Any tips for relief?

[Bmco]

Hi all

strap yourselves in for an essay 😅 - apologies in advance.

So about a year ago I posted on here and everyone was very helpful. I’d been suffering from nausea, upset bowels and weight loss about many months. After a positive FIT test I was referred for an urgent endoscopy and colonoscopy. Nothing of any importance was found, I came off the lansoprazole and actually started to slowly recover.

Fast forward to 8 weeks ago and I got a tummy bug followed by a UTI. And I’ve never shifted the loo frequency and vague nausea, and mild period like ache (the ache comes and goes). Again weight loss - although not so unexplained given feeling rubbish and I also gave up alcohol.

just after this I started a new medication as my thyroid was found to be out of whack, and three weeks in I started itching insanely. So I’m now on a strong antihistamine twice a day. The dermatologist thinks this was triggered by the thyroid and the virus. I also take citalopram for anxiety.

My bloods have been done twice in this time and are ok - nothing scary showing up. My GP has just ordered stool samples for h.pylori and also one to check for IBD.

I guess I am just wondering if anyone else experiences flares like this which last this long and if so what you do to help them? And if anyone else has had such an odd experience too - I feel like a walking pill bottle right now 😆.

im so fed up of going back and forth between dr’s and getting no answers. I already suffer from anxiety - so the constant worry and feeling rubbish is doing my mental health no good!

thanks in advance,

B x

[Bmco]

I meant to add that over the years I have been told I have IBS - I think by process of elimination.

[Luisa22]

It seems you're still not finished with investigations. Waiting for the H Pylori and IBD test results.

But otherwise, if it definitely is IBS, then it can come and go. I know, it does that with me. And flares can last a while sometimes.

With IBS, it seems our guts are really sensitive to things, so after effects of the tummy bug is likely to cause another upset. Plus did you have antibiotitcs for the UTI? If so, your microbiome could be well out of whack.

If your thyroid meds aren't set quite right, that could possibly affect bowel movements too (too low thyroid causes gut to slow down, too high causes it to speed up)

Many doctors aren't very good with IBS. Once it's diagnosed by elimination, they seem stuck and don't know what to do ! Could you ask for a referral to a GI specialist who is good with IBS patients?

What do I do when I have a flare up? Well, we're all different so what helps me might be useful and might not be. I am also on no drugs at all, so the herbal remedies I take might be wrong for you and dangerous to mix with your pills. I take some herbs, some from the hedgerows where I live, and a tincture of Tormentil and sometimes plain arrowroot in water. Otherwise, colon massage, mild exercise (which I do daily anyway) simple plain bland diet of healthy things like fish, eggs, steamed vegetables that suit my gut, and plain carbs like rice, potatoes etc. No spices or seasonings or sauces except Himalayan salt or sea salt.

That usually helps steady me out in a flare up.

[MyStar86]

I do feel your pain it is so debilitating being sick all the time I can’t help with the symptoms however I do know that antihistamines will add to your anxiety especially mixed with the antidepressant medication xx big hugs I hope your results lead to some proper treatment

[SingC]

Hey, Bmco! Anxiety can have a big effect on IBS. Wondering whether CBT might be helpful for you. One other thing I have found helpful is increasing levels of physical activity. You don’t need to go mad with it, but just a little more activity than you were doing. Also, I find it really helps if I go to bed at the same time each night. If your anxiety wakes you up in the early morning, then make your regular bedtime early enough so you get enough sleep. Also the low fodmap diet can be a game changer for IBS and is said to help 3 out of 4 sufferers. So, that’s worth trying.

Good luck with it all!

[Bmco]

thank you all for your helpful comments. I’ve started taking bio-kult as myself thought a tummy bug followed by antibiotics would be helping me. Will await results and to see if this helps! Take care