Stress caused by IBS symptoms.

Hi Robert

I just wish my consultant recognised IBS, all he will do is make me have more tests.

Junie

Hi there Robert

I like you was a complete worrier and i saw a lovely consultant who also said simliar to your i change my diet drank lots of flavored still water mainly lemon and then cut my dairy intake down and my ibs settled down but i do have heart disease and fibro chronic arthritis and myleodisplacer so in wars at momnet with pain at least my ibsis more settled at moment

best wishes

cherl

I think you have summed it up very well, Robert.  We are all different and it is a question of experimenting until you find something that helps.  Tests have shown that my IBS  is almost entirely stress-related.  I find that hypnotherapy helps me, but it might not help someone else - exercise is important and I try to swim regularly.

As you say we have to learn with it.

Well done you, nicely said. Because of the tests they put me through found out had extreme diverticulitis, Barretts Oesophagus, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, boarder line B12 and now low calcium and bad bone density which will go into osteoporosis. And for years after having breast cancer with a mastectomy. So dread going to doctors as what else is going to be diagnosed. But thankful that this was found out as now treating each issue. But we keep on smiling. Glad they did the tests when checking for INS, and thank God it's all on nhs.

Stress can certainnly contribute to a host of different diseases, and until you get that under control there are things you can do to possibly ease situation.  My IBS tends to be all on the loose side, rather than the back and forth the some suffer, or the hard side that others suffer.  This has it controlled for me:

1.  A fiber supplement morning and evening.  I tired many of the powders and found them to be a bother to prepare and drink, so evetually switched to a capsule.

2.  A probiortic, at least once a day or as needed.  I started with lactose based ones, or even yogurt, but it didnt seem to help that much.  Most modern yogurts are bereft of the live cultures that you need to do the job, so shop carefully if you go this route.  I ended up with a vegatable based supplement using Saccaromyces Boulardii + MOS, and to seems to work well.

3.  Digestive enzymes.  I was taking but couldn't afford to keep buying it, so gave it up.  So far, the above two supplementa are doing the job for me by themselves.  But I do think the digestive enzymes helped right a badly unbalanced system, and the effect has lasted for a while.

 This condition is very subjective, and as others have said, it requires a lot of trial and error to find out what will work for you.  Good luck.

Sorry to hear of your pain.

I have mentoned EFT before on this site, but it has really worked for me.

I have gone through the Doctor route - conventional & otherwise, the anxiety....even stopping the car to cry with the stress of it all.

But Emotional Freedom Technique has/is working for me......it's still on going, but feel 80% back to full health.

Good luck, you are obviously not alone.

junie,

I your consultant does not believe in IBS you can go through the complaints procedure  for the hospital he works at. I did this and the consultant no longer works at that hospital. These people are not gods and if they do not show a reasonable attitude towards a patients concerns they can be disciplined by the hospital board or even be asked to leave, particularly if they have not followed hospital guide lines. There are strict codes of practice for professionals working with the public at this level.

If your GP does not seem to understand your concerns or seems to be making judgements about your state of health which you do not agree with, simply change your GP or ask for a second opinion. The important things to remember are

1) You always have other options.

2) Always conduct yourself in a calm but firm manner without showing you are upset in any way.

Remember, they are there to serve the public on matters of health.

I hope this helps you to make a decision to ensure your health concerns are met.

Best regards

Robert

Dear juneju,

If I was in your position right now I would go back to the health  centre and request an appointment with another GP.

I would then explain the problems I was having with the consultant and then request to see a dietician or nutritionist.

I have type 2 diabetes and I can request to see a dietician any time, in fact I am encouraged to do so by the diabetic nurse or my GP.

Remember junie, you ALWAYS have other options.

I am sure you will feel a lot better when you can see you are making progress with this matter.

Please do not give up as it can make you depressed

All the very best

Robert

Dear Junie,

I hope things go well for you in April and you get the help you need.

By what you say I can see you live in England where gettig appointments is difficult.

I live in North Wales and as you are probably aware population is fairly thin. There are only about three million people in the whole of Wales. I use to live in the south of England but when I got sick I moved up here. Much less stress and you can get an appointment with the GP the same day. The consultants tend to do any invasive examinations but tend to leave decissions about IBS or diabetes to the GP. It was my consultant who said "Your GP has suggested that you have IBS this might have something to do with your diabetes". Different health boards seem to work with there own codes of practice. My diabetic nurse from the hospital is refered to by both the GP and the consultant and seems to wield the power of god. I certainly would not cross her.

Hope you feel better for Christmas

Best wishes

robert