IBS/IBD sufferers...

[Olive16]

Dr believe my episodes are possibly IBS as have been tested for the obvious offenders! She's asked me to keep a food diary... bit I'm honestly not eating properly as I'm can't face the pain, diarrhoea and vomiting! Do I go rogue and just cut things out I think are triggering... or go down the proper route!? 🫠

 

[ChiRie]

I've read sleeping in the fetal position is better to relieve the bloating and gas but it makes mine worse. Probably because it makes me need to break wind which I have to use the toilet for as that makes me soil myself too so I sit on the loo. Annoying when you wanna sleep so I flip to my back.

 

[Shoequeen91]

I’ve been having bad cramping in my stomach (left and right) and horrible pain between my boobs for a while now. I have been diagnosed with diverticular disease but my bloating is ridiculous. I’ve got an appointment for endoscopy on 16 November and I’m so unbelievably terrified. I’ve just read the leaflet that has come with my letter and I’m so torn between sedation or not.

Has anyone got any advice? Could anyone let me know what the tube is like? I don’t want to not have it but at the minute I can see myself pulling out due to worry. I’m being tested for IBD (purely precautionary) and my doctor thinks as it doesn’t look to be gallstones (USS clear but very gassy) that I could have gastritis and/or bad reflux but I’m being told the only the way they can check this is endoscopy. I’ve just tried for so long to not have anything invasive.

 

[Shoequeen91]

Definitely ask for an alternative to standard iron tablets - there’s a “tummy friendly” version but they’ve still caused problems with my crohns. I’ve had iron infusions in the past which have worked wonders, I’m not sure what my iron level was at the time but very low. Hope you get it sorted! X

Thank you! I’m just going to have to push for anything but the tablets I think xx

 

[MickeyMouseClubhouse]

New Reader Here... I've just been sent home from work this afternoon, as I have had sickness and diarrhoea - whilst this is happening I'm sweating profously and feel like as if I'm going to pass out... i have excruciating pain in my stomach just below my ribs... once the sickness and diarrhoea has stopped I need to lay on a cold floor to calm down... after a few hours I feel pretty normal - this has happened 4/5 times now - and Drs always put it down to Gastroenteritis!? Helppp!!!

100% get a referral. Could be a number of things, so best to go get the right diagnosis. I was convinced I had a stomach ulcer, turned out to be Crohn's.

You need to push your GP. Only tests for everything else will confirm IBS.

 

[Blahblah93]

I have no idea, everytime I vomit. I vomit with the prep and then the actual camera, I’ve had sedation and gas & air and I’m still so worked up that they have to give up xx

That's hard. I would suggest speaking to them about your concerns. Ask them to just knock you out completely and if you can't stomache the prep they can still do it but will just hoover it out as they go along (they've done this with me). Don't give up. There is a way around it.

 

[Catt]

Hi ya thought i would join. Have had IBS confirmed for a quite a few years now. Have had colonoscopies and an endoscopy a couple of years ago. Had rectal bleeding. Found ulcer, h pylori positive. Took antibiotics and ppi’s.

Recently i hada feeling the h pylori was back due to the dull ache under my ribs. Stool test came back positive for bacteria so back on the antibiotics.

I was doing well after them and the ppi’s helped massively but the rectal bleeding keeps happening. It always seems to be a week before my period.

They did say i have internal haemmorroids but i do also think the ulcer causing it too

Anyway if anyone else is taking ppi’s what are better when have ibs? Fluconazole or omeprazole?

ETA: i get some very sick days with these conditions and very tired

 

[Olive16]

Thankyou to everyone that replies - I will speak to the Dr further about having other tests done if possible. I'm going to try and eat normally, but take it easy (if that makes sense!?) Does anyone take Peppermint Oil Capsules? Wondering wethwr they are worth a go?

 

[Carapop]

This helped me more than anything the dr prescribed

silicolgel | Treatment for IBS and Gastrointestinal Symptoms

silicolgel for IBS and gastrointestinal disorders - It helps relieve IBS symptoms of diarrhoea, bloating, flatulence and stomach pain. Find out more.

www.silicol.co.uk

I’ve just bought it! Thank you xxx

 

[hol20x]

They don't put you to sleep. They just give you a drug that makes you feel high and relaxes you.

