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Ibs is ruining my life- worried it could be something else

Posted , 13 users are following.

HLMCX
HLMCX

Hi guys,

I'm a 22 year old female and I've had ibs for about 6 years. I've had MRI scans, blood tests etc and nothing sinister has shown. I have tried EVERYTHING and I'm having not much luck.. I went through a stage of it not being so bad and having an attack of sweating, cramps, nausea and diarrhea very occasionally and just everyday bloating (which I am now very used to) the last month or so I don't recall ever have a fully formed BM- they are always loose without fail and it's driving me crazy. I woke up this morning with the most agonising stomach pain, I felt sick and had diarrhea.. it passed after about 2 hours but it leaves me feeling weak and horrible.

I know that anxiety plays a huge part and that's something that I want to get rid of.. any big occasion and it's so bad- my graduation was spent on the toilet and crying in pain, trips to the cinema, my birthday, when I went on holiday I had diarrhea the whole journey there. It's ruining my life and making me nervous to do anything too far away from home- can I see a therapist on the NhS? To help deal with the anxiety? I'm basically just wondering if anyone has any ideas of things I can try- I rely on bucopan, peppermint tea and a hot water bottle when my attacks are bad. But I've tried- Colpermin, charcoal tablets, probiotics, Fodmap diet etc and I just want to feel normal ????

1 like, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • martin31040
    martin31040 HLMCX

    Posted

    Hi check out the FODMAP diet lots of info online, get multi strain probiotics, check out China seeds and soaking China seeds to get the gel good for your digestive system.
  • martin31040
    martin31040 HLMCX

    Posted

    Hi sorry my last comment says China seeds, should be CHIA SEEDS.
  • Anonymous111
    Anonymous111 HLMCX

    Posted

    There are counselling services available n the NHS. Look up on the internet services near you - often they're self referral. If not arrange a telephone consult with your GP, so they can make you a referral.

    The cramps are the IBS. Buscopan will help with these. Do you take buscopan everyday or do you just take it when you get a cramp?

    The everyday bloating is most likely functional abdominal bloating. This is very difficult to do anything about - Charcoal is really all there is.

    Alternatively it could be a food intolerance - so keep a food and symptom diary and try and notice patterns. If it were a food intolerance and you're getting symptoms everyday - it would be something you're eating everyday. So have a trial and error with these - I would begin with breakfast cereals if you eat those.

  • Guest
    Guest HLMCX

    Posted

    Hi there,I do sympathize with you ,I was diagnosed with Diverticular disease in 2014 and have had the same symptoms as you on and off all that time, I was told initially to up my fiber but was getting slowly worse ,I’ve since seen a Gastroenterologist who diagnosed IBS and to cut out most of my fiber and take Imodium type tablets which I do most days and I’m almost normal and can get on with my life ,all this has  taken 3yrs ,Try the Imodium and see how you do ,I was told if a whole tablet constipates me to open it and tip some out and put it back together,the amount to take is trial and error I’m afraid,good luck.
  • ElleJ22
    ElleJ22 HLMCX

    Posted

    Hello,

    You sound very similar to me. Feeling sick and the loose BM. Since it started with me I never have a fully formed BM either, even on the days I'm not feeling sick. No one has diagnosed me as to what it may be and I have had countless tests. Just possible IBS. I can't work out what I'm eating that's causing it and been tried on buscopan!

    I would suggest keeping a food diary of everything you eat and note on the days you don't feel good and then check back the past few days what you ate to see if there's a pattern. You may have better luck than me! Ginger tea is quite good for the nausea.

    Has your doctor tested a stool sample?

    I understand where you are coming from with the anxiety, that doesn't help the issues you are already facing and I too experienced this but it can't be helped with the way you are feeling. Speak to your doctor. They can refer you for some CBT through the NHS. I found this quite helpful.

    Good luck! Just keep at your doctor to do some more tests for you too! Let us know how you get on smile

  • meg29650
    meg29650 HLMCX

    Posted

    Hi HLMCX,

    Your description of this sound exactly like mine -  I wish I could offer more constructive advice, and I'm hoping someone else will answer your post.  I've been through all of what you've described, and never dreamed this could happen -  I've had this for just over two years, and it came on suddenly (overnight).   

    It is worse than horrible - it runs your life, Doesn't it?   Things I've tried - going to the hospital (they can find nothing wrong, despite every test imaginable, therapists, all the diets recommended, anti-anxiety pills (No wonder anyone with IBS is anxious), and even a psychiatrist, who told me it was definitely not in my mind (although I never suspected it could be).   Our family doctor prescribed morphine, and right now I've made an appointment with the Legalized Marijuana here in Canada - and don't hold out much hope for this route either.  My family doctor is at his wit's end, and after exhausting his supply of specialists, can be sympathetic but of no help.

