I'm newly diagnosed with IBS-D but I just can't get the diarrhoea to stop! I have better and worse days but I have probably at least 2-3 bouts every day without fail.
Does anyone have any recommendations? As I've only just been diagnosed I don't really know what to do. I've started SSRI (fluoxetene) to help with the anxiety based diarrhoea, but does anyone have anything else I can try. I'm going on holiday in 4 weeks and I'm terrified I'm going to be ill. I've had a real loss of appetite the last few weeks because of it, and I'm extremely tired.
Any help would be appreciated!
Imodium is a great help if you get an attack and are going out.
However have you also tried dietary change, probiotics, peppermint capsules etc? Lots of things to try. I was on amitryptyline for 6 years which did help. Now I use colofac and buscopan and it seems to be improving.
Thanks for your response!
I'm not sure what to do about my diet really, my doctor hasn't suggested anything! I've tried culpermin peppermint capsules but they haven't really done anything. Does buscopan help stop the diarrhoea?
I have ordered some probiotics
SSRIs can irritate your bowel more! They are basically an antidepressant. Atevan, which is not an SSRI, can help with anxiety. I speak from experience. You can check this online as well, but I would bet that thevSSRIs are making your condition worse.
I ended up taking probiotics which really helped, and my family doctor took me off the SSRIs and told me never to take them again.
The low fodmap diet has really helped me. I bought an app for my phone, Monash University Low Fodmap Diet. It is simple to use & I always have it with me. Hope you feel better soon!
1. Keep a food diary
2. Try the FODMAP diet
3.cut out anything greasy, high fat, fried,very spicy, alcohol, caffeine, anything whole wheat or made with wheat bran, and any sugar alcohol sweeteners ( they end in 'ol' e.g. xylitol manitol sorbitol)
4.limit fruit and veg to 3 portions total a day
5. Buy lots of Imodium!
Buscopan didn't help me. Getting off the SSRIs and taking probiotic capsules did the job. Symptom free right now.
Thats great thank you. I've looked at FODMAP diet but all websites seem to say different things its very confusing! I'll definately have a look at the app! I'm looking into a low fibre diet for four weeks to try and alleviate the symptoms a bit. Thanks so much!
Thanks for your response, I will definately try these! I'm going to cut my fruit and veg I do eat a lot of it and I've found before sometimes I get a bad stomach after I eat salad at lunchtime but I didn't really make the connection.
Have you tried a food diary and the Low Fodmap diet? This can help to identify problem foods that are causing diarrhoea. Also try Imodium to firm up your bowel movements. Don't worry about going on holliday; you may find your symptoms will improve because you will be in a more relaxed environment. My IBS is largely in remission and feels better on holiday. Anxiety will make your symptoms worse.
COLESTIPOL has helped my diarrhea. Also, has your dr checked you for Fecal Retention? That can also cause diarrhea.
IMMODIUM if going out & not on anything else for diarrhea.
I definately think worrying is making it worse. I've had a stressful day at work today and my stomach's been bad and I've felt sick. I just feel like crying when its like that!
Thatnks I'll look that up. What's fecal retention? I've only had the calproctin test.
It no longer troubles me when I have a flare up. I just take Buscopan and Nurofen before it becomes a severe bout and the symptoms pass. Even on the rare, bad flare up. I know eventually the medication will work and the pain will gradually go away even if I feel awful for a while. I only had anxiety when no one could diagnose me. Once I got my IBS diagnosed, I no longer had any worry or upset about my symptoms.
Ask your doctor for an anti spasmodic. You may have to try several to find the right one for you.
Fecal retention or impaction is when your bowel is over full and at first diarrhoea comes out before the harder, solid stuff. If you have this, try fruit or a stool softener. You don't need a doctor to tell you that you have it. You will know by your symptoms. If you have been constipated for a long time, you will begin to feel stools backing up inside ypur anus. Then the looser/diarrhoea followed by the hard stools will come. You may also find that you may do the whole back log in one day. I have just finished a bout of a week of constipation. I passed tiny reinforced concrete like stools, only two in one week and then I did the week's backlog in one day in two sessions. My mum used to get fecal impaction because of dementia and she got diarrhoea first, then the solid motions and the backlog.
Thanks I will talk to my doctor about an anti spasmodic. I also want to ask for a prescription of loperamide because Imodium is costing me a fortune!
thanks for the explanation. I don't think that's what I have as I never have constipation.
Buy supermarket own brand Imodium - it's the same stuff and only £1 a pack.
Thats a great tip thank you!
Maybe then try the food diary or Fodmap along with with the Imodium. The diarrhoea may be coming from food intolerance or maybe stress too.
I will definately try it. I'm feeling slightly more positive this week