BigErn

Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

After suffering greatly for months on end I decided/was forced by the other half, to go to the doctors. He diagnosed me with having IBS and said its just something Im gonna have to live with. Im not entirely convinced thats whats wrong with me but I suppose he knows best. I just wondered what other relief there is for it as I have tried the tablets given by the doc and they are totally ineffective. I have used Buscopan, Mebeverine and have also tried Peppermint oil. Im now prolonging going back to him because the next step is getting the BBC involved and shoving a camera up my arse, not something I relish the thought of.

Anyone got any other methods or suggestions to help me.
I have to be very careful as to what I eat, of which there is very little I can eat without doubling up in agony shortly after, I can only drink water as anything else gives me bad guts for a few days. I cant go anywhere thats not local to home incase it kicks off, Im one of these people who needs to be in my own bed in my own home when Im ill, and it can just happen at anytime without notice. My social life has suffered and my girlfriend has been fantastic but we are now both sick of it getting in the way of our lives. This is one last try before I bite the bullet and go for the camera. Anyone had the camera experience?
Been told its better up the bum than down the throat, not sure if they were talking about the camera though.

Thanks, Ian

Jemma

I have it, tomatoes seem to trigger mine off, because of the lil seeds in them, try testing that.
When i go out for a pub meal, i always forget and end up in agony on the way home

LeviA

Not much fun pal, my ex-lass had it badly, whenever we'd go for a meal she'd have to stock up on immodium and be crippled on the way home

She had the camera down the throat and said it was horrific

Tim

iTrader: (1)

was very bad for 12 years pal you have my sympathy,weed helped me relaxation and hypnosis,you get to the stage u will try anythin hope you sort it out
Tim

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

ive had it for 5 years now real bad

mine started off with ibs and i was in constant agony

constipation and then diarriah with in the space of 10 mins from each other

sounds nasty but thats what ibs does

ive had every test done and still nothing

i have it that bad i havnt worked for 4 years

ive had all the tablets that you have mentioned

now im on something called Alverine ( spamonal) these seem to help me now and then and i think work better,

but i also suffer with depression through it

im also on amitriptyline anti depressents, 50mg , the strongest dose i can be
on

these work remarkably well as i have a slight side affect with them, basically they get rid of my pain when i wake up etc and throughout the day, but they wont let me go to the toilet!

so i have to be carefull with these, im back at the docs next week to get a reduced level

but anti depressents do work well for others so ask the doctor and see what he says about anti depressents as theres different ones for different people and reactions

ive had all teh cameras done, and down the throat they found out i had a hiatus hernia, basically my stomach has come up abover my gullet into my windpipe

this has been gradully getting worse and has had me in hospital for a week in pain
and they couldnt find out what was wrong

there are a number of tests you can ask for

if its causing you so much grief keep pestering your doctor to reffer you

it took me 2.5 years and a lot of trips to docs and a&e i was in so much pain and discomfort with it before i had the hernia

teh tests are camras

1 through mouth, this is so they can check inside your stomach and small intestines, they will take samples aswell for tests,
not nice and i made them give me full sedation ive had this done twice

next is the one up the bum no harm done lol ( yeah rite)
not the nicest f feeling, but if you have the throat one then they will do this one straight after so you will be sedated
again this will check the large intestines and look for any concerns and take samples aswell if need be

then theres teh barium meal, basically you drink a dye, tatses like oatmeal sometimes, you will have 2-3 x ryas in diferent times as the barium works round you

these tests require you to have a completely empty stomach, so you will have to have strong laxitive ( something called picolax i had )

this stuff is dangerous and hurts

thers anaother test similar to barium test but its a clear liquid which is vile took me 20 mins to drink it, same tests as barium anyhow

if it sjust your bowels then just keep pestering your doctor until he does something, mine didint for the 1st year and i moved house and my new docs are spot on and understand

ive had a lot more tests but thats down to my hiatus hernia, like pressure tests in gullet and acid sensors inside me to check my acid reflux

what major symptoms are yu getting as ive proberbly been though the lot and a few people who know me on here will back me up from what i used to be like to going very ill

i was down to 1 meal a day aswell as i got scraed of eating as everything doesnt agree with me

