Ibs

LegacyUser

I'm wondering if anyone else here is suffering from IBS - Irratible Bowel Syndromne and how they find it in their daily life? I have been suffering with this for over five years now and Doctors have not been helpful at all to me. I am a mother with 3 children and I work full time hence find it stressful as you can imagine. I am not asking for medical advice I'm aware of all the facts, its just it seems to be that the general attitude from people is that it is a made up conditions, believe me it isnt and I know all about the pain to prove it.

Has anyone else had this problem /experience?

Talliesin

Maybe see what people think in the Long Term Illness forum.

Gordon

Yeah, cheers Tal. Moved from PI.

metrovelvet

If you pm me I can talk to you about this.

dame

metrovelvet wrote:

If you pm me I can talk to you about this.

Likewise

lady_j

Ihave IBS , and the doctors have been really unhelpful. They have given me medication which worked for a few weeks, but 2years on Im still. Now I get replies like 'cut down stress' but no advice on how do to so. ( I also have stress related ecsema) I have found cutting out dairy and wheat helps, and I always feel better when Ive done a bit of excercise. I feel there is a stigma around it..a kind of everyone suffers from that cause its the new buzz word attitude

metrovelvet

Cutting down on stress is crucial because stress compromsises your immunity. You need to see a very good GI and a dietician to suss out your food allergies.

Gluten is a common one. If your finding dairy a problem then you are probably lactose intolerant. Frucose intolerance can also cause it.

From what I undesterstand, the small intestine cant break the carbs down properly so all these symptoms flare up.

Saruman

I have Ulcerative Colitis which is a little more severe than IBS (its actually IBD) but less so than Crohns. Or i should say i "had" as i pretty much healed it.
Diet is the key, find out whats not working for you and eliminate it.
When i got out of hospital i got rid of everthing bad and built it back. As in no sweets, no fatty foods, no caffeine etc.
I even went veggie for a while.

I can now eat most stuff again.
Main things to look out for is: (for me)
1) Red meat! Avoid beef/lamb etc (except for a bite of a steak to taste )
2) Caffeine (avoid completely) decaf tea is fine, decaf coffe is NOT fine as coffee itself is a laxative.

These 2 ended up being the worst offenders and i have not needed drugs in years.
Anyway three weeks in hospital makes you very focused to make sure you do not go back.

Oh one more thing... when you are sick your GP loves to dish out anti-biotics... do NOT take them unless you have no other choice... these kill the good bacteria in your bowel and can bring on an attack.
Make sure you drink plenty of probiotics etc if you have to take anti-biotics.

tbh

could that come back at any time, or is it's something that stays gone? after a while could you eat what you like?

Cal F

I was diagnosed with Crohn's at the end of last September. I was in Hospital for 2 weeks. When I got out Ion the 4th Oct, I lasted until the 18th so I had to go back in for another 2 weeks.

I found it quite hard to accept the fact that their is no cure and that I'm on long-term medication.

I'm in 5th year, so I missed a tonne of work and I'm trying to get back up to speed etc.

The foods I find myself avoiding are:
Brown Bread, scones etc.
Milk
Shepards pie (Bizzare, Just something in it doesn't agree with me)
Chicken Kiev
Tea (with milk)
Spicy food (Hot currys, kebabs etc,)

I only drink water now, nothing else. I saw a new type of milk out called "Lactofree Milk" or something like that. It's for people who are Latose intolerant (Most cronh's sufferers are), there is only 0.5% lactose in it and it's supposed to be like normal milk but jut for us type. I might try it at the weekend, I havn't been able to have cereal for months!

dame

Shore, since you didn't want to log in and pm I'll give a reply here.

Yes it can be seen as a made-up condition. My doctor didn't believe there was anything wrong with me and asked me was I depressed (no), then gave me Colpermin (peppermint crap) to take for a few months but it did nothing for me and I wasn't taken seriously until one day I started passing blood (particularly stressful time). They did tests a couple of months later and told me I have IBS. To be honest that was a huge relief. I know someone with Crohn's disease and that is something I wouldn't wish on anyone.

The worrying about getting cramps, diarhoeia and needing the toilet in a hurry had been putting a hold on my life and worrying about it only made it worse. It has improved a huge lot in the last year, mainly because I've been avoiding things like milk (major culprit, far from the only one), but also I think because I know there's no serious disease and that it will pass if I sit it out. I used to stay at home some days rather than face the commute with cramps and diarhoeia but I can honestly say I haven't missed a day since Christmas and very few for months before that.

