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Seeking IBS Experts

Posted , 7 users are following.

Krael
Krael

Hello!

I am having some pretty serious symptoms for the past month that include constipation, gas (excessive belching and stomach bloating), minor cramping, ribbon like stools (with stool softener) and no pain.

I've been seeing a GI specialist when these symptoms went beyond 2 weeks. He put me on lax's for a month, but 2 weeks later, I told him it was not getting better and now I am schedule for a colonoscopy. So, I'm trying to be proactive in finding out if this is IBS or something worse like colon cancer.

My question to the group is really a duration question to put my mind at ease. Does IBS ever present itself in constipation for a month or longer? What I mean by that is, infrequent bowel movements with gas and bloating with the constipation for that duration?

I've read a lot about IBS, but it seems many people have weekly flare ups. I haven't really seen people say they have had similar to symptoms to mine where it's a duration of about a month and then stops.

I only ask because I am a 32 year old male and had my symptoms a year and a half ago for about 3 weeks. After that, it cured itself up until a month ago when it started back up again out the blue.

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • paulineeells
    paulineeells Krael

    Posted

    hi wish i could belch and pass wind . i am very bloated  with stomach cramps . i am on peppermint tab just been put on buscapan and fybgel .
  • cherl450
    cherl450 Krael

    Posted

    Hi there Krael

    i have suffered with Ibs for over 20 years and i would only go to empty bowls 1 a monthhad every test out going including the one your about to have and it showed nothing wrong they just said it was bad ibs then after 20 years i was speaking to a lovely nurse  who told me her hubby had this bad then eat nothing but fish in his food for 4 weeks i thought well i have nothing to loose even thou i never really eaten fish before but omg the reults were amazing not only am i going reg every day but my skin is so much healty might not work for you but its worth a go i have since been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and one of the syptoms is ibs so anyway good luck hun with test

    Love and Peace

    Cherl

    • cub22
      cub22 cherl450

      Posted

      Hi Cherl, 

      Ive just seen your comment and was wondering how the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia came about. This was considered a diagnosis for me at one point but as im only 21 they ruled it out completely without any tests. 

    • Krael
      Krael cherl450

      Posted

      Thanks for the response. 

      I wouldn't say that I'm that slow in BM's. It's most like a couple a week or every few days with lax or naturally. But, this is not at frequent for me.

    • cherl450
      cherl450 cub22

      Posted

      hi there hun

      i started get alot of pain all over my body and my elgs would go like jelly and i would collapse for no reason then i had to wait till feeling came back my Gp referd me to a remotolgist and he ordered lots of diffrent tests and that and tried diffrent pain meds to help me and after 6 moths with him they dignosed me with Fibro my spealist is a fab guy who has never given up on me and rally listened to me so go to your doc ask for a referal to a remotologist as your never too young to get Fibro

      hope this helps

      sending love and peace

      Cherl

    • cherl450
      cherl450 Krael

      Posted

      Well its a change to your normalhabbit so id get it checked out throughly hun

      good luck

      Cherl

  • cub22
    cub22 Krael

    Posted

    Hi there,

    Ibs is a tricky bugger... Im 21 and had it since i was 16 and have read and done everything possible to try and help my symptoms. Unforntuatly to me the prolonged constipation could just be a bad case of IBS-C and maybe finding the right medication and dietry changes can help this and the bloating also. I am a big believer now in diet and stress trigging all sorts of digestive issues. Im not saying your symptoms arent real. I very much believe they are. What i'm saying is try not to get stressed with your symptoms and find ways to combat it. try both high and low fibre diets and too much fibre can actually cause constipation also. However, I believe you have to do whatever you can to help your symptoms and getting tests for colon cancer cant hurt if you have symptoms for that also. Worse case scenerio the earlier they find it the better chances of curing it. So try to stay optimistic. If you need anymore advice on good medications or dietry ideas just message me back and i will give you some ideas of things that work well for me, but i dont want to advice you things that may not be appropriate if you are undergoing medical treatments or on other medication as i wouldnt want to make things worse for you. smile

    All the best . 

    • Krael
      Krael cub22

      Posted

      Thanks for the response.

      Are you saying that normally constipation does not happen for that duration with IBS? There really isn't that much info on specifics out there outside people with IBS-C can have bouts of it for up to 3 months. But, I assume that's off and on.

  • Lollyladida88
    Lollyladida88 Krael

    Posted

    Hi Krael. I am a 25 year old female and I also have had constipation for over a month, abdominal pain mainly in the evening and excessive belching. I am also waiting for a colonoscopy and worried about bowel cancer.
    • Krael
      Krael Lollyladida88

      Posted

      I hear ya, I'm in the same boat. Luckily, I don't have any bleeding that I can see.

      But, my wife works with GI doctors all the time. I can tell ya that from what I've gathered, a month does not really mean cancer either. It could still be anything. However, getting checked out, like me, is a good step so surely do that if you can just to make sure. Sooner the better because if the results is cancer, it's highly treatable with good results these days.

      Speaking on that. My good friend had the oppsite with very lose stools with blood, bloating and belching for a month. Turned out to be IBS after her colonoscopy last week. So, I'm hoping the same for me but with the constipation and no blood. Keep your head up.

    • Krael
      Krael

      Posted

      Oh, and she was your age and female too. smile
    • Krael
      Krael Lollyladida88

      Posted

      Let us know how you are doing. You an I have about the same symptoms it seems.
  • david59662
    david59662 Krael

    Posted

    I don't have IBS but have CFS. In researching my own condition i kept coming across this probiotic drink called Symprove, and according to amazon reviews it's having miraculous effects on IBS sufferers. I think you have to take it for 12 weeks. I also read the company is in the process of having it be available on prescription. You might want to try it.
    • cub22
      cub22 david59662

      Posted

      Hey David,

      I read your comment about this symprove drink.. it sounds amazing if it works. Just shame is so expensive. Gonna do some more research and definitly consider it, espeically if it will become avaliable by percription. Thank you for mentioning it. I know probiotic yogurt have a good effect on my stomach ( as in i seem to be able to handle yogurt during bad days relativly ok) so its worth considering. Also ive been trying this medication called Silicol Gel for the past week and ive barely had to touch my perscription meds. They claim that after a month you digestion would have significantly improved, however Im gonna keep hold of my perscription meds because you never know. yet so far, so good. (but it tastes vile :p )

    • david59662
      david59662 cub22

      Posted

      FINALLY, i'm glad someone took notice of it. Hi. I know with my own 12 months of CFS, that there has been no expert able to help me so i have to try as many things as i can. I do feel with supplements like anything else in life you get what you pay for. I know Symprove are doing buy 2 months get the third free as part of their 12 week challenge. I plan to order from bodykind as they seem cheapest. But i have read so mayn good thing about IBS folks who tried Symprove with really good results. I believe you can heal your gut lining by eating properly and supplementing correctly too. I think L-Glutamine is supposed to be taken 5g at night.
    • cub22
      cub22 david59662

      Posted

      I definatley agree with that. Diet is key. I know ive become a bit of a food bore really haha  with all these things im trying and different dietry plans etc and my family (as supportive as they are) can only do so much.

      I get really fustrated when people say they have a digestive issue (or any issue really) and dont try anything to overcome or even attempt to control it so im always up for trying something if it will allow me to live somewhat normally. Im sorry that no one has been able to help much with your CFS and im guessing youve tried every dietry thing under the sun also. Have you found anything that really helps. I know that when im bad with my supposed ibs, I get so tired and cant concerntrate. Yet I can't really sleep either. Ive been trying beetroot juice and homemade smoothies etc to try and get nutrients that im lacking from not always been able to eat incase its related to malutrition and multivits obviously.  Beetroot is meant to be a good energiser but idk how CFS really works so idk if it works the same way as the fatigue I experience.

      Anyway I can help please feel free to contact me. Stay positive and good luck. And thanks again for the symprove tip... smile

    • david59662
      david59662 cub22

      Posted

      Hi, yeah with chronic ailments for which allopathic medicine has no real treatment we have to try anything and everything if we are to get well. The body knows how to heal if we let it. y CFS, yes i have found taking adaptogneic herbs helps (i'm 4 weeks in of a 100day programme), another revelation has been bee pollen/royal jelly/propolis. I believe this would be great for gut health, just search pub-med for bee pollen/propolis) it's impressive what it can do. I know i'll get better from this CFS it's just a question of time. I can't force my boody to heal faster than it's capable of doing but what i can do is give it the raw materials to do so. Although i have CFS exercise is still crucial, so i get out and walk, breath the air at the country trails. Oxygen, wholefood nutrition, lots of warm soups in particular, greens powders, tonic herbs, exercise whatever that maybe. Just keep going in this general direction i feel.
    • cub22
      cub22 david59662

      Posted

      Thanks for your advice. Will be looking into this for sure. smile
    • cherl450
      cherl450 david59662

      Posted

      dont know if this helps but a gut specalist once told me to drink preboiled water with a slice of fresh lemon in it helps alot xxx
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