Does IBS come in bouts?

[1230753]

I thought IBS was supposed to come in bouts. I’ve had it for 9 weeks now day and night, is this normal?

[gloden]

Hi . I’m the same. This latest flare up has been since late June. Almost 3 months. I’ve had IBS for years since my 30s and I’m a pensioner now. Never had it last so long and be more painful. I’m on strong painkillers anti sickness tabs laxatives and an anti depressant . Oh and buscopan . I rattle. I go from constipation then after taking stuff for that swing to Diarrhoea. Dreadful stomach ache and awful bad low backache. No appetite and lost weight. Can’t eat much. My daughters got me Complan which I’m taking. I’ve had recent extensive tests with my Dr who is convinced it is IBS but I get so worried. Never lasted this long. Will it ever go. Sorry for the long moan. My love to everyone suffering with this dreadful thing.

[rmros in reply to gloden]

Same. I was diagnosed with IBS 25 years ago but it settled down for years and hardly ever bothered me. Then it just flared up again in June and has been bad ever since. Buscopan no longer seems to work. I can't seem to find particular triggers, it just anything and everything I eat.

I finally went to the GP and had lots of tests to rule out other stuff - FIT test negative, coeliac screen negative and still waiting for calprotectin results. Anyone know how long it takes by the way? It's been over a week now.

[Catsandsunsets in reply to rmros]

I'm sorry 😔 but I'm happy you've taken care of yourself and gone and had testing done

Have you had colonoscopy or endoscopy done?

[Catsandsunsets in reply to gloden]

I'm sorry about this 😔 I've had an IBS streak also for some months

Have you had an endoscopy done or a colonoscopy?

[rmros in reply to Catsandsunsets]

Hi. No, never have. Was referred for a colonoscopy 25 years ago but I was moving areas so much I fell off the system and never had it. All my latest test results have come back now and everything is normal, except I'm a bit anaemic.

I'm really at a loss because I can't find the trigger at all and it's a bit different to before. GP did say to go back if things didn't settle but I don't know where they can go from here.

Did you get better or is it still ongoing?

[gloden in reply to Catsandsunsets]

Hi. No but was told this latest bowel stool test I had showed 98% of anything amiss. Had bloods. Tested liver, kidneys ovaries. Doc been pretty good but nothing found. I ring and say it’s still going on and they suggest a different tablet or painkiller but I feel so low and worried now. How are you now?

[1230753]

Thanks for your reply. I’ve heard people before saying they had IBS but until now I didn’t realise it was so debilitating physically and mentally. It takes over your thoughts 24 hours a day even though you try not to think about it. Unfortunately the reminder is always there! For a split second in the day you think has it finally gone then it’s like a kick in the teeth five minutes later. I feel a bit abandoned by the GP. He did take bloods to rule out anything else then said it must be IBS and gave me peppermint oil capsules that didn’t help. I’ve done loads of research so trying to help myself but you do wonder is it IBS.

[angelwings52 in reply to 1230753]

Your GP can't diagnose IBS based on blood tests only, you should have had stool samples done as well, and then you should be referred to the hospital for further tests. IBS is only diagnosed after other digestive disorders have been ruled out. Unfortunately flare ups can last a long time, and stress doesn't help, I can recommend hypnotherapy, that's one of the best things that I did. You should be firm with your GP about being referred or maybe ask to see a different doctor at your surgery if they refuse to do so.

[Superzob in reply to 1230753]

I agree with angelwings52 that the tests you have had are insufficient to diagnose IBS, because it is a diagnosis of exception (ie, there is no underlying clinical condition - IBS is a dysfunction rather than a disease). I wasn’t clear what type of IBS you had, because peppermint oil will settle the stomach but could exacerbate IBS-D. Also, IBS-D rarely causes problems at night, which is one way of telling whether it’s IBS or an infection. On the other hand, if you have abdominal pain associated with IBS, then I can understand that this would be troublesome at night.

I do think you need this to be explored further and, hopefully, get some resolution.

[XDjames]

I've had two long 'flares' each lasting months over the last 2+ years. I quantify my IBS on a scale 0-3 as 0 totally incapacitated, can barely get out of bed to 3 I may experience some symptoms but it doesn't stop me going about my day with no constraints (1 is can go out for a walk, 2 can drive a car). Between bouts (as now) I'm mostly a 3 but a long overseas trip this month has dropped that down to 2. Travel seems to knock me back and good weather improves things. Only medication that does anything at all is Colpermin (helps calm things) parcetamol (lots of that, particularly at might), Senokot to prevent lockup of wind and occasional Z-drug for sleep. Another big help is to rationalise and avoid catastrophising (CBT) since however long the bout is it won't last forever.

[Daz1113]

I’m sorry to hear of your suffering. It’s the most awful thing you can get. Made worse by people who don’t understand what you are going through. I have friends who just say, why don’t you take Rennie they’ll sort you out… if only they knew

I started taking amitriptyline about 100 days ago. I take 25ml. And I have got to say that I am seeing some marked improvements. So maybe ask your doctor for them. I have had IBS for only 3 years but in that time I have lost my job and turned into a hermit. I have had every test done plus taken most medications. And it was someone on this site that told me to persevere with the amitriptyline and glad I did. If things stay the way they are today. I actually think il be able to go back to work.

I hope things improve for you. And you find some answers.

[1230753 in reply to Daz1113]

Thanks for that. I’ve been researching a lot and wondered about amitriptyline. Think I’ll ask GP to try them as they haven’t given me much else.

[Raneena]

Hi 1230753

Yes ibs this time came for me as bouts , the pain comes to me like waves , some times it comes with a very strong pain and other times I feel calm, now 1 month and I’m suffering and medicines don’t work.

[Icebears]

an ibs flare up varies from person to person. Some attacks can last a few hours, others can last months.

If this flare is different to your normal then it’s definitely advised to get it checked out, incase there’s something else going on.

I thought I was having a massive long lasting attack twice now. The first time it turned out I had an active H Pylori bacterial infection and the second time my inflammatory markers were off the scale (over a thousand). Neither of these things are ibs. In recent years, more has become known about bile acid malabsorption (bam) and after a sehat scan, quite a few people who were previously diagnosed with ibs-d had their diagnosis changed to bam.

If you’ve tried the things your doctor recommended and they’re not helping then I’d be inclined to go back and ask what’s next? There’s a lot more testing wise they could do and a fair few different approaches with regards to medication.

[StarNanna]

I've had bouts that have lasted for quite a while and my body needs a re-set to get things working normally again. I usually take Buscopan, drink lots of water (to balance out the dehydration) and eat a really calming diet (for me that is lots of porridge oats, which seems to soothe me). Worth contacting you GP to ask for further tests.

[Mornamoo32]

I had it for 13 weeks this year.

Had colonoscopy and stomach camera. Was all grand. Went away about 1-2 weeks later.

So frustrating but totally normal x

[Mornamoo32]

just to add - no idea what the trigger was. Never will find out either as I am a happy person and eat well. Just one of those things for me unfortunately. Was awful this year though. Had it now about 10 years. Still get a sore stomach when I eat bad stuff etc but I do eat well.

Josh one of those things for me x