve been lucky in the sense that I’ve been able to control my symptoms for much of this time through diet/exercise etc.

Over the last year however, my symptoms have increased dramatically. I have been suffering with abdominal pain, indigestion, excessive wind/flatulence, loss of appetite, and an increase in incomplete bowel movements.

I have spoken to a doctor and was prescribed PPI’s for stomach acid; to no avail.

I have a busy home life with two young children, and work full time doing fairly intense shift work. My eating times vary a lot.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[winfong]

IBS can change over the years. I was previously M, but now am C.

Stress also plays a huge role.

All that said, any dramatic change in symptoms, like yours, is probably grounds for a check-in with your gastro or PCP.

[Yrs_yrs in reply to winfong]

Thanks for your reply and insight.

I have booked a further appointment to see a GP in the coming week (something that’s not easy to do in the UK at the moment).

[Edgar77 in reply to Yrs_yrs]

I use fibogel regularly. What's wrong with aspartame? You have me worried now.

[Boxroad in reply to Edgar77]

I am also diabetic and found aspartame would bring on IBS symptoms

[Misspomfrey in reply to Edgar77]

Hi

I agree with Happykins, Aspartame is bad for IBS and digestion generally.

[Happykins]

Hi Yrs_yrs, mine has changed as well in the last 3 years, with symptoms almost exactly the same as yours.

The daily abdominal pain has been very difficult.

I've never thought that I'm constipated but a month ago I started to take one sachet of Fybogel daily (not particularly keen on the ingredients as it contains aspartame)

There's been a huge improvement in bowel movements, appearing entirely 'normal' if that's not tmi. When the box is finished, I'm going to try plain psyllium husk powder.

I am also half-way through IBS Audio Program 100 by Michael Mahoney after reading about gut-directed hypnotherapy in IBS Network site. I've tried many hypnotherapy mp3s in the past but this one seems very effective (I appreciate we're all different.)

I ended up in A&E a couple of weeks ago with a different problem (uctd/inflammatory arthritis) and the doctor asked about abdominal pain.

He seemed sure that it's inflammation related which seems the opposite of what I've been told about ibs. However, steroids do seem to alleviate my ibs always.

Hope you find something to help, daily pain is so wearing.

Take care x

[Yrs_yrs in reply to Happykins]

Hi Happykins, thank you so much for your reply, and sorry to hear that you have been experiencing similar issues.

I will certainly look further into the information you have provided.

Thanks again x

[Edgar77 in reply to Happykins]

I use fibogel regularly. What's wrong with aspartame? You have me worried now. What is it?

[Trinity7 in reply to Edgar77]

Most sweeteners are bad and have affect on gut. Aspartame is not good.... just google it

[Edgar77 in reply to Trinity7]

I should have thought of that in the first place. I did Google it and the European food standard agency among others do approve it. As it is a low calories sweetener. However as you say most sugars are bad news it is just the lesser of two or more evils.

[b1b1b1 in reply to Edgar77]

I agree that aspartame is not good for IBS and is probably not good for you. It is a chemical not found in nature. It is approved in the US also, but stillest to find an alternate. I believe Stevia is a natural alternative and is also very sweet. Many products now do use Stevia.

[Happykins in reply to Edgar77]

It's just that artificial sweeteners aren't supposed to be very good for our guts.

However, at the moment the benefits of Fybogel seem positive for me.

Sorry Edgar77, I didn't mean to worry you x

[xjrs]

Since your symptoms have changed, your GP should be retesting you. I've been retested many times, particularly when my symptoms have changed or got worse suddenly. It could be stress related which can shift your microbiome and affect the gut/brain axis. Have you tried Alflorex probiotic, which has been scientifically studied for IBS? Also the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app which helps to calm intestinal nerves?

[Yrs_yrs in reply to xjrs]

I have not tried Alflorex before, but will definitely look into it. Nerva I have seen advertised quite a lot recently, the reviews appear to be very positive. I have been sceptical about hypnotherapy in the past, but I am slowly coming round to the idea.

[Pte12]

I would try take a healthy lunch to work and still find time for yourself m8

[Yrs_yrs in reply to Pte12]

It’s a good point you make about finding time for yourself. Often overlooked but very important.

[islay1946]

Hi, am similar to you re IBS, but a colonoscopy in 2015 showed I also have diverticular disease, have had diverticulits and 3 hospital admissions over the last few years. I am surprised that a doctor put you on PPI's without an endoscopy I take them because I have a hiatus hernia which gives me acid reflux. My suggestion would be to ask for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy, good luck hope things get better for you soon.

[Yrs_yrs in reply to islay1946]

Thank you, I am due to see a GP soon so I may well be referred for further investigation.

[islay1946 in reply to Yrs_yrs]

Ok I hope you do get some better help soon.

[Gold22]

Hi Stress stress and stress, and shift work can mess up your bowels big time. PPIs are also not good for IBS. Hope you find some answers.

[Yrs_yrs in reply to Gold22]

Indeed, I have learned the hard way about stress/shift work unfortunately. PPIs I took for one month, no longer taking. Thanks.

[RickyW]

Have you tried ground flaxseed? I've had an increase in regularity and severity of flare ups in the last couple of years. Only thing the NHS did was put me in some group therapy session with a dietician, which didn't even get to FODMAP (apparently that was too advanced). However one useful tip was flaxseed. I have a heaped teaspoon with yoghurt for lunch and I really think it has helped - it also gives the yoghurt a nice texture I think!

[Yrs_yrs in reply to RickyW]

No, I have not tried flaxseed before but have heard it mentioned a lot. Thanks for your recommendation, I will give it a try.

[Weesan in reply to Yrs_yrs]

Flaxseed was recommended to me when I had slightly high cholesterol. I adjusted my diet & exercise and brought my cholesterol down to normal levels. I still take it with live yogurt for breakfast which helps my ibs. ( also recommended to keep flaxseed in fridge) Incidentally, I retired 8 months ago and there has been a massive improvement in my incidents of IBS.!

[Hidden]

Just a thought… if PPI’s did not relieve some of the symptoms… then it’s probably not your body making too much acid.. rather not making enough… which leads to SIBO and the associated bloating and bad bacteria… etc.

Discuss this with your GP and research… we produce less acid on queue as we age… do the easy test… teaspoon sodium bicarb in half tumbler of warm water … if you burp within a minute or two…you are okay …if you do not.. your stomach is not making enough.. this means food does not digest.. you do not get B12 … then all those extra problems start to manifest… best wishes…. To a healthier future.

[Yrs_yrs]

Thanks for this, low stomach acid is something that had crossed my mind. I’m going to try the self test in the morning.

[Misspomfrey]

Hi there

I too have suffered symptoms just like yours for the last 15 years and I was able to control it myself with diet and exercise. When the symptoms came, the worry would start and I would be very anxious and get palpitations and IBS. When the symptoms eased, I would be ok till it flared up again. Even without a flare up, I was experiencing incomplete bowel movements, alternating with diarrhoea and was afraid to go out walking which I love and it helps with my anxiety which I have had since I can remember. Last December I was particularly bad, had a few tests and bloods all normal. I've had several visits to doctors over years, but I don't bother now because I know what it is. I would only go if I saw signs that were different to what Ive had these last 15 years.

I started to look into things as I do now and then. I did a charcoal cleanse for 5 days, then I went onto a good probiotic. I think this is vital and I've tried many over the years, and I seem to have hit on one that suits me. I also started to take Milk Thistle once a day and intoduced a little sweetcorn into my diet. In addition to my usual supplements, these are the only recent changes I've made and since making these changes my bowel movements have been normal and regular, better than Ive been in years. I don't take any prescription drugs, I walk and cycle as much as I can but the main thing is, the less symptoms I have, the less I will worry and get anxious and this makes a huge difference.

Easier said than done for you if you are working and have children. I'm retired and I can spend my time as I like now. If you can eat fruit, do so, and drink plenty of water, which is good for constipation. It's all trial and error. Good luck