I don’t feel like I’m being taken seriously
Discussion
liner33 said:
I went through similar in my late 30's, bloating and cramping, wind, as well as diarrhoea, indigestion and acid reflux at times as well
Had a colonoscopy and endoscopy as well as other investigations and they couldnt find out what it was, so put down to IBS (This is the common label given to many disorders that they dont know what causes them or how to fix)
Over the years its become much better , I try to maintain a healthy gut biome (Tim Spectors books are useful), have either actimel or bennecol from time to time
When its bad I take a peppermint tea , that relieves the bloating and helps relax things and lactulose to have a good clear out
To be honest I think my problems started after a long bout of pneumonia and antibiotics
I drink peppermint tea every evening (I’ve also tried not doing that in case that was the issue) and although it relieves some of the wind, it doesn’t do anything for the bloating or discomfort. Had a colonoscopy and endoscopy as well as other investigations and they couldnt find out what it was, so put down to IBS (This is the common label given to many disorders that they dont know what causes them or how to fix)
Over the years its become much better , I try to maintain a healthy gut biome (Tim Spectors books are useful), have either actimel or bennecol from time to time
When its bad I take a peppermint tea , that relieves the bloating and helps relax things and lactulose to have a good clear out
To be honest I think my problems started after a long bout of pneumonia and antibiotics
egomeister said:
I know you have said you tried probiotics like Yakult and Actimel with no effect, but you could try some different products.
I was suffering a bit with digestive issues a while back (towards diarrhoea, very noisy gut etc) and had tried probiotic drinks without improvement, so I thought I'd give some capsules a go: https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/hol...
My guts are now as good as I ever remember, although I can't be 100% sure that the improvement is down to these as I started taking medication (unrelated to gut) at the same time. For the sake of £30ish, I'd say try a couple of boxes and see if they make a difference. There are different options available too, with more strains of bacteria or higher numbers but the one I picked seemed a reasonable middle of the road choice.
I’ve tried their bacteria capsules upon recommendation elsewhere and as of yet, maybe 6 weeks in, there’s been no change either good or bad. I’ll carry on taking them because it may just take longer but I’m not hopeful based on results so far.I was suffering a bit with digestive issues a while back (towards diarrhoea, very noisy gut etc) and had tried probiotic drinks without improvement, so I thought I'd give some capsules a go: https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/hol...
My guts are now as good as I ever remember, although I can't be 100% sure that the improvement is down to these as I started taking medication (unrelated to gut) at the same time. For the sake of £30ish, I'd say try a couple of boxes and see if they make a difference. There are different options available too, with more strains of bacteria or higher numbers but the one I picked seemed a reasonable middle of the road choice.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
That could very well be it, although diarrhoea being a symptom doesn’t fit with my experience. I eat a lot of the veg you describe and beans are a common part of my diet. High fat stuff not so much but I’m definitely not as strict as I could be. Definitely something to investigate further, thank you.
Robmarriott said:
I’ve tried their bacteria capsules upon recommendation elsewhere and as of yet, maybe 6 weeks in, there’s been no change either good or bad. I’ll carry on taking them because it may just take longer but I’m not hopeful based on results so far.
Fair enough. I think my improvements were mostly over the course of a month or so, with perhaps minor changes beyond that.Good luck sorting it out - hopefully it is something that can be resolved in a similar way once you figure out the issue!
Do you eat or chew 'sugar free' sweets, such as polo or chewing gum ?
The sugar in these is often replaced with a sweetener called xylitol. Can play havoc with your guts as it affects the osmolality, or osmolarity (I forget which one).
If you do, stop them.
I used to be get the bloats & very 'windy', used to chew a lot of Wrigley's (sugar free) gum (at least a pack a day). Courtesy of an episode of 'House' (if any remembers that), stopped using & problem gone in a day or two.
Sugar free polo's still have me bloated & farting within minutes of consumption.
The sugar in these is often replaced with a sweetener called xylitol. Can play havoc with your guts as it affects the osmolality, or osmolarity (I forget which one).
If you do, stop them.
I used to be get the bloats & very 'windy', used to chew a lot of Wrigley's (sugar free) gum (at least a pack a day). Courtesy of an episode of 'House' (if any remembers that), stopped using & problem gone in a day or two.
Sugar free polo's still have me bloated & farting within minutes of consumption.
Pinkie15 said:
Do you eat or chew 'sugar free' sweets, such as polo or chewing gum ?
The sugar in these is often replaced with a sweetener called xylitol. Can play havoc with your guts as it affects the osmolality, or osmolarity (I forget which one).
If you do, stop them.
I used to be get the bloats & very 'windy', used to chew a lot of Wrigley's (sugar free) gum (at least a pack a day). Courtesy of an episode of 'House' (if any remembers that), stopped using & problem gone in a day or two.
