Discussion
I am currently suffering with a nasty bout of this. It results in the usual cramps, sweats and depression. I've still been going to work but it has been bloody difficult. I have a docs appointment booked for Monday and I think they want to stuff a Kodak up my botty.
Does anyone else suffer with this, and have they had the camera up the causeway? I'm scared about it, if i'm honest.
Does anyone else suffer with this, and have they had the camera up the causeway? I'm scared about it, if i'm honest.
Don't get it myself, but with aged parents to look after, I am a font for health tips!
Apparently soluable fibre is one possible remedy, bran being far too harsh on the digestive system.
http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/benefiber-soluble-f... Worth a try I'd say.
Apparently soluable fibre is one possible remedy, bran being far too harsh on the digestive system.
http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/benefiber-soluble-f... Worth a try I'd say.
pacman1 said:
Don't get it myself, but with aged parents to look after, I am a font for health tips!
Apparently soluable fibre is one possible remedy, bran being far too harsh on the digestive system.
http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/benefiber-soluble-f... Worth a try I'd say.
Thanks PacMan. I have been given some fibregel (or something similar) that I need to start taking. This is some sort of husk and is apparently very good at helping to settle this condition. I've also been given some anti-spasmodics too.Apparently soluable fibre is one possible remedy, bran being far too harsh on the digestive system.
http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/benefiber-soluble-f... Worth a try I'd say.
I have IBD, i suppose when you say a camera this will most likely be a colonoscope or a sigmoidscopy. The first one being a full check of your colon whereas the other just has a look at the first bit, rectum and lower colon.
Obviously as you would expect they will want to do this to rule out other causes and make sure it is IBS. The colonoscope is usually quite easy, i've had a number and only one bad experience. Normally the worst bit is the prep which you take the day before the scope to clean yourself out, you got to drink up to 4 litres of a foul tasting crap, literally!!
You get sedated for a colonoscope and will be awake but you should'nt be in any discomfort. You'll be fine.
Obviously as you would expect they will want to do this to rule out other causes and make sure it is IBS. The colonoscope is usually quite easy, i've had a number and only one bad experience. Normally the worst bit is the prep which you take the day before the scope to clean yourself out, you got to drink up to 4 litres of a foul tasting crap, literally!!
You get sedated for a colonoscope and will be awake but you should'nt be in any discomfort. You'll be fine.
grayr said:
Normally the worst bit is the prep which you take the day before the scope to clean yourself out, you got to drink up to 4 litres of a foul tasting crap, literally!!
The notorious Picolax!Make sure you book the day off well in advance, you wont want to be going anywhere once you start the clear out operation!
^^^^ worth reading the agent picolax thread, just for humour value before you go.
I had a bout a few years ago, still don't know what set it off - possible dodgy ham. It took about 6 weeks for it to clear up - combination of bland food, lots of vegetables and staying away from bread all helped, as well as not rushing my food. Coffee antagonised things too.
Good luck!
I had a bout a few years ago, still don't know what set it off - possible dodgy ham. It took about 6 weeks for it to clear up - combination of bland food, lots of vegetables and staying away from bread all helped, as well as not rushing my food. Coffee antagonised things too.
Good luck!
Thanks for the replies everyone. I do wonder if bread sets it off as I have sandwiches every day at work. I am also wondering if grapes don't help either.
I think the best thing to do is try to cut out certain things and see what happens.
Thanks for the advice re the kodak. I'll see what my gp recommends on Monday. I have actually suffered with IBS for nearly 5 years but it seems to have got worse lately. I'm getting married in two months and I wonder if this has set it off
I think the best thing to do is try to cut out certain things and see what happens.
Thanks for the advice re the kodak. I'll see what my gp recommends on Monday. I have actually suffered with IBS for nearly 5 years but it seems to have got worse lately. I'm getting married in two months and I wonder if this has set it off
funkyrobot said:
I'm getting married in two months and I wonder if this has set it off
If that's the case it could well be down to stress. The digestive system can be very intolerant to stress, and while most are completely unaffected by it it can wreak havoc with others.I'm not talking geunine stress/depression here, I'm talking about everyday ups and downs that we are all subject to.
Have you noticed a pattern which links the 2?
My IBS was put down to a mixture of foods (milk/wheat) and most importantly everyday stress, and after addressing both I've been fine for a few months now.
Hello all,
Thought I would resurrect this thread as it seems I am edging ever closer to a diagnosis of this, having felt utterly crap for the last month or so. Basically had a large number of stomach cramps and aches and feeling bloated. Doctor told me to try a lactose free diet, but with no effect, so much so that on sunday night (well, monday morning), I was bent double in pain and considering going to the hospital. I'd had similar symptoms a couple of years back (coupled with diarrhoea) which eventually went away.
