IBS

Having had tummy troubles for a long time now, and having them grow worse over the last few weeks, I read some information and I am about 95% sure that I have IBS.  I have an appt with the GP later this week to discuss it, but I was curious what some of the rest of you would recommend? I know they can't do much to treat it, so I was just wondering if there were any diet tips or supplements or anything like that which might help my tummy distress? Thanks!

I was diagnosed with IBS last year, just after I moved back to the UK from the US - I was under a lot of stress with taking lots of flights and trying to make the big decision to move home, and I'd just got through telling my PhD supervisor I was leaving when I came down with a really bad stomach bug - I was in bed for 4 days and didn't eat properly for a week, yet at the same time was also trying to pack up my apartment and book flights (I moved home while still recovering from the illness). A few days later I had a curry (bad idea) and for the next week I had terrible stomach pains/constipation - I was really worried about it, but when I spoke to my mum she said it was exactly the symptoms she got too... so I went to my GP and explained that I thought I had IBS and he prescribed some Colofac for me (it's cheaper on prescription than buying it over the counter). Since then, I've pretty much been okay - only having 2 symptom flare-ups in the past year (one being when I came back from Serbia last month after eating a different diet for a week). I don't find that it's too bad on most days, although I do get stomach cramps in the morning and occasionally after eating a heavy meal out. I haven't taken any IBS tablets for ages but I try to take probiotics and prebiotics every day.

Most of the over-the-counter medicines for IBS (such as Colofac, Buscopan, Colpermin) require that you have already been diagnosed with it before you can buy them, so it's worth speaking to your doctor about it. You could also try taking probiotics every day (preferably in tablet form as the yoghurts like Activia have hardly any friendly bacteria in them) which will help maintain gut health and could help control your symptoms.

IBS can often be a big catch-all 'diagnosis' when they just don't know what is wrong with you.

My mother and I both have 'IBS' and have just lived with it. However, when my son started undergoing tests for chronic diarrhea, I learned that there are quite a few GI conditions that a person may have instead of IBS. It just depends upon how up-to-speed your doctor is.

For example, there is starting to be a push here to test people more for Celiac disease. According to the latest research, 1/130 people could have Celiac!!! That's a helluva lot of people who are NOT getting diagnosed! And Celiac is a serious auto-immune disease.

Europe is better about testing for Celiac from what I understand, but do make sure you ask about it.

My son does not have Celiac, he has something else allergy-related, but it took an endoscopy to find it. In the UK, they said he had 'toddler diarrhea or 'IBS like Mum does'. I am considering doing the same elimination trials my son is doing to see if my symptoms improve (this week we are taking him off dairy but we may need to try lots of other things).

My personal opinion is that IBS is caused by *something* but it's often up to you to do a lot of trial and error with diet, but also to push your doctor to help you get tested for thing like Celiac.

As for the probiotics, my understanding is that their success is largely anecdotal and not scientific (but I could be wrong).

IBS can often be a big catch-all 'diagnosis' when they just don't know what is wrong with you.

My mother and I both have 'IBS' and have just lived with it. However, when my son started undergoing tests for chronic diarrhea, I learned that there are quite a few GI conditions that a person may have instead of IBS. It just depends upon how up-to-speed your doctor is.

For example, there is starting to be a push here to test people more for Celiac disease. According to the latest research, 1/130 people could have Celiac!!! That's a helluva lot of people who are NOT getting diagnosed! And Celiac is a serious auto-immune disease.

Europe is better about testing for Celiac from what I understand, but do make sure you ask about it.

My son does not have Celiac, he has something else allergy-related, but it took an endoscopy to find it. In the UK, they said he had 'toddler diarrhea or 'IBS like Mum does'. I am considering doing the same elimination trials my son is doing to see if my symptoms improve (this week we are taking him off dairy but we may need to try lots of other things).

My personal opinion is that IBS is caused by *something* but it's often up to you to do a lot of trial and error with diet, but also to push your doctor to help you get tested for thing like Celiac.

As for the probiotics, my understanding is that their success is largely anecdotal and not scientific (but I could be wrong).

Having read the symptoms of Celiac disease, I wouldn't think I have that (no fever or weight loss or loss of appetite, really). But, I think my problems are most likely diet related, and I plan to try paying more attention to what I am eating and how it makes me feel. I know fried foods have always been a culprit for me, but I seem to have trouble with other foods now, too. I plan to try a gluten free diet for a few weeks and see if it helps (also I have psoriasis and some studies have shown that people with psoriasis sometimes have gluten allergies.) Maybe that will give some insight. I don't know, but I am tired of feeling this way.  :\\\'(

i've also had the experience of an IBS diagnosis being a we don't know what's wrong situation - I have been tested for coeliac and various other things though and it's all been negative, so honestly I got discouraged and quit going to the doctor. Peppermint oil capsules my GP prescribed didn't really help that much.  I think the next step for me is an elimination diet, similar to what balmerhon is doing with her son.

I will say though getting tested for and ruling out various disorders (especially coeliac) was well worth the GP visit.

i've also had the experience of an IBS diagnosis being a we don't know what's wrong situation - I have been tested for coeliac and various other things though and it's all been negative, so honestly I got discouraged and quit going to the doctor. Peppermint oil capsules my GP prescribed didn't really help that much.  I think the next step for me is an elimination diet, similar to what balmerhon is doing with her son.

I will say though getting tested for and ruling out various disorders (especially coeliac) was well worth the GP visit.

