feeling down

[nigelroget]

Hi there , I have had IBS for 10 years now it is generally IBS c but recently it has changed to IBS d I still visit the toilet at the same time each day (usuallytwice) but instead of Constipation I end up rushing and end up filling the toilet non solid but not bad diarrhea .

Has anybody else had this symptom as it is new to me and worrying and it is getting me down which in turn I know makes things worse .

Its 2 weeks for a GP appointment

Any tips I have increased my cocodamol and am taking ispaghula husk and a bland diet which improved things a little .

Is it just a case of waiting for the symptoms to subside I have had this for 3 weeks now

Any help much appreciated

Nigel

[MountainHare1]

Hi. My badge of honour is 7 years of having had IBS so perhaps not quite experienced but certainly have had the symptoms you have mentioned.

I recently had a dose of cocodamol for back ache which is just one of the symptoms I experience with having IBS and immediately I became constipated when trying a BM. I very rarely take any kind of medication and I think it has really benefitted me in keeping IBS to a minimum.

I pretty much eat as I want but do focus on eating healthy, with plenty of greens, fruit, pro and probiotics and fibre in my diet. I exercise regularly and spending time enjoying hobbies etc. that I do every day.

In the past I have known when IBS has dragged on for few weeks I have gotten down about it, however I have now changed my approach to how I manage my IBS…

I have accepted that I will have IBS for the rest of my life; I know I will experience IBS flare ups from time to time, but they will pass and I focus on the things that I enjoy doing which helps me get over my IBS symptoms quicker because psychologically I am taking my brain to a happier place by things I am doing.

You are not alone and it is possible to manage IBS without having to use medication.

Take care.

[nigelroget in reply to MountainHare1]

Thankyou for your kind reply I too usually eat what I like and healthily bar onions cream amd any type of bean,, 2 cocodamol a day kept me in a manageable way toilet wise .

Normal bouts of IBS usually only last a few days with me , I think I suffer from SAD and the pressure at work has provked my current issue . I try to be positive but sometimes you just need to reach out to people who understand.

Nigel

[MountainHare1 in reply to nigelroget]

I am sure you are familiar with taking vitamin D for treating SAD. It has helped me.

[BabsyWabsy in reply to MountainHare1]

My late husband was prone to depression. A daily vitamin D3+K and a daylight reading lamp made a huge difference to his winter health.

[Misspomfrey in reply to nigelroget]

I am prone to depression and normally a little worse during winter months. This winter however I took the decision to take extra Vitamin D3 in addition to what's in my multivitamin and I have felt a lot better which has enabled me to get through the winter easier. Also deep breathing has helped me a lot, it's just remembering to do it ☺️ Walking is brilliant as you're forced to take deep breaths without thinking about it. 🥾

[Luisa22]

Yes, IBS can flip sometimes. I get that to a much milder degree. I have IBS D mainly, but just sometimes for no logical reason I get constipated! It's easy for me to balance it out. I just eat carrots with my dinner, or beetroot or potatoes, and that's it usually after a day or two. Then my gut will go back to "fairly normal" for a while until the loose stools happen again (again illogically and not tied to diet or stress.)

It sounds like you maybe have type 5 or 6 stools (on the Bristol stool chart)? You can find examples of the Bristol stool chart online if you're not sure.

I even heard one doctor say that type 5 was within "normal" range !! But usually that means more fibre is needed though my own experiments have not worked with that.

One good thing I suppose, is that if the worst problem is the suddenly loose stools, then at least the body is clearing you out. There could be a bit of backlog owing to the chronic constipation. But if that includes other awful symptoms that's not so great.

If you go twice a day, then get no real problems until the next day, that's not so bad.

I wonder if things might settle down a bit once you have gone through this "cleaning out" period?

A bland but nutritious diet is a good idea. Maybe you can tolerate a few steamed vegetables? You might have to pick and choose which ones suit you and which don't....which ones may need peeling first to be more easy to digest. If you can eat good proteins like meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables (or even perhaps a few fruits?) plus any carbs that suit you, you're not too badly off.

There may be many foods you can't eat though without repercussions. I would suggest getting a good multivitamin and mineral complex.

The symptoms might subside. But bear in mind that the loose stools (you said it's not bad diarrhoea) might even be healthier for your system than being chronically constipated. But obviously keep an eye on it and ask the Doc if things get bad.

I'm surprised Ispaghula husk helps. I couldn't go near that as it's way too high fibre for me. But if it does, then great. Foods with more "soluble" fibre, rather than "insoluble" might be good for you too.

[nigelroget in reply to Luisa22]

Thanks for confirming a lot of my thoughts I find that ispagula husk works combined with cocodamol usually works well the husk removes the watery part of diarrhea and I am quite susceptible to codeine this usually slows my gut down within a week but this has been going on for 3weeks now I think sometimes we need reassurance that though annoying/distressing we will see it through Nigel