Quickest way to ease IBS symptoms?

Hello to all,I'm relatively new to this site,but what information from others is a godsend,this has always been a difficult subject to discuss I'm glad it's not anymore I got a virus 8 yrs ago, and amongst giving me my second time round with menopause symptoms, I also got IBS along with it and anxiety to ,is it stress related the IBS,these days I monitor what I eat and drink etc sugar is a definite no go area .aloe Vera not tried but will do.My daughter has IBS ,I will tell her about this site regards to all x

Many people find that a virus can kick start Coeliac disease. Epstein Bar virus (a member of those connected to Glandular Fever) is well know for it.

Read up on Coeliac disease ....before you eliminate anything from your diet...especially gluten. Request the initial blood test - once you have eliminated gluten it is too late to find out and get a correct diagnosis.

Thank-you all for your suggestions! Yes, I agree! None of my family and friends have IBS so they don't understand how badly it effects our everyday lives! I try and go to the gym at least 3 times a week (before I would go every single day) and as I am body conscious I am feeling really upset at the moment as I am bloated from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep despite what foods I eat! I try so hard at the gym but it doesn't seem worth it!

I am thinking about asking my doctor to refer me to a stomach specialist for further analysis. I am also considering CBT therapy to control my anxiety and stress.

caro13: When I had my blood tests I was told that I was being treated for everything possible (diabetes, coeliac, lactose intolerant etc) and was told they all came back normal...unless I was lied to? I may go back and ask for a second opinion and breath test!

Does anyone have any suggestions to stop the bloating?! I've heard probiotics and peppermint tea are supposed to be good...has anyone tried this?

Thanks again for all of your suggestions, I don't feel alone anymore and feel I have people to talk to who understand exactly what it's like!

comments to IBS as after the pains of the virus went the first GP I saw said that I had post virus syndrome and a low immune system due to the 4 stone loss of weight in 4 months when I saw the GP it was because I had facial pain from that bug .I didn't know what rhinitis was .if I'd just popped in to the chemist shop and spoke to the pharmacists he would have put me straight on the facial pain instead of then getting put on these meds, I now know was my first mistake I didn't have any other health issues till those meds from GP then all of it began tinnitus, menopausal symptoms, IBS then 3years later balance problem So did the meds start this all going my female gut feelings say yes.I have never Googled symptoms at all I know how I am and was ,prior to virus.,as I'd only seen a GP 3 times in 7 years now it's a case of sorting this out . I will be wary from here on in that's for sure especially any tests etc CBT twice no help from that for the anxiety it's left me with and the stress of it all .its a personal choice Lauren but go easy think things over before deciding anything I wish I had is my advice , take a look at charcoal tabs for bloating health food shop helps with the gas you tend to build up with bloating best wishes to you .

A referral to a Gastroenterologist would be wise - for anyone suffering these symptoms. Read up on the Coeliac links on this website as well as Coeliac Org UK - to be much better informed before you visit your GP again!! Another test for Coeliac disease would be appropriate - there is more than one blood test available these days - as well as the gut biopsy which confirms or otherwise. So many people get negative results because they have been trying to treat themselves and get well (due to little help from GP!) and foods have been eliminated from the diet causing an unclear result - which they interpret as Negative! Also a lot of people are making money out of supposedly treating IBS symptoms - which rarely do any long term good - probably due to another underlying cause. Persist with visit to your GP - request a referral to a Gastroenterologist as they will know what they are talking about and what to look for! What you relate Marlene is typical for many coeliacs - I was told the same - post viral syndrome - loss of weight over two years - finally anaemic to blood transfusion level. If we had not moved house and had a change of GP I think I may well have been dead by now! Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disease (not an allergy) so in view of what you were told one would have expected a CD test straight away. Balance problems are also indicated in Coeliac disease. The situation you are in makes you anxious ....go back and ask for the Coeliac blood test. Make sure you eat plenty of gluten until after then. Read Coeliac Org UK website for details of the disease, symptoms and diagnosis....it is very important for you to know about it.

Hi Lauren

It's possible that you tested negative for Coeliac's but have an allergy to wheat (rather than gluten). This wouldn't show up on your blood test.

I've had good results from taking probiotics and digestive enzymes (which you take before your meals). If you have access to a health food shop, maybe you could go and talk to someone in there. There are SO many alternative and complimentary remedies that can help you. For example, cider vinegar is really good if you have stomach cramps or trapped wind. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that there are other sources of help and info on stuff like this out there and very often they really really work.

Thanks Caro and Amd you ve said what I've been thinking could be what went wrong as I developed allergies following head virus that winter my head felt like block of cement so heavy and my neck so sore didn't feel it would support head weight I went to a cranial osteopath 4 months after head pains stopped he said I got a virus in the menengies as I didn't know what that was ,he drew a diagram for me and virus was in the fluid .i did show a young GP the diagram,he then checked me out but I know that virus had done what it did My daughters mother in law has Coeliac ,I will ask her and say what you ladies say I know it took a long time before she got right diagnosis, she lives in Spain thank goodness for the internet I know she to lost a lot of weight and careful on food stuffs checks everything as I do now Sorry Caro you've been ill with this too thanks for your chat ladies all helps xx

So I started taking Obtibac Probiotics for 'Flat Stomach' and i'm on day 6/7 if taking probiotics and i'm sad to say they haven't made any changes to my bloatedness (really thought these would work as I read so many good comments).

I also went to my doctors today and saw a different doctor and I was told that the celiac test was not done as they didn't have enough blood...so the other doctor lied to me! I was told there was a mix up in reception and that all tests were done and all were normal! Not happy!

I also have to give a stool sample tomorrow morning to be tested for Helicobacter Pylori to rule that out.

So I hope they have the good grace to test you for Coeliac disease now too Lauren!

Sadly this is an all too familiar story...and I think many of us have tried all the "cures" you read on here initially - and whilst they may feel beneficial some of the time (because probiotics can be good for you occasionally anyway) and aloevera can sooth a sore gut....if you are still getting the same symptoms there is an underlying cause. Until that is sorted you never get well. A bit of information to bear in mind is that diagnosed Coeliacs are allowed some basic foods on prescriptionbread, flour, spaghetti/pasta etc.....and so this is regarded by many GPs as a drain on their resources - often because they do not always understand the seriousness of the condition themselves...and they are able to use the celebrities and fad dieters as an excuse and slot anyone who says "bloating" into that category. If they tell sufferers they have IBS they go away and start elimination diets and everything else to try and feel better - and as a result when they finally go back to the GP - still ill - and are finally given a Coeliac blood test it comes back negative because they have been excluding gluten from their diet! Fait accomplis! Anyone having the test must eat plenty of gluten for at least 6 weeks beforehand or the antibodies to it will not be there - so will read Negative.

Quote the NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) to GPs - "Coeliac disease should always be tested for before giving a diagnosis of IBS"....as you can see, there is very good reason for this!

GPs were told to do it two years or more ago and are still ignoring it.

See Coeliac Org UK website. They fought for this to happen and need to know if GPs are not offering the test for gastro/Coeliac type symptoms. Anyone it applies to should advise them via the Talk to Us link.