I've always tried to reassure people on here when they are worried about IBS , but now, I'd like some reassurance please. Over the last week I'm having constant symptoms, I've no idea why this is. I've been having the same symptoms for 15 years, and each time I think, this has got go be something else. Last night, no sleep, then today, feeling generally rotten, headache, bloating, noisy tummy, tired, no energy, feeling down and several trips to the toilet all day. Not particularly diarrhea, but thin stools. Also, passing water frequently and feeling like something is pressing on my bladder. I'm sweating more than usual too. All these symptoms are familiar to me.
I've had one of these FIT Bowel Screening tests sent to me recently , you know, the ones we get when we're older, and it's lay there for days. I've had several over the years, and they've always been clear, but this time for some reason, I'm convinced there will be something. I suppose I've been worrying about this and this could have caused anxiety which I know only too well starts my symptoms off. I've been trying to think if I've eaten anything different which might account for the thin BMs, but I can't really think of anything apart from a little bit of salad at dinner yesterday. But this has been on and off for over a week now and is refusing to settle down. I took some paracetamol today and an Imodium. I've had a particularly busy couple of months and I always seem to be active and never seem to have any time for me. Yesterday I felt good and had a short cycle ride, but feel I'm rushing back home as something urgent needs seeing to. Then today, I feel awful. I don't understand how I can go one day feeling great to the next feeling half dead. 🥴
Anyway, I did the test against my better judgement, my guts weren't co operating. I've posted it and now I'm worrying about the results. 😔.
Well.....thanks for listening, it just helps to talk.
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Misspomfrey
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If there IS any blood, there can be a few different causes of that and not necessarily the big scary thing.. If you always get clear results on those tests my bet is this one is going to be too.
Oh yes, don't I know THAT "syndrome"? When I had to do my stool tests, my mouth went dry and my hands started shaking. And guess what? After a few days of my tummy not being so bad at all, suddenly I turned to mush, literally and couldn't stop going all day. all caused by feeling stress about the tests. Waiting for results was the same too.
I feel for you as I have a lot of sudden and heavy stress in my life right now, and that has messed with my guts, and hardly anyone seems to understand . I even think I have lost a good friend over it as she thinks I'm being selfish.
And yes, right now I feel exactly like you describe. I just start to pick myself up a little tiny bit and then another onslaught of stress arrives in my inbox, and no chance to even go out for a walk or some fresh air which often helps me centre and feel a bit better. Yes, not too bad one day then half dead the next. Stress is a huge IBS trigger for most people.
It's always nice to read your posts on here Luisa. A.. I'm so sorry you're going through a stressful time and feeling rotten because of it, I feel a little guilty for going on about myself, when you and others are also suffering.
Yes.. I'm sure it's stress with me, it's just the way I seem to be on top of the world one or two days and I can do absolutely anything when I feel good, then wham! The next day it's back and I feel absolutely dreadful. I keep telling myself and scolding myself to snap out of it and to liven myself up, but I just can't do it. It has to pass on it's own.
I'm so sorry that your friend doesn't understand what you go through, my husband doesn't either. I'm sure he just thinks that there's no pleasing me and I want to keep feeling like I do so I can wallow in it 😐 when, it couldn't be further from the truth. I love to feel well and I love life, I don't want to be like this, there's too much in life that I like to enjoy and my husband knows this and he tries to sympathise , I keep a lot from him, don't see the point in telling him what I go through, he doesn't know the half if it.
He loves to grow his own vegetables and it's something we've always done, 41 years, and I love them but I just can't eat most of them. I've told him this that they just make me ill, but he's upset about it, and I feel guilty then. I've asked him to grow more fruit and berries instead of vegetables but he just thinks I don't want the vegetable plot in the garden 😏. Even lettuce, I've always been able to eat, I find now it sets things off so I try to avoid it and a lot are going in the compost bin. All these things seem to put pressure on me when I can do without it, It really is a nuisance all of it and Im fed up 😞
I'm always studying trying to find an answer to it all, I was thinking I could have SIBO as well as IBS. A lot of my symptoms seem to fit. It would explain why I'm feeling depressed each time I feel ill. I Just can't be bothered with doctors, I've not long had a lot of blood tests, all normal. If it was SIBO, could I treat it myself naturally I wonder 🤔
Sorry to hear how you are feeling Misspomfrey . On the SIBO front, you won't have SIBO unless you have one of the causes. If the cause isn't treated first, it will keep coming back. If you suspect SIBO, you could discuss the cause list with your GP in the first instance. I can post it here if you want? Also one of the pointers might be if you've ever taken probiotics and they make your condition far far worse (after allowing a trial period of things to settle since probiotics can take a little while to adjust to).
Right, I have been taking probiotics for years and can't seem to manage without them, so I see your point. I suppose I'm just looking for any possible explanation for it all really. The probiotics make me feel better, not worse. Thanks for writing and take care
Aww, we are all in the same boat in our own ways I think, Miss Pomfrey.
