1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Could this be IBS?

Posted , 7 users are following.

Tinta
Tinta

Hi all, I am hoping you might be able to give me some insight on IBS.  I have struggled with consitpation for many years.  Often going 'adequatedly' no more than 3 times a month and the rest of the time passing individual pellets whenever I sat on the loo.  3 months ago I had a grumbling tummy (I thought after eating too much beetroot from a supermarket salad bar) and since then I've been going 4 or 5 times a day - not with the urgency of diarhoea that comes with an infection but with an awareness it's time to 'go' and then experience very very loose stools - extraordinariy amounts of wind too.  I have had infection ruled out by a stool test, I have had cancer ruled out as I had a colonoscopy and imaging 2 years ago when I had 2 polyps removed and my Dr says it takes 7 years for anything sinister to grow and the images from there show all clear.  I had antibiotics for a week a month or so ago and that cleared it up for a week but this coincided with my menstruation which also stops the looseness - and takes me back to constipation - then when menstruation is over, these days I'm back to the over-regular looseness again.   I have a diagnosis of Depression and Anxiety and I have been on various medication for this on and off for 20 years, this settled into 150mg of Venlafaxine which I've now been taking daily for a couple of years.    I somehow can't feel any relation between my recent bowel complaints and my psychological condition.  Am I being silly and is this a clear case of anxiety induced IBS?  My Dr has prescribed a completely fibreless diet for a week, I think as a bit of a test and I haven't embarked upon this yet.  The fact is I'm not in any pain and it's such a relief not to be consitpated so I feel good - I just want to be sure I'm not overlooking something I shoudn't be.  Thanks in advance for your thoughts. 

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • rhonda19552
    rhonda19552 Tinta

    Posted

    Hi, i have a few of your symptons - constant loose motions and an urgency to go.  Loads of wind - some not very nice smelling but i do eat a bit of cabbage - which i hope is a contributor to the smell.  I have now eliminated that from my diet to see.

    My situation is that I was always constipation going every 4 to 5 days for a great deal of my life   I got semonella some 4 1/2 months ago which was diagnosed from a stool sample. Had the worst 7 days of diarrea - went on flagyl - the diarrea stopped but have been left with loose stools ever since.  

    I have been under stress - my sister was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer which hit me hard as she was an incredibly fit and healthy person and my mother has been in and out of hospital.  My semonella left me very lethargic and i lost about 8 lbs. and blood tests showed i was B12 and sodium low together with slightly raised anti nuclear factor.

    I take probiotics now which initially helped with bloating - highly recommend it.

    I was told I could of developed IBS as a side effect of the poisioning.  

    It does worry me that my bowel habits won't solidify - and that adds to the stress. I had a bowel cancer kit done 1 year ago which was okay so I'm trying to believe it's just PI IBS.

    I feel for you but maybe we have to believe it could be stress related cos I don't know about you I'm constantly tightening my body up including the bowel area.  I'm now on anti depressants to help with my depression and anxiety.  

    Take care - it's awful I understand how you feel. 

  • libralady13
    libralady13 Tinta

    Posted

    Hello can I ask for probiotic you take.  I have taken yakult on and off for years but think maybe there might be something better.  Thanks.
  • martin31040
    martin31040 Tinta

    Posted

    Hi, some suggestions about diet, have you heard of Kefir it's a strong probiotic drink, I have IBS and have been having kefir couple of years, I recently started eating real sourdough bread the white one and I've got rid of the terrible bloating and not constipated it's had a great effect, sourdough is a kind of probiotic fermented bread, just some ideas, plenty of info on these things.

    • rhonda19552
      rhonda19552 martin31040

      Posted

      I've heard sourdough is good but i've been using a gluten free bread also.  If i can't get that one I stick to sourdough too.

    • martin31040
      martin31040 rhonda19552

      Posted

      Hi, I started eating Real Sourdough Bread a couple of weeks ago, and no more bloating the effect have been very good and it tastes great, loads of info online, I get the white uncut loaf, well worth checking out, the process of fermentation makes the bread really easy to digest, a kind of probiotic bread I suppose.
  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 Tinta

    Posted

    Anxiety/depression is linked to IBS along with change of bowel habit and stomach pain.  Food intolerance and menstruation are also part of it.  I have stress related IBS and I didn't connect my stress with IBS until my GP identified it.

  • M0928
    M0928 Tinta

    Posted

    The problem with IBS is there is not test to say you absolutely have IBS. The docs rule everything else out and then if your bowels are still not functioning properly they say well then it must be IBS. IBS also is different for different people. Some experience Diahrrea all the time others constipation and some both. Bloating, gas and pain. I am sure your depression and anxiety doesnt help. Stress also can be a factor and I am sure that things stress you out because of your anxiety. Some of the meds you were taking could have been causing the constipation too. My doctor gave me an anti spasmatic pill to take for the IBS and then said but it might cause constipation. Well that was my problem in the first place so very frustrating. I now have two people who told me to take an ant-acid for this. It didnt sound right to me but they say it works for them so I am trying it. Hope you figure yours out. Unfortunately its a trial and error thing. 
    • rihanna52936
      rihanna52936 M0928

      Posted

      Agree with mo. IBS cannot be diagnosed it is only by assumption if you are not diagnosed by any other issues. Can be controlled by diet. But you will loose your weight.

      Try Probiotic and digestive enzymes. It should help.

      I am reading people if someone has IBS in their family someone is affected with cancer. I feel both are related. Some virus cause this. We should get advice from same Dr.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.