Ibs related problems

[Hollings]

I'm a 64 year old lady and I've had Ibs mixed since I was twenty. Can Ibs cause nausea, headaches and urinary problems and a general feeling of being unwell? Because that's how I feel for most of the time, also I suffer from trapped wind.

[Cortes3]

Hi there ! Yes all those things I get too. They do say your guts are your second brain maybe try some biocultures prebiotic with cranberry that's what I take I've also started taking pumpkin seed oil I'll try anything once .

[Booth29]

Yes I get headaches and feel unwell mostly during a flare up. I also suffer from trapped wind, no fun is it😫

[binks in reply to Booth29]

This could be me! I am a 63 year old female and have had IBS for 30 years - it's getting worse. My abdomen feels bloated most of the time and I cannot move the wind down. I've tried yoga and massage and nothing works. I'm currently having a flare up and I feel ill all over. Fatigued, nauseous, headachey. I take Movicol every night due to the added nightmare of perlvic floor dysfunction which makes me more constipated than the other way. This just makes the bloating and nausea worse. You have my sympathy.x

[Evonne02 in reply to binks]

Hi banks, I've suffered for as long as you have and had numerous short and long standing issues. Like you, i take medication for bowel issues, only mine is Macrogol x2 sachets every day. At a referral to Urology due to wetting myself I was told it was due to my bowels. I was given Docusate which I take x4 each day as it softens the stools. My stomach was like yours and caused so much stress that I think the Gp got fed up with me moaning about it. I was prescribed Peppermint Oil Capsules which I take 3 times a day. In addition I was advised by an A&E Consultant to drink 3 cups of Peppermint Tea each day. These seem to have calmed things down at least 99% of the time. The discomfort and pains have reduced dramatically too.

Please go back to your Gp or write him/her a letter about it. Ensure you write it all down and include how it affects you physic as well as mentally, as well as any restrictions it places on your life. If the Gp won't help ask to be referred to your local Psin Clinic. If this fails then just call NHS111 and explain it all. They will instruct your Gp on what needs to be done. Please let us know how you get on. All the best 😍

[Luisa22]

Yes, IBS can cause all those things. But re: the urinary problems, if you mean urgency or peeing more or less than usual then it could be connected to IBS, but if you mean other things like pain, burning feeling when urinating, peeing a funny colour, or shiveriness and fever, then no.

If you're not sure about mainly the urinary thing then do go and get checked out for a possible UTI.

Nausea can be a part of IBS sometimes but could also be a symptom of a UTI or anything else. Being feverish can cause nausea and headaches. You can have IBS as well as anything else.

But I get aches and pains which come along with IBS flares or what I call mini-flares. Mostly low back ache and lots of tiredness, feeling upset emotionally etc

[BabsyWabsy]

If I have a flare up, it usually seems to cause bladder inflammation as well making me need to pee more often, rather than a UTI. It is worth getting checked for an infection though given that you feel generally unwell.

[Misspomfrey]

Hello

I understand completely, I'm sure there's loads of people on here that will relate to what you are experiencing.

I'm nearly 66 and my IBS M started 15-16 years ago, when I hit the menopause. Prior to this, I was healthy and rarely had an off day. The only thing that got in my way was anxiety which has gone worse as I've aged. I've always been health conscious and I do my best to keep healthy. I don't eat meat, green vegetables are limited but fresh fruit is fine, various seeds, oats, all daily, no processed food to speak of, walk 15 - 20 miles a week on average, climb the lake district fells and ride my bike, I'm never still, always on the go at home and garden, DIY, but still i feel like you do. I go a couple of days where all is fine, BMs normal, then it's back. Headaches, BMs go weird, sweating, dont sleep, fast heart beats, bloating, wind, lower back pain and just like Luisa22 said, overwhelming tiredness and feeling emotional and in my case depressed, with a general feeling of unwell. 6 weeks ago, I was sick of it all and spoke to a doctor over the phone, had an intensive range of blood tests done and all was absolutely normal. Over the years, blood tests have always been normal . In fact Doctor said if the results were hers, she'd be very happy, she's half my age!

So why do we feel like this? Just because we're getting older shouldn't mean we have to feel this way especially if we're dedicated to trying to keep healthy.

So I'm afraid I've no answer to it, all we can do is our best and try to enjoy life as we can. Rest assured though, your not alone with this and feel free to speak on here with your concerns. I hope you feel better soon.