Sugar free polo's still have me bloated & farting within minutes of consumption.
Yes and no. I do chew gum sometimes but it’s something I’ve tried stopping completely for the last few weeks and it has had no effect.The sugar in these is often replaced with a sweetener called xylitol. Can play havoc with your guts as it affects the osmolality, or osmolarity (I forget which one).
If you do, stop them.
I used to be get the bloats & very 'windy', used to chew a lot of Wrigley's (sugar free) gum (at least a pack a day). Courtesy of an episode of 'House' (if any remembers that), stopped using & problem gone in a day or two.
Sugar free polo's still have me bloated & farting within minutes of consumption.
I had considered sweetener because I used to drink Coke Zero daily but again, I’ve removed that from my diet and feel the same months later.
Hi, you mentioned early on that you didn't think that dairy was the cause of your problems but your symptoms could indicate lactose intolerance.
Lactose hides in all sorts of food, not just dairy, even some beer contains large portions of lactose... ask me how I know.
Apologies if you've already tried cutting lactose from your diet but if not, it's worth a go.
If you enjoy milk, Arla lactose free milk is lovely.
Lactose hides in all sorts of food, not just dairy, even some beer contains large portions of lactose... ask me how I know.
Apologies if you've already tried cutting lactose from your diet but if not, it's worth a go.
If you enjoy milk, Arla lactose free milk is lovely.
loughran said:
Hi, you mentioned early on that you didn't think that dairy was the cause of your problems but your symptoms could indicate lactose intolerance.
Lactose hides in all sorts of food, not just dairy, even some beer contains large portions of lactose... ask me how I know.
Apologies if you've already tried cutting lactose from your diet but if not, it's worth a go.
If you enjoy milk, Arla lactose free milk is lovely.
Ok so this is the one thing I thought was the cause initially, my nephew suffers from horrendous lactose intolerance and so he’s now converted to a completely dairy free diet and he seems ok. His symptoms were different from mine though, he’d just have the runs the next day.Lactose hides in all sorts of food, not just dairy, even some beer contains large portions of lactose... ask me how I know.
Apologies if you've already tried cutting lactose from your diet but if not, it's worth a go.
If you enjoy milk, Arla lactose free milk is lovely.
Anyway, I’ve tried eliminating dairy completely (in as much as I’ll not eat cheese or have milk) because I figured that removing the two big boys from my diet would show an improvement if that was the problem, even if there was traces of dairy elsewhere, but that showed no change.
The Arla Lacto Free is great, even now I’m still buying that rather than proper milk but I’m months down the line now and the problem is still present. As for the beer, I’ve not touched a drop of anything for over three years (not because of this problem or any other, I just stopped drinking) so it’s not sneaking in that way.
That’s what I was hoping it was, dairy or gluten. As much as it’d be inconvenient, I’d be happy to eliminate one or the other, even both, if it cured the issue. I guess my next step would be a very strict controlled diet with zero or one or the other to see if it is that after all.
loughran said:
Hi, you mentioned early on that you didn't think that dairy was the cause of your problems but your symptoms could indicate lactose intolerance.
Lactose hides in all sorts of food, not just dairy, even some beer contains large portions of lactose... ask me how I know.
Apologies if you've already tried cutting lactose from your diet but if not, it's worth a go.
If you enjoy milk, Arla lactose free milk is lovely.
Reading through the thread, this was my thought especially if you have had lots of antibiotics as these can damage production of lactase in the stomach.Lactose hides in all sorts of food, not just dairy, even some beer contains large portions of lactose... ask me how I know.
Apologies if you've already tried cutting lactose from your diet but if not, it's worth a go.
If you enjoy milk, Arla lactose free milk is lovely.
Arla do milk, yoghurts, cheese that areclacto-free so definitely worth trying for a week or two, other option is buy some lactase tablets off Amazon and take before meals.
I don’t think I’ve had antibiotics at any point in my whole life, let alone recently.
Either way though, I’m willing to try anything so I’ll seek out some lactase tablets and see if they make any difference, although again I’m not hopeful because I’m pretty dairy free already, no real milk, no chocolate, no cheese.
Either way though, I’m willing to try anything so I’ll seek out some lactase tablets and see if they make any difference, although again I’m not hopeful because I’m pretty dairy free already, no real milk, no chocolate, no cheese.
Edited by Robmarriott on Wednesday 8th June 23:20
croyde said:
It was barely 2 weeks from seeing the GP to having the investigation on the NHS.
They were trying to call me with an appointment whilst I had been on hold for ages to my private health insurance provider.
