Hi, I'm just wondering has anyone suffered with the same symptoms as me and ever found a cure. About 18 months ago out of the blue my stomach started to bloat, more stomach distension. I was getting severe cramps and tugging feeling inside. Since then I have gotten a wide range of other symptoms like thrush, tiredness, brain fogginess p, nausea to name a few. These come and go but my severe bloating and cramps have been with me every single night since then. I thought it might've started from overuse of antibiotics. But this is me guessing. I have been to numerous doctors, nutritionists, allergy doctors but to no avail. I have tried ever diet under the sun and they relief some symtoms but not bloating and overall unwell feeling. I've had all the medical tests too. I have been off sugar and grains since January and also fodmaps. I have always been so strict but it's getting harder when nothing working. I tried some medication for bacteria and have been on nystatin a few months also for yeast. Not one person has done a stool test etc to check for parasites or yeast. They all just guess and give up when no improvement. It is getting me so down I'm not sure what to do next. Last thing I can think of is parasites. I have found the Irish medical system useless and I am constantly left on my own to figure it out. I was thinking of going to England maybe but it all costs. Anyone else suffer like this. In 18 months I think I have about 5 nights where symtoms not as bad. I was even put on 2 wk severe detox but no no avail. Losing hope and getting me down. Any advice appreciated. Thanks
Hi
It sounds all like me. I had IBS for many years most recently in the past year I have all the symptons you are describing. I do have diverticulosis. There is question of diverticulitis but not proven. I tried everything also. Antibiotics also 4 times in one year and once by intravenous which I think made it
Worse. Finally I asked my GP last week to do stool sample and check for parasites. Waiting for results. I think stool sampling is your next step. Have you had a scan?
Vivian
Hi. Thanks for your reply. I had a scan when it started 18 months ago. But since all those tests no one has suggested any other ones. Doctors over here are happy to pawn me off as another ibs sufferer and nothing can be done. Tried all ibs meds but to no avail. I really feel there is something just not right if someone would be bothered to check. Def going to suggest stool sample. You said the GP can arrange this? Have you ever heard of ibs clinic Harley street in London? My next option. Will you let me know how your results go. Thanks
Where are you from to mention coming to England? I'm also the same, I've had this too long and just getting no where!! I too am left to my own and search the internet daily for answers and help.I'm from the north east England and I too contemplate going to London / going private health care for help!
Hi
I am in Canada. I have not heard of the IBS clinic in London. I wonder if we have one. I had a scan doneckadt year. They do not want to do n another one. Apparantly too much radiation. Let me know how it goes.
Vivian
I'm in ireland but often visit family in London. I don't know where is best to go or anything just googling places. I had one GP here even ask if it was just vanity. I was so annoyed nearly start crying. Everyone online says diet will def help but hasn't with me. So annoying you are left to figure it out yourself.
I was also in Thailand 6 months before it started so often wonder if I picked up something there
Dear me to say vanity! Think Ida punched the doctor! , its shocking when no one believes you or will an listen, I'm still battling on with it, that Harley place sound good tho, I'm looking into it now since you've mentioned
What I liked about it they said ibs is just an umbrella term and that there is always a cause and they will find this.
That's good to know 😊 kinda reassuring, I'm just sick of been told the same thing or not getting help ,the years are so quickly again!
Thanks for mentioning it
Lucy
What symptoms do you have? What tests
Have you done?
Vivian
Hi,
Don't know if this helps but I have IBS and my symptoms changed a few months back causing severe bloating plus weight gaiin. In the end I worked out that I had become dairy intollerant, and my body was also having a problem with resistant starch. Since eliminating dairy and miminising resistant starch, bloating has gone and weight is starting to go down. (Resitant starch is apparently formed when things like potato and rice are cooked then allowed to cool, and also when you reheat food). Hope that helps.
Every symptom going Viv, I've been diagnosed high severity ibs c. Think I've had every test apart from intolerance / allergy tests and any stool samples
Hi lucy and funshine
My symptoms too changed about a year ago. Do you ever feel like a chronic pain in the left lower abdomen, feels like a wound even when I move around. I feel it in my sleep. It is really weird. Used to be relieved after a bowel movement which is common with IBS but not anymore. It hurts before and after. I also cut out dairy coffe and even all breads no processed foods junk food don't know what to cut out anymore. Even cereal I am only eating cooked cereal. Trying some ginger today with tea.
Any thoughts?
Vivian
I suffer disabilitating headaches with this, I fell like I'm being killed off some days, yes get the stomach pain too, I am doing the fodmap diet but not seeing results, keep wondering am I doing something wrong? Am I missing something? I too even before the diet was cutting out dairy as I always suspected that was a cause , I also cut out wheat / gluten which years ago found the pasta seemed safe with me the buckwheat one, I have found all bread/ pastries seems to effect me when wheat free ones, I wish I knew what foods where bothering me? I'm still struggling years later to pin point anyway.ive asked repeatedly for tests of lactose / sorbitol and fructose but getting no where and told to just eliminate them
I m from Croatia, age 51, I have a similar problems and also frustrates me the most that is (in Europe?) are no specialized clinics for treatment IBS.
In my stool I often can find the remains of undigested food (the last two months I have to eat according to the list of allowed foods, threw himself wheat, store products of milk, sugar, etc.), so when it connects with bloating, belching, and spasms in the upper abdomen, I wonder whether someone with similar experiences? Gastro-colonoscopic finding did show nothing.
There are two hospitals in London that might be able4 to help.
LOndon Bridge hospital are offering consulting services regarding the FODMAP diet so I expect they would also examine the patients to ensure that the diagnosis of IBS was correct before they start. From their website " For more information on the Low FODMAP Diet, please call our Dietetics Department on 020 7234 2282" Ring them and ask what they do.
The other place is Guy and St Thomas hospital Again I expect they woulod want to confirm any diagnosis before they start so Google the name and ring them up.
London Bridge is private so dont forget to ask about your costs
I have RLS which I think is related to IBS and the FODMAP diet has worked wonders BUT follow it exactly or it doesn't work (for me anyway) They say that its effective was 76% of their first 50 IBS cases they treated. Sounds worth following up.
At least you can get a reliable disgnosis and you might have something else that they can cure.
Good Luck
Graham
Thanks for that info graham. I will look into that. I did the fodmap for 2 months and was extremely strict. But it didn't work. Helped with some symptoms but not others. I don't know why but I think I've something else not just standard ibs. It just appeared 18 months ago and everyone says diet should help and never does. I'll look into these. Thanks
You might just be one of the 24% the diet wont help but perhaps they can direct you to someone who can at least come up with a convincing reason. I wish I could be more help. I know how hard it is when the doctors seem to be fobbing you off. In many cases it probably hurts them to admit to themselves that they can't work out what's wrong. At the big hospitals you have a better chance of finding someone who has seen it before.
Keep pushing them to try harder.
Graham
Thanks graham for that. Your right big hospitals might be way to go.