Since then it's been just a constant dull ache. I'm being referred to a specialist (seeing them 1st September), but does anyone have any recommendations? Anything for me to try? I've tried Buscopan (to little effect), I'm now trying some prescription (Mbeverin or something) as well as Peppermint Oil capsules to see how it goes.
Also, what can I expect from the specialist?
Cheers
Thought I would resurrect this thread as it seems I am edging ever closer to a diagnosis of this, having felt utterly crap for the last month or so. Basically had a large number of stomach cramps and aches and feeling bloated. Doctor told me to try a lactose free diet, but with no effect, so much so that on sunday night (well, monday morning), I was bent double in pain and considering going to the hospital. I'd had similar symptoms a couple of years back (coupled with diarrhoea) which eventually went away.
Since then it's been just a constant dull ache. I'm being referred to a specialist (seeing them 1st September), but does anyone have any recommendations? Anything for me to try? I've tried Buscopan (to little effect), I'm now trying some prescription (Mbeverin or something) as well as Peppermint Oil capsules to see how it goes.
Also, what can I expect from the specialist?
Cheers
captainmatt said:
Also, what can I expect from the specialist?
Hopefully hypnotherapy although probably a focus on dietary issues.IBS isn't a functional problem so the usual routes of medication or exclusion diets aren't satisfactory solutions, what may work from that approach in the short term won't work long term. What you need to do is look at the real mechanics and reasons behind IBS in order to beat it for good.
After all the cameras up the rectum, pills and food diaries you'll be amazed at actually how easy it is to sort IBS out by just learning to relax.
Hi there I developed IBS out of the blue last year.
It started abruptly whilst on holiday with abdominal cramping- initially I thought it was renal type pain. Pain lasted for several weeks though not intense all the time. Had abdominal cramps and diarrhoea-sudden onset a bit like after doses of picolax. Not much fun when you are out and about or driving down the M6 I can tell you!
Eventually went to GP- had colonoscopy( not much fun but the sedations is good!) and abdominal ultrasound and full blood profile. Nil found
Given mebeverin with fybogel, helped a bit but didn't releive pain. Have since had a course of amytryptyline- which worked well for the pain.
Also identified dietary causes via trial and error - caffeine, Chinese food and over indulging in alcohol - particularly beer!
Went caffeine free for 6 weeks- I previously drank 4 cans diet coke and 5+ coffees or tea per day- with a near total resolution of symptoms and have stopped taking amytryptyline for the time being until I get the next bout! Had 2 diet cokes and non de- caff coffees on holiday and the pain restarted! So identifying triggers and potential causes is really important in helping you control it.
It's not a nice condition and can be quite debilitating, at times people refer to it as 'just IBS' which is a pain in the
ass(pardon the pun) as it can add to the feeling that it is all in your head! Though I do feel that Stress does play a part in
the condition.
Good luck!
It started abruptly whilst on holiday with abdominal cramping- initially I thought it was renal type pain. Pain lasted for several weeks though not intense all the time. Had abdominal cramps and diarrhoea-sudden onset a bit like after doses of picolax. Not much fun when you are out and about or driving down the M6 I can tell you!
Eventually went to GP- had colonoscopy( not much fun but the sedations is good!) and abdominal ultrasound and full blood profile. Nil found
Given mebeverin with fybogel, helped a bit but didn't releive pain. Have since had a course of amytryptyline- which worked well for the pain.
Also identified dietary causes via trial and error - caffeine, Chinese food and over indulging in alcohol - particularly beer!
Went caffeine free for 6 weeks- I previously drank 4 cans diet coke and 5+ coffees or tea per day- with a near total resolution of symptoms and have stopped taking amytryptyline for the time being until I get the next bout! Had 2 diet cokes and non de- caff coffees on holiday and the pain restarted! So identifying triggers and potential causes is really important in helping you control it.
It's not a nice condition and can be quite debilitating, at times people refer to it as 'just IBS' which is a pain in the
ass(pardon the pun) as it can add to the feeling that it is all in your head! Though I do feel that Stress does play a part in
the condition.
Good luck!