    I hope someone out there has some suggestions… my sincere thoughts are with you.. *HUGS*

    Meg

     

    • LCat
      LCat meg29650

      Posted

      Hi Meg, 

      It is truly more than horrible and totally wrecks your life.  It’s also heartbreaking that no doctor can help us.  How are you doing these days ?

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 HLMCX

    Posted

    You should not worry that you have something else because you have had all the tests and they have been negative.  You have also had a firm diagnosis of IBS.  Trust your doctor.  Anxiety will be causing your IBS to keep flaring up.  Ask your doctor to refer you for counselling; this is your best option for controlling your symptoms.  However, NHS counselling sessions can take a while to come through so it may be worthwhile finding a private therapist and you will get your appointment much quicker.
    • LCat
      LCat pippa58442

      Posted

      Hi Pippa,

      I never had any anxiety before these stomach problems started.  Therefore I’m totally convinced that it starts all physically and then the Vagus Nerve in the stomach gets irritated and causes all these other symptoms like anxiety, spells of dizziness etc.  How can counselling help against an upset irritated stomach ??

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 LCat

      Posted

      Conditions like gastritis and IBS are often brought on by stress.   The more stressed you feel the more these conditions will flare up.  My IBS was caused by intense bouts of anxiety and will flare up when I get uptight. When I distract myself with things I enjoy, I feel more relaxed and my symptoms disappear. If you have difficulty doing this on your own, counselling can help you practice these techniques.  The brain and the gut are linked and when we experience stress, this can disturb the nerves in our gut which are highly sensitive.
    • LCat
      LCat pippa58442

      Posted

      Hi Pippa,  

      I don’t have any specific reason to be stressed except that my stomach causes so many problems that I worry whether this will ever stop .  Whenever I have a reasonable day with my stomach and I can eat something, the stress or worry about the stomach is instantly gone!  When I wake up in a horrible way with stomach pain and nausea :  instantly the worry is back and I get palpitations and dizziness.  I wonder whether this will ever ever stop.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 LCat

      Posted

      Stress and worry about your symptoms is reason enough to cause a flare up. You can control or stop your symptoms with antispasmodics such as Buscopan or Nurofen, try the Low Fodmap diet or a food diary.  This can all help with the pain.  You can also distract yourself from your stomach worries by concentrating on other things like your hobbies or try light exercise such as swimming or walking.

      When the antispasmodics and distraction techniques start to work, you won’t feel the pain and you won’t have to worry about whether your pain will stop.  If I get a flare up, I take Buscopan and sometimes nurofen on top and I tell myself that within fifteen minutes, my pain will start to die down and then stop completely and it does. Fifteen minutes is the length of time it takes for Buscopan to work. The trick is to take your pain medication as soon as your flare up starts and the quicker you will start to feel better. Try not to concentrate on whether the pain will ever stop.  With IBS, your emotions are strongly linked to the nerves in your abdomen which are very sensitive to stress of any kind.

    • LCat
      LCat pippa58442

      Posted

      Hello Pippa,

      I’ve been on the low Fodmap Diet for more than 2 years and it didn’t stop me from getting ill again.  I can see why the pain stops when you’re taking Buscopan and Ibuprofen:  Ibuprofen is a NSAID which is chemically similar to Aspirin.   Ibuprofen is a painkiller and will stop the pain.  I would love to take Aspirin or Ibuprofen but the problem is that I have Gastritis and you’re not allowed to take any NSAIDs like Ibuprofen, Aspirin etc .... because the theory is that they damage the stomach lining .... and Paracetamol is allowed but it doesn’t help very much.  The theory is that 80% of stomach ulcers are caused by Helicobacter and 20% are caused by NSAIDs like Ibuprofen etc.  Do I believe this ??   It’s the general view amongst doctors.  Do I believe it ?  I’m not sure any longer

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 LCat

      Posted

      Nurofen is very strong and can be bad for your stomach lining especially if you have gastritis.  However, if you are only taking it once in a blue moon; that’s better.  It’s the constant use of them that can be bad for you.  Taking them with food or milk is better than taking them with plain water on an empty stomach.

      I don’t know how true these percentages are that doctors give because one size doesn’t fit all; everyone is different.  If paracetemol doesn’t work well, I would discuss this with your doctor

    • kelly81479
      kelly81479 LCat

      Posted

      Alprazolam really helped calm me down and I only use it in public places where I may have a panic attack or anxiety this causing bathroom trips - I know the feelings- it’s hard to enjoy life when you are terrified of leaving the house 
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