im now 9 stone, was 8stone 6 weeks ago, im classed as underweight and on supplement drinks now, i was 10.5 stone
this has been over 6 months

my best advice is keep eating, and drinking plenbnty of fluids, no fatty foods, i.e burgers currys etc

i have the odd baconand egg sarnie now and then but the bacon is grilled

no fried foods anymore

i also understand about the travelling etc

i carnt travel more than roughly 40 miles before i feel ill, i carnt e a passenger anymore as i feel sick, unless im having a good day

even when i go shopping or sumwhere i have to make sure i know where the toilets are just incase

but i find that when i get there i start sweating and panicing and feel i need the toilet, go to he toilet and nothing then im fine

i can advise you from what ive been through mate, but some people dont realise how bad it can be when they dont have it, as it can be a lot of suffereing

it has been for me anyhow

i look dead most daus now anyhow becuase of lack of nutrition, but im keeping myself up and trying my hardest to get back on track, even lost all my strength like i could only just lift a bonnet, but now i can quite happily lift cossie gearboxes again lol


sorry for the long post hope theres some ideas in theer to help you as this is just haf my life story

FastFordChris

you say you've taken peppermint oil, was it the capsules or the tablets? i've suffered for years with it and was recomended tablets not and not the capsules

where i get mine from

http://www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk...t_tablets.html

helped alot with it but you have to keep taking them as they wont work just like that.

usually its stress induced but also its a reaction to something you've eatern, i found that dairy pruducts was a big factor as well as just general junk food, try staying off a certain type of food for a week (must be at least a week) and see if it helps as this can help find out what types of foods upset you more then others.

drink lots of water, 1.5 to 2 litres a day as this helps pass the food through your system. i have one of those big evan bottles you buy, just fill it up with water and stick it in the fridge and work your way through it during the day. i find i can go through 2 sometimes 3 bottles easily in a day.

lastly excersie is good, as the movement helps stimulate digestion and gets things moving about, the more you do it the better things will get.

Bullett

iTrader: (2)

ive had it since i was 16 and im now 29.i know how you feel and feel for you matey.there is all sorts that can trigger it off,stress is the biggest instigator in ibs.steer clear of too much chocolate,i have 1 milkyway a day and thats all i can take now .dairy products are meant to maek it worse but if i dont have too much im ok.

i have to say ever since i stopped going to the gym it got worse,that was 5 years back,now i have the dogs and im walking its so much better.so make sure you exercise pal.
steer clear of too much coffee and tea cos that evil to it and coke.i just drink milk,lots of water and a bit of orange.
its an easy option for the docs to blame ibs though,my sis thought thats what she had but when eventually they did more tests it turned out she was allergic to chicken! she isnt anywhere near as bad now.

hope you get it sorted mate cos i know how you feel,you wont do camping incase you get caught short,you dont eat anything before a day out like a show just incase you need to go etc its a crap time.

angel24

The camera experience is not as bad as it sounds, i think the prep (drinking fleet) is the worst bit though. If they offer sedation, take it!

Really is a good idea to have the procedure just to confirm what is wrong or right.
The actual procedure doesn't take long, and then you might have some answers!

Good luck.

RSKim

I know this may sound a little stupid, but keep a food diary for 6 weeks, keep in there what you eat, list all the ingrediants, and if you suffer after eating foods containing specific things.....

IBS can be closly linked with food intolerances.....hence some foods triggering you off, but its not the actualy food itself that triggers you off its some of the actual ingredients, hence if you list them all, you can actually get some food that done include the additives that seem to effect so many people....

I know its a long shot, but i think for some people its defo worth a try

coco16i

My docs are currently looking into this being wrong with me.

Over the past year or so have had really bad bouts of pain high up in my chest ( middle of rib cage and slightly to the righ side ) and cant figure out whats causing it or setting it off.

Get a slight pain almost every day but have gotten kind of used to this now as its been going on for that long, once a month maybe i get this severe attack of pain and absolutely floors me when it happens and only thing that seems to make it go away is getting injected with morphine!!

Have been sent for a few scans and had the camera down the throat twice and all have come up with nothing and they still dont know whats going on.

