IBS Symptoms?

Digestive health
1

Hi all

Am completely new to this forum and just looking for some advice. I have a query over IBS diagnosis at the moment awaiting further tests. It all started a few months ago when I started having severe acid reflux (agains still waiting for a diagnosis on that, awaiting endo and colonoscopy on same day - fun!!)

Anyway I guess my question is, can IBS cause you to have so many different types of stool and bowel habits? I mean lietrally in the last few months I have had every kind of stool going! From change in colour, yellow, brown, dark brown. Severe constipation, haven't been able to go for a week or so. Followed by severe diarreah, in fact it has been mostly diarreah. Sometimes with mucus, sometimes with undigested food. Have a few days where things settle down then right back to the change again. And the cramping I also get but not too bad, usually right before I go and feels like period cramps!

Just wondered if this is totally normal for IBS sufferers as I am so new to all of this. And I am so sorry for all the totally gross information I provided above!!!

Thank you, any help would be appreciated!

2

Hi Amy,

     No need to worry abotui being gross.  It's pretty much uhnavaidable in this forum.  We're used to it.  And you should be happy to get a colonoscopy and endoscopy ( I call it the "double ender"wink at the same time.  Saves a lot of aggrevation, missed work, waiting for another consultation, and the appointment for the actual procedure.  The endo only adds about 15  minutes to it.  Much better to get it all over with at one time.  You'll be out through the whole thing anyway.

     While everyone's IBS symptoms differ, what you describe is fairly common - back and forth from constipation to diarreah.  You say that both the reflux and the IBS started at the same time.  Did the reflux come first, and then the IBS, after you started taking OTC meds for reflux?  I ask that because some people have their digestive process completely upset from heartburn and reflux medications.  Also, I have to ask, were there any major changes in your life just before these two conditions appeared?    Most peoole really don't like to be told this, but stress has been shown to be a factor in both conditions.

     With that said, I suggest you wait for the official diagnosis after you have the procedures.  But do keep in mind that any condition where medical science uses the words "disorder" or "syndrome" in the desription means that, for the most part, they haven't got a clue what causes it or how to treat it.  That doesn't mean there are no treatments for IBS, only that unless you have a very good gastroentologist, finding out the best treatment for your form of it can mean a lot of trial and error with diet and medications,  that you will mostly have to go through on your own.  But hey - that's why we're here.  There's a load of good info already here in responses at this forum, and it wouldn't hurt to do a few searches and get a feel for what others are doing, while you wait for the doctor's report.

Good luck.

3

Thanks so much for your input rjdriver, means a lot!  And you are right, I never thought I would be happy about having a procedure done but just can't wait to get answers!

The reflux did come first but unfortunately was misdiagnosed by my GP and so went untreated for about 6 weeks, unfortunately made me really poorly but in this time was not on any meds so know the change in bowel habits wasn't down to meds.  However, you are completely right in the fact that I was extremely stressed when this all started - not particularly before the reflux started but was certainly stressed by the time the IBS symptoms started!  

Thanks again for your support, really appreciated and will definitely have a good read through the forum!

4

Hi Amy,

It appears that all who have this condition suffer a variety of different symptoms. Years ago i remember my mother referring to her 'spastic colon'!

It appears that with you there is internal disruption of your gut flora and that the bad gut flora are having a field day creating havoc inside you!

One thing I have found that is very good to periodically calm things down:

Cut up really small/or mince, 2 small cloves of garlic and a few slivers of fresh ginger. have 2 teaspoonfuls of this with a small glass of turmeric dissolved in water. It's weird I know, but garlic is great for killing of bacteria and ginger is excellent for reducing stomach inflammation, so too does turmeric.

Secondly, buy either fresh or frozen raspberries and eat a small bowl of that.for a few days..Scientific studies have found that raspberries kill bad gut bacteria. Now to your general diet: with a disrupted tummy, eat simple food.

Week One:

1)steamed vegetables (every kind you can lay your hands on and especially dark green leafy vegetables). 

2) Drink lots of water (between meals only) 

3) Find a really excellent probiotic (which has multiple strains of different beneficial bacteria).

4) If not lactose intolerant, find live yoghurt or kefir from your health food store and have a few spoonfuls a day.

5) Find a drink called Kombucha tea (which is delicious to drink and full of beneficial enzymes and good bacteria)

No No's:

 - Stay away from all grains, sugar, alcohol, coffee and processed foods.

- Try and find out the origin of your IBS,...what has been happening in your life to bring this on? Chronic stress? Antibiotics?Junk food? 

There is usually a reason we get this gut trouble. 

Once your tummy has settled down with the steamed vegie regime (Week One)  you can begin to introduce a very small portion of fish or meat with your meal in Week Two. Week Three, add some fruit. The key is to eat small nutritious meals  frequently in a relaxed and happy environment. Remember to eat slowly and chew your food well.

