Hi, this is my first post here. I've been trying to figure out what is going on with me. I'm very upset. It all started about 2 1/2 months ago when I made a big change to my diet. On the advice of an osteopath, I started an autoimmune diet. I won't go into what that entailed but suffice it to say it was a big change from what I was use to. My stomach became so upset that I could barely eat anything without it hurting and I became constipated. Once or twice I had a diarrhea attack right after I ate something my system didn't like. I also had this uncomfortable, pressure like feeling in my lower bowel or rectum. I stopped the diet after about a week and in about a month, my stomach returned to normal but not my bowel. I still feel constipated and I have the constant rectal discomfort. It feels achy, sort of like something is putting pressure on a sore or tender spot. I feel like having a BM would help but it really doesn't. I'm taking fiber and laxatives but I can't get my bowels regulated or the consistency right. I often don't feel like I've completely done my business. I'm from the US so I hope you get my meaning. The only thing I know to do to try to relieve the sense of pressure and discomfort is to try to go to the bathroom. this may give a little relief but doesn't stop the bad sensation I have.
When things didn't clear up, I started to wonder if my problem could be from pelvic floor prolapse since I had my ovaries removed last year. I went to a urogynocologist and was diagnosed with a grade 2 rectocele and mild prolapse of the bladder which is being treated with a pessary, kegels, and estrogen cream. So far, this isn't helping.
I'd love to know if anyone has a clue as to what's going on. I just recently had a colonoscopy and that was fine. Thank you for reading this post and your help.
Hi Shirley, seems like strange things are happening. Have you seen a GI doctor as well? It's odd that a diet caused such a horrific problem to you and returning to your normal diet didn't being things back to normal, though I know things happen to me like that at times. I am hypersensitive since I have had fibromyalgia for years now, quite managed though. And I have found taking magnesium helps keep the intestines moving the stool through you quite well. best thing I have tried. Something you might try. Phillips makes tabs. But you can but regular magnesium and start with 400-800 mg but can go up to 2000 if necessary - whatever works for you. Work your way up because you don't want to overdo. Works like a charm and no cramps or anything like that at all.
Would like to know how it turns out.
Regards,
Barb
Hi Shirley, sorry to hear that you're having such a bad time. The rectal discomfort you described sounds very familiar to me. One of my symptoms, when I have an IBS flare-up, is Levator Ani Syndrome. This is a continuous rectal spasm which is very uncomfortable and also gives me pain in my lower back. It is worse when sitting. I've been prescribed 10mg Amitriptyline, which I take in the evening, and which has definitely helped. I don't know if that is your problem, but it may be worth discussing it with your doctor. I hope you're soon feeling better.
Just wanted to add, Shirley, that the feeling of 'not being finished' is a very common one with IBS. As you've had the colonoscopy and everything was OK, maybe you could go back to your doctor and discuss IBS?
Why would an osteopath say change your diet? Osteopaths are not qualified in diet surely. Laxatives are not a good idea either.
Hi carmel, I'm so glad to be getting some responses to my post. You ask a good question. To tell you the truth, I wish I had never stepped foot in that man's office. The reason he put me on the diet called the autoimmune Paleo diet protocol, was he felt the common link for all my complaints was inflammation. I went in complaining of plantar faciitis, knee joint pain, thumb and shoulder pain, frequent sinus infections and eustachian tube problems. I had no GI complaints at the time. I also needed to lose weight. He is sort of a holistic and preventive health guy. At the moment I feel like he is also a quack but I may change my mind after all this gets sorted out. You make a good point also about laxatives. I just started taking Miralex at night and I am assuming that's a laxative. I"ve tried magnesium, black strap molasses, and prune juice and all have been effective but I can't get the right amount figured out. What would you recommend for that and what are you using for fiber is you are supplimenting for that. Thanks.
Rosiemags, I can't thank you enough for responding to my thread. I AM having a bad time. I worry I will never feel better at times. I've never had anything like this before and I'm 61. I have an appointment with a Gastroenterologist the week after next. I wish it were sooner. Is that the specialist you would recommend? I've thought about seeing a Colorectal doctor since the rectal area is the only area giving me problems currently. It takes so long to get appointments with specialists that I could make an appointment and cancel if I didn't need it. I'm so glad you have found some relief. I hope and pray that I'm heading that way too.
You're welcome, Shirley. At the moment, I'm just started seeing a gastroenterologist, not only for IBS but also for acid reflux - just to add to the joy of things! Here in the UK, a gastroenterologist is the specialist you see with IBS, or any other gastric problem. However, I see no harm in you making an appointment with a Colorectal doctor to discuss your rectal pain. I'm a few years older than you and was diagnosed with IBS at the beginning of 2013. When I was first diagnosed I felt very ill and, like you, thought things would never get better. But, I'm pleased to say that they did. I've still got IBS, but I no longer feel as ill as I did back in 2013. I did have another flare-up in March, though, which is when I began to take the Amitriptyline. As I understand it, IBS can flare-up occasionally. I take Mebeverine three times day - which helps to a certain degree - and, of course the Amitriptyline. Principally, I watch my diet. No fried foods and limited problem foods such as cabbage and cauiflower etc. I try to eat as healthily as I can. The Fodmaps diet (just google it) is a diet aimed at helping with IBS. I haven't followed it, but I know that some people have found it very good. IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion - when everything else has been ruled out, that's what it is - and so your gastroenterolgist should do blood tests etc. to make absolutely sure that there is nothing more going on, e.g. coeliac disease. You've had the colonoscopy which was clear, so that is good. May I suggest that before you see your gastroenterologist you keep a diary of bowel movements etc and how you feel on a daily basis. There is an IBS app here on patient.info - IBS Tracker - which you can download onto your phone. I have used it and found it very helpful. It just helps to have an overall view of your symptoms. https://patient.info/mobile
I hope this has helped some and wish you all the best. Do let me know how you get on.
Thank you Rosiemag, I'll download those trackers. I took a look at the fodmaps diet and thought wow, compared to the diet that seemed to trigger this mess, it looks definitely doable, especially since it's not forever. I have noticed that onions are not sitting well with me. Apparently, they are one of the number one offenders on the fodmap diet. Normally, they are a big part of my diet. I love the crunch. This does make me wonder. I guess I should wait until I know more about whether I really have IBS or not before I change my diet again but right now, I eat a ton of yogurt. I thought it was good for the gut. But I see not necessarily, at least not until your gut ecology balances again. I was put on some very high power antibiotics last winter. It was totally needless because I had a virus. It just makes me want to go find that doctor and slap him around for awhile. I'm not serious of course but I'd love to give him a piece of my mind. My tinnitus flared up so bad that I spent the first half of this year crying over that and then developed these GI problems. I do wonder if I had a very fragil system when I started the Paleo autoimmune diet. When I look at what I was eating, many of the fruits and veges would be a no no on the fodmaps diet. I'm really finding that diet intriguing. Two years ago, I had a lot of indigestion and was diagnosed with an ulcer due to anti-inflammatory meds I was on. It took a long time to recover from that. I was able to return to my normal diet eventually but I've never been able to handle coffee well since that experience. :-( I love the stuff. I'm beginning to see how my system has been probably pretty precarious for a while. I can't help but feel angry at the doctors who take chances with your health and don't even warn you what the consequences might be. I hope you don't mind my ranting for just a little. It helps me to get out some of my frustration. I've lost so much time. I haven't painted or promoted a book I wrote or many other things that interest me in many months. Thanks for your help.
PS - I know there are some wonderful doctors out there. In fact, one saved my life.
I can relate to your problem. I have or had the same situation (with an additional unpleasant side effect, which I won't mention!). I have very bad habits when it comes to eating, so it's not surprising that things don't work well in this department. However, the following adjustments are working very well for me. I now take one fibre supplement about every 3rd or 4th day after a meal (not 3 after each meal as recommended; however, each person is different so it is best to start slowly) and one Digestive Enzyme pill after a meal of spicy food or when I have eaten too quickly. For constipation, stool softener pills are very good (they are not a laxative and may be known by another name in the UK...I live in Canada) but you may want to try the fibre supplement and digestive enzyme supplements first..
Hi Shirley, your doctor put you on the Paleo diet? I have been following it since I am celiac and don't tolerate many grains so it wasn't too difficult a transition except I like sweets. So I have to find some different ways to bake. Is it Paleo that you had a Problem with?
Barb
Hi Shirley, me again. I am reading another of your posts and see you have similar problems to what I have experienced I too had a peptic ulcer 3 years ago from an anti inflammatory. From that I was nauseous and had diarrhea every day for a year and had seen 5 GI doctors who kept telling me I had IBS. I knew that and got sick of hearing it. Finally one did an endoscopy and found the ulcer. My regular internist put me on Sucralfate and it helped SO much hike the ulcer healed. But I still suffer from some nausea and stomach issues with my IBS and take Nortriptylene daily which seems to help my symptoms a lot. I also love the Paleo diet because I don't have any gas or bloating and my insides have never felt better. I have always had a problem with coffee and only give it up when it's a big problem. Even when I nursed my babies (over 30 years ago) I had to give up coffee because of the acid as it would give the babies bad stomach pain. I did try the FODMAP diet but I didn't feel so well on it. I could eat rice which my body doesn't really like. I hoped it was really going to help because I read about leaky gut syndrome, but nope - only worse. I am surprised Paleo, which is simply all real food, had such a devastating effect.
Barb
Hi Ruth, my email was sending all my notices from patient.info to spam and I'm just seeing that I've had some new posts under my thread. May I ask what fiber suppliment you are taking. I live in the US actually. Did you have the constant rectal discomfort for awhile? What were your symptoms?
Hi Barb, I'm just seeing your posts. My email has been sending my notices to spam. I know how weird it sounds that the Paleo Diet caused me to have such a bad reaction. It was a little more than that though. It was the autoimmune diet, a subset of Paleo. I could have no grains at all, no dairy, no eggs, no legumes, seeds, nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, and the only oils I could have were olive and coconut. I think it was a huge shock to my system. Sometimes if you have IBS too many veges and fruits can upset your system. My fiber intake was probably really different too and I think that upset me also. Since that's what got the ball rolling with all my problems, I don't really know what to do at this point. I haven't seen a GI doctor yet. I have an appointment next week.
Hi Shirley, the supplement comes in a red and yellow cardboard box. It is called Ultra-Fiber (a balanced high fibre supplment with Psyllium and Prune). You can find it online. I'm really very surprised by the effectiveness of this simple remedy. I have, up until starting the fibre tablets, had a tendency to get an upset stomach, with diarrhoea, or gas attacks accompanied by backache. The catalyst for finally doing something about it was I had had about three "accidents" and was getting alarmed about what this might lead to. Rectal discommfort, not so much of a problem. I have had the discomfort but very rarely, only now and then over a period of about 15 years, but as I said, only now and then.