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I feel really alone, I don't know who to turn to

Posted , 8 users are following.

greatgatsby
greatgatsby

Hi,

I'm 24 and I recently got diagnosed with severe IBS after six years of trying to find what's wrong. I'm happy I know what's wrong but I was also told there's a 5% chance I will EVER get back to normal - as in being able to leave the house and getting a job etc. My mum and sister are there for me but obviously can only do so much. I'm at the point where I'm just ready to end it all - the pains and everything else I have to deal with every day is too much. I feel so alone, I literally have no one to turn to. Sorry for the essay. Does anyone feel really alone?

0 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • leeniepie
    leeniepie greatgatsby

    Posted

    Having IBS does suck and when I'm having a bad flare I do feel like I'll never get better and it does get me down, but you just have to learn to live with it and manage your symptoms as best you can.

    My mum has IBS and other digestive issues so thankfully we can talk about it (gross bits included lol). People on hear can share tips etc too.

  • sharon73515
    sharon73515 greatgatsby

    Posted

    Hi,

    Sorry to hear you are feeling like that and I too feel soo alone and also suffer from ibs, ms, health anxiety and anxiety in general so no you're not alone, many sufferers out there. But it sounds harsh of the docs to leave it at that without offering any advice or help !! I would go back and tell them just how low you're feeling as they must have some guidance for you.

    I find meditation, gentle exercise and therapy have helped me from the anxiety / depression side of things.

    Plus talking on here to people with similar experiences and advice have helped me too..

    stay strong x

    • greatgatsby
      greatgatsby sharon73515

      Posted

      Hi,

      I'm sorry you're going through this too, i know I can't do anything but talk but if there's any way I can help let me know.

      I've been begging for medication and my recent doctor said "there's not one medication that will fix all your problems so I'm not going to"

      I'm going to go to my GP today and see what they can help me with.

      Thank you for the advice and tips, I really appreciate it. I will try everything you've suggested.

      x

    • sharon73515
      sharon73515 greatgatsby

      Posted

      Hi,

      Glad you're going back to your gp, you must persevere. And you're welcome for the tips I hope they help :-) x

  • frazzled
    frazzled greatgatsby

    Posted

    Know that you are not alone.  IBS seems to be an "umbrella" medical condition the docs use when they don't know what it really is.  I too was told I would have it the rest of my life but it went away for years and then would come back; especially during times of increased stress.  I've had flare ups on and off for 40 years.  I understand where you are coming from.  I lived on the BRAT diet one time for 2 years (I ate a lot of rice cakes and banannas).  What I'd advise (other will chat with you here as well) is that you find and print off the FODMAP that list  foods that are good and those you should avoid and start there.  Try very hard not to stress about the condition because stressing causes anxiety that feeds into gut problems.  Don't try to hide the condition from friends and family (most people are accepting of this condition) and more people have it than you know and they are feeling the same way you do right now.  BTW, who told you you have IBS?

    • frazzled
      frazzled

      Posted

      PS.  I added who told you you have IBS because sometimes this can be an incorrect diagnosis.  There may be nasty bacteria in your stomach for example that is curable but it needs to be ruled out.  I suggest you see a gastroenterologist, if you haven't.

    • greatgatsby
      greatgatsby frazzled

      Posted

      Hey, I'm so sorry that you've had such a crappy time with IBS and that it kept coming back - must kinda give you false hope in the beginning that it's finally gone or at least calmed down?

      I've tried the FODMAP diet before but my stomach doesn't agree with a lot of things - right now I'm at the point where the only thing I can eat without pains/bloating/being uncomfortable all day are cereal and doughnuts and I know that's awful, I'm trying to bring bananas in to the mix.

      I try to talk to my family but I know that it makes my mum cry because she can't help me so I tend to keep it to myself.

      A doctor in the university college of London diagnosed me with it on Thursday

      x

  • sam18386
    sam18386 greatgatsby

    Posted

    I get terribly down and depressed as I'm so sick of getting ill, I completely understand I speak regularly on here it helps.

