I’m new here! Is it just me or is random days of severe fatigue and tiredness related to IBS?

[Avahw]

Doctors have not been super helpful with me yet and I’m seeking specialists now. I’ve had IBS symptoms for over a decade and I’m constantly in pain. I also have endometriosis, and now have anxiety over foods and travel as it sometimes makes it worse. I’m truly fed up, it’s very emotionally/mentally/physically hard. I don’t feel seen in any way too and thought coming ok here would help find my community. Please let me know if you have any tips or know of the tests I should request from the NHS? Thank you and wish you all a good IBS day! Your fellow IBS human x

[BabsyWabsy]

Hi Avahw, although I am long past it now, I used to get severe dysmenorrhea, which in turn made my bowel worse. I think I may have had endometriosis, but it was not really recognised back then. I also experienced severe fatigue, and I still do from time to time, but it now seems to be stress related. My GP says I just have to work through it, which is not helpful. Just a thought, have you been tested for coeliac disease? I was eventually referred to a gastroenterologist by a GP who freely admitted he knew nothing about guts. Perhaps you could request testing for coeliac, Bile acid malabsorption, and referrals to both a gastro and a gynaecologist? It is a battle to be taken seriously and sometimes you need to be persistent, and if you have the chance, seeing a different doctor can sometimes help. If you have persistent tiredness, ask for your thyroid function to be tested. It is too easy to be dismissed as 'just IBS' or 'Just women's problems'.

[edwangy]

Could be adhesions from the endo, ask to see a gyne

[winfong]

To answer the question in your title ... most definitely. It can really lay me low at times.

[eyeofthetiger123]

I would say that if you suffer from ibs-c then maybe taking high doses (2mg) of vitamin C may be a good thing to improve energy levels. You may also want to try some hormone balancing supplements like fenugreek. Regarding celiac, celiac is serious, but you can tell if someone has a sensitivity towards gluten by having a gluten free pizza one day and a normal pizza (just a cheap one) and see how you feel after each one. If you can bounce back happily only with the gluten free one then that may help. I also believe that when life is going well it is important to build metabolism through exercise because in general it makes you more robust to when it does go badly. So pizza test, hormone balancing supplements (Ryan Taylor has some YouTube video about this), and vitamin C should really adjust. Also, magnesium and turmeric can help a lot of constipation is the main problem.

[angelwings52]

I would ensure that get referred to a Gastroenterologist and specifically get tested for coeliac disease. Also make sure that your gall bladder is scanned as this can get missed. You might want to ask your doctor about a thyroid function test as this can cause the tiredness, my underactive thyroid went unnoticed for a long time as I kept assuming the symptoms were IBS etc. I can recommend hypnotherapy to help with both the IBS and the anxiety, that's one of the best things that I did.

[Luisa22]

I also have energy fluctuations and can feel so drained on some days like I'm one of the walking dead! Yet the next day I can feel fine with pretty good energy. That can happen generally, not only connected with flare ups. In my case I'm never sure if it's just a natural part of me getting old, or if it's connected with IBS or not.

I would definitely get a blood test and stool testing. If you have anemia that can drain your energy. Also if you have, it needs a proper investigation, not just chugging down iron pills which can sometimes do more harm than good.

[SingC]

Be encouraged by your community here, and do keep seeking suitable help. You are worth it!

[MatthewU]

It's not abnormal for people who suffer from IBS to also have stress problems, that is one reason why an SSRI such has citalopram work very well for the patient. You should also follow the FODMAP for foods to eat and to avoid, I try and avoid wheat based products and milk which tend to bloat me. Take high does vit D3 also L. Gycine for potential leaky gut, also the all important wide spectrum high strength Probiotic. You may also benefit from avoiding anything that is in the Nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes etc)