I have had IBS for over ten years now and I'm in the most painful flare-up I've ever ever had as I stopped taking opioid medications without me wanting to stop taking them as they are the only things that helped only for them to be replaced by Suboxone, which my GP put me on because she thinks I'm dependant upon them. I've been on this medication for almost a year now and my quality of life has severely diminished. I don't go outside to do things, I stopped socializing, I call in sick for work all the time, I'm way too depressed from being sick all of the bloody time. I am not taking care of myself, I feel like finding a new doctor who will just put me back on my opioids. I've tried many times asking her to do just that with a response to as a flat out NO!!IM SICK OF BEING SICK!!
Any and all advice welcome.
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christbaked69
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Were you prescribed opioid medication for your IBS by your GP? If so, there could be some negligence there since in my research opoid drugs such as morphine have negative or lack of research data related to IBS pain, plus there is a dependency element as you say.
Regarding alternatives, it depends on what type of IBS you have. If you are IBS-D (diarrhoea dominant), there is amitryptline which has a constipating effect. If you have IBS-C (constipation dominant), there is Linaclotide. Both of these work on IBS pain.
I have some general advice about what to try for IBS to help you manage it more long term in a previous post of mine:
Some people's IBS symptoms (and IBS pain) are related to a gut bacterial imbalance, which is why it is a good idea to try a good probiotic like Alflorex first. This has been helping me greatly with the pain (alongside Linactlotide, since I am IBS-C).
have you had colonoscopy s , Ive had several over years, along with IBS have had diverticulitis, lower pain left abdomen, which was prescribed antibiotics for, and some pain meds at the time, now discovered through colonoscopy have a spastic colon, and seems last year or so every morning sometimes through day, have painful cramping until have moved bowels 3,4 sometimes 5 times especially in mornings, through all these issues dr advised more finre in diet, and over the counter physillium husk product, never prescribed an opiod med, but main question is “have you had colonoscopy” and side note, a family member had been on subuxine for years as became addicted to opiod meds dr precribed for painful arthritis in knees, and as matter of interest suboxone has caused all teeth to deteriate brek off etc, and just lin last few mos discovered thete is a civil suit against suboxone manufacturers in US and Canada , re side affects , especially teeth, , but he s been on suboxone for wuite a few years now
sorry to hear about such pain ! Really want to help, have you tried ENTEROSGEL?? ????? Or DOCTOR GUT - these are adsorbents that remove harmful molecules that cause IBS pain , not just mask symptoms like antispasmodic drugs. Read research and reviews , get it from your GP or buy yourself on Amazon or in any pharmacy. Hope you’ll never look back ! It helps 80% of people with IbS
Get a second opinion and see what else there is for you.
I was out on Hydrocodone (Vicoden) by a pain management specialist for about five years due to bulging, ruptured, herniated, trigger points pain in shoulders, sciatica, etc. He had me on the lowest dose. I took it as directed (two a day). I do remember it made me feel happier a little and life seemed great. I don't know if it was the Vicoden or if I was out of pain. He also put me on Flexeril (muscle relaxer) and Naproxen 500.
Then came the problems. I noticed I wasn't having bowel movements as much..then I noticed I wasn't having them at all. I was severely constipated because the opioid sticks to your colon walk near your rectum. There were many times I had to go to ER and have an enema. Then it came down to where I pretty much lived in the ER having soap sud enemas. I remember when Doctors found out I was taking an opioid I felt they looked down in me even though I wasn't abusing it. Even in the ER I would get lectures and they were sure to put opioid information on my discharge papers.
Then after several years, my Pain specialist put me on Movantik which stops the opioid from sticking to your intestinal wall..but it didn't do much. Then he put me on Linzess which about 20 years ago was the only medication out there for constipation. I don't think that worked either. So he started to give me about 20 Vicoden a month. That's when I decided I wanted off of them..and went off cold turkey. Surprisingly..I had no withdrawal effects except losing the "happiness" feeling.
However..the damage from the Vicoden was done and now I suffer where I am unable to have a bowel movement at all. I have a very weak pelvic floor. So I was out on Senna which is the only laxative that works for me. I have been on it for about 25 years. It's like you are darned if you do and darned if you don't.
I am new to the forum,so many people with varied symptoms,I am always sick with a flare up,the pain seems to cause it,I haven’t tried ginger tea,but will give it a go,thank you for mentioning it,I take buscopan with mint,helps to a degree.
Hi everyone, gosh there are some really complex gut problems with all of you. I have had ibs c and d most of my adult life, I am late 60s now. On the FODMAPDIET for years, lots of migraines for 20 years. This is enough to cause trauma, drip by drip over many years. My health has been at rock bottom for many years.Firstly don't rely on medications, we are what we eat or rather absorb from nutrients. It is not called the gut brain axis for nothing. There is more serotonin, the feel good neurotransmitter in the dig system than the brain. The cause of all of this bad health , gluten and dairy. I'm now super sensitive and grain free too but my gut is the best it has been all my life. I guess normal, don't know as had bad digestive symptoms all my life. It has taken nearly 4 years to sort it out and find the root cause. But this restrictive diet has to be 100% every day. Its not easy as planning, cooking from scratch all the time. One thing you should ask yourself is, just how much I put in my body is actually good for it? This modern food, so much is highly processed and meds just paper over the cracks. Good health is within all of us, I know a lifetime of poor health is **** but we can think outside of the box and take control. The NHS will not have the time nor provide all of the answers. Good luck all.
I was diagnosed with IBS 10 years ago. Turns out it was untreated crohns and I ended up having emergency surgery for the worst blockage the surgeon had ever seen. I now have a temporary stoma that has quite frankly saved my life. My advise, get a second opinion, ask for an MRI/CT Scan and as someone else has suggested a colonoscopy perhaps. IBS seems to be the lazy doctors way of dealing with abdominal pain.
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Bad IBS episode - a lot of anxiety!! Advice please...
Feeling sick
Never been in so much pain!
Don't know where else to go
Flare up after WEEKS of peace :( 