Yeah, I will see what the doc says on Thursday. But I suppose eating a bit healthier by eliminating processed foods and eating more fruit and veg is a good place to start. Then I can start to see if it's certain fruits, veg, or meats that bother my stomach.

Don't be mislead by what Celiac symptoms are supposed to be. One of the world's best places for research into it is here in Maryland. You do not have to lose weight, have a fever, lose your appetite, etc. It can, in fact, be just the opposite. You can also be asymptomatic!

Blood tests are also often falsely negative. The gold standard for diagnosis of Celiac is an endoscopic biopsy.

Believe me, I would not want anyone to have this. However, with research on things for my son, I have been shocked by how prevalent this disease is. And the scary thing is, he may STILL have it as any rest results for a child under 5 can still be inaccurate.

If you want more info on it, I can post or PM links. I don't want to derail this thread anymore. There is a check list that University of Maryland provides for you to take to your doc if you're interested.

Jewlz, yes, healthy eating is a good place to start. Be aware, though, that dairy, gluten, and soy are some of the biggest allergens/intolerances. We're starting with dairy here and then if we need to, we'll try eliminating other foods.

My IBS is also stress related. I have a prescription for an anti-spasmodic, but I've hesitated to take it because of the side effects.

Well definitely talk to the GP first for a proper diagnosis.  If you do have IBS, you'll also need your GP's advise, as your treatment needs to be varied depending on what causes your symptoms. Some folks need lots of fiber, others need anti-spasmodic meds, others may actually have coeliac (and balmerhon is defintely right, the best confirmation is a endoscopic biopsy) or other allergies.  Friends have also had great luck treating their IBS with acupuncture. 

I found this old thread and found it very helpful. I was officially diagnosed with IBS about 2010 (but pretty sure it had been something I always had) and it came to a climax when I went undiagnosed with a bad gall bladder for almost 2 years. I have, in the past, been in a severe state with the IBS. Once the gall bladder was removed THOSE symptoms went away, but the IBS was front and center rearing it's ugly head.  It was so severe that I was prescribed a medication for anxiety attacks/panic attacks because whenever my tum was so severely cramped  I guess that is how my body reacted to it or coped with it. Luckily I learned a LOT about how to control it with my diet and for the most part (except a very occasional bout) have been 90% without symptoms for the last couple of years.
Well now I am experiencing my symptoms again but hopefully will be able to stop it before it gets severe. I know the reasons is stress. I am getting ready to send off my fiance visa application on Tuesday after the general visitor visa refusal. I have been stressing out about the whole situation, even when I try not to. Looks like I will have to go back to square one to nip this in the bud......yoga or walking for destressing as stress is my #1 trigger and then severe diet overhaul as food is my #2 trigger. I have alternating symptoms  sometimes IBS-C and other times IBS-D.
I am really hoping to get this under control before I fly over to the UK. Nothing worse than having to be on a plane 8-9 hours with IBS. Fiance tells me to walk for exercise and to de-stress. Just wondered if anyone else is currently active on here and has this same issue. What resources are available in the UK and how receptive are the GPs in regards to it?

It will depend on your GP, but I've had quite a bit of help for IBS since coming here, to the point it doesn't affect my life as much as it used to. I'm only 26 but have had symptoms since I was 8, so don't remember life without it, and there were YEARS of constant medical visits. I'm really pleased with the NHS. Sometimes it feels like they want to get through your appointment as quickly as possible, but for the most part it seems they are genuinely trying to help. Of course, the sooner you're feeling better, the less you'll come to the doctor, and that's the aim here when everyone has free access. It's not like they make money off your visit.

About two years ago my boyfriend pestered me to see a dietician because he was concerned about my weight (I've always been tiny). So I did, but rather than investigating my weight, the dietician was able to help me with my IBS. I've been on the FODMAP diet for two years now and it has made a massive difference.

So, all that said, when it comes to GPs here, explain your situation, what you have found works and doesn't work, and even ask to see a specialist if you think it would be of benefit. For stress they can also offer some help, including different therapies, so that may be of use to you as well. All of mine have been really helpful. I've had the odd one or two doctors that weren't great, but I just make sure not to book with them when I call in.

My symptoms are always worse with stress as well, so I feel your pain. When it comes to flying, I have to take Imodium and diazepam to keep calm enough to get on a plane. If you think you'll need something to keep calm for the plane journey, tell your doctor and they should be able to give you something. Heck, lie about it and say you're terrified of flying if you have to - most GPs I tell that are more than sympathetic and don't ask too many questions.

Thanks for your reply. Very reassuring. Before this visa situation, I have been able to control my symptoms through diet. But I know it is the stress right now. It has happened in other situations (divorce, a major move, etc) so I have been paying particular attention to drinking more water, eating basic foods and making sure I kept moving around. Unfortunately when I do not move, it seems to be worse. But today has been a good day.   One question......is a dietician part of medical coverage or is that considered private and an out of pocket expense?

I was able to get a referral to an NHS dietician, so it was covered by the NHS. I didn't pay any extra. The only problem I had was that I needed to travel a bit further to the hospital she worked at, but it was all worth it in the end. There may be some where you will need to pay, but that will be because it's without a referral. If you go private and pay, you may be seen quicker as sometimes the NHS waiting list can be a little long. I didn't feel I had to wait too long, though, and it depends on your area.

I'm not sure if there are certain requirements in order to get a referral to a dietician, but I think if you have a history with IBS and explain to your GP that you try to control it through diet, they may be more quick to act if you ask for a referral.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to stress about the visa. It's out of your hands now so you just need to wait and see. If you were able to tick all the boxes for the requirements, then you should be okay.