All stress can't be avoided but if you at least stop worrying about the IBS itself then that's something. Try and get yourself into the mindset of what will be willl be and let go of things you have no control over. By the way I'm also a mother and work full-time. I stopped worrying whether the house was in show-house condition and that helped also. It's hard to switch off and let go of things but you really should try. There are always changes you can make.

metrovelvet

Chrons and UC are IBD which differs from IBS though they are all auto immune issues.

UC and Chrons are in a whole different leage from IBS [I used to have UC -now I have IBS reactions to certain sugars] and require meds and sometimes hospitalisation depending on their severity.

You need a good gastro internist and a dietician. Dont let these doctors not take you seriously.

You need to be persistent and find out what makes your allergies flare up, because essentially thats what IBS is a food allergy.

biZrb

I was diagnosed with IBS last November, since then I’ve been back to the doctor 5 times. I was prescribed two different types of anti-spasm tablets, neither worked, a high fiber drink that made me feel worse, the forth time my doctor wrote a script for a anti-spasm drug that he claimed I wasn't on before when I actually had been, the next time he gave me nothing but asked me if I wanted deferral to a specialist. Each time he asked me was I stressed, I'm not at all and told him so.

I seen that specialist today, told him everything that was going on, the spasms, the nausea, the loss of appetite, the diarrhoea, the tiredness, the excess wind. He said well it sounds like IBS, he asked me was I stressed, I said no, I’m not stressed at all. He then said that there was two options, we can do nothing (!) or I can send you for an examination of the back passage. I opted for the latter. I asked him to give me some advice on how to deal with it and for example what foods should I avoid. He replied that foods don't trigger IBS.

So that’s it, I have to put up with this and no-one can give me advice on how I should deal with it. If my doctor and the specialist are so convinced its stress, you'd think they'd offer some tips on how to avoid stress. Nothing like this has been mentioned.

I have no idea when the symptoms will stop and I can start to feel normal again. To say its annoying would be an understatement.

shayser

biZrb wrote:

I was diagnosed with IBS last November, since then I’ve been back to the doctor 5 times. I was prescribed two different types of anti-spasm tablets, neither worked, a high fiber drink that made me feel worse, the forth time my doctor wrote a script for a anti-spasm drug that he claimed I wasn't on before when I actually had been, the next time he gave me nothing but asked me if I wanted deferral to a specialist. Each time he asked me was I stressed, I'm not at all and told him so.

I seen that specialist today, told him everything that was going on, the spasms, the nausea, the loss of appetite, the diarrhoea, the tiredness, the excess wind. He said well it sounds like IBS, he asked me was I stressed, I said no, I’m not stressed at all. He then said that there was two options, we can do nothing (!) or I can send you for an examination of the back passage. I opted for the latter. I asked him to give me some advice on how to deal with it and for example what foods should I avoid. He replied that foods don't trigger IBS.

So that’s it, I have to put up with this and no-one can give me advice on how I should deal with it. If my doctor and the specialist are so convinced its stress, you'd think they'd offer some tips on how to avoid stress. Nothing like this has been mentioned.

I have no idea when the symptoms will stop and I can start to feel normal again. To say its annoying would be an understatement.

Been through the same rigmarole with my 10yr old son. Nobody seems to know what to do. After several visits to GP I wrote a pleasant but firm letter to the GP expressing my serious concerns with my son's health. Got sent to specialist in local hospital. He was useless. He asked me to keep a food/pain/bowel movement diary for a fortnight. Did this, it filled a copybook. When I presented this to him it wasn't good enough for him, as he wanted comments for each heading on the same page whereas we kept a separate section for each. He didn't even look at it! Well he did, long enough to make his criticism. He promised to organise a visit to the "top specialist in Ireland", in Northern Ireland. Waited for appointment, but got a call apologising that this cannot proceed as he has stopped seeing patients from the south. Got promised an appointment with a specialist in Dublin. Again, cancelled. It was deemed unnecessary by him and he suggested a diary free diet instead as a trial. My son spent a few days in hospital after being admitted to casualty one night when in severe pain (doubled up and unable to straighten). Nothing happened, except one cancelled visit from a dietician.

Several requests for an internal examination have been refused, as this deemed too invasive for a person of his age. Bowel cancer and UC are prevalent in the family.

The problem has caused my son to become depressed. He has suffered since the age of 3.

