This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)???

this is kind of embarrasing, hence anonymous!
i have started to think i might have IBS... and was just wondering if anyone could offer me some advice...suferers/medics?
i seem to fluctuate between constipation and looseness...i hardly ever produce a 'normal' movement, and i often feel like i haven't got everything out.
i can go for days without a movement, or i can go over 3-4 times a day, mostly after meals. i need to take laxatives at least once a fortnight.
i usually feel very bloated, especially after meals, and if i eat a large meal i sometimes get tummy ache and feel sick and want to lie down, and my tummy feels like a balloon.
when i really need the toilet, my lower tummy often feels uncomfortable/sore until i let it out.
the worst thing is get really bad wind/flatulence, which gives me a tummy ache every evening unless i let it out, which i can only really do when im alone, and when i do, it smells gross.
the thing is i don't really get cramping, or bad stomach ache unless i've overeaten, and i don't think eating rich or spicy foods make it especially worse.
by the way, i eat a really healthy diet, plenty of veg and fibre and dont drink too much.
do you think this could be IBS? maybe mild IBS?

Reply 1

Juno

20

Go and see your doctor.

Between now and your appointment, start keeping a food diary (ie what you've eaten), and a bowel movements diary. Be aware that it may take a while for any foods to affect you.

Reply 2

IBSweeper

1

my username doesnt refer to IBS, but I have been diagnosed with it and my symptoms are pretty similar to yours. Mine is triggered by an interruption in my usual eating pattern, fizzy drinks and rather oddly, going out and can at times be very painful. It isn't too bad though, i only got prescriped a fibre drink to help passage. Definitely go and see a doctor though

Reply 3

Fluffy

15

IBS is what doctors label such symptoms when an actual cause can not be found.

You should go and make an appointment to see your GP with a view to specialist referal, in order to rule out IBD or a simple allergy...

Good luck.

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

thanks for the advice.
does anyone else have similar symptoms? does anyone think im just being a hypercondriac? do you find there are certain types of food that make it worse?

Reply 5

Liar

12

I have similar symptoms to you but i have IBD (ulcerative colitis) so i would go to the doctors as soon as you can to rule this out. If your bowel movements contain blood or mucus then this is not IBS but most likely IBD.

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

OP

there's no blood or mucus, thankfully.

Reply 7

33.33.33

2

i have ibs and i have similar symptoms, go to your doc and get checked out! try writing a food and health diary down so you can see what you eat effects you. in my case it's dairy, but many have problems with wheat for example.

going from loose to .. um unloose in your bowels is definitely a sign, as is bloating. just check it out to be sure, and then you can avoid the things that make it worse! :smile:

Reply 8

alispam

12

i have colitis as well, but luckily don't really suffer from irregular bowel movements. just see your doctor to whether its IBS, you seem to have a good diet so perhaps its something else...though its definitely a good sign that there's no blood.

Reply 9

aleathiel

16

My mum has it, she finds that its pretty annoying,, I think you should see the doctor though just to be sure as we cant tell you what it is :smile:

I should too, I think I may have it aaarh :eek:

but then if it turns out you have it and dont eat foods that will agrivate it, you should be ok :smile:

(dont take my workd for it though!)

Reply 10

Shooting_Star

I had some symptoms similar to yours, they seemed to change, sometimes I'd be ok, other times I'd be feeling quite ill with several of the symptoms at once. So eventulally went to the doc's and they said I had IBS and prescribed me pills. But they made no difference at all. So I went back and they changed my medication, they are slightly better but don't really help a lot! The strangest thing was I went on holiday last month and my symptoms all just cleared up! I think in my case my diet affects it. If I eat really heavy or stodgy food then it makes me a lot worse!

My advice would be to go to the doctors and also watch your diet to see if anything specific makes you worse. They also say that IBS can be triggered by stress.

Reply 11

quintsy

17

I've got it, and what you've described does unfortunately sound quite similar.

People don't know a great deal about IBS yet; like Fluffy said- it generally is what they diagnose you with when they can't find anything else obviously wrong with you.

It is luckily quite easy to treat- doctors generally prescribe mebeverine hydrochloride which apparently works quite well (I unfortunately can't swallow tablets though- so I wouldn't know :smile:

) and also hot water bottles/heat packs work well for the cramps!

Good luck- I hope the visit to the doctor goes alright, but luckily IBS isn't too serious. :smile:

Reply 12

Rainbow_Chick

1

Last year i thought i had this my stomach was always bloated and i would get really bad cramps. I found that foods with wheat in it and spicy foods made it worse. The doctors gave me some tablets they work at first but then stopped doctor said that i should eat a more healthy diet and try to avoid the foods which make it worse. I have done this and my stomach is fine from time to time it still get bloated but its not as painful.

Reply 13

Anonymous #2

Hello - I think I might also suffer from IBS (definitely not IBD)

I plan on going to the doctors' very soon because it really is starting to affect my day-to-day life.

However, I'm starting uni in a few weeks & I would like to know if those diagnosed with IBS had to go through several tests etc & how long did these take?This is only because I can't decide whether it might be easier to wait till I'm at uni & have a new doctor although I really would like to get this problem sorted before hand & start any medication to see if it helps.

Thank you!

Reply 14

pixiepeep

13

I suffer from symptoms like IBS, but the doctors aren't sure if it is or not, but I've started taking peppermint and it seems to calm my stomach a little.

I think I just have a very sensitive stomach though - fizzy pop in particular seems to cause me problems - one bottle of coke gave me a really nasty bout of gastroenteritis which put me in hospital, but the doctors simply put it down to having a "sensitive stomach" so I'm going with that!

Reply 15

Merovingian

Use Immodium. It saved my life.

Reply 16

Jenna Leicester

Thanks for the advice guys... didn't see this post until I posted mine! Doh.

Reply 17

Acaila

17

The doctor has given me medication for irritable bowel, but I'm experiencing nothing likethe OP.

Reply 18

Fluffy

15

Anonymous

Hello - I think I might also suffer from IBS (definitely not IBD)

I plan on going to the doctors' very soon because it really is starting to affect my day-to-day life.

However, I'm starting uni in a few weeks & I would like to know if those diagnosed with IBS had to go through several tests etc & how long did these take?This is only because I can't decide whether it might be easier to wait till I'm at uni & have a new doctor although I really would like to get this problem sorted before hand & start any medication to see if it helps.

Thank you!

How do you know you 'definitely' do not have IBD? Have you had endoscopy and biopsy already?

Reply 19

Anonymous #2

Fluffy

How do you know you 'definitely' do not have IBD? Have you had endoscopy and biopsy already?

You're right, I don't know for definite, but I don't have a lot of the symptoms associated with IBD (eg: bloody diarrhoea, fever, weight loss, anemia, loss of appetite) whereas I seem to have more symptoms associated with IBS (bloated after meals, diarrhoea/ constipation, urgent need to go to the toilet)

But I'm worried that if I do need tests such as an endoscopy & a biopsy then this may take weeks/ months...

Thanks pixiepeep, the peppermint tablets sound like a good idea!

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)???

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated