IBS?

LegacyUser

Hey all,

I've had an issue for the last few years and it's really getting me down. I have chronic diarrhea pretty much everyday. First thing in the morning and usually once throughout the day and 5/7 days in the evening too. I do know my trigger foods now, mostly white bread, broccoli etc and weirdly enough a Mcdonalds double cheeseburger :P.

I have had my bloods tested and they can't seem to diagnose me with anything. I am having a colonoscopy in the morning (the prep is not pretty for anyone that is due to have one).

I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and has been diagnosed? The reason why it's such a big issue for me as well is I've suffered huge anxiety over number 2's in public toilets since I was very young, and now if I have to go when I'm out I will use a handicapped toilet as I have crippling fear of having a diarrhea outburst in public toilets/work toilets.

Any help/tips would be much appreciated.

NewsMeQuick

Hi,

Firstly, I have some of the same symptoms.

Secondly, I have no connection to any of these companies etc. whatsoever! Any recommendations are as an individual!

I've had this on and off and it has been on for a few months now. Some people suggest trying the Low FODMAP diet. Look that up, helpful for many people.

Increasingly research and medical advise is paying attention to the bacteria in your gut. Basically that 'bad bacteria' might be a little stronger than needed and a little assistance is needed to give the 'good bacteria' a boost. One top pro-biotic that people are recommending is an Irish-made one (now with a global reputation) called Alforex. It's about €30 or so for a month supply available over-the-counter. Lots of research online e.g.:

https://www.alflorexbiotics.com/pages/testimonials/

and there's an Irish Independent article on that just search for it.

I was recently recommended a colonoscopy. I'm a fan of neither the wait time publicly or private health costs in Ireland. And I hear people just being told that it's IBS bye-bye after all that. I'm going to get back on Alforex I think. Best of luck.

Bianca Crystal

You probably developed certain food intolerances, so you will have this problem if you continue to eat this food. I had and have ibs when I eat some good and healthy vegetables like spinach, cabbage and sweet potatoes. So I tested my body reaction to different vegetables by removing it from my diet. Now I don't eat certain vegetables and feel amazing! Read some tips here http://www.livestrong.com/article/532186-why-does-eating-fruits-vegetables-cause-diarrhea/

livedadream

has your doctor prescribed you anything? 
lomotil slows down everything in the digestion system and can be a life saver for people with bowel issues.
I have crohns and before i was disgnosed my GP gave me lomotil and a few others bits to take to ease cramping, spazaming, the nausea, the sweats and the pooping.
anxiety is really common as well, most healthy poopers dont have to plan out their trips or days based on where the toilets are...

Jan_de_Bakker

Have you checked for gluten intolerance ?

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

cookiesmuggler

ive had ibs for years, its horrible. Going out and about after eating is a no no!! Its very hard even to go shopping after having my breakfast . If i wont into how up and down and painful it is and how paranoid and uncomfortable it makes me i could be here all day, anyway i heard about a probiotic called biokult. you take four tablets a day, two in the moring and two in the evening. it took about 3 or 4 weeks for me to feel and see a difference. and i swear to god i have never looked back. Eating out is no longer an issue as i dont spend the other half of my night on the toilet, i no longer get cramps or have flare ups , nothing ! im in no way connected to this company , for a box of 60 tabs its €18 and they are so worth it, jsut give it a few weeks to kick in. hope this helps

fussyonion

I have IBS and I find if I go without eating for hours on end and THEN eat a meal, it will trigger a flare-up.

I also find doughy bread to be a trigger; in particular fresh bakery bread and rolls, as well as anything deep-fried or oily.

Drinking peppermint tea has been an absolute God-send to me too.

I was on Buscopan for a year or so but I didn't find them any good so I've recently been prescribed Colofac which are working so far.

R.D. aka MR.D

I have IBS. I had it for about 3 years before finally going to the doctor. That was about 4 years ago now. I have vastly improved in that time.

You don't mention anything that you have tried.

As others have mentioned, small sized meals and not getting too hungry before eating are important things for me. Stress is another thing.

It really is a journey to discover what you should and shouldn't have. Or should and shouldn't do. For example, I have to wait for my food to 'settle' before going out to walk anywhere or go shopping etc. Just waiting 45mins after eating makes all the difference.

NewsMeQuick

Hi all, I just noticed the updates now.

So I have a major update. I didn't find GPs were very helpful, I felt like they were happy to have a quick chat, didn't care about my recovery and just collected the €55 fee. The 'caring profession' they call it. My visits seemed like a a useful way to build their retirement fund. So I sought help outside the box. I found a laboratory that specialises in testing for gut issues. They are credible, regarded internationally I understand. Results? My immune system basically collapsed, it's severely depleted in my gut, a core good bacteria is depleted also and the PH balance is down. The lab recommended a nutritionist, not a GP and not antibiotics. The nutritionist thinks that stress in my life is a dominating factor and perhaps that I underestimated it's effects on me. She says that stress can create injuries inside not just outside.

I'll also say that after much research, like so many here I'm sure, I've read that Ireland/UK has a poor reputation for handling digestive issues. They are poorly understood, diagnosed and treated. The lab I used comes from Germany, which I read has a great reputation with gut research.

I'm about one month into treatment. Many recommendations were made to remedy the stress and a program to rebuild the immune system is underway.

inca2

A question for IBS-D sufferers - do any of you pass blood with your stools?

I have been suffering from diarrhoea for over 18 months now, and have been passing blood with every bowel motion for about 8 months now (5-6 motions a day on average, every day, dark-ish red blood). I had a sigmoidoscopy the week after I noticed the blood and was assured that there was no sign of colitis, haemorrhoids etc. I have tried altering my diet on several occasions to no avail (symptoms are the same regardless of what I eat) and I have also incidentally been prescribed an antidepressant (which I believe there is some evidence for in the treatment of IBS), but no change at all. I feel quite dismissed by my GP and the gastroenterologist I attended and have myself convinced that if I am passing blood, that it cannot be IBS.

I'm hoping to see another gastroenterologist in the coming weeks for a second opinion so I'm not looking for medical advice, but just wondered if anyone has ever been in a similar situation? And if so, was it investigated further? My GP doesn't seem concerned, despite it being a "red flag" symptom.

livedadream

I have had blood fresh and black in my stool, on and off, it can get very bad after a long flare. Its something I wold always follow up on with my GP or specialist but i dont panic over it anymore.

gmisk

Just to echo what a lot of people here are saying probiotics are great for IBS in my experience. Family history of stomach problems krohns etc. I have been taken the high concentration acidophilus from Holland and Barrett for about 10 years and it helps massively so much so a lot of my family members take them. Definitely know your trigger foods as well mine are white bread and white rice.

boogiewonder

I suffered from IBS for years.
The keto diet is what fixed it. Now, I'm not recommending everyone do that. It's definitely not a diet for all IBS sufferers or all people.
But it's been great for me. And it sorted out a bunch of other symptoms (bad skin, irritability).
And the bonus is that I love the food. Prefer fat to sugar anyway.

But you might want to try removing FODMAPs or a simple elimination diet to start
Have a read of this:
https://www.biabeo.ie/foods-avoid-ibs/