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IBS Flare up and Trying to Conceive - Is it worth going back to the GP?

Posted , 3 users are following.

flitany
flitany

Hi! I've had IBS for about 8 years now, to varying degrees of severity. In the last couple of months it's flared up particularly badly, specifically with relation to the pain (which is getting quite severe) and diorreah (apologies for bad speeling and TMI!). My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant (first time) for about 7 months and it is starting to stress me out quite a lot, I've also had some recent work and family stressors. I've givien up meat, dairy, caffeine, artificial sweetners, alcohol to control my IBS but it still gets very bad with stress and very bad the week before and the week of my period. Now however it is still v. painful and the week after my period. My doctor recently put me back on both buscopan and mebervine (again, spelling?) antispasmodics which go some way towards making the condition OK for me to go about my daily business. I have mentioned to him that I'm trying for a baby but he's very dismissive (he was more interested 7 months ago but I guess maybe he has written off our chances too by now?). I'm 28, exercise plenty (when not in pain) and a healthy weight. My husband wants me to go back to the GP but I'm so tired of being fobbed off and I don't know if it's worth fighting if there's nothing anyone can do. I'm also not sure whether to stick with the medication or try and make do without it but be ill - because we have been trying so long unsuccessfully I'm loathe to stop trying now as the doctors won't see you for infertility unless you've been trying for a year. Is it worth bothering my GP?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Is it possible that you don't have IBS at all? smile
  • flitany
    flitany

    Posted

    no, unfortunately it is not :-(
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Please excuse me for seeming to be argumentative but how was this apparent IBS diagnosed, which investigative procedures did you undergo to discount any of the multitude of other possibilities? smile
  • flitany
    flitany

    Posted

    No, please, any thoughts welcome. It was diagnosed by the GP based on symptoms and after blood tests ruled out whatever blood tests rule out (I know it's not coelics if that helps). I've moved a couple of times since then and subsequent GPs have just done the same blood tests and said it's IBS because it isn't anything else.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I think you should ask these (terrible) GPs to send you for at least a Pelvic and Abdominal Ultrasound to rule out some of the other possible causes for your Abdominal distress and possible Fertility issues smile
  • liseye
    liseye

    Posted

    Hi Flitany, I'm sorry to hear about your IBS, my mother has a terrible time too so I can only empathise. Firstly I would try and chat with another GP in the practice for a second opinion and tell them that you are trying to conceive. You need to find out if the drugs you are taking are safe to conceive on and take in pregnancy. If you are actively trying to conceive you should be taking folic acid 400mcg which you can buy from supermarkets/ chemists etc to reduce the risk of the baby developing neural tube defects e.g spina bifida.

    Secondly I would ask you GP to refer you back to your consultant at the the hospital and tell them that you want to conceive and what is happening with your symptoms at the moment. Lots of mediciations are safe to take in pregnancy and it is often best to ask the specialists which ones would work best for you and it may be trial and error until you find one(s) what work for you. Your GP's attitude maybe like it is because they don't know how best to treat you if you are aiming to conceive. It is always worth going back, perhaps take your partner or a friend with you for moral support, it really does show that your are serious about your health.

    I'm not sure where you live but some hospitals offer a pre-pregnancy counselling service that you can be referred to if you have a underlying medical condition and want some advice before conceiving. If this service is not close to you you could have a private one-off consultation but it may onvolve travelling. IBS is exacerbated by stress so it might be worth trying to de-stress your life, practice relaxation exercises frequently or go have some massage, reflexology to keep you relaxed and help you manage with the family stress you mentioned.

    Thirdly I would make a note in a diary of your menstrual cycles and get to know when you ovulate ( 14 days before you start to bleed, which is called day one of your period). That way if you feel up to it you can have sex at the time when you are most likely to conceive.

    I hope some of the above helps, good luck and I hope your symptoms start to get somewhat better soon.

  • Kecki
    Kecki

    Posted

    Hi Flitany - I've had IBS since 1998 and know how you feel with trying to conceive too. You should go back to your doctor, or maybe see another one in your surgery, and ask to be referred to a specialist (stand your ground on this issue!), as you can't diagnose IBS just from a few blood tests, all they do is rule out a few obvious problems. You should have ultrasound scans to check out your gall bladder too, as this can cause a lot of similar problems to IBS.

    I can recommend taking peppermint oil tablets and eating natural live yogurt every day seems to help a lot. You can get a lot of help from gut-focused hypnotherapy, really good and it can help out with all of the stress.

    So please, go back to the surgery and get them to help you, hope it works out for you soon.

  • flitany
    flitany

    Posted

    Thanks so much for your replies - I have taken the advice and gone back to the surgery to a new doctor who is very shocked I have never had any tests done for the IBS - so I'm being referred to the hospital for proper diagnosis at last. Thanks again!
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Don't let them get preoccupied with proving the non existence of Bowel things, you need your Womb and Ovaries looking at as well wink
  • Kecki
    Kecki

    Posted

    That's good to hear Flitany - hope that everything gets sorted out soon, and get your GP to refer you about your infertility, good luck.
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