Now what? Nothing it looks like.

biZrb

Jesus Shayser thats awful, your son has had problems for 7 years and no one can help. Hes 10 he shouldn't be upset like this at his age, its truly disgraceful.

You wrote that you've made sugestions to specialists about your son undertaking a bowel examination It might shed some light on the issue especially since you have a family history of bowel problems. I honestly can't believe they won't do it. I know your son is young but hes been sick most of his life, he probably forgotton what it feels like to be 'normal'. Surley this should be taken into consideration and an exception made. Its an absolute joke.

If you want the contact info of my specialist i can give it to you. Although he wasn't very nice, so im not sure if he'll be any help.

Has your son been tested for Chrons and Celiac disease?

Dr.Bunson

I've been diagnosed by two different doctors with it, but their attitude definately appears to be "I don't know what wrong with you so I'll call it IBS, no give me 50 quid".

The docs have given me different things to help, but none help for too long. I eventually harassed one doc to give me a referral to a specialist, only to find out when I got there that he was a cardio specialist - very annoyed. :mad: !!!

He did, however, agree to admit me and check it out. It's far from comfortable, having to run to the bathroom several times a day, and it's not pleasent passing blood, but the doc's seem to think that I am taking the pi$$.

The prospect of going to hospital does not appeal to me, but I can't wait to get this resolved, it's been going on for months.

What foods should be avoided? Obviously spices are out, and I am cutting down on the coffee, but do I have to cut out things like fruit and milk, etc??

shayser

Dr.Bunson wrote:

I've been diagnosed by two different doctors with it, but their attitude definately appears to be "I don't know what wrong with you so I'll call it IBS, no give me 50 quid".

That about sums it up for me.

Dr.Bunson wrote:

What foods should be avoided? Obviously spices are out, and I am cutting down on the coffee, but do I have to cut out things like fruit and milk, etc??

I have UC for 11 years. A diet free of complex carbohyrates works for me. It's difficult, so I only do this when I feel a flare up coming on. Haven't had a flare up for several years now, since I became familiar with this approach. I haven't considered this for my son as it is, as I say, difficult to adhere to.

biZrb wrote:

Has your son been tested for Chrons and Celiac disease?

No. His bloods were "not elevated".

dame

Dr.Bunson wrote:

What foods should be avoided? Obviously spices are out, and I am cutting down on the coffee, but do I have to cut out things like fruit and milk, etc??

I don't think anything should be cut out completely (unless a doctor tells you to cut it out) because a balanced diet with lots of variety is generally best for everyone. There are some things things you could play around with until you find out if they make any changes for you....for example, I've found that orange juice for breakfast brings on severe cramps and goes straight through me, but a small glass later in the day with a meal is fine. Mixing orange juice with cranberry juice also helps to dilute it.

Marksie

I have had IBS for years, it seems to be from the maternal side. but it was only diganosed a couple of years ago.

I went to the doctors and got meds which were OK to settle it for a while, then they were stopped, but stress avoidance is a major factor.

I find its a balancing act in how much you eat. If you eat too much (that extra helping) You are in for trouble. Strangely not enough and something similar happens. So small and regular if possible.

I tried keeping a record of what i ate that may trigger it, but to be honest i may be absolutely fine having, say spicey food one day and the next off we go.

Fresh veg/fruit sometimes does it, but i do eat a LOT of fruit and then possibly high animal protein/red meat. Also if i drink excess fluids.

Sometimes it strikes within 20 minutes of eating and then again it will wait several hours.

I can handle the three or four times in quick succession, its the bloody griping pain that lances through you that ticks me off.

Given my late fathers non-hodgkins lymphoma in the stomach, i got my progressive doctor to refer me for a bum and tum and ensured there was nothing more sinister. Which wasn't too unpleasant and ony a day of work, so it clearde a worry.. and wouldn't hesitate to say that if anyone has concerns of that nature, then they should have it done. It is worth it for the peace of mind if nothing else, and of course if anything does show early there is a better prognosis.

So In summary:

Try and keep a diary of when and how it strikes, what your emotional state was, how much you had eaten and what you had eaten. It may give you a causative link.

Eat light and frequent, a full/ empty tummy DEFINITELY causes it.

De-stress.

edit: i don;t really get blood, but it has happened, due to a tear. This is usually cherry coloured, look for "occult" blood.

Sorry to be so graphic, but if anyone suffers similar and was wondering it may help i guess.
I was reading other accounts so hope ther is an idea or two there. As for how often well it can occurr once or twice a month and then take a couple of day or a week to settle.

scargill

I've had Ulcerative Colitis for 8 years. Getting the initial diagnosis took a while, I was given antibiotics at the very beginning which made it ten times worse.

