ibs. really need help

[rachirv]

hello! and firstly, im really sorry if this is classed as an unsuitable thread or if it's in the wrong place, just i cant find any help. i wont go into details but some of you know that i suffer really badly with ibs. its now getting to the point where practically everything i eat makes my stomach churn and i am struggling to get through daily life. my symptoms vary lots so its hard for me to take medication as al the ibs ones seem to be for one symptom or the other, not both.
so i want to look into maybe seeing a homeopath or herbalist or somebody that can maybe offer me something else to try and help with it, but i dont really know the best person to see etc. ive been going to my doctors regualry for the last 8 years and they keep telling me to get on with it. i also had kinesiotherapy done but this told me that i was allergic to practicaaly every food i can think of, so it was impossible to find a good diet with it.
i know people probably dont want to see a thread on bowel movements etc lol, so if anybody can reccomend anything or anyone to see, or if any of you have the same problems and are using something that really has changed their lives, then please feel free to pm me if youd rather not do it on this thread. im desperate.

thanks guys
much love xxxxxx

 

[dandelionpoppy]

Hi! Huge sympathy; I've replied to your blog on this before and I do know what you're going through.
You MUST insist that your GP refers you to a specialist. I cannot say what your trigger is but it was only after a colonoscopy that I got a proper diagnosis. This is the gold standard for investigations (as explained by the specialist to me) not mere blood tests. It's not as horrible as it sounds! In my case it's a gluten problem plus IBS and another condition, so it may not be the simple solution I know you hope it will be. But everybody's different and your GP can't tell just by reportage of your symptoms.
Make that appointment tomorrow. Bowel problems can be debilitating, embarrassing and confidence-sapping. Get proper help NOW. Sorry to sound bossy but I really feel for you.:hug:

 

[Susie H]

I'm in total agreement with the answer above, go back to your doctor and tell him/her 8 years of telling you what it's not and to get on with it is enough.
Look him/her in the eye and ask them if they would put up with this for 8 months never mind 8 years and that you want a referal.
It's your right to have one.
My daughters trigger is wheat. She went to hell and back with all the times doctors told her to eat more fiber:smack:
Oh yes and stress, well I can't think of anything more stressful then being stessed about ibs
Don't make us crack the whip at you hun :hug:

 

[deanosnana]

Hi Rachel, my heart goes out to you. I agree with dandelionpoppy and Susie H. Get back to your doc.

Also, if you have to have a colonoscopy, do NOT WORRY! I just had one in October and it was a piece of cake. The thing I was most worried about was the prep and that wasn't even that bad.

Keep us posted. I'm keeing you in my prayers. :hug:

 

[littlebear]

I agree, do go to your doctor to get further tests, if anything just to put your mind at ease because in most cases it's not a physical cause but more of an intolerance of gluten or dairy.try Keeping a food diary for a week or two to see which foods cause the most problems. After you go to the doctor, I recommend going to an acupuncturist who has good nutrition knowledge to deal with the root cause which can also be an emotional cause. This is the most gentle and effective way. avoid laxatives, colonics. A good herbalist can help too.I'm a Naturopath, so if want to pm me with any questions please do. I suffered with ibs too and this approach really helped me.


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[essentia]

I think it was on embarrassing bodies programme but a Colorectal specialist referred a woman for a form of hypnosis that was really effective. It may be worth searching this out.:hug:

ps I used to work for a colorectal surgeon and he used to advise different diet tactics to see what triggered patients probs - high fibre/low fibre, dairy/non dairy as a first measure. Some people cannot digest hard fibre (I can't) as they do not have the enzyme to break down things like nuts and seeds. If I have these I am in awful pain lol.

 

[Kim Lawless]

i've had it for years and various things trigger it, not just food. Believe it or not…….the smell of book shops have me running to find a loo. Nightmare!

