How to cope with ibs?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I've been living with irritable bowel syndrome all of my life (i am 18) but it has really flared up in the past year due to the stress caused by my a levels. last year at the start of year 12 i became really ill with constipation and was off school for weeks. since finding out that it is ibs, i have been to see countless specialists that can give me no help or relief. i get constipation weekly and have just started getting regular bouts of diarrhoea which i am currently suffering with right now. i have tried buscopan and countless other anti-nausea tablets and tablets to manage stomach acid but the only thing that helps is rennie which only provides short-term relief. i have been suffering with depression for the past 5 years which has been made worse by this illness. sometimes i really have nothing that makes me feel life is worth living which is having a massive effect on my parents. if anybody there experiences anything similar, please tell me how you cope as i really don't know what to do with myself anymore. it is constant and horrific. sometimes i can't even get into school as i am so weak with it. please help x
0 likes, 5 replies
Fred68
Posted
What helps me is thinking that no matter how bad things get, you can always just go off and enjoy the world, travel etc. Even if it is alone, whatever your hobby is, being in nature, by the sea, reading, learning, games etc, they can always be enjoyed, even though IBS can make you feel isolated. There is always a solution, at least we are not stuck to our beds permanently, etc etc. Even though it seems 'unfair' that we have such problems at such a young age (i'm 19), it really could be worse, as hard as it is to believe. Try to hold onto any good times you've had in your life, and believe that you will have those again, that's what I do anyway. None of this may help you, and I hope this isn't to...soppy but there you go. Best of luck!
alice1465
Posted
Fred68
Posted
He also suggested Amytriptiline as a 'silver bullet', this is a anti-depressant that you take at realllyy low doses for IBS as it desensitises the gut but reducing the signalling from stomach to the brain, which also has the effect of slowing food transit...which leads to constipation so may not help you. I got the impression this is quite a drastic measure, and probably doesn't suit you. But either may be worth mentioning to any specialist you have?
Long message sorry, hope detail is useful
justnic
Posted
blondewitch
Posted