IBS/IBD sufferers...

[Olive16]

Morning! I was wondering wether anyone had looked into Gut Health and what to eat/take to help with Gut health - wether it had worked or could point me in the right direction for information? There is lots on TT - but mostly American and I want some UK advice! Thankyou and hope your all doing okay!

 

[dreamteam1]

So I found mine is triggered by hormones so the best way mine is controlled is the mini pill but i take a double dose. I used to be on the depo injection but the week before due I had flare up and week after I was still bad. Now I barely have any problems. This is probably the longest I've gone (8 months) without any real flare ups. I tried every diet, medication etc around. Had endoscopy, colonoscopy, surgery etc and nothing. I'm coeliac so don't have gluten anyway, but even on low fodmap food I was still ill but now I can eat a normal diet and be fine. Might be worth those who have tried everything and still struggling looking into.

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.

 

[swimming]

Sorry to hear that @swimming.

Have you noticed if your poo is an usual colour or texture, aside from being watery? Anything greasy, pale, hard to flush or an unusual colour like orange or green could suggest bile acid malabsorption. That has similar symptoms to what you described and can be triggered by a high fat diet or eating a lot of acidic foods, things like citrus and tomato sauce.

Alternatively it may be IBS-D and the acidic feeling you're getting may just be from frequent loo visits.

I just googled the bike acid malabsorption and it does sound exactly like my issues!

Why would the doctor last year who did my colonoscopy not mention this to me? And the special test they can do it diagnose is?! NHS costing probably!

I’ve got another GP appointment next week to raise the issue with them again because it’s just getting silly. I have to wear pads daily now as my bum area constantly feels wet and I’m worried I am leaking poo.

(again I’m sorry to anyone eating right now ha ha)

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

Are you sure it’s something you ate and not the water or maybe even an infection/parasite? You may need to go to a doctor. Sometimes severe cases require antibiotics.

I’m so sorry you’re going through all this and your holiday has been ruined. I hear you on the anxiety front too. It’s so hard to tackle physical and mental health all at once but they’re all so connected it’s impossible to separate.

I know my doc hates immodium - like you, always advises you let the bad stuff out if it wants out! Please make sure you’re hydrating and maybe take something like Dioralyte too.
I wish I could be more help.

It could be a parasite I suppose, hard to know. We think it came from an undercooked burger and is food poisoning of some sort, as my own stomach problems started a few hours after eating in a burger restaurant (that looked, at least, to be clean and reputable but you just never know!). We were on bottled water only when we were there (including for teeth cleaning), lots of hand washing/sanitiser etc. I think my stomach is a little delicate as a result of having a ‘nervous stomach’, but my husband generally has a strong constitution. Despite also suffering from anxiety, his stomach/bowels are never affected by his moods in the way mine are!

We were still able to enjoy the holiday, we were just a little hampered by dodgy bellies! It’s not the worst I’ve ever felt or anything, it’s just been quite prolonged and doesn’t seem to be getting any better which is weird.

Thanks so much for replying!

 

[Woolmercardington]

Ah I’m so sorry. That must be so disappointing. Have you ever met with a dietician about it?

Thanks. No, I haven't. I mean I eat wholegrain bread and cereals, fresh vegetable soup daily, loads of fruit, nuts, seeds (incl flax and chia), herbal teas, 2L water per day. I think I have mostly all the "good poop" foods. A combination of soluable and insoluble fibre. I go for a 30-40 min walk most days, do yoga, etc.

I would find it hard to imagine it's food or lifestyle related, but don't know

 

[Laurst]

Have you all actually been diagnosed by a doctor with IBS? If so, which tests were done? What are your symptoms? My health anxiety is through the roof which is no good for my bowels either (are they related/aren't they related?) glad to have found this thread after weeks of googling.

 

[MickeyMouseClubhouse]

Simply because I didn’t like doing it! I don’t mind needles at all but I couldn’t stand it

Ah no!

My hospital is reducing the days they do Infusions for IBD, which means if I can't get an appointment first think (to get a parking space), I end up being out of work for half a day!!

 

[Woolmercardington]

Yup. Psyllium powder is a godsend. I guess you’ve already tried magnesium supps?

I took Psylium for 18 months and it was brilliant, but now has no effect

I'm very much aware of magnesium citrate, but I've not tried it yet due to the concern it will work great initially but then after a year or so, will lose impact.

 

[Lucyxxxx]

I find if I'm constipated a good dose of strawberries does the trick.

 

[Blahblah93]

A yoghurt? Any particular brands, and does it work for you?

Yeah i have the yoghurt drinks but you can also get in capsule forms from boots. Hmmm well I have IBS and Crohn's disease so hard to tell if actually does anything but trying anything at the moment to calm things down.

 

[Never in the World]

We’ll I saw the gp and he says it’s muscular twitching but he’s no idea why and he’s given me medication to take if the spasms are really doing my head in but warned they have side effects and booked me in for an aortic something scan and bloods as a belt and braces thing and just said come back if it gets worse so god knows

 

[sassylash]

Omg! thank god i found this thread i’ve wondering for ages whether i have IBS.
My father and cousin have Chrohns/IBD and have to inject.
My dad, grandad and uncle have all had their haemorrhoids removed too.
in 2016, i just randomly become constipated one day and i’m not even joking i was on there for about. an hour TMI**** the smallest thing came out of me and ever since that day i been constipated the gp gave me cream and lactulouse. lactulouse alone is really awful, dulcoease (not dulcax) i find works really well and also a combination of fybogel when things get REAL bad. however before i ever got constipated i was always known by everyone (my family) as suddenly getting the urge to go, it’s so bad i hate it. but if i don’t have constipation i get really stronge urges to go to the loo, i’ve had times i’ve literally had to run of the train before, out cars, feel like i’m going to pass out if i don’t make the toilet, never pains more discomforting, bleeding when wiping, and the sensation of not feeling completely empty sometimes i even feel full up, like i’ve had a whole meal that’s how unempty . i don’t want to inject like my cousin and my dad but i’m worried if i don’t tell the gp’s it’ll get worse. what do you think? does this sound like ibs? or anyone with likely symptoms also?

 

[GrannyGossip]

Thanks everyone, I was panicking and feeling a bit sorry for myself but feel a bit better after being on here. Just found this thread tonight and I’ll read back through

 

[Jelly Bean]

It does work to a point, but it restricts you to eating mostly boring foods. In the summer, a BBQ was a no go, as was chips at the seaside, but with the Colestyramine it helps so much but it is prescription only. You can take as much or as little as you need to get the the balance right, and as long as you take it at the right time you can pre-empt what food you're planning to eat etc.

This is the Test you'd need to have done - https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/sehcat-study

The symptoms are so close to IBD and IBS, with IBD being ruled out easier with MRI and Colonoscopy and Bloods. Her consultant said that many BAM patients go undiagnosed as GPs tend to go straight for IBS treatments after IBD is ruled out. So they just sit on Loperamide to slow down their transit.

I'm a Crohn's patient, so we're doing well with Bowel conditions!

Oh thanks for that.
Funnily enough it was seaside chips that set my issues off again after years of it being OK (after an IBD diagnosis ages ago). I had genuinely thought I was 'better' but obviously it is a chronic condition.
Another poster here recommended silicolgel which is another treatment you can take an hour before a meal and sort of coats the gut so food doesn't over stimulate it. I save it for times I'm not sure what will be on offer to eat and don't want to be *that* mega fussy person (though I know it there is no shame in that) and unsure of toilet situation.
A close family member has just been diagnosed with Crohn's. Hospital and GP being a bit hopeless really and have just left him to his own devices after the diagnosis.
I think he's on some medication, but no advice with diet or lifestyle. I know very little about it tbh - can a specific diet help/relieve things?

 

[ChiRie]

Hi all,

Have got a telephone appt with the GP for today. I absolutely live in fear of giving a stool sample. I know that’s really pathetic. I’m so squeamish and prone to dry-heaving when I have to do anything unpleasant. (Also, Mother DragName’s bowel cancer diagnosis always lingers in my mind when I think of a stool sample, too). I’m hoping for a miracle where the Doc can accurately diagnose me through the phone and I’ll get a prescription for a miracle cure sent to the pharmacy. Hahaha, dream on, right?!

I gave one, Just had to put a tub under me on the toilet it's that loose. Mine showed high calprotectin which led to needing the colonoscopy I never had after a reaction to moviprep. They wanted another sample when I recovered but I didn't bother because There was no way I was taking that prep again. I've just been put on antibiotics for something else (I had them once before years back) They are already setting my bowels off even worse. Non stop going to the toilet. Bloody horrible thing to have to live with. I feel for you all.
---

I’m really glad! Most people say the prep is the worst bit! Haven’t had one myself but supported a few people with the process before.

Taking it was easy for me but the after bit was hell. Seizures non stop the next day but I think it just drained me too much. I didn't find the clearing out part bad as I'm always on the toilet so it wasn't much different for me.

 

[Sleep_deprived]

Does anybody have flare ups that last over a week?

I’ve not had any issues for quite a while but suffering so badly with bloating for the past month. A week ago I was so bloated and I ended up vomiting after eating. Since then, my stomach has been in bits with cramping and griping pains. I look pregnant! I am so bloated. I’ve been taking buscopan and my GP has given me some Mebeverine now and requested stool sample to ensure nothing else going on. I just didn’t think a flare up would be so severe for this long and I feel awful.

I’m the same I’m suffering badly this past few weeks. Stool sample gone off (which traumatised me) and I’ve more bloods on Thursday - only got some in March but he wants them all done again and wouldn’t say why. There did come back an issue with my liver results the last time - hopefully it’s not that! But I’ve been so sick lately, way more than usual. So hopefully I get an answer at the end of it, and you too!

 

[MickeyMouseClubhouse]

And the special test they can do it diagnose is?!

This is the test - https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/sehcat-study

You take a radioactive tablet, come back in a couple of hours for a scan, then go back a week later for another scan. The test basically check to see if the bile is being absorbed by the terminal illium (end of the small bowl) or of it's being let into the large bowel. The large bowel is not designed to have the bile in it, so it will evacuate the large bowel ASAP, which is why you'll have partly undigested food in the poop, because the large bowel isn't having enough time to absorb the water etc from the food.

In the meantime, try eating very low fat food to see if that helps easy the speed of digestive transit. Good luck!

 

[WilmaHun]

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a very bad time with IBS since giving up the Christmas treats and going back on plan? I have been off plan for a long time and went quite overboard and felt rubbish, but since resetting a few days ago I've been terrible. Normal reaction to a sudden change in diet? Also wondering if anyone has tried taking l-glucosamine for IBS and if it helped them at all, I read about this somewhere and picked up a bottle of 500mg today from Holland and Barrett, hoping it helps.

I haven’t tried the glucosamine so can’t comment on that but I do notice that any change in my diet flares my IBS badly. I actually eat at very strict times everyday to try and combat this, so I’ll always have lunch between 12.30/1.30 and dinner will be between 5.30 and 6.30 everyday. I don’t eat breakfast as it doesn’t always agree with me. Sticking to specific times for meals really helps and if I eat later than normal I do find my symptoms flare. So changing what you’re eating might also have a similareffect,

have you been to the GP to get medication? I take mebeverine before every meal every single day and it really helps. Perhaps you could see your GP and see if they can offer something suitable to you?

 

[Penny for them]

Has anyone with IBS ever suffered from nocturnal attacks? I've been getting them randomly for the last couple of years. I get woken up by severe stomach pain and then I'm back and forth to the toilet for an hour or more. But it's only at night.

Consultant has me on the waiting list for a colonoscopy (which I really don't want) but he said if it doesn't show anything then it's just something I have to deal with.

Hi x I have ibs ,ulcerative colitis when younger, I suffered from night attacks,and I have a peppermint pill every night before bed,I also found I was better going to bed hungry,or exercising after my tea so
Everything is
Digesting. Soda water I take to bed. If my stomach is empty the attacks don't happen as much if at all.
I have allergies to certain foods ,so I have to be rather controlled with what i eat,and I have also tried digestive enzymes too which settle the stomach and bowel. Warmth around the stomach helps also. But the main thing is the empty stomach for sure x

 

[Carapop]

Hi all,

I have a colonoscopy scheduled the first week of June. I was given a prescription for Moviprep. I did it with Cleanprep ten years ago and it was horrid but I’ve been reassured that this one isn’t half as bad. Or maybe just half as bad! No horror stories please.

I’m looking for tips and tricks from any unfortunate experts with experience. But have folk followed particular diets in advance? Found ways to make the prep less uncomfortable? And again no horror stories please.

I know it’s not going to be pleasant, but I’ve had it before, I’ve had surgery involving intestinal resection, and at the moment am battling chronic diarrhoea so my threshold for discomfort has increased over the years!

I really just want to see if there’s anything I can do to make life a little easier on the days before, of and after.

no horror stories please!