I agree that you should insist on more tests but you should also think about meditation and yoga. Good luck xx

 

[sarahpoppy24]

Hello, I feel for you as ive had health problems in the past and when you cant get an answer thats when there becomes a big problem. I would see if possible a different Gp and if they still will not refer you ask for a second opinion again, as everyone above said you need to see a specialist. Because IBS is such a general term, it could be down to so many factors it needs to be looked at by a specialist. Keep going back and be firm but polite and assert yourself, being told to just live with something is not acceptable, you need answers. I hope you get it sorted xxxxx:hug:

 

[indium]

I have IBS symptoms and I swear by mintec. peppermint oil capsules that are coated to dissolve not in the stomach but...ahem... 'further down'. they help enormously. i assume that you have tried them already? i know they make you fart and burp minty but that's a small thing!

Mine is definitely stress realted and I find acupuncture and other complementary therapies help too. Chinese massage, if you can get it with out them trying to sell you the herbs as well! reiki... anything that forces you to 'chill' for half an hour will help.

edited to add......colonic irrigation really helped me as well. its not as bad as you might think!

 

[smooth]

It is a horrible thing to have, I have it. I can go from having a completely flat stomach to looking 6 months pregnant within around 10 minutes max, the cramps, changes from being constipated to the other, nightmare. Luckily I know what triggers mine and if I avoid it then great but if not....... My triggers are dairy, alcohol, fried/spicy food, chinese, fatty food and salads. However, stress is the biggest factor, reduce your stress and it goes away. I went to Nice on a conference without the husband and the kids for 2 days and I ate and drank whatever I wanted and was fine, as soon as I got back home everything returned. Grounds for divorce I think lol.

A colonoscopy will check the bowel wall for abnormalities not to see what triggers IBS. When you know what triggers you it is easier to control it (althought the wind bit is a bit disturbing). You can be prescribed medication to help reduce motility of the bowel if necessary too. :hug:

 

[dandelionpoppy]

Hi!
Hope we've all nagged you into getting some real help, which you deserve.
Trouble is with syndromes that by definition your GP doesn't really know what's irritating your bowel and I really think some specialist investigation is in order. Let us know how you get on! x

 

[rachirv]

awww thanks to everybody who took the time to advise me. i am going into town tomorrow to change my doctors surgery, and then demand that i get referred to a bowel specialist because i can't go on like this! i will keep you all informed! fingers crossed i get some answers soon

rachel xx

 

[Lunarstorm]

Hi.

I've had IBS since I was a child but it only got picked up by the doctor about 10 years ago when it got so bad I was rolling around on the floor in pain after taking some meds the doctor had given me to help with my PSOC as I was trying for a baby. I've had all the IBS tablets and at one piont was on 4 differant tablets at once and I was still unable to leave the house for fear of not being near a tolilet, so I know where you are coming from.

I have now got to the point where I very rarely suffer. It is mostly if I get stressed or upset which causes me problems now.

The best thing I have found that will ease the pain/cramps and trapped wind is peppermint oil and I mean 100% pure peppermint oil not peppermint extract. You can get it online or through your doctor but you will not find it in shops. You put 3 to 5 drops into a glass of hot water and a soon as it is cooled enough to drink, down the lot (it tastes veil). It will releave the wind within mintues and the peppermint oil and hot/warm water will sooth and relax your stomach musels which releaves the cramping. But be careful not to take too much pure peppermint oil, ONLY USE 3 TO 5 DROPS in hot water every few hours.

I found that the peppermint capsuals I had from the doctor did not help my IBS at all, infact it made it worse (think it was something to do with the casing) but the pure oil works wonders.

Also invest in a hot water bottle or heat mat, put it on your tummy when your cramping and the heat will help ease the pain and cramping. I find a hot water bottle best as I can carry it around with me and not have to put it down if I want to go to the kitchen etc because the cord is not long enough.

I also have a tablet called Buscopan (Hyoscine-N-butylbomide) which I take for bad IBS attacks, it is the only tablet that has done anything to help my IBS.

