Ok this might sound weird but I've been getting diarrhoea every weekend for at least 6 months now. It starts on a Saturday morning when I'm either woken up by the pain of needing to go to the toilet or it happens within 10-20 mins of me waking up. I get really hot and i've literally get to go there and then or I'll be in a mess. I have it throughout the weekend and then come Monday morning it's stopped but that low grumbling feeling like I still need to go the loo is there but no diarrhoea. It's normally Tuesday when i have a semi normal bowel movement. It gets better as the week goes on but religiously every Saturday it starts again. I don't work at the weekend's but do at least 11 hours a day Monday to Friday and im always very busy. Is this ibs or am I crazy? I want to go to the docs but the issues start at the weekend and by the time Monday comes I think oh its better now so don't go hoping it won't come back but im kidding myself. I've tried excluding bread from my diet but that's had no effect tbh. Has anyone else had anything like this? Thanks
Hi, mine is always worse a. At weekends and b. Anytime I can use my own toilet! Lol sounds crazy but I manage to hold it thro my 9hrs at work then the second I pull up at home I'm like everyone out my way, I need the loo! I got 3x before work within an hr of waking and on weekends I can be in there like 8x a day I would suggest looking at what u eat, mayb keep a diary, see if u can find a trigger?
Thanks jo,
It's weird you say that because in the week i need to go when I get home like there and then but it's not as desperate or as explosive as it Is at the weekend if that makes sense lol. Yesterday morning i must have sat on the loo for at least half an hour before a dare moved and then its a constant run to the toilet anything up to 8 times. Don't get me wrong by the 8th time it's hardly diarrhoea more like a gassy mess but I still feel like I need to go then Sunday it starts again. I think you're right about the food diary at least then I can go to the docs with evidence because i know that's the first thing they'll ask me. It's making me not go out at the weekend's now in case I get the "I have to go right now" feeling.
Thanks for your advise, 😊 glad it's not just me. I've spent ages looking on the internet but to no avail. Have you found anything In particular that helps you?
Hi Kelly, sounds like your having strange time at weekends. I suggest you seek advice from a pharmist maybe the y can suggest something for you. Let me know how you geton.
I'm actually being investigated for crohns after 20yrs of being told I have ibs. My recent tests have shown a lactose glucose and fructose intolerance and I have a bacterial overgrowth in my small intestine. I've pretty much eliminated lactose which has helped with the sudden attacks of the runs but not the pain. I have inflammation in my stool samples and I can't digest fats. So basically I eat white rice, gluten free pasta and sandwiches thro the week so I can work! It's a nightmare!
What happens if you take a week off work or even a Bank holiday? What is the nature of your work?
I remember reading about something called tinman's disease (I think) Its tin poisoning or allergy and it takes about 5 days to affect the worker and two days to recover. Just cruel for a 5 day work week. Perhaps its really an effect of something at your workplace. I guess you are not working with molten tin?
I'll bet the doc says its psychological - caused by stress. Don't pay his bill if he does until he proves it by giving you a 6 month rehab on a Greek island. Bad joke because you are probably self employed if you're working those hours.
Good luck Graham
You've really been through the mill haven't you! Hopefully they'll get you sorted now! Did this just come on with you or have you had issues most your life with it?
I've thought about removing lactose completely from my diet as i'm sure it doesn't help me at all.
One other thing I haven't mentioned is I have ms. I know this can sometimes have an effect on people but I haven't relapsed for ages (I don't give myself time 😉) I bet work and food is a nightmare for you! I hope they get you sorted soon!
Something I can definitely do as there is one not far from me. Thank you 😊
Yes I've been a "puker" since I was tiny. It all got worse when I was 19, I dropped to 6st 12 in a couple of weeks, couldn't keep food down and had chronic diarrhea. I got diagnoses with severe ibs, had several hospital admissions, iv drugs and pain relief, then had my appendix out at 21. They hoped that would help. Haha, I'm now 40 and a little better at times but no "normal" by any mark. I just don't do well with food. I have worked out most of my triggers now, basically I just can't each much or it is returned one way or the other
Hi Graham,
I haven't had a bank holiday off or a weeks holiday in over a year as daft as it sounds. I've had the odd day off here and there but it hasn't affected my bowel movements, it's stayed the same. I am a sign writer so I'm up and down the country most the time. I'm basically putting stickers on cars, windows, signs etc. I honestly work 11 hours a day and im 33 too.
There's no molten lava at our place, luckily! just the ink fumes from the machines which gives me a massive headache when I'm in the office tbh.
I've never thought it could be stress, i'm not self employed but I am the manager of my department hence the daft hours.
I do like your idea of a holiday though! I'll suggest a month in the Maldives which I'm sure might possibly help.
Thanks Graham, I'll keep you posted 😊
Do you do something Thursday or Friday that you don't do other days, e.g. eat different foods or have a few beers?
Hiya, nope nothing different. Same old sad routine everyday. I like a glass of wine every now and then but I've been doing that since I was about 20. My diet is pretty boring tbh. I eat mainly chicken and fish, not a lot of veg but nothing to heavy. I haven't had a take away or macdonalds (I used to like them lol) in months to see if that would help but it hasn't. I stopped drinking coke which I liked (I know it's bad for you) and I have been drinking flavoured water at home and work for about a month but the same thing happens every weekend without fail. 😕
I'm so glad you're not normal because neither am I 😉 you've really been through it haven't you! I've kept all this to myself, it's been going on longer than 6 months, more like a year and a half tbh but I just keep thinking it will be ok. It's not though, it's making me miserable and keeping me single because i don't dare go out at the weekend incase I "need to go" and im to knackered in the week to go out. I need to work out my triggers like you have. Just such a long journey! How did you start? Did you cut out something for a few weeks? I'm thinking of gluten or lactose? I bet you find food a right challenge nowadays!
Haha what even is "normal"? I had a hydrogen breath test recently which confirmed lactose and also the other 2. The test "norm" was apparently 10, mine got to 60 and kept going haha. Ive kind of stayed off lactose for 20 years, no milk butter cheese or cream. I use to tolerate hot chocolate but not any more. I vomit now even if it's powder form in drinks Now I have to really check labels. It means no pastry no cake limited crisps etc. I struggle with fruit and vegetables anyway so I just have 1 at a meal. Like now, I just ate 3 boiled potatoes and carrots with some fish then had an alpro soya desert. I feel like I've eaten 4 courses! I'm so stuffed. It's a waiting game to see what happens every weekend In the week it's not an option. I either vomit within 2 hrs or get diarrhea before 11pm. I take tablets to keep it in and other tablets to stop it coming out the other end to try and keep my weight steady at 8st!
Definitely keep a diary. I did it last year. I noted 1 column of what I had eaten, 1 column for my bowel movements, including the number of times, consistency etc and 1 for other symptoms - I had a leg rash, aching legs, headache, vomiting aswell. When I showed my GP he said it probably wasn't lactose but referred me to a Gastroenterology specialist as in 2.5wks I had 78 bowel movements and this was abnormal in his opinion! First thing she did was order a fecal calprotectin test - basically they check the stool for inflammation. If it's below 60 they consider it ibs, mine was almost 400! And so began the tests to find the source of inflammation
I have no idea what normal is anymore lol. 20 years! I feel for you, what do you do if you go out for meals? Do you work? (Not being nosey lol) Like you I feel stuffed when i eat, Id like a nap because i feel so full and bloated and plus I'm not sure if I'll have to go to the loo. It must be really hard to have to wait and see if you're sick or not. Are you used to it or does it has a massive impact on your life?
I've resorted to not really eating lunch at work anymore just incase, just flavoured water and juice. I still drink wine though. If I have to give up that I might cry. At 8st you're very slim! I'm 5ft 5 and weigh 8.10. I did used to be about 6.5 about 2 years ago but I've slowly put it back on.
I'm debating on trying the tablets on a Friday evening to see if I can stop it, I just don't know if it will do more harm than good because I think it needs to come out rather than stay in, if you get me lol 😕
I'm definitely going to start a diary so I have something to show them. I'll do it how did yours 😊 You're had a lot more going off than me though! 78 bowel movements! That's a hell of a lot!! When do the tests start? All the bloody prodding and poking! I really hope though they sort you out, you'll have to keep me posted ☺
Hi, I try not to eat out but if I do I know exactly what I can eat now. I do work, 40hrs a week in a nursery. It's difficult as I can't just leave a class of 24 kids at the drop of a hat! Most of the time I am use to it and my partner is pretty understanding. Most of my attacks are early morn and late at night providing I stick to my strict diet. I have times where I think sod this and I eat something like a mcDonalds or pub food but I'm full of regret for weeks after! I don't drink alcohol, that also comes back it's taken me 10 years to get from 7st 10 to 8st. I have 2 kids and weighed 8st 4 when I gave birth to both!! I'm 5t 3. I only take immodium when absolutely necessary either to get me thro work or if I'm going somewhere. I also feel it's better out than in! X
Hi Jo
I have a question. I am getting tested for parasites but I have had IBS since I was 18. I am now 52 . Would this test show inflammation as well.
Kelly I am sorry for what you are going through. It us brutal. I just had some water and lemon and I feel pain. Last night I had chicken rice soup and ended up in the bathroom 4 times. Now I probably will not go for a couple of days. Vicious cycle. What concerns me is the chronic annoying left side pain. Feels like a wound.
Vivian
Hi, I think stool samples are cultured for different things but I'm no expert. I've given stool samples before, for cdiff and other bugs and all have been clear. This one is a Fecal Calprotectin test specifically for inflammation I think. Ask ur GP for advice. What parasite do they suspect??