What you said about feeling okay on some days and rotten on other days reminds me of how I am. It fits exactly.
My friend seemed to forgive me and wrote back nicely to me yesterday. I know she doesn't understand IBS as she's younger than me and has zero health problems (just as I was at her age!!) So at least that's nice.
The problem involved some family duty which she seemed to think I was being selfish about, and hundreds of miles of travel on public transport, which is a doddle for many people but my absolute nemesis!
How are you today? I hope this is one of your stronger days?
Oh yes....explaining to someone why you can't eat this or that any more is quite tricky.
The usual reply is "I think you should go and see your doctor! You shouldn't be like that!"
They just don't get it do they? We have (most of us anyway ) seen our doctors and been given an IBS diagnosis, so we do what we can to balance everything so we can manage our condition.
And what people often don't understand is IBS CAN be for life. I know someone who got cured and doesn't have it any more, but she is rare. All we can do is accept it and manage it to lessen symptoms.
I also get fed up of people's input, when they think I must be stupid or something, AS IF I haven't already done this or that, tested foods. found what suits me, experimenting with more foods gradually, tried this supplement, tried that, managed to find a routine and balance. They lecture me about nutrition and they don't know I researched that already to the level of being able to take an exam in it! Because I had to to get by.
And then they say "It's been a long time. If you're not better yet you ought to go and see the doctor."
Does any of this feel like "Groundhog Day"?? haha!
Thank you, I'm feeling a lot better today. We went walking in the Lake District to one of our favorite places, always a good tonic and the rain kept off. To be honest, after how I felt yesterday, I wouldn't have care what the weather did today, I just had to get out. I was a bit worried about toilet stuff, but after bei g stuck in tbe bathroom most if the day yesterday, i thought, surely im nit goi g to need it urgently today. Thankfully, I was ok till we got home this afternoon and things were almost normal again. It's weird isn't it and as much as I've studied this and diets and vitamins for years , just like you have, I'll never understand it.
I'm so glad you're friend has written and things are ok again. Other people just don't understand it, especially people you are close to. It's easier to talk to people we don't know. They don't understand that this thing is ongoing and will always have to be managed, unless they come up with some miracle cure before we die, all we can do is our best.
I'm sure like me, you must have spent pounds and pounds experimenting with this and that, a lot of it wasted, but we get things down to what we think is doing some good and keeping things ticking over, we'll try anything wont we if we think it will make our lives a bit more comfortable.
These days I keep myself very much to myself, I avoid socialising because people seem to wind me up and alcohol always comes into it somewhere and I don't drink. People seem to think there's something wrong with me when I tell them I don't want a drink. It seems to make them feel better when others are doing what they like doing and I seem to make them feel uncomfortable because I won't dance to their tune so to speak. Then there's the toilet business and the food and I can't eat the junk that some people eat. Ive been asked to stay with people on occasion and I have to refuse because it would be far too stressful for me. I'm sure they think I'm being weird and I don't always want to go into details about my condition, they don't believe it anyway so there's no point. My husband is my best friend and we still enjoy each other's company after nearly 42 years, I can be myself with him and i dont have to stress myself out pretending to enjoy myself when I'm not. I took a step back from society years ago, it's been the only way I've been able to deal with my condition.
Today, I put a boiled egg on my toast for taking out on my walk. I've not eaten eggs for 10 years and I'm fed up wondering what to put on a sandwich, so I thought what the heck, I can't feel much worse than I felt yesterday. It might be a big mistake, time will tell 😖 take care x
Yes, we live in an unpredictable situation, it seems.
I'm glad to hear you had a lovely day out. and all that fresh air and walking in the Lake District sounds beautiful. I love that, being outside in nature and in the elements. It's healing.
I am not one for much socialising either. Now and again, friends inviting me round, I can cope with, or them visiting me so long as it isn't in the mornings!
I don't mind a drink (alcohol) as it doesn't upset me in moderation, but it amuses people that I can't drink beer, can't drink wine...etc and have to take my own concoction of vodka and honey with me (which looks like a pee sample!) At least I usually raise a laugh with that. I tell them I have a sensitive tiummy, and nobody really cares if they have had a glass of wine or two by that stage! haha.
It's other things, like long distance travel, fitting into schedules others draw up, anything stressful or extreme or self sacrificing I can't do any more. Now leave me alone in my own world and I can manage. Mess me up and I can't. Simply because my gut doesn't agree.
I'm glad you had a better day today. Good luck for tomorrow etc!
Hi miss, I'm the same, try to help as much as I can, but like you have my own tiring problems at the moment, four weeks with bloaty tummy, going loo 5.30am disturbing my sleep in mornings, niggly little ache on my left hand side, comes and goes. Been buying most expensive car lately as a pensioner a Jaguar Xf. But in between my bank card got cancelled because of security issue. Got new one, but when I tried to pay dealer the bank refused the transfer. It caused so many problems and stress, just over paying £3000 to a reputable dealer. I feel the digital complications to being 72 which I'm being left behind is one reason I seem to be suffering more, due to one time pass codes everytime I want to pay something. I have diverticular as well, it's difficult to seperate IBS from a diverticular flare up. Any older person has stress from banks and all this digi rubbish?? , that effects our stress levels please let me know. I take paraceremol at the moment along with buscapam, but I still not right, cut out known triggers but hard to pick and choose as better food is so expensive now. Wishing you the best anyway💐👍👍
I'm not even 60 yet and I get stress from those things. Anything to do with money? tick. Anything to do with social interaction? tick. Anything to do with unfamiliar technology? tick. Having information thrown at me faster than I can process it (which is currently not very fast)? tick. I can cope with my computer fine as long as nothing goes wrong with it (stressful), but even buying things online is a bit stressful and I keep it to a minimum. Thankfully I have a partner who's willing to take a lot of responsibility for many of these areas. I'm not even suffering from IBS any more but I've still got chronic fatigue and a connective tissue condition and the combination seems to make me much more vulnerable to anxiety than I would normally be, so I'm hyperaware of it and what triggers it. I hate the one-time passcodes too, mainly because I hate mobile phones, have a cruddy old pay-as-you-go dumbphone and don't use any mobile often enough to find it easy to remember how to operate it, and it's not intuitively obvious. It's like trying to remember how to change the date on your digital watch, wasn't it nice when we just had to pull the little dial out and turn!
HelloI understand completely what your saying, it could be me! I'm nearly 66 and this technology causes me a lot more stress than I'd like, I can do without it😏 I started using a PC 21 years ago when they were big desk tops, we lived in France at the time and Windows XP was all in French! We didn't have a clue and it took some patience to get to grips with it. Since then though, we've had to live with it haven't we. I have a tablet and a small laptop but only do what I really have to do, nothing more.
I hate smart phones and I refuse to use one, they drive me nuts and make me ill. Like Lesgobdafydd, I use a little flip phone that just makes and receives calls and texts, nothing else, no smart anything, they are the best and are rare now, you've a job to find one. In my opinion, as hard as it was to get used to this computer stuff, instead of getting easier over the years, its got harder. Passwords for this that and the other, one time passcodes before you can do anything, b----y cookies😫 and theres the constant worry of scammers bleeding us dry. Gone are the days when they had to hit some poor soul over the head to get their money, now they can do it without leaving their armchair, it's a disgrace and getting worse😞 all this stuff adds to the stress which in turn brings on IBS. I worry about my husband not coping with it if I disappear, he's not as clued up as I am and that's not saying much. My husband says that most of what we worry about never happens , I hope hes right 😐
Great post miss. I also have a wife who let's just say is pretty dyslexic, but since EE gave her a new phone she's on it and get involved with liking pan pipe players from thousands of miles away, she sees Facebook as a lovely place to make friends, doesn't really understand links some people give her, which I tell her not to click. Some guys like her for two weeks, then start asking for gift cards or money. So that adds to my daily worry of dealing with different accounts I have. I'm sure I worry about what she's up to and makes my tummy worse. She's always (bothering) me asking what is this and that, she sees a post on her phone saying free £50 voucher when you sign up for rewards wnen shopping. I keep telling her these rewards are fake, don't go there. If it doesn't end in. In . co. uk..... It's not from who you think it is. I have to get this off my chest, sorry its not IBS but it all adds to my flare up at the moment😟😟
Yes, it's a real worry these days, younger people seem to deal with it all but I don't think it's doing anyone any good, it takes over you life and I refuse to let it take over mine. It's also very time consuming and my time is precious, Ive got better and nicer things to do than mess about with smart phones and technology.It must be hard for you keeping an eye on your wife and I can understand why she thinks it's all innocent. This is what scammers rely on. You can only do your best though, and you must try not to worry too much. Take care and thank you and everyone else for reading my posts and replying. 🙂
I just going to add. Problem is only having a landline, many companies now don't send important data to a landline. I do have four credit cards and belong to a couple of sites like freeman's and amazon pluss Ebay. Buts the banks that keep sending Otp codes even for a £4 playstore purchase, so a lot of stuff I used to do I given up. Virgin money I they have took away paying on a PC I had to get postal statements. I have to pay monthly on my bank on a transfer. Banks are overdoing all this verification for small amounts (Is this You) (To pay this we need verification, sent A OTP to enter code. But I honestly don't have need for any phone, only a basic one, as I'm disabled and out on scooter sometimes, so if break down I can ring the govt rescue number. My local chinese, only takes cash, so how can institutions really try to make everywhere cashless, even our car parking is not coins any more, I refuse to take my phone everywhere when I don't need it, to silence a council who is just lazy. End of rant🔚🔚
Hi MisspomfreyI am the 1st to admit after having Endometriosis followed by IBS for the last 35 years that I have health anxiety. When you have weeks of bad days you do wonder if something else is going on. If I told you all that's happened to me since January you would be reading my post until tomorrow morning😅. All I can say is I totally understand what you are saying but you know your own body..... do what's best for you. Good luck🍀
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