IBS symptoms

its exactly the same symptoms I've been getting for the last 20 years plus. When it's really bad I go very hot before the attack starts, I can't concentrate as my mind goes fuzzy. Pains exactly as you describe them. When it first started I thought I had malaria !! The only relief is sleep.

I find it is usually triggered by stress - I'm self employed and have had to work 80 hours / week lately at the same time as my Son very ill and having chemo...sure enough I'm really suffering now.

thanx bigbloke for your reply, you've helped put my mind at rest, I dont like keep pestering the doctors yes i get very hot before an attack and stress, being out of my comfort zone seems to bring on an attack. I get very tired and lethargic during an attack, is it normal for an attack to last weeks????

Sorry to hear about your son hope all goes well for him

Yes ...can last weeks but over the last few years I've got it under control more. I used to be a born worrier but as I've got older (60 last month ) I've learnt not to worry so much ....life's too short. Yes it's been bad these last few weeks but my son in ireland has had positive news this week and my big project finishes tomorrow so I KNOW I'll be a bit better next week and back to "normal" very soon. "NORMAL" means the aching stomach when i eat too much. Oddly a good curry often works wonders !!

Co-incidentally I have gallstones and have been offfered to have the gall bladder out but I hear such horror stories about constant diarrohea that I've said no.

Diagnosing ibs is a difficult one. Lots of doctors don't like to commit to this diagnosis, it took me 8 months to get diagnosed, so you must be persistent with your doctor. And if your doctor isn't helping I'd tell you to chance doctors or even surgeries if your have to, can't explain how important my doctor has become to me. I'm pretty sure it's very different if youv had you fall bladder removed as your hall bladder plays a big part in bile and fat storage n reduction, so it could be you just need to tweet you diet. Do get help tho. I have the post infective type of ibs, my diet is key, there are lots of things I have to avoid. Hope this helps alittle x

spot on on both counts - diet is important and you should know what the triggers are...they're different for all of us and its important to get a GP who understands. My first GP said I should take 1 immodium every night - I did that for a year before I realised he was wrong. During one very bad attack my next GP diagnosed Appendix and I was rushed into hospital and had my appendix out. The surgeon told me later it looked perfectly healthy but he took it out anyway. Luckily now I have a GP who has taken the time to get to know me and my problem - I haven't had to see her for about a year but she keeps in touch to ask how I'm getting on....................

If you do have ibs I just takes a while to find what works, I have to take amitriptine ever night before I sleep, this helps with the pain, i also switch between buscopan and colfac for stomach cramps during the day, however taking two many pills can make me sick, so if I can take things I liquid form it helps, I'm a big calpol fan just dose it up correctly, n it's absorbed much easily my the stomach. I take wheatgrass powder ever morning, and drink alo Vera juice at night. I avoid a huge list of foods, it's unbelievable. No seeds, pips, pulses, beans. No strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, celery, have to peel hard skins of apples, grapes, cucumber. No nuts, fried food, fatty food, red meat. No crispy jacket potatoe skins. No brown bread, pasta or rice. This makes eating out difficult. Finding something that relaxes you aswell is a good idea, I do yoga, it really helps with relaxation and meditation, helps you to think clearly and being cramped up and in pain is not good yoga helps to lengthen you out and is good for your posture which is good for your stomach.

Like I said tho it's different for everyone, what really helps me might make you worse. Keep on at the doc tho x

In case of help - info from Coeliac UK website:

"Keep eating gluten throughout the diagnosis process

If you think you may have coeliac disease, it’s essential to continue eating gluten until your doctor makes a diagnosis.

The diagnostic tests for coeliac disease look at how the body responds to gluten. Some people may start to reduce or eliminate gluten from their diet because they feel ill. Unfortunately this is very likely to cause an inaccurate result for both the blood test and the gut biopsy. Therefore, it’s very important to keep eating gluten throughout the diagnosis process.

If you've already reduced or eliminated gluten from your diet, you will need to reintroduce it to make sure you get the most accurate test results. While it may be difficult and uncomfortable, it’s essential for your long term health.

As a general guideline, the recommendation is to eat some gluten in more than one meal every day for at least six weeks before testing.

For children, you can mix wheat flour into foods such as yoghurt or baked beans to add more gluten into their diet.

If you are reintroducing gluten into your diet, you should discuss how best to manage your symptoms with your GP. Your GP will be able to arrange for you to be tested for coeliac disease as soon as it is appropriate.

We understand how hard it is to get diagnosed if you have started a gluten-free diet. Getting a medical diagnosis, however, is important to ensure you get the medical follow up and support that is recommended for people with coeliac disease. Unfortunately, there are no other tests that can diagnose coeliac disease other than the antibody blood test and the gut biopsy. These tests depend on people eating gluten."

"Irritable bowel syndrome:

Almost a quarter of people with coeliac disease had previously been told they had IBS or were treated for it before they were diagnosed with coeliac disease, according to recent research1. It is important that the NICE Guidelines are followed and that coeliac disease is screened for before a diagnosis of IBS is given".

I've been suffering right side hip and abdominal pain since November which comes and goes. I've had it now constant for almost 2weeks. This week it has started to become more uncomfortable when I'm lying down like something is squashing my insides and it drags down to my right buttock and leg. I have a lot of wind and discomfort in my chest and right rib. My doctor aren't sure what it is but one has said it's more than likely ibs. I'm not so sure as recently I haven't suffered bouts of diarrhoea or upset stomach/rushing to the toilet when I've eaten. Are these symptoms of ibs? It's always worse at night lately when I come to bed and keeps me up during the night. 

Hello,

I didn't realize this was a UK, message board, but I may be able offer some help or ease of mind. So I hope this message reaches you. I had ibs before my gallbladder was removed, but after the removal (age 23) I had what you described, the dumping after eating from you maybe a condition called salt bile diarrhea. It happens to some after a gallbladder removal surgery. What it really is your liver produces too much bile goes to your lower gi tract and your body just dumps it all (aka diarrhea).

I am on a med call questran (it is an rx) I drink it every day to help bind extra bile. Though I still have bad days and good. This medicine helps a lot with the diarrhea after meals. If you have gastro doctor mention it to them.

I have Lowe abdomen and back pain too-that along with soft stools and diarrhea but not more than twice a day usually...I go through periods of no symptoms but I always feel urgency when I have to use bathroom