[casares8]

Yes i am feeling like that at the moment. I am 67 and have had problems for 25yrs plus. I suffer constipation, tiredness, headaches, and frequent urination esp at night. I think it is the bowel pressing against the bladder which causes the latter. The gas is bad lately though, the bowel noises are very loud and make me feel uncomfortable. I take peppermint capsules but might take gas tablets (windeeze or similar) if it does not cease.

[binks in reply to casares8]

This could be me! I tried Windeze for the first time a few days ago - they did nothing for my horrible trapped wind, but made the constipation worse! I've thrown them away this morning. Others may swear by them - we are all different x

[casares8 in reply to binks]

Oh ok i might give them a miss then as well

[binks in reply to casares8]

I don't want to put you off - just that's my experience. My trapped wind is just below my waist and will not move downwards! No matter how many weird yoga positions I try. The Windeze didn't shift it!

[Reindeer1]

omg I can totally relate to all this! I am 74 and totally fed up with IBS…the early morning is worse - pains, nausea and pee problems. I have IBS c all tests are negative. Even enemas don’t work sometimes. Today at lunchtime we are going away for two days and I am so stressed! Can’t have a BM worried about the drive, strange bed etc. there are so many of us with similar problems!

[binks in reply to Reindeer1]

I have ibs C and a hypertonic (tight) pelvic floor. I take a sachet of Movicol every night. I upped the dose a bit as I was going away for a week last week and was very worried about being completely unable to go. This worked ok whilst I was away and as soon as I got home I've had the worst flare up for months. You may find you're better while away and it's like the weekend migraine situation - you get home with relief and it all kicks off!!

[Frasina]

Nausea and headaches are par for the course with IBS as is trapped wind. All very frustrating, bothersome and enough to get anyone down! However, the urinary problems are not something automatically associated with IBS.... it can be linked to the fact that the colon can be pressing against the bladder as the colon in a flare is likely to expand more. I have had all IBS symptoms for 30 or so years (now 65) and 2 years ago I had a bad flare coupled with severe urinary symptoms (up 7 times a night to pee and lots of pain in all abdominal area). Water test came back clear and GP refused to send me to gastro saying its IBS playing up. Over the following month I still had all symptoms and also lost a stone in weight (not the norm for me) so I paid to see a gastroenterologist who due to my weight loss ran more tests urgently on the NHS and I found out I also have patchy pancolitis (IBD); now being controlled with meds, However, my urinary issues were not going away and so I paid again to see a urologist who said there is a definite link between people who have IBS/ IBD and the bladder especially when someone is flaring. So, in your case, you may have a UTI but need to find out either way first. If not, then your issues could be similar to mine with the colon pressing against the bladder. I actually got put on tablets for an overactive bladder - this did help at the time. I am currently in a flare and like you, have all the main symptoms including urinary ones. I hope when the flare settles, the bladder will too. Please do speak to your GP though if in any doubt about anything.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Frasina]

Old article on chronic UTIs and other UTI issues, but still relevant:

amp.theguardian.com/society...

[Frasina in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Thank you for sending this over; it makes very interesting reading. I did have many urine tests showing clear and even paying to see urology in the end I was told it is painful bladder syndrome alongside my IBD. A few months of antibiotics helped but my GP was alarmed I was given more than 1 course of antibiotics. Therein lies the problem.....

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Frasina]

I was given two courses of antibiotics for a “kidney infection” last year. It wasn’t a kidney infection.

Despite saying when issued with the first dose, before being issued with the second dose, when issued with it and after “what kind of UTI strain do I have?” (Hospital had thrown away before culturing) “are you sure?” “can we please test it again?” “might it not be a UTI?” Etc etc, I was given a second dose.

No-one seemed very interested in thinking of alternatives / doing tests in my case. It was as if they thought doctors’ time and patients’ time costs less than diagnostic testing would. Am glad you had more thorough care.

Does anything else help?

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Frasina]

When I have bowel problems I often have vaginal and / urinary problems that start at the same time too. But they are treated as if in mutual exclusion. I would love to see a gynaecologist / urologist / colorectal doctor who can think through / beyond the walls of one organ.

[Frasina in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

In answer to both your replies I think that actually being on antibiotics for around 6 months in the end did help but mainly it was that the gastroenterologist who pushed through a colonoscopy that showed patchy pancolitis put me on 8 weeks of steroids plus meds. A combination of all I think settled the urinary issues. However, they have not gone away completely and when I have a mini flare (that can be IBS or IBD) I do find I need to pee lots more!