I eventually got a referral to Tallaght hospital, their Department of Gastroenterology is suberb and had a proper diagnosis after a colonoscopy.

I'm supposed to be on medication full time but I changed my diet a few years ago and stopped taking the meds and it all seemed to clear up. I thought I was cured until before Christmas. All the old symptoms came back (cramps (mild) and frequent bloody diarrhea).

I had a good long chat with the consultant a few months ago. They reckon diet has a very small part to play in it (UC), as does stress. It just flares up every so often and they can't really tell why. They only thing they know for sure is that medication reduces the frequency of these flare ups. (Salazopyrin seems to be the common medication)

In the case of IBS it seems that food and stress do have an impact. OP, I'd try to get seen by Department of Gastroenterology and get a definitive diagnosis. It's too easy for a GP do just say "It's IBS - deal with it".

dame

Has anyone tried this product?

http://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/health_products/products/c/cura_heat/cura_heat_IBS.htm

I've seen it on display in the local chemist lately but I'm not sure I fancy trying it because I read the pack and it says to attach the pad to the inside of your clothing, wear loose clothing and that it may cause burning :eek:.

Has anyone else tried it? Did it work? Did it burn you or was it uncomfortable? If you have tried it, would you use it again?

metrovelvet

scargill wrote:

I've had Ulcerative Colitis for 8 years. Getting the initial diagnosis took a while, I was given antibiotics at the very beginning which made it ten times worse.

I eventually got a referral to Tallaght hospital, their Department of Gastroenterology is suberb and had a proper diagnosis after a colonoscopy.

I'm supposed to be on medication full time but I changed my diet a few years ago and stopped taking the meds and it all seemed to clear up. I thought I was cured until before Christmas. All the old symptoms came back (cramps (mild) and frequent bloody diarrhea).

I had a good long chat with the consultant a few months ago. They reckon diet has a very small part to play in it (UC), as does stress. It just flares up every so often and they can't really tell why. They only thing they know for sure is that medication reduces the frequency of these flare ups. (Salazopyrin seems to be the common medication)

In the case of IBS it seems that food and stress do have an impact. OP, I'd try to get seen by Department of Gastroenterology and get a definitive diagnosis. It's too easy for a GP do just say "It's IBS - deal with it".

I had a similar experience. I do however think stress has a lot to do with it. I radically changed my diet to be ph alkaline, took chlorophyll as well as anti inflammatory fish oils. Once the meds kicked in I also did a lot if excerise which helped build my immunity. It was without question the most horrendous part of my life. I was hospitalised with it. I couldnt leave the house because I had to be near a bathroom, my muscles atrophied from not being able to go out, I got a weird form of pneumonia from my lungs filling up with fluid from being inactive, I was completely isolated, exhausted because I was up all night going to the bathroom, and of course starving. It took eight weeks to diagnose. I also found that it accompanied other allergies, like fruit and corn syrups which would send me into anaphylactic shock. Though my UC cleared up, I still get asthma from some of these foods. I was on colazal for a while which seemed to heal the membranes in the colon and then taken off it.

I honestly thought that if I was going to have to live like that one more day I would end my life. No exageration.

Now Im not on any meds and my doctor told me I have a beautiful colon.:)

csm

I would definitely get a gastroenterologist to have a look if a GP has diagnosed IBS. These bowel diseases can have very similar symptoms and a definite diagnosis can take a long time. In my case (UC), it was 18 months and from what i understand that is not unusual.

also, i'd like to second whoever it was who said tallaght had a great gastro department. I was in James' and was seriously struggling (couldn't work, had to leave uni, etc), but within 6 months of changing consultant to Prof O'Morain in tallaght i was off on a years travel. in fact, on my travels i went to see a consultant in new zealand who reckoned Prof was one of the top guys in europe.

as for stigma or anything, i haven't really noticed any. it's a source of banter and friendly abuse amongst friends and family. best way to deal with these things in my opinion.

FranchisePlayer

Just noticed this thread and I was diagonised in january 2005 at the age of 12 then 6 months down the line my brother got bowl cancer and passed away of it in december 2006 but Now junior cert starts this wedensday worried like most students but my doc wants me to have an operation but I am havin second mainly due to the very nature of the operation
Is going to a dietician worth it because I have been on two types of meds and did nothing I am still on the second medicine which sometimes I think actually does nothing.:(