    • greatgatsby
      greatgatsby sam18386

      Posted

      Hi,

      Really sorry to hear you're struggling. I get what you're going through, my mental health has definitely taken a nose dive. If there's anything I can do like even if you just need to talk I'm here.

      x

  • jan48389
    jan48389 greatgatsby

    Posted

    You can manage and control IBS and lead a normal, good quality of life. Yes, you do have to make adjustments, but after a while these just become a normal routine. And yes, you might get occasional flare ups but you'll get through them knowing things will get better. 

    My GP recommended the Low Fodmap diet - and it was without doubt the best advice I've ever been given. It enabled me to identify food triggers ( in my case onions, garlic, mushrooms and anything other than a small amount of gluten. ) I've been following the diet for almost 3 years and it really has transformed my life. I'd say I'm 90%+ better - previuosly I didn't dare leave the house in case I needed the loo urgently. It had got to the point where, if I absolutely had to go out, I just wouldn't eat or drink for hours beforehand. 

    Good luck - things will improve. 

    Jan

    • greatgatsby
      greatgatsby jan48389

      Posted

      Hi,

      It's nice to read that there's light at the end of the IBS tunnel.

      I've already tried the FODMAP diet (very early on in my testing with my gastro) and due to my stomach literally rejecting everything I eat it was quite hard. I'm living on being able to eat two things and one isn't exactly healthy but they're the only things that don't aggravate my stomach.

      I'm really happy for you that your IBS is under control, gives me some hope. Thank you for all of the advice.

      x

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 greatgatsby

    Posted

    To have to wait that long for a diagnosis is awful.  I thought waiting three and a half months was bad!  Have you tried the Low Fodmap diet and been prescribed any antispasmodics? Do you have diarrhoea or constipation? I mainly have constipation but I have had loose stools too. My IBS used to be constant and was very painful. After diagnosis, my health anxiety disappeared and my IBS got a lot better. Now I have come and go pain and very few bad flare ups.  I have no food problems, stress sets my symptoms off.  I have a very anxious personality so I have come to terms with the probability that I may never fully get rid of IBS,  However, I have long periods of remission which is a lot better than what it used to be and that is a huge positive for me.

    Ask your doctor to refer you to an IBS clinic or prescribe you a low dose anti depressant which can help with the pain.  You could also try gut targeted hypnosis which has been proven to help with pain and anxiety.

     

    • greatgatsby
      greatgatsby pippa58442

      Posted

      hi,

      It took them three and a half months for you? ugh that must have driven you nuts, I know it did with me like the panicing was overwhelming.

      I've tried the FODMAP and because my stomach literally gets aggravated by everything it was hard to do so my doctor stopped it. I've also been tube fed and my bowels got aggravated so I literally can't win right now lol.

      I used to have diarrhoea but now it's constipation with loose stools.

      I felt exactly the same!!! Once I got diagnosed I felt the anxiety lift.

      I'm really happy for you that things have gotten better - even just a little relief from IBS is better than none.

      Yeah I'm going to the GP today and I'm going to ask what they can do - they're very limited because I'm under a specialist. I know that my London doctor wants me to go to an IBS school but there's a four month waiting list.

      Thank you for all of your advice, I really appreciate having people to talk to.

      x

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 greatgatsby

      Posted

      It was a horrible time waiting for diagnosis.  I was panicking 24/7 and googling everything to give doctors more to go on. which did not do my anxiety any favours.  

      A four month waiting list for an IBS clinic may be worth it in the end because they spend more time with you and tailor a treatment to your individual IBS.  GPs tend ro be restricted to 10 or 15 minute consultations which isn't much use when you are having severe IBS symptoms..

      Have you tried any food supplement drinks?  You can get them lactose free if lactose is a problem food.

       

    • greatgatsby
      greatgatsby pippa58442

      Posted

      I was exactly the same, Google did (and still does) me no favours.

      I've tried compound (sp?) and it's getting to the point where I think I might just have to have that full time.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 greatgatsby

      Posted

      Complan and other supplement foods contain all the nutients you need.  It lists all the nutients on the bottle.  My late mum lived on them for years when she could no longer eat solid foods.   Her weight remained healthy and she also had fruit and milk smoothies with a poached egg and vegetables mixed in with it.
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