For potential cancer the 2 week wait in the NHS is still working well (Thankfully). It's can be as quick as 2-3 days from abnormal imaging suggestive of cancer to having an operation done to get it out. If pushed I can get an outpatient scan done to exclude cancer within 5 days, and often less.They were trying to call me with an appointment whilst I had been on hold for ages to my private health insurance provider.
For other things deemed as routine sadly waiting times have gone mad, its upto to 2 years to get a first review with some specialists now.
For the OP, symptoms going on for coming up 1 year is very unlikely to be cancer, so every test/investigation even referral will take a while.
Robmarriott said:
I don’t think I’ve had antibiotics at any point in my whole life, let alone recently.
Either way though, I’m willing to try anything so I’ll seek out some lactase tablets and see if they make any difference, although again I’m not hopeful because I’m pretty dairy free already, no real milk, no chocolate, no cheese.
Maybe a good old vindaloo will clear you out, will put the constipation theory to bed for good.Either way though, I’m willing to try anything so I’ll seek out some lactase tablets and see if they make any difference, although again I’m not hopeful because I’m pretty dairy free already, no real milk, no chocolate, no cheese.
Edited by Robmarriott on Wednesday 8th June 23:20
Can you remember a time when you didn't feel this discomfort?
gottans said:
Maybe a good old vindaloo will clear you out, will put the constipation theory to bed for good.
Can you remember a time when you didn't feel this discomfort?
I’m almost 100% certain it’s not constipation because of the timescale and the period of time I was talking the prescribed laxatives.Can you remember a time when you didn't feel this discomfort?
As for when I felt OK, difficult to pin an exact date on it but I first went to the GP about it in Jan 2021 and I obviously didn’t go on day one, it had been a good amount of time already. Let’s say 2 years ago at least.
Edited by Robmarriott on Thursday 9th June 16:10
If can afford to pay, then maybe try these people: https://thefunctionalgutclinic.com/
I had some tests done by them when I was suffering from reflux. They are highly professional and highly specialised.
Fortunately for me, BUPA covered the costs.
They have clinics in Manchester and London.
I had some tests done by them when I was suffering from reflux. They are highly professional and highly specialised.
Fortunately for me, BUPA covered the costs.
They have clinics in Manchester and London.
Had to update this because my most recent GP appointment was so ridiculous.
I went because the dull ache and constant feeling of fullness has been joined by occasional pangs of sharp pain in my lower bowel.
Went over the usual stuff - weighed, BP, poked and prodded, abdomen listened to with a stethoscope. Asked a couple of questions about my symptoms.
The GP basically said they don’t know how to help and that I should wait for the gastroenterologist appointment, which has been expedited but still not confirmed to be any closer than November.
Their advice? Take 2 paracetamol 4 times a day and see if that helps.
Thread title still checks out.
I went because the dull ache and constant feeling of fullness has been joined by occasional pangs of sharp pain in my lower bowel.
Went over the usual stuff - weighed, BP, poked and prodded, abdomen listened to with a stethoscope. Asked a couple of questions about my symptoms.
The GP basically said they don’t know how to help and that I should wait for the gastroenterologist appointment, which has been expedited but still not confirmed to be any closer than November.
Their advice? Take 2 paracetamol 4 times a day and see if that helps.
Thread title still checks out.
Robmarriott said:
Had to update this because my most recent GP appointment was so ridiculous.
I went because the dull ache and constant feeling of fullness has been joined by occasional pangs of sharp pain in my lower bowel.
Went over the usual stuff - weighed, BP, poked and prodded, abdomen listened to with a stethoscope. Asked a couple of questions about my symptoms.
The GP basically said they don’t know how to help and that I should wait for the gastroenterologist appointment, which has been expedited but still not confirmed to be any closer than November.
Their advice? Take 2 paracetamol 4 times a day and see if that helps.
Thread title still checks out.
Please pay privately and get this checked now.I went because the dull ache and constant feeling of fullness has been joined by occasional pangs of sharp pain in my lower bowel.
Went over the usual stuff - weighed, BP, poked and prodded, abdomen listened to with a stethoscope. Asked a couple of questions about my symptoms.
The GP basically said they don’t know how to help and that I should wait for the gastroenterologist appointment, which has been expedited but still not confirmed to be any closer than November.
Their advice? Take 2 paracetamol 4 times a day and see if that helps.
Thread title still checks out.
Largechris said:
Please pay privately and get this checked now.
I don’t think I can afford it, I’ve looked at private healthcare and while I could probably stretch to cover the monthlies, I can’t afford to pay the excess. Also every policy I’ve seen says they don’t cover pre-existing issues.Robmarriott said:
Largechris said:
Please pay privately and get this checked now.
I don’t think I can afford it, I’ve looked at private healthcare and while I could probably stretch to cover the monthlies, I can’t afford to pay the excess. Also every policy I’ve seen says they don’t cover pre-existing issues.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff