IBS/IBD sufferers...

[Jelly Bean]

@Shoegal17 @Jelly Bean - Are you both reducing your fat intake? My wife has BAM, and as well as taking Colestyramine, the consultant basically said you need to only eat foods where the 'Traffic Light' on foods is Green for Fat.

Ooh thank you I'll look that up the traffic lights. Haven't heard of it. Is it working for your wife?
I have reduced my fat, plus the quantities at each meal. I eat a lot of fish, veg, rice all cooked simply.
An interesting thing I discovered is that green bananas are beneficial. I was so surprised but they work (in that there are no ill effects). Not yellow ripe ones as there is too much sugar in them.
I read that Colestyramine is a usual medicine - its prescription only I think isn't it? Tbh my BAM is self diagnosed as I had literally every symptom so haven't seen a Dr yet about it.

 

[swimming]

I am diagnosed coeliac and I keep having episodes (4 in the last 6 month) where my stomach feels painfully heavy, I’m get extremely nauseous, fatigued and so unwell. But I’m never actually sick (I think I hold onto it as I’m terrified of vomit) but it’s controlling my life as it lasts for over a week.

Just to say, have you spoken to the doctor about potentially suffering with some acid reflux?

I am also terrified of vomiting (life long issues), but I sometimes feel SO sick when I am having a flare up of my bowel issues and the GP gave me some omeprozole 20mg and explained it might be acid. Well I took the tablet and it worked.

 

[notdollybutmolly]

Has anyone ever had what seems like a build up of pain in their stomach, leading to major swelling of their belly, no cramps, doesn’t feel like constipation or diareeah, and a random pain in their shoulder??!
I am prone to what seems like IBS but I don’t know what the triggers are.

 

[ChiRie]

Oh bless you. That’s not nice I know that sometimes they give enemas to those that can’t tolerate or haven’t cleared out properly but you run the risk of them not having a great view or getting far enough through the test. I hope everything goes ok for you!

I don't even think I was cleared out properly because after the seizures I was kept in and was going to the toilet like crazy. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Jellycat369]

this was my original post with my symptoms.
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!!!

I’ve been tested via bloods and stool samples for a Crohns, Coeliac and inflammatory issues (this was quite a while ago now) - these episodes I experience typically happen every few months and I go back to the Dr but he sits there rather dumbfounded! Believe it’s may be an allergy, as it’s as if my body is going into shock… but unable to find the trigger as like I’ve previously said I could eat for instance pesto pasta for months and then on one occasion straight after eating it can cause an episode.

edited to add: all results have come back normal!

I have the same thing with sweating and dizziness when I have a Crohn's flare .

Has the Dr referred you for a colonoscopy? It may be that you have something like diverticular disease.

 

[Laurst]

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.

Which ones do you use? Willing to try a few different things. I've tried to get back into my walking as a form of exercise

 

[EllaEm87]

Anything fried is out the question. I will be ill for days. Its hard work when my fella wants to take me out for food have to make sure it's somewhere that can cater for me. Really miss spaghetti bolegnese and pasta and meatballs, cheesecake, toffee Danish. I do find buscopan helps ease my bloating when I'm having an episode. I'm 5ft as well so it's very noticeable. Some days it's like I have a massive balloon in my belly that needs to be popped.

Did they do biopsies for microscopic colitis?

 

[Bobbleowl90]

Did they take bloods for CRP etc too?

Hey. No bloods. She’s doing an urgent referral to gastro and a colonoscopy. I’m so nervous.

Can anybody who’s had a colonoscopy talk me through it please? Do they cover you up? Do I need to take the whole day off work?

 

[Proof8]

Has anyone had a positive fit test as I am freaking out

I have UC and always have positive FIT test when flaring. It shows blood in poo. Do you have IBD or you showing symptoms? Did they do a calprotectin test too? I know it's easy to say but try not to stress too much there are many reasons why it could be positive.

 

[Mollyoscar_]

I had a transfusion of red blood cells when my iron was dangerously low due to my crohns

Me 2 when my colitis was diagnosed. I was severely anemic, my periods were practically non existant for months which i assume was because of this

 

[MickeyMouseClubhouse]

So to follow up on this, I had a FIT test which was fine and came back normal. I also had a calprotectin test which has come back raised in the 200’s. I’ve got an appointment with my GP next week. Had another flare up this week and I’m so sick of it now. Anyone know what the GP will do for next steps?

Did they take bloods for CRP etc too?

 

[MickeyMouseClubhouse]

Hope no one minds me dropping in on this!

So I was referred to a lower GI doctor on the NHS by my GP after I kept going to the doctors with stomach complaints and episodes of going to the loo a LOT! (At its worst, I went 36 times in a 24 hour period). This has happened 3 times at that amount in the past year. Awful tummy pain, extremely tender to press on stomach, violent cramps and a constant gnawing pain griping my whole abdomen area. Handful of occasions I’ve had lots of bright red blood too, like, lots!

Anyway, I have my first (telephone) appointment with this GI doctor which lasted 1 minute at 56 seconds. He wasn’t interested, just gave it all “yep yep ok yep ok I’ll do blood and stool tests”. So I had the tests and he called me last night with the results and that call lasted 2 minutes and 13 seconds; “results all fine, sounds like IBS, I’ll refer you to a dietician”. And that was that. Off his list. After 2 phone calls. He didn’t even want to physically see me to examine me when I explained how tender my tummy area is. Absolute bloody waste of my time.

What amazes me is that he also does private work. So I bet he’d show me a lot more interest if I was paying £220 consultation fee to get in front of him!!

Im just so fed up with this now. I cannot find a trigger for these pains and upset stomach/blood and I’ve just been what feels like abandoned by doctors.