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Frasina]

how long have you been living with this now? Steroids are about the only thing I haven’t tried!

[Frasina in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

I was given steroids 2 years ago by the gastroenterologist that I saw privately which lasted for 8 weeks. But I did not want to take prednisolone because of the many unpleasant side effects I'd heard about so I was put on Cortiment which does not give as many side effects. It did help and I have managed without any more steroids the past 2 years. However, I have a mini flare again and am monitoring it; if it continues the next few weeks then I may go back to this gastro man to see what he suggests although I could temporarily up my daily meds for the IBD and see if that helps me... I do still take something called Betmiga 50mg which is for over active bladder that the urologist gave me - been on these well over a year and a half.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Frasina]

Thanks for explaining. I need to educate myself on what an overactive bladder is now.

[angelwings52]

Definitely - I get headaches and nausea when I've got a flare up and feel generally run down. With the urinary problems, if there's any pain or temperature it could be a urinary tract infection, but it could also be interstitial cystitis, I tend to get that during flare ups. It's probably best to see your doctor and make sure you have enough fluids.

[Centrumdominic]

I am in my early 30’s now and I have recently been diagnosed with IBS Mixed.

Mostly suffer from constipation more than anything else from the IBS. With feeling of nausea.

For bloating I stated taking “Juvia” drink someone recommended from TikTok. Has been amazing.

I cut down on wheat made products and started eating lots of 🥩 instead. I cut down on energy and fizzy drinks.

For constipation, I make sure to drink about 2000ml of water everyday. I take laxatives like laxido twice a day, morning and evening. I find tea to be very good also.

My symptoms are mostly in the early morning and evening. God help us all. Because theirs no cure for IBS.

Social life, is automatically dead. But trying to keep positive and remain that way. I usually attend gym about four times a day before diagnosis, but since been cut down to twice because some days just feel like hell.

[mentalist]

Hello! Yes, it was actually the constant need to pee and the horrible cramps that sent me to a walk in clinic where I was diagnosed with IBS. I had never had it before the menopause. I also get headaches and feel terrible. I read that pain killers can exacerbate the IBS so it's hard to know what to do for the headaches. I would maybe get checked out though in case you have a UTI. I was tested for it at the clinic and thankfully it was negative but you never know. As others have said, pro or pre biotics can help a bit.

[fibnum]

I know these are probably silly questions, because I'm sure you have investigated everything thoroughly, but I have to ask. Have you been tested for celiac and other food intolerances? Is it possible that there is an infection or inflammation issue that could benefit from antibiotics? Are you on meds that can upset normal digestion? Do you exercise and drink plenty of water to help move gas? Do you try to breathe through your nose and eat slowly to avoid swallowing air? Do you take a probiotic and eat yogurt?

I am new to the GI forum, so please forgive my naiveté.

I think, though, that it is good to call on doctors, your own observations and intuition, and internet and other research to keep looking for relief.

I wish you success.

[Jackie1612]

hi Hollings

Sorry you are feeling like this. Looking at all the replies here, it’s sad to see that what you are going through seems to apply to lots of us.

Reindeer1 - I sympathise, I feel a lot like you do. Plus the trapped wind!

The joys of IBS.

[bungi1961]

I get the shivers chills and feels like poison and venom going through me at times and sometimes feels like I am being killed from the inside out but I know that's not the case but when you or I get it really bad no one understands do they? I have had 2 colonoscopies in 2021 and 6/7 polyps removed this year I had colon scan that came back OK I really don't understand why I still have Diverticular Disease and IBS the Doctor and hospital just gave me FODMAP Diet well more or less get on with it as if I know what I am doing!!! So I take all sorts 2 try and be free from it mebervine albervine buscopan cocodamols colomints nothing nothing appears 2 help and I would go Doctors if I could get an appointment and I feel like a prisoner 2 the toilet ETC and afraid 2 go out thank goodness 4 online shopping and I wear those paper pants all the time after all I am a 62 year old and it makes me feel like I am a baby and don't know what 2 do with myself half the time

[BabblingBrooks]

Yep I had a flare up a few months back, with headaches, nausea alongside stomach ache.

I have sinus problems so I was convinced it was 2 separate issues rather than 1.

But even now I’m not convinced.

The urinary issue most definitely is related to IBS imo but I think menopause can also cause frequency/UTI’s.

It’s tough being a woman with IBS and fluctuating hormones. 😬