Crompton

[char22benj]

I hope someone, somewhere can give me some advice. For a number of years I have suffered from a gut problem. I was referred to a gastroenterologist and all tests cam back normal. I was told I probably had IBS. I was able to live with the running to the loo after meals by eating early before I had to go out and, if eating out, friends were aware of the problem. I did not have any other symptoms.

Around the time of Covid I started losing weight. At 5ft.10ins. I was down to 8 stone. I was referred to a dietician and started the FODMAP dies and build up drinks. There was no change with the diet and I was told to stop. I am a vegetarian who has always eaten a very healthy diet. I was still able to live with the problem.

Around four months ago the symptoms changed. I was and am still suffering from a lot of wind, wet output and occasionally stomach cramps and nausea. The result is I have to keep running to the loo because I am not sure whether it is just wind or not. I have had every blood test and faeces test and, again, all the results are normal. Now, unfortunately, I am passing very little faeces.

I have gone back to my normal vegetarian diet after having tried a lactose free diet.

I am a volunteer driver for two charities - one involves taking elderly people to a host's house once a month for a meal and get-together and this is one of the many things I have had to stop doing.

I can no longer deal with this and now wish to be referred, but I don't know to who. I would welcome any suggestions.

[b1b1b1]

You need to be referred to a gastroenterologist.

[xjrs]

Have you tried Alflorex probiotic which has been scientifically studied for IBS? There is also the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app.

[Carsok]

Just putting this out there...IBS, gastritis, etc. I have had so many gut problems plus have a colon full of diverticuli and get a colonoscopy every 2 years due to polyps. About 4 months ago had a breath test done and it showed I had an excess of Methane gas in my system. It can cause all sorts of problems but it slows your whole digestive system down. Very difficult to control but I also just spent a week in the hospital due to diverticulitis on antibiotics and only a liquid diet. Plus a week before the hospital was on antibiotics for it but it didn't work. I feel better if I don't eat and have started eating yoghurt (per doc) and hoping whatever was feeding the methane gas (methane is not a bacteria) but is fed by a bacteria that the antibiotics killed everything off. Just something you might want to get tested for.

[bluejourney in reply to Carsok]

I too have methane SIBO. I just wondered what antibiotic you were given. My NHS gastroenterologist prescribed me Rifaximin, which I’ve read is fairly effective in killing the hydrogen producing bacteria, but he wouldn’t give me a combination of antibiotics, and I believe you also need neomycin to kill off the archaea, which are the methane producing organisms, as they are more difficult to kill.

[Sallybt in reply to bluejourney]

I was prescribed by my Naturopath Candex SIBO, a natural antibiotic along with a diet similar to FODMAP (lots of info on google) worked for me thank goodness. Still have to avoid certain foods and still take Candex SIBO sometimes.

[Carsok]

My doctor also prescribed that but the cost was so prohibitive ($924) a month and then I have been hospitalized with diverticulitis and on antibiotics for 3 weeks. Was on liquids and made such a difference in how I felt. I'm hoping that all the meds killed all the bacteria and so maybe archaea died?? Who knows. Have a a virtual visit this am with my gastro doc. I also read even if you take Rifaximin it might not work the first time and then you have to take it again and for me $2000 for something that might not work was a deal breaker. Also have quite a few other digestive problems...digestive cancers run in my family so I always have colonoscopies, etc. I know what you are going through especially since methane slows your whole gut down. Hope things get better for you.