No better

[mhafin]

Hello again everyone. Just thought I’d post an update and hopefully get some advice or support. For the last 8 weeks I’ve had stomach pains/bloating and an (about to start a period feeling-)I’m 60 and haven’t had a period for several years.

Saw a doctor about 5 weeks ago, gad a fit test/chest X-ray and an abdominal ultrasound. All came back fine.

Returned and saw the same Dr who got me to do a H- pylori and another stool test. Again both have come back fine. My stomach pain etc have not stopped.

On Friday I saw a woman Dr who pretty much said it’s IBS and drink lots of water. Also to take fibre gel with Mebeverine.

I emptied my bowels at 7.30am this morning and at 9.35am I still have stomach pain.

I have a cold/ hungry feeling in my stomach/back ache most days too.

Am I just having a bad flair up☹️, I am so worried, can’t sleep and have no appetite.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading till the end.

[Jackie1612]

sorry to hear that you are feeling like this. It sounds as if it is “just” IBS.

Worry and anxiety do seem to make things worse. I find that exercise – walking, swimming – helps and also relaxation and meditation. There are some good ones on YouTube and I can recommend Tara Brach.

I hope the flare up passes soon

[mhafin in reply to Jackie1612]

Hi Jackie1612

Thanks for your reply. Absolutely agree with your comment about worry and anxiety making things worse. The longer this goes on the more I’m worrying. Vicious circle ☹️. I’ll definitely check utube for those relaxation and meditation videos.

Hopefully things will settle soon. Thanks again 🙂

[BabsyWabsy]

mhafin, how frustrating for you. For what it's worth, I can empathise. It took years for me to get a GP to take my symptoms seriously. Good that you have seen two different doctors, but this doesn't prevent you from asking for another opinion, or requesting a referral to a gastroenterologist. We are all different of course, but I find Buscopan quite useful for occasional pain due to trapped gas, which can be very painful, but tends to get dismissed as 'just wind'. I do hope you find a solution.

[mhafin in reply to BabsyWabsy]

Hi BabsyWabsy. Thanks for your reply. The first Dr was very good. He sent me for the abdominal ultrasound, to rule out my ovaries ( period like pains and dragging sensation). Also the Fit test, H-pylori and another test which were all clear. My mind is racing and…..

Hopefully I’ll get an appointment for next Friday ( only day we have a women Dr on) and discuss some of the advice you have all given me.

Thanks again and good health🙂

[Alpinelover]

Hi mhafin, sorry you are feeling so unwell. It’s really frustrating when doctors don’t seem to take your symptoms seriously. I would go back and really push them to see if you can be referred to a gastroenterologist. Also, have they done any blood tests, for celiac disease or IBD? Mebevereine doesn’t work for me but I have found that peppermint oil capsules ( Calpurmin) do really reduce wind and spasm pain. Hope you feel better soon

[mhafin in reply to Alpinelover]

Hi Alpinelover and thanks for your reply. I’m having a blood test on Thursday but it’s for something to do with my cervix ( period like pain I’ve been suffering with). I’ll definitely mention the gastroenterologist and make a note of other conditions it may be. Hopefully I’ll get an appointment next week. I’ll try those peppermint capsules too, anything to help. Thanks again and good health.🙂

[Mosey1702]

Hi mhafin, I totally empathise. I am just like you. All my tests have come back normal and it is invariably something I eat that sets off an episode of IBS. I have identified that foods containing fructose are problematic (causing diarrhoea), but it is not as simple as that. My episodes of IBS tend to last 3-4 days. I take paracetamol, buscopan and simeticone (Windese) until I am out of the woods. The period feeling we have is when the smooth muscle in your intestine is working to expel faeces just as the smooth muscle in the uterus works to expels the womb lining during a period. With IBS I think it is a case of managing it rather than anything else. 😵‍💫

[mhafin in reply to Mosey1702]

Hi Mosey1702 and thanks for your reply.

I know it’s very frustrating when you want them to find something to explain the discomfort but the test just rule things out😠. I’ve been taking paracetamol, fibre gel with Mebeverine for the stomach cramps . Haven’t really helped much which then gets my mind working overtime which I’m sure doesn’t help. I need to stop thinking about every spasm and twinge and follow Jackie1612’s advice and listen to some relaxation/meditation videos. Which hopefully will distract my brain from stressing.

Thanks again and good health 😊

[xjrs]

Did they carry out blood tests including:

- full blood count (FBC)

- erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or plasma viscosity

- c‑reactive protein (CRP)

- antibody testing for coeliac disease ?

Did they carry out a stool test looking for calprotectin (marker of inflammation)?

Do you have normal bowel movements i.e. frequency and type?:

webmd.com/digestive-disorde...

Just wondering why they asked you to take fibre gel, are you constipated?

Mebeverine is for diarrhoea, so if you are constipated this will make things worse.

What is your diet like in general? Do you have a good diet normally such as fibre, wholegrains, fruit, veg, pulses, nuts, seeds, oily fish?

If all the tests mentioned above have been conducted and they still have diagnosed IBS, your pain may be due to a gut bacterial imbalance. Alflorex probiotic which has been studied for IBS might be worth a 3 month trial. This has helped me greatly with IBS pain. It doesn't help all but is worth a punt. It also might help improve tolerance to foods.

[Harold2 in reply to xjrs]

Im taking Alflorex now and find it is really helping me to.

[xjrs in reply to Harold2]

That's great news, Harold2.

[Mutleyforever]

hi, mhafin after 5 years of trying to find an answer to my sudden change in motility and almost constant abdominal pain, that would vary from trapped wind type to cramping and of course visceral squeezing ☹️ I stumbled across Elliot Overton on YouTube 5 Steps to Fix my gut, who is extremely knowledgeable and a strong advocate for high dose of Thaimin / Vitamin b1. I have only recently started on this but already have no pain and motility much improved. So far ….so good 👍

[Krisbetty]

This might sound really bizarre but i have suffered for the past 4 years with pains in lower bowel and groin had every test told IBS C , but heres the twist i had my hips x-ray and im at stage 4 worse wear on joints, which can cause pain in your back groin and bowels so maybe suggest an xray btw im 68.

[BabsyWabsy in reply to Krisbetty]

That's interesting Krisbetty, I sometimes get hip pain, have had back pain for for years, but nobody has suggested this. 'Just wear and tear' apparently!

[akroguy]

I've found that twice daily supplementation with sodium butyrate (Amazon: BodyBio Butyrate with Calcium & Magnesium), digestive enzymes and probiotics has been HUGELY beneficial. My gut has smoothed out nicely and everything else (mood, energy, sleep) has benefitted as well. Hydration is vital (drink LOTS of water and some dilute electrolytes, pedialyte, etc). I also take small amounts of metamucil every morning or every other morning. I'm also 60. Ain't getting old just a hoot? Be well.