You'll be exhausted after the last prep so hopefully you'll sleep well!

The sedation is strange, you don't get put out, you know what's happening, but kind of feel a bit drunk and out of it.

I'm just worried cos I have a heart condition but the GP said I'll be fine, I'm gonna mention it to the consultant anyway. All I've had today is toast so hopefully the prep doesn't have me up all night.

 

[EllaEm87]

thank you x ive been told to take codeine by the doctor for my diarrhoea previously but never experienced the colour and foamy nature before - stomach been in bits. I wasnt sure what it was!

Codeine will help firm things up a bit. Loperamide will do the same for transit.

 

[EllaEm87]

anyone have no findings of crohns in colonscopy but via MRI in small intenstine?

This can happen if the Crohn’s is in the small bowel.

 

[iloveanimals]

I had a seriously bad bloating experience yesterday. I was at work, too, and I was desperate to go home and change into something comfortable .
I’m actually due my depo on 10th match (a few days away) but I thought I was because I’d eaten rice the night before that had triggered it.
Without being too gross, I have the opposite of going to the toilet and it being loose. I get constipated and am really gassy I try and hold it in at work which makes it worse

Thats the type i get. I sometimes look pregnant with it, and its really noticeable because im slim. It can be very uncomfortable. It can also make you anxious because you know when you are not going to be able to go. If colpermin doesnt work i use fybogel but only on rare occasions if its been 3 days or so. It can also make you nauseous. Mine is also worse at ovulation time, when i am bloated anyway. Sorry for you x

 

[maytoseptember]

Hope it went OK @GrannyGossip

 

[Shoequeen91]

Thank you so much. Will definitely mention this to the doctor because the left side pain has been going on for years, thought it was ovary pain but I think it's more digestive problem now.

No problem It’s funny you mention ovaries as with my CT scan there was a cyst on my left ovary which turned out to be a functional cyst.

The CT scan massively helped but I know they aren’t always so easy to get. Worth an ask at least and sending positivity your way

 

[Proof8]

Wow I didn’t know this. That makes me even more angry now that the gastro doctor last year dismissed me after the colonoscopy. His words pretty much were “yep all good it’s just IBS”.

I have suffered so so badly since. Gaslighted about my weight, blaming my symptoms on my weight etc.

And then an unrelated CT scan finds something.

You can also get a pill cam now too. If you have inflammation of the small bowel calprotectin can come back normal. I've seen many people told ibs for years then go into a full flare. Push for your small bowel to be checked.

 

[WilmaHun]

it’s one of those days today. I’ve bought some peppermint tea

I'm having one of those days too. I thought my flare had disappeared but I had a terrible sleep last night and I wonder if that's set me off again. I do notice when I sleep badly my IBS plays up. Does peppermint tea actually work? I've never tried it, I can't imagine it tastes very nice

 

[pricef2]

Has anyone been tested for SIBO?
I’ve tried so much for IBS, medications, Fodmap etc. But nothing seems to work. I came across SIBO online and I have every single symptom! It’s never once been mentioned to me after seeing doctors and specialists for years! So was wondering if anyone else has managed to get the NHS to look into possible SIBO and do a breath test?

 

[WeepingCassandra]

How did you know it was triggered by hormones please?

I have the worst spasms, need to give Mebeverine a go again but I don’t really have much pain just annoying spasms.

Mebeverine was a god send for me, I really noticed the difference when I ran out. I don't take it at the moment but might need to start again.

Since getting pregnant and having a baby my IBS was a lot better (it was non-existent during pregnancy - amazing - but not worth being constantly pregnant for!) but is starting to come back again. This last week in particularly has been really bad but I have eaten really poorly too, and had a few glasses of wine (I don't normally drink but have been celebrating with different groups of friends).

 

[Olive16]

Whatever you do, don’t go gluten free before being tested for coeliac. It can skew results. You need months of consistent gluten consumption in advance of the test in order to detect the antibodies in the event of coeliac.

Thankyou! I was tested for Coeliac back in December/January and nothing came back confirming!