I seem to post on here every time I have an IBS flare up. Last one was 4 months ago. I seem to have had around 4 flare ups in the last 12 month. My day to day struggles with IBS are usually bloating and gas, especially morning time, with feeling of needing the toilet but not being able to go first thing and then usually going around 10ish and sometimes very loose. When I have a flare up I need to go more often, sometimes they're loose sometimes they're fairly normal-ish but I don't feel like I'm fully emptying and this is accompanied with 'different' cramps and light pains in the abdominal area. I had sigmoidoscopy 5 years ago which came back fine but symptoms were put down to IBS so I have been diagnosed with this. I'm 29 and relatively fit and healthy. I suffer with other issues too such as anxiety, indigestion and weak bladder which I have read is often common for IBS sufferers to have as well. I do often worry that the symptoms maybe something more than IBS which doesn't help but I've not seen any blood or dark stools which is reassuring so I just put it down to IBS. I seen my doctor last week and he said the same thing and advised trying to cut out gluten and/or dairy, saying although I may not be intolerant there may be a sensitivity to these food types. If anyone else struggles with these symptoms how do you cope with the flare ups? I've been taken Ibs colpermin tablets which are peppermint oil tablets that don't dissolve until they reach your gut. I think they help sometimes but I've read they can irritate your back passage as a side effect so I'm stopping taking these as of today. I'm hoping this resolves itself in a few days like it usually does but if not I have another appointment with gp booked for next week. Any help appreciated
Wow my symptoms are a carbon copy of yours. I Was diagnosed about 2 months or so ago after a Colonscopy...symptoms are worse if stressed or have anxiety..
I have found Colpremin to work well for me. But I do know it can make others worse... I also take peppermint tea when o feel bloated which can happen from time to time.
How long have you suffered with the condition? I agree with stress and anxiety, I have been a little stressed at work last couple of weeks so could be a trigger.
Wasn't till this year that i have acutually realised I have been suffering on and off for 20 years or so.
Way back years ago I would bloat and get very windy once or twice a year lasting for a week or so.. I have a 5 week illness rule. If symptoms go away before 5 weeks I feel I have no need to waste Dr's time. Well guess what the symptoms used to go. I sturggled on not realliy linking these symptoms to stress at all but that was what was happening.
Wind forwards to 12 month ago I had very very stressful situation and had an attack that was bad and it dint go way for 12 months...This rasied my stress and axiety and guess what my symptoms got worse and worse. so over last 12 months I have had loads of diffrent tests all coming back normal, normal normal finally culminating on having a colonosopy which was normal. In fact the consultant even said how healthy my bowl was. (im 49)
And as if by magic seeing on the screen nothing was wrong 99.9% of my symptoms disappeared almost over night.
That was 2 months ago. Yes I still have the odd symptom now and then. I pop a Colpermin and all is good. So I have stress related IBS...my stress level increases my IBS increases...I try to relax my IBS gets less.....
It wasnt till this test that I realised looking back all my attacks for 20 years followed this stress pattern. The brain can do all this kind of madness.
So i concentrate now on trying to keep stress and axiety as low as I can...which isnt always easy. But knowing I havn't got some sinster illness because I could see on a monitor has really helped me.
Sound advice Slogan.
Especially the 5 week rule. I should take note.
I agree once you know it isn't anything serious a lot of the symptoms disappear. I know this from when I had the initial sigmoidoscopy a few years back and recently when things start easing and I tell myself it's nothing to worry about, things get better.
Thanks for the help 
I got rid of my health anxiety and panic after diagnosis and my IBS got better. I usually wait one week only before seeing a doctor if I am poorly. In the case of my IBS, I waited twi weeks because I was too frightened to see the doctor after googling my symptoms too much.