I will be well....

[Awannabe]

Hello-

I am a 10 year IBS-D sufferer. It worsened over the past two years as i went through the loss of my husband of 40 years to a rare cancer.

The IBS gut-brain axis is real as my anxious mind can attest to. My IBS started after an 8 month round of chemotherapy for an early blood cancer. I've been cancer free for 10 years now and IBS is the only consequence, so i am fortunate. That said, IBS-D stinks (pun intended).

I've tried everything imaginable for my IBS. Low Fodmaps probably help but i lose weight and can't afford to lose more. I recently started the Nerva Hypnotherapy and am feeling very hopeful.

At my last appointment, my family doctor prescribed Cymbalta for my IBS. I'm thinking it is her way of putting me on an antidepressant but I did find some supporting literature for using it in IBS. Anyone tried it for IBS-D?

[Linley]

Hi! I have not been asked to try this drug, in fact I had to look it up and as it contains serotonin it must be an antidepressant. I am sure someone on this wonderful site will know. That said I wish you a happy and healthier new year😁

[Mrs-Gee]

I have been taking Sertraline, which contains seratonin, for 6 weeks. Dr prescribed it as the side effects can help with menopause symptoms for those of us who can’t take hrt. The first 3 weeks I felt nothing but slight nausea ( I was told to expect this) then it kicked in. Hasn’t cured the hot flushes etc but reduced anxiety so all my symptoms are easier to deal with. I am a lot calmer! So if seratonin helps with anxiety it could be beneficial to you in calming the brain gut connection and well worth a try

[TedsMum247 in reply to Mrs-Gee]

Hi, I was prescribed Sertraline for anxiety last year, it gave me diarrhoea so I stopped it. I wasn't aware it contained seratonin, it sounds is if I could help me in the long run. But the fact that it gave me diarrhoea, which is my main problem, I stopped taking it.

[TedsMum247]

Hi and happy New Year to you. I had never heard of Cymbalta, but will look it up. My GP tried putting me on Amitriptyline several years ago, it gave me the shakes and I stopped it. Just last year another GP suggested I go onto Amitriptyline to control my anxiety and stress. As she said I would be on it for the rest of my life, I declined. As well as that my reaction to it previously wasn't good. I have stress-related IBS-D which has got worse over the last year. I wish you luck!

[Johny334]

hi

I haven’t tried Cymbalta but trailed Amitriptyline for a few weeks but I couldn’t stand the side affects , I’m with a Dietitian just now on version of the low fodmap I have to say it’s by far the best results I’ve had on this journey, as all ways a but with Ibs , but like yourself I can not afford to lose weight ( been with dietitian for 6 weeks now) and I’ve lost 4 to 5 kilos and I’m very conscious of that, I’m hoping once we’ve worked through my triggers I’ll start to put that weight back on , how did you find the low fodmap ? Was it sustainable? Take care Paul