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Bad IBS flare up. Please help

Posted , 14 users are following.

vicky103
vicky103

Hi,

I've had IBS for jus over a coupleasure of years. I suffer with loose stools and diarrhea a lot, and take immodium a few times a week if it's bad. I've been off work this week so am having a break from taking the immodium. Over the last 6 days however, I have not been able to stop pooping all day long. I'll get most of it out in the morning, but for the whole of the rest of the day I keep getting cramps and feeling a despray urge to go. When I get to the toilet I feel blocked up, have a lot of wind and then usually pass a tiny stool, which is sometimes very watery, sometimes just mucus, but then sometimes it's solid. I might have a bout of diarrhea a bit later in the day, then it goes back to being more solid.

All day long though I have a constant feeling like I need to go, and I am passing stools literally 15 times each day. Each time I go, I still don't feel empty, and can get stomach pains straight away after I suffer from bad anxiety so I am wondering if this could be causing this as it's on my mind all the time. I can't concentrate on anything else.

It's really worrying me that this is never going to stop, or that I'm causing some damage to my bowels by going to the toilet so often. It has completely ruined my week off from work and I've got a wedding to go to next weekend and I am really anxious that this will stop me going.

I'm not sure whether I should take some immodium to stop it, or if that would make matters worse.

I would really appreciate some advice.

Thanks

0 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • leeniepie
    leeniepie vicky103

    Posted

    i would take some immodium to help calm things down. when you have ibs your intestines go all-or-nothing sometimes, so you either dont go at all or go far too much.

    what have you been eating during this time?

    • vicky103
      vicky103 leeniepie

      Posted

      Hi.

      Thanks for your reply. I think I will try taking some immodium to hopefully settle things down. I'm just a bit worried it could make the feeling worse though, as even though I keep going to the toilet, I still feel constipated if that makes sense? Like it takes a long time to pass the stool, even when it's loose.

      I havent been eating as much as I usually do, just a couple of slices of toast in the morning, maybe a bacon sandwich for lunch (I know that's probably not great as it's greasy), and just simple dinners like chicken, veg, or salads, and 5hbirr bad of crisps (know that's probably not great either). Just don't fancy much at the moment as eating seems to make matters worse.

      Thanks again from your reply

    • leeniepie
      leeniepie vicky103

      Posted

      I know what you mean. I think that feeling is caused by intestinal spasms. I get it too after D.

      You really need to stop with the bacon crisps and salad. Worst things you could be eating. Stick to plain and white- so rice, potato, pasta, bread, crackers,white fish, chicken and eggs for a few days then if you have seemed to have settled a bit progress to low fibre veg like carrot, parsnip, cooked is best. Slowly then add in more veg and fruit until you are back at normal level. Keep fats low and avoid dairy too.

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 vicky103

    Posted

    Anxiety makes pain and other symptoms worse.  Try Imodium to ease your bowel and watch your diet to see if there are any food triggers.
    • vicky103
      vicky103 philippa61759

      Posted

      Hi.

      Thanks for your reply. Yes, I think the anxiety is definately making matters worse, as Ive not been at work for the week, my anxious brain has had a lot more time to dwell on my stomach problems. I guess it's a vicious cycle, the more I worry, the worse my tummy is, which makes me worry more, then makes my stomach worse. ??

  • catrin46108
    catrin46108 vicky103

    Posted

    Have you tried taking probiotics? I found them very helpful. I totally get what your saying about going to the loo all the time and worrying about the wedding. I've also found a well known brand of peppermint capsule very helpful. Maybe it's a placebo effect I don't know but it normally calms things down for me. If you would like details or about the probiotic I take private message me.

  • emily_92420
    emily_92420 vicky103

    Posted

    If what you are eating is normal for you and you usually eat these foods with no reaction then i wouldn't worry to much about what your eating. However if its not normal for you then tone it down to basic and simple foods to settle your gut. Try immodioum to slow things down and try getting out and doing something to ease your aniexty. Im new to IBS but if im at home doing nothing i always get daily flare ups. When your out doing physical work it doesn't only ease your symptoms but it will take off the aniexty which is probably making it worse.

    Depending on what day you go back to work it may be worth going to the doctors and seeing if you can get an antispasmostic drug. This may help with the pain and some stop diharrea to.

    Good Luck!

  • vicky103
    vicky103

    Posted

    Thanks for all the advise everyone. I took 2 immodium tablets this morning, after 2 hours they hadn't done anything, so took another 1, and 2 hours later it's not made any difference. I still can't stop going to the toilet. Usually 3 immodium wilful bund me up for the whole day. It's making me really panic now as the immodium was my life line. It is a differenter brand That I've received from the chemist though, so maybe it could be that they're not so effective.

    Still getting stomach pains and urgency to go to the toilet. Think I will have to see my doctor this week, although he'll just say the same he always does, that there's nothing more they can do. Don't think I can cope with it this badly any longer. It's making me feel so down.

    My doctor's never even asked me for a stool sample though. Surely that's one of the first things he should have done before diagnosing me with ibs. I'm already on mebeverine 3 times a day, and take buscopan when needed, but I don't feel that either help

    Has anyone else had a bad flare up this before where you literally cannot stop pooping (fluctuating between loose and more formed) and immodium isn't helping? I rwally don't know what to do.

    • emily_92420
      emily_92420 vicky103

      Posted

      Go to the doctors and ask for some tests, they have a right to give them to you. This will put your mind at rest for any illnesses. Try and stick to plain and simple foods, no meat.. dry foods that are easy to digest, little and often. Drink TONNES of water. Dont get dehydrated from all this as it will make you feel worse. Not eating wont help your body can hold food for days. The flare up will settle down in time im sure. Just try to relax as stress will make it worse.
    • mark6651
      mark6651 vicky103

      Posted

      Definitely get your GP to do the test, my GP has done two stool tests on me. The first one he did of his own back last year and one back in June this year that I asked for
  • thi20955
    thi20955 vicky103

    Posted

    Do you break wind a lot? I had a diarhear on Friday and I took immodium. It stops but it breaks wind badly. I am very scare . Dont know why. It could be because I ate too much pizza then it was not good digested so I get diarhear but after 12 hours not eating I had chicken and rice and I felt uncomfortable since then. May be I should wait to 24 hours later.

    Thanks for advise. I used de-gas, and it breaks wind more.

    • vicky103
      vicky103 thi20955

      Posted

      Hi. Yeah, usually after I've taken immodium it does cause a lot of wind. It's one of the side effects I'm afraid. But still,I prefer that to diarrhea. ? Was it your first time taking immodium? I think the wind will probably settle down after a day or so. Hope that helps

    • thi20955
      thi20955 vicky103

      Posted

      Thanks vicky, I feel uncomfortable for the sound is loud and my stomatch grumble. I try to drink chamomile tea hoping reduce it. Google says I may have gastrointestinal or may be too much bacteria in my colon. I plan go to doctor asking for colofac or for reglan or anibiotic for colon. Her in australia is 10pm no doctor. may be tonight will be the longe night without having dinner and still break wind. I have Crohn diseases. A web says it is causing gas. So confuse, I talked with my specialist about gas he says the same thing because of my Crohn 's diseases but I dont believe it for I had this symptoms for long time.

    • vicky103
      vicky103 thi20955

      Posted

      The stomach grumbling may also be because you haven't eaten much over the last couplease of days. My brother has crohns but I dont know too much about it myself to advise I'm afraid. Maybe you can start a discussion on this website about crohns, so you could get some advise from fellow sufferers.

      I hope your doctor can help you in the morning.

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