After three spells in hospital with severe pain and two ...

Was glad to read that I am not alone in not being able to tolerate the very foods often recommended to help with IBS. I am intolerant to both wheat and dairy and so,like you, have found that bran/high-fibre products are not suitable for me. I have also found I suffer quite severely after eating fruit and vegetables so at present I am on a very bland diet to try and settle the IBS down to a more tolerable level. I also have found exercise helps and cutting out the caffine - but soon there will be little left to enjoy! Good to read I am not alone

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you sound so positive, your comments are an inspiration, my symptoms are the same as yours and I am now determined to cope as well as you.

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I suffer from pain, bloating and constipation and have had symptoms from a teenager, I am now 65. Recently I saw a locum doctor as my GP was away and she put me on movocol, colofac and amytriptylin and I can honestly say I am feeling a lot better after just 2 weeks. I am going to continue and hope it will be long-term relief. The locum doctor suffers with IBS herself which I felt helped and she gave me this website, so I am glad I saw this locum doctor.

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they told me i was a hyphochondriac too cause i never leave the doctors room if am in am in pain i cant help it.i am scared something could be wrong. its more annoying than anything am waking up in the morning its there til i go to bed then its the same thing the next day EVERYDAY IS THE SAME

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This site has been such a comfort and I agree with some subscribers that fruit, fruit juices and vegetables can be very upsetting. I have to avoied most root vegetables, or have them in very small quantities, ditto with fruit. i hate eating out, especially at friend's houses for fear of giving offence at not being able to eat much of the food they painstakingly prepare, I can't give them a full list in advance of all the things that can be upsetting, mixing starch and protein can upset me for instance.

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Please can you tell me the name of the book that you were given by the dietician.[quote:a9b1e63083=\"S. \"]After three spells in hospital with severe pain and two totally unnecessary operations, I was accused of being a hyphochondriac. When I was diagnosed three years later, having moved areas and doctors thank goodness, I was told I had IBS. The initial feeling was one of sheer relief that there was something wrong and I wasn't losing my mind. The second was one of sheer rage when I was patted on the head and told to \"stop worrying your little head about things, dear, and it will go away\" (the doctors actual words). Having changed doctors again I got to see a specialist who started to explain the whole story.

My IBS is also linked to food intolerance. The food intolerance I suffer from is all fo the food highly recommended to IBS sufferers - high fibre foods. I cannot eat wheat products (high regular levels of bran put me back in hospital), dried fruit, nuts: in fact, anything supposedly giving you the natural bulk you require.

I was so lucky five years ago when my husbands private medical plan paid for me to have full tests with one of the top specialists in my area. He confirmed my intolerance, and put me on a powder medicine called Movicol - a very very gentle drink which helps clear the bowel with no violent side-effects. It has totally changed my life.

I still can get really bad IBS symptoms: constipation leading to muzzy headedness, headaches, stomach cramps, bloating, tiredness but inability to sleep etc etc. I am also learning what causes it.

1. Stress - big time (surprise surprise).

2. Lack of exercise

3. Eating too many pre-prepared foods - microwave meals etc, and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables

4. Not enough sleep

5. Eating too much (big problem - I love my food!)

6. Eating too late at night

7. Caffeine (I now drink de-caffienated tea all the time and only have proper coffee about once a week)

One thing I have learned is that every IBS sufferer has a different story to tell, but there are ways to deal with it.

I still have a wonderful booklet given to me by the dietician I was referred to by my specialist. It lists all of the different forms of IBS, all the possible symptoms, and advises on the best things to eat and drink and what to avoid.

To any of you out there who are really suffering, my strongest advice to you is to push your doctor and make his life a misery until you are referred to a specialist, and also push him to see a professional dietician. Once you find a way of getting your gut under control, you will once again feel you can get your life under control. Then, even when you, or life's constant problems, cause you slip into it again, you have a chance of grasping control again.

Good luck to you all out there.

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