Much of this is trial and error. If you find a certain food is not agreeing with you, lay off it for a while and introduce it down the track. Be aware that in the early stages your body is in  healing mode, so be kind to your tum.

Importantly,if there are people in your life giving you stress, try and resolve the issues you have with them...if you don't need them in your life (it could be a crummy job!) get rid of them/it.  Life is too short to be overloaded with negativity. If there are difficult issues in your life you just have to deal with, try and find a way of doing so without letting it affect you too much.

best wishes and do give us an update on how you are getting on.

5

I was never aware that stress can cause alot of gut and bowel problems.Its good to resolve issues with people or dump people.

Life is too short to be overloaded with negativity.

Anyways i will surely follow three things u said above :- drink alots of water between the meals,chewing,eating slowly and avoid tea and processed food.

I will also diagnose whether im lactose tolerant or not?

I look forward to hear from you,mish!

 

6

Hi Amy

good on you! and I think it's sensible that you start with a few small improvements rather than take on all of what I said. Who knows, perhaps a change in diet, less stress and the small nutritious meals will do the trick! Always remember to be kind to yourself. We have a body that does the most fantastically intricate and complex things and what we tend to forget is to respect it. If we look after our bodies well, it will look after us! If you have any more questions, do ask. I will only tell you what I have learnt (because of my IBS) and if I dont know I will try and find out!  smile

7

I too have been having problems with acid, been back and forth to the doctors for months about it. Now for the past month or maybe longer my BMs aren't normal at all. Soft, foul smelling, full of mucus. It's really making me worry. I'm going to try and see a doc tomorrow. Hope you find the answers.

8

Thanks for your detailed reply mish, definitely a lot of food for thought there.  One thing I din;t mention in my post is the pain I get, I wouldn't call them cramps as a lot of IBS sufferers would describe, mine is like a stinging pain throughout my abdomen...any thoughts on that?  I certainly agree that my gut flora must be way out of wack.

Will definitely try your diet suggestions and let you know how I get on and again you are right in getting rid of the negativity!

Thanks again for your advice.

9

Good luck to you louise, I hope you got managed to get an appointment?  It's horrible isn't it, especially the not knowing.  I hope you get some further testing and get to the bottom of it.  When did your acid start, did it just start out of the blue?

10

Hi Amy

With regard to your sharp pain, I think it best you see your doctor and ask him whether you should have an endoscopy to see the inside of your tum.  It could even be wind!  For peace of mind, see your doctor. Regarding lactose intolerance, what I've read so far is that many sufferers of IBS and related conditions suffer a kind of lactose intolerance, so it may well clear up once your health rebounds. Meanwhile, if eating dairy gives you cramps and bloating and that juck feeling, leave it out of your diet. Down the track you can reintroduce it very slowly and see what happens.  Meanwhile, do see your GP to clear up your concerns.  smile

 

11

Thank you, I have spoken to my GP today and he said it's possible that I have constipation which is causing a blockage and loose stools to build up behind it which then slip through the sides (gross I know!!!!) he's given me some movicol to take twice a day and if after a week nothing has improved I need to go back, he said IBS is also a possibility but we'll see in a couple of weeks.

12

Louise

if in the meantime you are feeling reallyuncomfortableI because of the constipation, buy and eat 3-4 kiwi fruit; fantastic for constipation. Another suggestion is to drink Kombucha Tea from a reputable source. It has to be live and well fermented. I don't know where you live, but Whole Foods in Kensington, London stock it, so too Planet Organic. Alternatively, find someone who brews this tea at home.  Importantly,make sure the person doing the brewing is a stickler for hygiene in his /her brewing methods. You don't want to drink this tea if it has mold in it (needs to be thrown away in that case). This is important as the home is an unregulated environment.  A small glass of Kombucha tea I find, will have you tripping to the loo within half an hour. Do look up all you can about Kombucha on the Net - there is plenty of info there.

The kiwi fruit will take a little longer to start working, perhaps a few hours. I have used both over a period of a year and find them very beneficial! Do discuss these options with your doctor if you are uncertain about what I am saying.  Generally drinking lots of water during the day and incorporating fruit in your diet (especially good in the mornings) generally helps. And of course lots of vegetables for your meals. Cheerio, M smile

 

13

Hey, Amy have you been taking antacids for the acid reflux? Because I had a similar problem to you. I started to get heartburn and indigestion and then my bowels were all over the place. It was because of the acid suppressing medication, I wasn't producing enough stomach acid to digest food which can cause both constipation and diarreah. I've kicked in the antacids and been eating 6 small easily digestible meals a day (soup, dry crackers, apples, watermelon, well cooked veggies etc) to help with the acid symptoms (not producing enough acid causes reflux, indegestion and heatburn) and after I eat I chew gum or a hard boiled sweet to produce extra saliva which helps with digestion and acid. Google the symptoms of low stomach acid and see if they add up to what you have.