I can understand the first appointment being so short, without the bloods and stools they can't do the initial tests. When I was diagnosed with Crohn's my inflammation markers on my bloods were over 90, when they should be something like below 8. I was also B12 and Iron Deficient which is another sign of inflammation.

The blood test results would trigger further tests like colonoscopy etc. My IBD Team told me last week the backlog is horrific for MRI and Endo. Talking months rather than weeks.

Bright red blood is usually in indication of you going to the loo so much, it's coming from right by the anus. Any bleeding from within the bowels would be darker and in the poo itself.

As you're going to the loo a lot, are you also loosing weight without trying?, I lost 20kg in about 2 months prior to diagnosis.

You can try and see if adjusting your diet helps. Cutting out raw fruit and veg, anything with seeds and eating processed foods, mash, rice, pain chicken. Stop pop, alcohol, coffee as well. If you stop going to the toilet so much, and lose the pain, try and introduce the eliminated items one at a time. Then if you do flare you can take that info to the Dr.

 

[Proof8]

Even when I was endoscopic remission salad made me ill. Seems to happy a lot for many people.

 

[Sheabutter]

I read a review for one vibration platform that it helped the reviewer to “go.” I’m currently asking my neighbors if anyone has a platform that they’re trying to get rid of - so much senseless buying took place during lockdown so I’m hopeful I will update if I get my hands on one.
I stopped taking my UC medicine at the beginning of December. My ulcers have gone. My digestion is still sporadic so I began taking dicyclomine. The improvement is minuscule

 

[watchingyoutube99]

I was diagnosed with IBS but it turned out to be undiagnosed Celiac disease. I've been gluten free for 15 years but still having stomach issues including a big flare up at least once a month. I was vegetarian for a few years but went back to eating meat and my digestion improved a bit. All the vegetables and legumes/pulses did not agree with my stomach in the quantities I was eating them while vegetarian. The turning point of it all seems to be sorting out my anxiety and SAD. I was put on Wellbutrin and it's greatly improved my mental health but also my digestion. One of the side effects can be constipation so it seems to be firming everything up (sorry).

I’m lactose intolerant and I’ve been on the lactose free cheese, bread, margarine and milk for the last couple of years. I was on soya before that and if I try it again now, I get bloating.
Thought I’d treat myself to some halloumi 2 weeks ago my whole stomach bloated. Not just the lower stomach like usual and it took days to get back to normal. being stressed at work made an impact too.
does anyone know of any over the counter stuff you can buy to relieve the bloating? Moving about usually settles it, but I’m sat at desk all day.

Have you tried activated charcoal? My GI doctor recommended it years ago and I've kept a bottle on hand since then. Although you need to be careful with the timing of the activated charcoal capsules as they will absorb everything including previous medications if you've taken them close together. If you like hot drinks you could try peppermint or fennel tea.

 

[yeoooo]

Not read the thread but are people saying they have had the capsule to investigate? I suffer so badly but had seizures at my colonoscopy appointment maybe from the prep which was not supposed to be given with people with seizures, Been too scared to have another. Help please as it's bad, soiling myself tbh

Also bad pain

Oh dear! That must have been v scary for you! my bowel consultant done a colonscopy and then recommended the capsule as they think the issue is the small bowel and colonoscopy doesn’t go that far. There has also been three scans showing inflammation so they have a case to go with this method.
Not sure if you’re UK or elsewhere and if you have private medical or not but first step is your primary care doctor/GP and discuss it with them or if under a consultant already then ask if you should have it done. Im not sure of pros and cons or what/ why you should have it done so cant advise any further than that

also re incontience issue - ive been recommended physio to help for lack of control but he had Said some cases require surgery but again I would def contact your doctor xx

 

[Shimmering]

So my symptoms have settled down which I'm massively relieved about. I am avoiding dairy which seems to help, but life without dairy is hard going. I've now developed a UTI. I don't know, it all feels connected. I think the trigger is stress.

 

[Blahblah93]

Do you have a glass a day would you say?

Are you talking about Kefir or modulen?

Kefir i have one in the morning

 

[Shoequeen91]

I’ve suffered with episodes of constipation and bloat for years, I finally mention it to the GP 2 years ago and he recommended peppermint capsules and I’m glad he did as the episodes have gradually become more frequent and then they do make a difference

Currently I spend most days bloated etc feeling normal is rare but last week my stomach behaved really oddly and I’m hoping someone might understand

Last Fri an area at the top of my stomach, just below my ribs began to contract last a second or 2 then stop and the frequency of repetition has varied each day

It feels really unpleasant like I’ve got an alien in there but I wouldn’t call it painful more uncomfortable, it hadn’t stopped by Tuesday so called GP and lucky me can have a phone appointment in a fortnight

It’s been a full week now and there hasn’t been a day without my alien contraction spasms things

I’m going about my day as normal but it’s concerning as I’ve no idea what’s going on

Does I sound familiar to any of you?

When you say top of your stomach, is it a particular side of your body?

I sometimes have sore stomach and ribs on the left side (as well lower back and abdomen sometimes too) and I was diagnosed with diverticular disease earlier this year via a CT scan. I now take 20mg of Omeprazole every day (I’m going to ask my doctor if I can stop this because I’ve read you shouldn’t take it long term).

I’m not saying you have this btw.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Has anyone here seen a nutritionist? And if so did it help?
For over a month I've been so strict about what I eat and it has helped massively. No flare ups. But it is very restrictive and a lot of the time I'm hungry. As quantity seems a trigger as well.
Just today I stupidly had a couple of Hovis wheat crackers and am in trouble again.
I've just sort of lost track of what I can and can't eat now and am consequently a bit scared of so many foods. It seems I'm muddling along just living on the same extremely small food groups. And I'm quite scared it could turn into something else if you see what I mean eating disorder.