Hi there,I'm posting on here for a little moral support as this community is always so helpful and understanding.
I've had a period of a year of pretty rubbish daily struggles with IBS which I've been having lots of treatment for (medication, lifestyle, diet etc). At the start of the year things seemed to be getting better and I was able to go into the office finally, eat a more healthy diet and go back to Pilates. I was feeling so good doing all these things, and seeing my friends, keeping up with meditating and journaling each day. Then about a week ago for no apparent reason I started to get loose stools again every day, so went back to really bland plain food (which has made my brain feel rubbish) last night I ended up having a horrible episode rushing to the bathroom all night. It's strange it's like my medication (amitriptyline) has almost just stopped working, or there is some other random change I haven't noticed. How does everyone else cope when this happens? It's hard to not feel very depressed just as I had a short time of getting my life back. And when you can't pin an episode on food/stress etc it's hard to know what to do next to improve things. Thanks so much in advance - really appreciate having this forum of people who have really been there!
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Mwn72
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Hi....sorry to hear you've had an as yet unexplained relapse and reading your post brought back painful memories of my own experience including those awful night-time episodes. I can only empathise with you and tell you what I did to try and pin down a cause.
Forgive me if you've already done this exercise but it's important to understand how diet is influencing your condition (I started this exercise with good intentions and sadly let things slip after a few weeks of feeling better)
Make a simple sheet and record absolutely everything you eat and drink. Including snacks and drinks. Try to eat meals at the same time each day. Record your symptoms each day.
(bloated, tired, windy etc) and of course your bowel movements. (Number of, Loose, formed....etc).
I discovered for example that even something as simple as eating a ripe banana with my morning porridge could trigger diarrhea later in the day. I am lactose intolerant and drink low sugar oat milk....it took my record sheet to realise that while most cafés now have oat milk, very few have the low sugar type. It may help you see a pattern or identify a certain food/ drink that is affecting you.
Remember, your stomach contains hundreds of strains of bacteria that fight for control of your tummy. Most of the time your good bacteria wins the day....but sometimes the bad stuff triumphs. Have faith...your recent experience could simple have been a one off. Keep watching your diet and don't discount the seemingly simple change, food or drink that might have an immediate impact on your tummy. You'll triumph in the end.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply ❤️. It always so helpful to hear others experiences when they have been in the same position!
I've been on a fodmap diet for a while now, but my dietician advised me to continue with gluten as I naturally have a very low weight so she didn't want me to cut too much out - but definitely might give this a test now!
I'm lactose intolerant as well - I'm usually okay with Minor Figures organic oat milk but was reading someones post on here about some additive ingredients potentially having a laxative effect so I might try and the very natural Rude Health one for a while.
Keeping up a food diary again is a great tip - thank you again for your kind words and for taking the time to respond
With having had to manage IBS for the past seven years, I know exactly where you are coming from. I can go through periods of being IBS free and then I can suddenly experience back ache for no apparent reason and I then spiral down into be depressed and anxious which then leads to other sensations/pains in my body.
I have accepted now that I will experience flare ups from time to time and I know they will pass which keeps me going. I just try to live as normal life as possible and enjoy everything that I do and eat as healthy as possible.
I just take each day as it comes and if I have a bad day, so be it as I know will also have good days too.
Remember – you are not alone and the community is here to support you.
Thank you so much for this response. Really helpful to hear and yes you are right the good days remind us that we can feel those again! Thanks again ☺️
Ahh those unexplained flare ups , I went through 3 months of this. It will pass. Please try not to stress, easier said than done I know. The medication you are taking ( I can't say or spell it lol ) Is quite a strong one. I was prescribed it many years ago for my chronic pain . The side affects were awful. As I'm quite knowledgeable about meds . This is one medication I refuse to take . Long term use of this , it will stop working. Try and see your doctor to review your meds and maybe try another more effective one . Hope you feel better very soon
I have tried some previously but actually just ordered some new ones yesterday. This was advised as being helpful for IBS d optibacprobiotics.com/uk/pr..... but will also take a look at alflorex - thank you!
Saccharomyces Boulardii is normally recommended when taking antibiotics, since it is a beneficial yeast and won't be impacted by the antibiotics. I took it when I was on antibiotics and it seemed to help, but I found it constipating, though this may help you.
Hi Mwn72 I am sorry that you are going through this. I was interested to read that you find that your amitriptyline medication is not working. And cSalad below has not had good experiences with it.
I have only been taking it for a month, and it worked well at first, but now it seems to be wearing off. I am on a low dose of 10 mg
Hi Jackie, thanks for your message. I have been taking it for almost a year now and on the whole have had very good experiences. I was encouraged to ask my GP for it after reading lots online about it. I read that a lot of people find most benefit when taking 20mg - I usually took 10 one day than 20 another so it didn't slow down my system too much and make me constipated. Its also been helpful to take in the past when having a flare up to help calm the symptoms. I'm hoping this is just a fluke and everything does settle down with it soon as on the whole (despite a bit of sleepiness) it has been such a helpful medication for me
You may like to try rude Health's Tiger Nut Milk because oats actually are higher fodmap in the same amount. Tiger nuts are lower fodmap, and the "milk" is delicious! No sugar added yet naturally sweet. I've switched from oat milk and feel better. Remember our bodies are like a process, so tolerances can shift over time. Good luck.
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