Used to be a bit of a drinker but over the past 3 or 4 years have really cut back and now i hardly drink at all, last drink was at new year and that was my first for around 3 months !

Used to eat all kinds of shite junk foods but have changed my diet and eating healthier now than i used to and have lost a bit of weight but this dont seem to be making much difference.

I sometimes get this strange feeling inside where it feels like things are maybe blocked or there is some kind of restriction and food or water or whatever is not passing through my system as it maybe should, quite hard to explain really but this is what it feels like sometimes!

My wife suffered for years before being diagnosed with sphincter of odi dysfunction and when she see's me having a really bad bout of pain she says thats exactly what she used to be like when in pain before she was diagnosed!

Am getting slightly pissed off with it all now as my work is starting to suffer and has spoiled quite a few nights out and planned celebrations as when it kicks off i feel like shit and just want to be curled up in my own bed at home

Can anyone tell me if my symtoms might be related to IBS ?

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

cocofireblade

thats eaxcatly what i was like mate, i was rushed unto hospital it was that bad, i couldnt move

they still dont know what is wrong with me and why im getting pain

its horrible to live with and i just want a normal life again


also they do say its food and stress that can cause it, smoking and drinking doesnt help

i was a smoker but gave up and ive never drank in my life

so i can rule them 2 out

another thing you can do but its expensive is have a food tolerence test

hospitals dont do this !

so you will have to go elsewhere, basically its a bit of blood you send off and then they test it against all foods

im going to get this done next that way i know if im allergic to anything so i can stay off it

also try soya milk and de caff tea or coffee as thats helped me a bit

angel24

xr4x4rs
cocofireblade I also went through something similar. The NHS never got to the bottom of it even after 4 years of tests & waiting.

Have you had a gallbladder ultrasound & a CT scan? There are a few tests you should have had to rule out conditions. Do you know the results though as they are key?

I did my own research and figured out what was wrong. It wasn't IBS.

PM me if you want any details. I found some online help, and other people going through the same.

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

ive had ultra sound and they didnt pick up anything,

all my tests have come back negative with regards whats causing the symptoms

only thing i can do now rerally is either they operate and have a lok inside but first i want to do the food allergy test and see what that says

but im up for any ideas or help though

thanks

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

That does not sound pleasant at all

I hope you get some joy from the docs.

angel24

I did a home York Test. About Ł200, i would have tried anything for a cure. There were clear results on foods to avoid, although, avoiding them did very little for me.

Phil

iTrader: (1)

That York test was on Watchdog, they sent off the same blood sample twice under different names and they came back with completely different allergy results...

Dicko&Vacant

iTrader: (3)

im amazed exactly how many people suffer from it just on this board

my gp diagnosed me with it when i was 16 and basically sent me on my way with ibuscopan, which worked for about 2mths then i was in agony again

a few years later i went to the hospital as i was having contractions in my stomach, and it turned out i had a blocked colon told the consultant that i had ibs and he asked how i knew, and i told him the doc said it

the consultant said that GPs are keen to diagnose it but dont actually test to see if thats what youve got, cant you ask to be referred to see a specialist and explain that your severely depressed about it and its ruining your life, im sure they would help you if you got a referral, and as above, try a food diary and see what you are eating,it could be a severe food intolerance thats triggering the spasms

Glen1909

Ive got it and had it for years - or so the doctor says. Not entirely convinced myself but having been to the doctors 10 times he says it is that. I think it is easy answer for doctor to give when someone has stomach pains, pulpatations etc.

It is definately affected by certain foods but its often difficult to tell what because by tea time you have usually already eaten something to screw your stomach up.

For me I find tomato based stuff is bad news, spagetti bolognaise etc. But tomatoes on their own are ok as long as they not cooked/fried etc..

and the monosodiam salt crap in chinese food is bad news as well. I cant go out for chinese meal and then go drinking cos my stomach wont take alcohol after ive eaten it!

I have had the camera up the arse thing as well. It was weird but cant complain, it was quick in - out, not what the mrs has to put up with.....

Overall I like all food so I suffer the consequences.