E31Shrew said:
Used to suffer from it quite badly then cut out bread and lo and behold no issues now. Still occasionally flares up after a lager fuelled session
Erf can't imagine cutting out bread! I eat bread every day! Well, we will see. Today was a better day, bit of pain this morning but eased off around lunchtime. Will see how I manage with indian food and beer tonight...I've suffered on and off from IBS for many years. Initially I was treated with Colofac (Mebeverine Hydrocloride iirc). I had the camera up the jacksy but no real cause was found. Certain foods cause it to show up, bread is a common cause. I started to avoid sandwiches and found eating stuff like pita bread caused less effect than normal bread.
One interesting point, I have had a few bouts of diverticulitis and have been hospitalised twice. On both occasions I was on a course of a particular anti-biotic. For some months after this course my guts were absolutely perfect. No bloating, pain and proper solid poo's! I mentioned this to my GP and she commecnted that other patients had said the same thing. This would imply that the main cause of the IBS I suffered from was dodgy gut bacteria. Ive since tried some of the yoghurts with "friendly" bacteria but they make me want to heave so don't bother with them.
One interesting point, I have had a few bouts of diverticulitis and have been hospitalised twice. On both occasions I was on a course of a particular anti-biotic. For some months after this course my guts were absolutely perfect. No bloating, pain and proper solid poo's! I mentioned this to my GP and she commecnted that other patients had said the same thing. This would imply that the main cause of the IBS I suffered from was dodgy gut bacteria. Ive since tried some of the yoghurts with "friendly" bacteria but they make me want to heave so don't bother with them.
Ok so I have now officially been diagnosed with diarrhoea predominant IBS! My consultant also says it's atypical because of where the pain strikes, but I had a CT to rule out Crohns and any other problems and it all came back normal (he says 99% of CT's will come back with some signs of Crohns if you have Crohns, so it's not worth worrying about). That combined with my age (19) means I get to avoid having the Kodak shoved up my harris.
Not been too bad the last couple of days anyway, but I've found that Mebeverine and Buscopan don't help me at all, so I've been put on Merbentyl 20 (also called Dicycloverine) which is meant to help with gut motility and hopefully banish the loose stools. Early days yet, but here's hoping. If that doesn't work the next step is a low dose of anti-depressant (the old school ones) - my parents seem reluctant for this, but tbh if it gets rid of the pain and discomfort, I'm game!
Yet to find a cause for it - stress is most likely a factor, but in the last week I have been pretty ill and yet I haven't really had much to stress about. Alcohol in the past has had an effect on me (sprinting to the bathroom at 11pm after having half a bottle of Crabbie's springs to mind), but interestingly I was out last night knocking drinks back and this morning my guts are totally fine - 1-nothing to Merbentyl it seems. Be interesting to see how I am in 2 weeks when I go to uni!
Not been too bad the last couple of days anyway, but I've found that Mebeverine and Buscopan don't help me at all, so I've been put on Merbentyl 20 (also called Dicycloverine) which is meant to help with gut motility and hopefully banish the loose stools. Early days yet, but here's hoping. If that doesn't work the next step is a low dose of anti-depressant (the old school ones) - my parents seem reluctant for this, but tbh if it gets rid of the pain and discomfort, I'm game!
Yet to find a cause for it - stress is most likely a factor, but in the last week I have been pretty ill and yet I haven't really had much to stress about. Alcohol in the past has had an effect on me (sprinting to the bathroom at 11pm after having half a bottle of Crabbie's springs to mind), but interestingly I was out last night knocking drinks back and this morning my guts are totally fine - 1-nothing to Merbentyl it seems. Be interesting to see how I am in 2 weeks when I go to uni!
I'm a long time sufferer of crohns,going through a bad spell at the moment so it looks like it's going to be another week off work sitting on the throne.Nice.
I inject myself weekly and take a few pills daily and it seems to control it most of the time,get a flare up now and then though.
I inject myself weekly and take a few pills daily and it seems to control it most of the time,get a flare up now and then though.
Another update...
Merbentyl hasn't helped. If anything my diarrhoea has been worse since I started on it... great. So as of tonight I am taking 25mg Amitryptiline - anyone else had these? Actually experienced any side effects? I've been told I could feel groggy for the first few mornings.
Also, it says not to take alcohol - don't have a problem in principle, but I am about to start freshers week at uni. Anybody here got anything to say on the matter?
Cheers
Merbentyl hasn't helped. If anything my diarrhoea has been worse since I started on it... great. So as of tonight I am taking 25mg Amitryptiline - anyone else had these? Actually experienced any side effects? I've been told I could feel groggy for the first few mornings.
Also, it says not to take alcohol - don't have a problem in principle, but I am about to start freshers week at uni. Anybody here got anything to say on the matter?
Cheers
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff