IBSC/DD and low fodmap diet

Thank you Yes I a going to keep a food diary but not do low fodmap.

I would come off ranitidine if your are getting stomach pain and bloating with it. Tell you doctor it disagrees with you and ask for something else.  Milk is also a great antacid and coats your stomach. If Movicol doesn’t suit you either, stop taking it and try lots of fruit instead. I try to rely on fruit only for constipation.

I would agree about coming off ranitidine but the hospital put me on it following an upper endoscopy which showed mild gastritis. I also believe there will be rebound symptoms until your body adjusts. As to an alternative apart from things like gaviscon that leaves PPIS like omeprazole which I have had it the past and they have even worse side effects and long term ones too. I have not taken movicol for ages I stopped it within a week of starting because of the bloating. I am going to start a food diary to try and find out what bothers me and how much I can tolerate of foods. I agree must better to treat constipation naturally. I wish I had never started on fybogel even though it works up to a point.

You could try Gaviscon as an alternative if you stop Ranitidine or even milk which is a natural antacid and causes no problems unless you have an intolerance.  My grandad had an ulcer and cured it with milk.  He was a GP..

I have taken ranitidine and suddenly stopped it and I got no rebound.  I have also stopped and started Gaviscon again witn no problems.  At one time I took omeprazole for a while and I came off it suddenly and got no problems. I was never warned to come off them slowly.  Everyone is different.  

Sometimes doctors use the fear factor to get us on medications that suit the drug companies.  But often these drugs are not really good for us long term.

Thank you for your reply.  I already have gaviscon advance in the cupboard which I occasionally use at night.  I suspect that it is the anxiety which has caused the gastritis as it messes up the digestive system and makes you produce more acid.  I understand that rebound after stopping is less than with omeprazole and as you mentioned should be stepped down.  When I came off omeprazole around 4 years ago I suffered badly with pain and bloating for a month of course probably worse because of IBS.  Everyone you speak to seems to be on a ppi.  The gps seem to hand them out like sweets despite the long term affects. I know of 2 family members who had trouble coming off them and one who can't come off.  As you say everyone is different.  My anxiety is bad at the moment and it is making everything worse.  Isn't it ironic they write prescriptions for things like blood pressure cholesterol anti depressants etc but it is a post code lottery for people who really need certain drugs for serious illness.  I know I am speaking about much more expensive drugs here but it certainly  makes you think about what you take and what you really need. 

The focus these days is preventative medicine so some of us end up on meds just as a precaution when when we don’t really need them.

I would like to come off fybogel and treat constipation just with food.  I think that the ranitidine that I take for gastritis does not help but I have been told to stay on it for now.  It does list stomach pain and bloating as a side effect and I do notice it after taking it in the evening.  Movicol was awful for me really bad cramps and bloating although it did work better as a laxative.  I will add in fibre slowly as you suggest.  

tbh im surprised you were put on ranitidine as its a really old medication that doesn't work that well

I think it is because I can't take PPIs as they really upset me. I am thinking of coming off them.

I've just read your post properly re proton pump inhibitors, don't take them I'm convinced they made me I'll too! I took esameprazole, evil stuff, on them I picked up every bug going, this only stopped once I pulled myself off them slowly then my immunity slowly recovered leaving with weakened immunity. Come off them as QUICKLY as you as you can and then see how you feel!

Hi leeniepie, how can you say this? Is from experience? This medication got me on holiday for the 1st time in 10 years since I was diagnosed with IBS (now been told it diverticulosis)! I had few problems abroad and now at home thanks to this anti acid. Everyone is different and everyone reacts differently to things. Isn't the point to find the something that works for you?

Hello  No you have misunderstood.  I was on omeprazole around 4 years ago.  They did not agree with me and I came off them slowly but still had around a month of bloating and indigestion etc before if finally settled.  I would never take them again I agree awful things cause more problems than they cure.  I am taking Ranitidine at the moment but hoping to come off those too.  The were prescribed by the hospital after I was diagnosed with mild gastritis but I think they are contributing to the current problems especially bloating.

Sorry Sam I have just ready my reply to leeniepie regarding PPI's and I can see it did not really explain properly .  I meant I can't take PPI's and I should have said I want to come off the ranitidine.  Sorry for the confusion.  Actually sick of all these types of drugs they seem to be handed out too often I think.

Ah I see. Worth giving it a try as permanently reducing the acid in your stomach is not a good thing. I was on PPIs for over a year

I was told by a gastro specialist that it is an old drug and we now have better ones. I agree it may work for some people, like everything there is always a maybe.

I would question your Dr on whether you actually have IBS if ranitidine solved the issues.

Yes I think it is an old drug. My mum was on it for a hiatus hernia and she died in 1992. The recent ranitidine was for gastritis diagnosed following a gastroscopy in January. I have had IBS for around 8 years and Diverticulosis diagnosed 1 year ago after endoscopy. I know it is quite common for heartburn etc to coincide with Ibs. I definitely agree with you that it is not good to reduce stomach acid permanently as we need it for digestion. Most of my digestive problems are not helped if not caused by anxiety which I have suffered from for a few years and for which I am having counselling.

Hi leeniepie, old drug or not I have so many allergies that this is the only drug that now works for me. I think my doctor is useless so wouldn't bother asking her, all I know is tests and scans have revealed divertuculosis so at the moment patiently but scarily waiting to see the dietician, heads will roll for this as 3 different health sections have got this so wrong I have put in a complaint reluctantly because I keep getting I'll. Just had enough.

i know what you mean. when my stomach issues first started I was ignored by my GP til I ended up in a&e, then told I was exaggerating. eventually it was discovered I had acute functional dyspepsia which ended up causing chronic gastritis - hence why I was on PPI's for so long. eventually I was told this was IBS, even though at that time I had no bowel symptoms. a couple of years on I did develop IBS but the doctors have been no help. I only got to know about FODMAP because I saw a private dietician (I don't think the NHS were even using it back in 2011?) If you can afford a private dietician i'd go for it, even if its just for 1-2 sessions.