Apparantly its caused by all the E numbers they put in food nowadays which makes sence really, we weren't designed to eat half of the shit that we do!

coco16i

The docs thought it was maybe stones in the gallbladder and have had unltasound and CT scans and still showed up nothing.

Im kind of at the stage now where i think they maybe dont believe me as to the amount of pain im in when i get a really bad attack.

They did mention about maybe my bowel was going into spasm and was given tablets for that but they did nothing and the pain continued.

Its now been going on for around a year and a half and im still no further ahead as to whats causing it, im just thankfull i have a good boss that understands im not taking the piss and taking time off just for the sake of it... took quite a bad attack at work few months back and had to be taken into hosp by ambulance so he knows im not making it up when say im not well and in agony !

Im no doctor but surely there must be a quicker way than this to find out what the hell is wrong with me, i compare this to a customer putting there car into me to get repaired......if i had this many guesses and attempts at curing the problem and was still the same im sure they would be none to happy about waiting this long and still not being cured

IckleMissBish

BigErn I feel your pain mate! I was diagnosed with Crohnes disease last year which is the same sort of thing.

I had to have this done Not the nicest experience I admit but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Didn't feel anything as I was sedated, but because you have to practically starve yourself before you go they have to blow air in your bowel to open it up so the camera can see around better. That bit hurt a bit and the doctor who did mine had to take samples of my insides which was the strangest feeling ever!

angel24

I honestly don't think they have a clue! Like i said i had test after test, for hiatal hernia, ulcer, reflux/gerd, crohnes, pancreatis, gallstones, SODS, etc etc the list goes on. I had none of these. My consultant finally got to the point where i was to go away and suffer, even my GP said 'you may just have to live like this'
I'm only 26, fit and otherwise healthy, but written off!! lol

I went private after this. Should have done it years ago. Got diagnosed & fixed in total of 6 months, i have a life, and love it. Never felt better.

If you've not been diagnosed. Don't give up! You'll just have to be a nuisance customer!

Rod-Tarry

Had them both, to be honest aint that bad just try & relax (not easy) found the throat one easiest a gulp & it hit my stomach nay problems,
I watched it on a screen very strange.
Was diagnosed with IBS during a very stressfull period after major surgury. Had to live with it for 2 or 3 years at its worse was difficult to cope with severe pains up the rear, but it gradually faded away. Still get it sometimes as a severe pain acrosss my back but is not serious & not a big problem.

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

angel24

what was the diagnosis of what you had then?

angel24

Chronic gallbladder disease. No sign of stones.

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

angel24

my mum keeps telling me its something to do with my gall bladder

she has similar to me and had her gall bladder out and has been fine to a degree but not fully cured

think i will ask my doc next week about it and if theres any tests can be done for that

still contemplating to go private but the docs and surgeons have been quick to respond for me so far so carnt really complain at the mojust want to be put rite again so i can have a life

angel24

It really does get in the way.

Ask for a HIDA scan with CCK, that will check the ejection rate of the gallbladder, they aren't so keen to do it in the UK, but it's common practice in the US. My consultant didn't do it for me, but we got there in the end anyhow!
Regular ultrasounds will pick up if any stones are forming. Or any abnormalities.
Look up biliary colic on the net, see if the symptoms match?

At least they are looking after you. It's all too common to be given up on!
Good luck!

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

thanks

will take a look later on and see if teh symptoms i have are close to this

when im at the docs ill ask about it and see what they say

thanks for the info

Jemma

Like said above, cant believe how many ppl suffer from it just on here

Reading through what's been said.. my doc never did any tests for me, said he couldnt until i was having a moment of IBS
But i have all the symptons and the powder/tablets help loads.
The pain thou, is horrendous, as bad as child birth sometimes!!!

S1

I was diagnosed with IBS bout 10 yrs ago IIRC. I dont think it was as severe as some peoples symptoms on here seem to be but was very painful at times. I used to drink a lot of milk but found that triggered it badly, coffee is also a no-no. Someone said tomatoes triggered them, on the whole tomatoes aren't too bad but if i have a pizza then I find the tomatoe on the base triggers it. Spicy food in general also affects me, bit of a pisser as I love curry. I stick to mild curries and I'm generally ok.

One of the main changes I have made that has eased the symptoms to a point where its almost non-existent is the amount of food I eat and food habits. I eat much less now and I eat regularly. I eat less bread as I find it bloats me. My stomach feels almost normal these days, It doesnt feel like I'm carrying a bowling ball around any more. For me a careful diet really works.

Recently I was diagnosed with diverticulosis (an infection in the stomach). The doc put me on some anti-biotics which made a real overall difference. They cleared up the infection but also calmed my symptoms right down. I actually felt much better in general for a while after I had finished the course of tablets.

The Sludge

I was diagnosed with this 7 years ago. Im 32. I had unfortuantley had tohave a camera up my rear, to rule out any fibroid growths or soemthing.

I use COLPAMIN and finds itvery good. Ł4.85 for i think its 20 capsules. Generally for me its fatty/greasy foods, and garlic

Was told not to have spices or beer, but hey ho, thats me being my worst enemy here to be honesy

Anyway i did find if i stopped the beer i was better BUT it was still there, you know the pain and cramps etc

ONE thing thaty DOES really work is ACTIMEL drinksl. Its them live priobotic yoghurt drinks. I feel great with them

Trust me. Try them. Let me know how you get on

BigErn

Thanks for all the advice guys and gals, think Im gonna hassle the doctor next week and get things moving.

Most of the symptoms above have described me to a tee. I usually get most of my pain just above belly button height then it moves to the pelvic area where it stays for hours on end and dissipates itself as terrible wind, if its a mild attack, or explosive diahorrea if its a nasty one. I dont drink, dont smoke and I have to regulate what I eat and drink.

I can only drink water, usually around 2-5 litres a day. (Up to 8 in summer)
The only foods that I can have without completely imploding are; eggs, potato, fish, chicken, rice, rye bread, and thats about it. Ill maybe have a bag of crisps every now and then too. Anything else reduces me to a whimpering mess in bed.

I had similar illness around 6 years ago which the doctors couldnt diagnose and it lasted around 6 months before fading away itself, I went from 20 stone to 14 stone, 6 stone in as many months!

This time round I was back up at 19st 11lb after years of hard work in the gym (a place I havent set foot in for a year now), and then it started just before I was due to go on holiday. I wasnt overly struck on going anyway but I agreed as Amy, my girlfriend, wanted a holiday together. I hadnt flown since I was 3 and I was a little nervous. Two or three days before we flew it got worse and I just bunged it up with Immodium not knowing what it was. However I was a little more concerned about flying than I initially thought as I had a massive panic attack on the plane and had to get off before everyone had boarded. Holiday cancelled and I got back home, spent the next couple of days saying sorry to Amy and trying to make it up to her. I suggested going to spend the week up at my family caravan in the country, she agreed and away we went. It wasnt Tenerife granted but at least we got away for a bit. However the week was cut short to me being violently ill and coming home, since then I have never been right and getting at least 4 attacks a week. I have heard that IBS can be triggered by stress (ie the plane incident) but I dont understand why its gone on so long. Nearly 8 months this time. Im really not stressed at all now, people often pass comment at how laid back I am about everything, maybe thats part of my problem why its gone on for so long without me doing anything about it.

Would really like to have a life again now, Im sick of it.

Ian

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

BigErn

i carnt understand either why its triggered by stress but docs class all sorts as stress nowdays

im very laid back aswell, i do get wound up now and then but thats because of this illness pissing me off hence the depression i suffer

try to stay positive though and dont fall into depression like i did as its hard to get out of and im still fighting this aswell

ESCYSCOTT

iTrader: (1)

I havn't read all the replies above so please forgive me if I repeat what other people have already said.

I started suffering with my bowels back in may 2000, went to the docs where he tried me on loads of different things for a few months which NOTHING worked until one day he decided he wanted to shove his finger up my arse

He then sent me to a specialist at the hospital in the beginning of september 2000 (4 months down the line) The specialist took down all my symtoms etc and then perfromed an "Endoscopy" which is basically just a periscope that is about the same diameter as a 10p piece which with a little lube and persuation is inserted up da bum and has air passed through it to inflate your colon so he can see. He noticed some ulcers so he said he'd need to investigate further. This is when he refered me to another hospital for a "Colonoscopy" which is the camera up dan bum

To be honest it isnt as bad as it sounds as they sedate you so your semi concious as they need you to move for them so they can manouvre the camera around some of the tricky bits inside you. This takes about 40 mins and the worse thing about it is the air they pump in as it gives you major gut ache!! They took loads of samples as I had Polyps inside my colon too. I was diagnosed as having Full Crohns disease from then and put on a major course of steroids.

I then had to have the barium meal X-rays done which was horrible. The stuff you drink is like 100 sticks of chalk crushed up and mixed with water which ypou have to drink down more or less all in one go....about a litre of it luckily they found no strictures (blockages) which would require surgery.

In January 2001 I took really ill and was admitted to the surgical ward of the hospital and put on intraveinous steroids as I was passing blood and tissue from my behind in chunks. After about 4 days of them pumping steroids into me I started to pull around and they did another camera up the bum procedure to see what was happening again. I used to weigh approx 18 stone when I was first diagnosed then going through all the diagnosis etc I went down to 12 stone the day I left hospital

From January 2001 to present I have had the camera 4 times, countless number of steroid courses which have fooked my knees as steroids promote arthritis etc and tried so many different types of drug you wouldn't believe.

I'm now on Methotrexate which I have been on for a couple of years no....its a chemotherapy drug that is used for cancer patients which stops cell formation thus stopping abnormal scar tissue and cells within your bowel from flaring up and causing problems. There is some nasty side effects to it but I just have to plan my life around it and be careful with some aspects of my life though. My life has dramatically changed since I was diagnosed but to be honest, since being on these tablets it's not as bad as it could be.

So in short (LOL) my advice would be to go for the camera test and at least you will know what's goin on and then you will be treated for exactly what is wrong with you.

Any more advice you need matey, PM me or just come to our meeting and have a bit crack with me, no worries.......take care

Anonymous

...watch this condition ERN particualary on yourself as you say you wont go far from the house incase you get an attack........well this kinda behaviour can lead to anxiety and panic attacks...something you dont want in conjuction as it makes it far worse!

Glen1909

Amen to that, I forgot to mention that earlier, Actimel really does help to settle your stomach after you have eaten. Get the raspberry one though cos the strawberry one is vile and only likely to make matters worse.

Surprised at how many people here have got IBS or something similar. My friend keeps hassling me to go to doctors cause he had same symtoms as me and it turned out to be crones disease which is really bad.


But whenever you go to the doctors you get fobbed off.

ENGLAND - 1st World country with a 3rd world health service

ESCYSCOTT

iTrader: (1)

Everything is managable and controllable with the correct treatment, medication and care.............don't lose heart

BigErn

Well peeps I finally pulled my finger out and went back to the docs and had a right good moan on at him, he has now referred me to hospital and hopefully it will be sorted or at least diagnosed soon.

Got my letter from the hospital through on Friday so I need to ring up and make an appointment now.

With a bit of luck I will be sorted by summer so I can be myself again and enjoy the show season.!

DanS

Sounds like you have it quite bad mate.

I have Crohns which is a severe form of IBS but luckly i'm in remission and have been for over a year now thank god

I think they key to keeping it under control is eating healthy, not too much spicey stuff and keep the beer down to a min. I take 4 tablets of Pentasa a day which seems to help.

What ever you do, if you get constant pain get to your doctor ASAP! But dont rely on them! I went to mine with constant pains for over 3 years, everytime he would fob me off with tablets. If it doesn't go away, get a second opinion or get youself down to A&E.

I ended up waking one day with the worst stomach craps ever, rushed to hopsital and had an emergancy op that evening and spent 3 days out cold in intensive care for having a hole in my stomach and was poisening myself from the inside

Alls good now apart from the odd pain and the usall side effects.

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

have only read half the thread but i suffer from this also.

I should watch what i eat but dont so do tend to suffer but i was diagnosed over 5 years ago and have learnt to just live with it for the time being.

Graham S1

Dried apricots are good for relieving IBS symptoms if you like them.