Hello. I’m an older woman in the UK and have had IBS with constipation for many years, but over the last year or two it has become much more difficult to live with.

My biggest problem is the pain. I get very severe cramping which feels like powerful but very slow contractions of the bowel, often with trapped wind. Sometimes the pain is almost unbearable. I can actually open my bowels, sometimes more than once, but still feel as though I haven’t emptied properly and that everything is moving through far too slowly.

I use macrogol (Movicol) to keep my stools soft, so it isn’t simply a matter of having hard stools. I’ve had investigations, including a CT scan and colonoscopy, which were reassuring, and I’ve been diagnosed with IBS-C/visceral hypersensitivity.

The symptoms can be particularly bad during the night and early morning and have a considerable effect on my sleep and quality of life. Stress and anxiety definitely make things worse, although the physical pain is very real.

What I would particularly like to hear is whether anyone else with IBS-C experiences this combination: very painful cramping, slow movement, trapped wind and a feeling of incomplete evacuation even though you are managing to open your bowels.

If you do, I’d be very interested to hear what it feels like for you and how you cope with it — especially from anyone who has lived with IBS for many years.

New here. Like many of us, I'm wondering if this sounds familiar. Felt just fine. Regular bowel movement. An hour or so another one. Couple hours later, another. Next one (all seem ok) a little high ab pain. After dinner, another bowel movement (a little larger) that led to increased pain. Now hoping the pain subsides.

Why? How? Just pops up on a day when I felt fine. This is indeed frustrating.

Thanks for listening.

I have had a lot of operations and endometriosis twice and have sensitive stomach and helocobactor they say scared tissue does impact me not sure

I am under a lot of stress the past year due to ill parents so this will impact the IBS eh

I am now lost on what else I can do to get rid of this pain any ideas

Thank you xx

chronic xanthan gum consumption caused colon inflammation, altered gut microbiota, and led to intestinal barrier integrity loss in an experimental model. In the study, which was supported by FAPESP, rats were fed xanthan gum chronically for ten weeks

xanthan gum is a biotechnology product derived from a fermentation process involving the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. "It's a plant pathogen that, in nature, infects a variety of plants and can be observed when cabbage or kale, for example, begin to spoil

I am female, senior in age, have had IBS my entire life but it is basically under control, very petite (5'2" and 90 lbs.), have wheat allergy so I am gluten-free and also maintain a very low, low fat diet since I have an annular pancreas which does not allow me to digest fats (especially oils) without triggering another case of pancreatitis. I have had numerous upper endoscopies and colonoscopies that have all been normal. No doctor has been able to help me with this issue.

Thank you.

anyone suffering from back pain related to IBS? I have seen several professional (osteopath, chiropractor, naprapat, etc, you name it, I tried it) as well as doctor and did a series of examinations but it always came back clear. They told me to train more which I did but nothing changed. The pain usually come for between 2 weeks and 2 months then disappear and will come back later. I cannot link it to my IBS flare up as I have daily flare up. The pain is at the worst during night and when I woke up (sometimes I cannot move from my bed) and then after a day of working. I have read that IBS sufferer could have "join pain" problem but I have never heard of anyone having the same problem as me. Now the pain would also come in my knee and wrist (last time for three months in a row) and then just disappear before coming back again.

I would be glad to know if any of you guys have experienced that and found solution to fix it ( I have tried many medicines but none of them ever worked of helped) but I will be ever gladder if none of you is going through that as IBS is already hard enough to deal with every day ! 

Mathilde 

IBS-M = Mixed Diarrhea / Constipation IBS

GERD

TYPE 2 diabetes.

I’m actively looking for a nutritionist in the Boca Delray area who can help me with my eating patterns.

Seems like the foods I can eat for Gerd. I can’t eat for IBS and vice versa..

My diabetes is under control, but my stomach is not.

I am a 59-year-old male living in the UK, and I have been struggling with unexplained abdominal symptoms for about one year.

My main symptoms are:

• Constant abdominal discomfort, present every day.

• Visible abdominal bloating/distension, often present from the moment I wake up and lasting all day.

• A feeling of tension and pressure around my belly button area.

• Sometimes I also feel tightness under my ribs, both in the front and in my back.

• Loud bowel noises.

• Occasional short episodes of more severe discomfort lasting 5–15 minutes.

What is unusual is that I do not have the typical IBS symptoms:

• No diarrhea.

• No significant constipation.

• No abdominal cramps.

• No burning sensation or acid reflux.

• I do not burp excessively.

My bowel movements are usually every 2 days. The stool is generally normal in appearance and consistency. However, when I first feel the urge to go, I sometimes have difficulty starting the bowel movement even though the stool is not hard.

Another thing I have noticed is that having a bowel movement does not usually improve my symptoms. Sometimes I actually feel worse afterwards.

The bloating and discomfort are present almost constantly when I am awake, but I usually do not notice them while sleeping.

Over the last year, my symptoms have become severe enough that I have been unable to work.

So far I have:

• Seen a gastroenterologist.

• Tried dietary changes, including a strict low-sugar/SIBO-style diet.

• Tried Amitriptyline without success.

• Tried Gabapentin (900 mg/day), which may have reduced the longer severe discomfort episodes but did not resolve my daily symptoms.

• