irritable bowel ?

[janeyo]

Does anyone have experience of this? I know there has been a touch of discussion on the weight loss thread.
I have suspicions I may be suffering from it after googling it all weekend. Have ordered some books and am going to docs tomorrow, but could do with some info etc if anyone has any thoughts. If you don't want to discuss your bowels in public then you could pm me instead.
Would be nice to get a bigger picture before I go the docs.

Many thanks

[rustylady]

Please be careful googling or reading medical books. You can convince yourself you have everything horrible. Your doctor is the best person to advise you. Hope it goes well.

[janeyo]

I know what you mean and believe me I am not one for ever going to the docs unless i feel I have to. Waited 6 years before going with my back because I was convinced they would just send me away but actually they were great. .
However I tend to get fobbed off in the doctors and like to go in armed with knowledge or come home and think why didn't I say such and such.

[elsie-scot]

IBS and back problems seem to be quite often linked. Some GPS believe in IBS others don't. Can be diet or stress related. Sometimes can be diet controlled, some people take medication. Best just go see your doc, discuss your symptoms and then see what they say.

[enrich100]

IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion

In other words when a doctor runs out of idea what it is they call it IBS
There is no blood test or scan that will show if you have it they only diagnose IBS when all other stomach problems have been ruled out

IBS can be anything from a slightly upset stomach to being doubled over with stomach cramps and extreme bowel function problems (Constipation, diarrhea, bloating)

My advice would be don't mention IBS, get them to investigate the problem properly, try and work out if its something you eat that causes the problem, Milk, wheat, fibre as it could be a food alergy issue.

The doctors will ask you about your mental health as they love putting stomach problems down to stress

Forgive the negativity, I think I'm probably having a bad experience with health proffesionals as i'm still fighting to get a proper diagnosis and treatment

[Brengirl]

Maybe that's what I have? About every three months my bowels get very irritable indeed. It usually happens at night when I have to opt for the sanctity of the loo and sit and wait in agony. With fortitude I am eventually relieved by an explosion and retire back to bed in peace. Hope you get the picture

[janeyo]

I have had been treated for mental illness in the past so will be geared up for expecting that line of tack then!

I just hope I get the normal doctor and not the locum.

OH is already telling me I probably have 'another one of those makey uppy illnesses'. He is all heart lol. I am prone to gettng easily diagnosable things.

[Brengirl]

Not to worry Janeyo. Most of our aches and pains are transient and given time our bodies heal themselves. Sometimes putting our worries on the back boiler helps. If and when our concern makes us consult a doctor it must be taken seriously.

[SarzWix]

I have IBS. It's linked (in me) to having HMS - the floppy collagen that causes all my joint problems (and back problems ) also means I have a 'floppy colon' (like my medical terminology here?!) that means it doesn't 'process' as fast as it should. Several things cause that horrible cramping etc.; usual culprits are anything with soluble fibre, unless also eaten with roughage - so if I eat raw veg or salad, I have to also eat brown bread/brown rice/pasta/wholemeal couscous to slow things down a bit. I can't eat the skins of jacket potatoes, ever. They kill me. Same with raw strawberries
The main thing that has helped me is working out the worst triggers so that I can avoid them.

Have you ever looked at the diagnostic criteria for HMS? With your back problems, previous 'head' issues, and now possible IBS, it might be worth looking - all those things can be linked to HMS... Have a look at the link on my sig., or PM me if you like

[Bramble_killer]

If you can find out what you're sensitive too and go armed with that knowledge (especially when they are a known allergen/type of food group) then the doctors will be able to help better.

A lot of these things don't really have drugs to treat, they are mostly a case of working out what it is and avoiding it.

[janeyo]

Thanks all,

(Sarz am off to do some investigating )

[Liza]

Also google coffee and garlic enemas, you can do them yourself, Psyllium husks and bentonite clay are great.Also try probiotic capsules, I don't have IBS but find detoxing your colon makes you feel like a new person and can even help my Dermatitis.

Just a thought, let us know how you get on.

[Rocketron]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ertiliser.html

[SlugLobber]

Hi guys. If any of you have doctors who don't believe in IBS, point them in the direction of PubMed. There are SO many papers on this, now and it's what I would call a 'trendy' research area. The causes vary from diet (foods containing pro-inflammatory ingredients), to genetics (leading to, for example, less mucin production from goblet cells in the colon and thus less protection from toxins).

I have suffered from it myself and know how agonising it can be (I also used to faint after the loo stage, due to sudden drop in B.P). I now research mucositis, but colleagues work specifically on IBS and the difference between a healthy and 'diseased' intestine is staggering! It can literally weigh twice as much, so no wonder people have to undo buttons and experience so much pain!

One thing I did when I suffered, was to keep a food diary. I discovered that reconstituted meats were a major trigger (some sausages, pepperoni, meatballs - all things my ex loved to eat). After cutting them out, I didn't suffer an attack for 5 years, until last month when I couldn't resist some reduced 'fine quality' sausages in the supermarket (the problem with sausages is not related to cheapness or brand).

I remembered my lemon balm (it is a sedative, which works also on the gut, stopping the spasms) and made a strong lemon balm tea. I would advise anybody who suffers to try it. Within 10 mins I felt pretty ok. So much so I didn't know when I 'had to go' and very nearly had a disgusting accident!!! Other than herbal, any anti-inflammatory should help with the pain. I wouldn't touch Immodium Plus, as this works by slowing down GI (gastro-intestinal) transit. If the IBS is dietary triggered, this is the last thing you want!

As Liza suggests, probiotics can be good, as they support beneficial bacteria in the gut, which are proven to have a support function to the intestine's response to toxins. Brewer's Yeast (or marmite) are beneficial to these bacteria, too and help modulate the inflammatory response.

Don't get fobbed off with the 'it's probably a virus' carp that my Doctor gave me (this was years ago, before IBS became commonplace or recognised).

Oh eck, I feel like I've just given my first GI lecture, lol!

[Brengirl]

If I have IBS it's gotta be beetroot that stimulates it. I love beetroot.