Rare diarrhoea

[Sidney-dog]

Would like to ask if switching from IBS c to IBS d is common. I’ve been trying to manage constipation for 40 years. I’m used to that.Yesterday’s urgency was really anxiety provoking for me.

Thank you for reading.

[heartmatters1]

You could have just had an upset stomach, which happens to us all occasionally. However, if it continues you probably need to speak to a doctor. I suffered from constipation all my life until a couple of years ago, but now mixture of both. I do have diverticulosis though, so think this is what is causing mine. I haven’t found a link with the food I eat though, there is no pattern.

Hope things settle down for you 🤞

[Luisa22]

Diarrhoea always is anxiety provoking. It feels horrible. Even when it's "just" an IBS flare up you feel like you have a nasty tummy bug, and all the "fight or flight" nervous responses start happening.

Yes, it can be pretty common to go from IBS C to D without much warning. And vice versa.

Part of that could be just the weird way IBS treats us to all sorts of changes and shocks, and part of it could be from overflow diarrhoea. That's when the gut gets a bit blocked up and liquid stool finds its way around the blockage.

I'd say that is pretty common with constipation if it's gone on for a while. Or sometimes it's as a result of taking laxatives.

Check with a doctor though if you're still unsure, and watch for any unusual signs such as fever, bloody stool, more than the usual pain etc. In which case either call your GP or 111 (which might get you better results than phoning a GP!)

[buggins55 in reply to Luisa22]

so interesting you should mention the fight or flight thing people always tell me oh it's your anxiety that causes IBS but I believe it works both ways, as you say the nervous responses kick in with with IBS flares especially when it's one of the random changes in symptoms that catches you out

[Luisa22 in reply to buggins55]

That same thing happened to me this morning. O..M...G! I started feeling desperately weird when brushing my teeth, and got the shakes all over, dizzy-ish, faint-ish, heart racing, a kind of nauseous feeling and my mouth dried up like blotting paper. Out of the blue.

I thought it just had to be a huge D flare up about to happen, and braced for it. I thought -there's nothing I can do but go straight down the middle of this -but I felt really horrible.

Then I found out what was causing it. Wind in my belly. I usually pass a lot of wind on getting up and I hadn't. As soon as that was out I felt fine again, and didn't even have a flare up.

Amazing and freaky that just wind could cause all that. I think that can irritate the vagus nerve on some random occasions, and cause that fight-flight thingy.

[buggins55 in reply to Luisa22]

yes that's exactly it ! I've had this happen sometimes over my years of IBS and it's made me wary of going out to far unless i feel ok

[Luisa22 in reply to buggins55]

I understand. But that's only happened to me a handful of times over about 4 years, so once the "morning ablutions" are over, and I am steady again I will go out. But I rarely go to towns, supermarkets, shops etc. I prefer the countryside and collecting firewood for winter. Don't be too scared of those vagus nerve things which feel very scary but are gone usually in half an hour or less.

[Sidney-dog in reply to Luisa22]

Thank you for your informative reply

[xjrs]

You may actually be suffering from overflow diarrhea which is where IBS-C gets so bad that there is impacted stool. Liquid food gets backed up behind it and has no where to go apart from seeping around the impacted stool. If this is the case, it is important to work on the constipation such as increasing fibre. If you are unsure, perhaps see your GP. They may be able to feel your colon to see if it is loaded up or discuss with you what else it might be.

[Gizmo6]

Funny you should say that. I've had ibs c for over 30 years. Then Jan 23 I had an awful bug or it was something I'd eaten. Just for 24 hrs. But following that I kept switching from C to D. My digestion was over sensitive I couldn't figure out what it was. I tried several brands of probiotics then found one that suited me. Now I'm back to C. I feel my constipation isn't as bad as it used to be. No D at all now. Still sensitive digestion but better.

[Sidney-dog in reply to Gizmo6]

Thank you! I need to investigate probiotics

[Hennen]

I’ve been having this experience over the past week - going from severe constipation to having diarrhea and a sore abdomen. If I don’t take Constella (for IBS-C) then I get backed up, but if I take it every day I seem to get IBS-D! I’d like to know which probiotics people have found helpful.

[Lubomire99]

Oh Sidney-dog it’s such a horrible condition . I was IBSC now every day is different. This past week I have flared really bad and in toilet more than ever but also having very bad pelvic pressure which is really getting me very anxious . I have stopped eating and only having water and peppermint tea . At least with C I knew what I was dealing with.

I hope to get well soon . Take care

[Luisa22 in reply to Lubomire99]

I hope you feel better soon. A sudden switch from something we are used to managing can be very disconcerting, and we start to imagine the worst. I do know.

I wonder if eating small amounts of very bland foods, starchy foods, and simple protein like boiled eggs or poached white fish/chicken breast etc might calm your gut as well as supply you with some good nutrition? I find if my gut gets bad with the D, those foods do help me. But often having nothing in the gut can actually make me feel worse somehow.

[Lubomire99]

I hope that you get well soon !!!!