You will need to find your triggers, which can be hard if your bowel is already irritated, as pretty much any food or drink will make it worse right now. Try a really bland diet for a week or two, such as boil rice (no salt while cooking) and steamed/boil chicken breast meat, just to give your body time to calm down and then slowly try one new food at a time. You will need to keep a food diary and list every single thing you eat or drink and every time you suffer with your IBS, you might see a pattern, such as 30 mintues after you eat XYZ you feel pain or trapped wind. After a few weeks, you should start to work out what you can and can't eat.

Most common triggers are anything acidic such as fuirt juices, fatty foods or fryed foods, spicy foods, tea and coffee, beef and lamb, milk and chesse. furits such as bananas can also cause problems and tomatos are a killer for most people.

My doctors where as much use as a choclate tea pot but I used the internet and books to help myself and I hope some of this info might help you.

Sam xx

 

[Lunarstorm]

Oh and I forgot, what ever you do, DON'T take iboupofen as it is well known to trigger IBS attacks and will make things a whole lot worse if you are already suffering.

Your doctor can give you codine for the pain which believe it or not, helps firm things up as well if you suffer from loose bowel movements when you get IBS attacks but can make things harder to go if you are one of the people who suffers from consitpastion.

 

[dandelionpoppy]

I was advised by my consultant that a colonoscopy is the best test for coeliac; he is a specialist in this field and even criticised a general consultant who several years previously had diagnosed on the basis of blood tests he gave me. I don't want to sound critical but I really doubt home testing.

 

[Miss Sparkle]

I feel for you, my partner has IBS and it can be really debilitating. Sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night doubled up in pain. We've established that it's a wheat and coffee allergy, but sometimes it happens for no reason that we can tell. It was a case of trial and error with us so good luck

 

[Penny Vintage]

I know what your going through, ive had IBS for about 3 years now. I was made redundant from a job i loved and money stress (job centre) was hell on earth and i got it from that.! My partner was made redundant too 2 wks after me and this was all days before my birthday. It started with bloating, then constipation and then the pains. My god the pains! The docs perscribed buscopan then anti-acids and finally anti-spasmodics (for chrones disease). None of it worked and i just went my own way, i know fruit is the absolute worst for me. A few strawberrys and ill be in pain for a week! Also fizzy drinks set me off. It honestly does feel like everything sets you off but i just live by yakult, hot water bottle, milk of magnesia and im trying out aloe vera juice at the mo. Together it does help. Try to keep stress to a minimum (hard i know)

 

[Cesalon]

Hiya I've had IBS for 20 something years now and I was lucky because my childhood GP was stomach/bowel specialist, my triggers seem to be stress and dairy. He prescribed me Colofac and SPRITE yes you read that right sprite, who'd have thought a fizzy drink would help??? Well guess what I've been drinking it ever since and taking Colofac when I need to and I'm down to a few attacks a year from a few a month! He explained to me why I was in agony (intestines basically cramp) telltale signs so I can start taking the Colofac (smelly burps) and that drinking the sprite would help to keep my intestines relaxed (this is due to a chemical/ingredient which is in it. Sounds weird but it seems to work for me. Hope this helps cos IBS is horrid and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

 

[ValencianNails]

Different things trigger it in different people... my triggers are carbohydrates, especially pasta/rice/bread and especially rice flour, poppadoms are the worst for that for me personally and can affect me within 20 minutes!!!!!!! Not good when you're out for the evening and start off at an Indian restaurant! lol

You need to keep a note/diary of what you eat and the effect it has on you.

Hope your new doctor can help, it's not a nice thing to experience :hug:

 

[smithfamily43]

Hi, I am so sorry to hear of your ibs troubles. I will tell you what made an amazing difference for me.No doctors could help at all and I wasted money on every test and scan there is. Before you spend more money go out to Costco, Walmart, or Walgreens, etc and look for a probiotic called Align. It is a wonderful product that has helped many people and it is not very expensive. This and lots of prayer helped me a ton. You can even google it and order or read reviews. Just thought I'd share something that really helped me. God Bless You!!