Only in the morning !

[bridunsig]

Hi all, I have been diagnosed with IBS about 20 years ago and put up with it in my daily life. However, I am now 68 yers old and it has been getting progressively worse. The main symptoms are awful dull pain as soon as I get out of bed, wether it is 7am or 8am, within minutes of getting up, I feel like my stomach is hanging to my knees. I am 6 ft tall and weigh 10 stones. I have always been that weight since I was 20. By 11am, the pain will have subsided. I take Mebeverine, Peppermint and Dulcoease. I am still constipated mainly, but occasional diarrhoea. I have had colonoscopy and endoscopy and nothing found. Tramadol help but I do not want to stay on that type of medicine. I eat a very balanced diet, fibre intake etc and no matter what I eat, the morning pains are the same.

Has anyone else got the same or similar problems? Thank you for reading my post.

[WellySam]

My symptoms are different but they kicking when I wake up, seemingly regardless of the time that is. Of course it could be that which is waking me up but it usually doesn't start for a minute or two. Then I get a need to go to the toilet. I dont have long before my bowels open. I suppose I have gotten used to it and have ways of coping

[xjrs]

You may be suffering from visceral hypersensitivity (functional abdominal pain) - there is info about it here:

iffgd.org/lower-gi-disorder...

It is where the brain interprets the normal activity of the bowel as pain - this is due to a wearing down of neurons in pain control centres of the brain which can be caused by PTSD, neglect or abuse in childhood, extreme stressful events etc. The first line treatment is nerve pain agents such as low dose amitriptyline. There is a theory that being on something like amitriptyline for 6-12 months can help the pain control centre neurons to regenerate. Note that amitriptyline can cause constipation, but this can be helpful in people who are diarrhea dominant. Unfortunately I couldn't tolerate these. Linaclotide (for IBS-C only) & Alflorex probiotic have helped me greatly with this intestinal pain.

[LW59]

Hello, I was diagnosed with IBS & wheat intolerance 25 years ago & been trying to manage it for years. Stress is a trigger for me & menopause is not helping. Mornings have always been worse for me. My bowels wake me up, but I have to wait until my son is ready for work (9am) before I can use the bathroom. I need 3 or more bowel movements until I feel ready for the day. Under the direction of a dietician I am following a Low Fodmap diet & it is really helping my IBS symptoms. Less bloating, discomfort, gas, spasms & urgency 😊 it's a long process, but worth it. Even if you look at the high fodmap foods, you might recognise some foods that could be causing your symptoms. For me its lactose, onions & garlic-all of which have alternatives.

I used to take Mebeverine, Colpermin, Colofac, but now use Buscopan & peppermint tea.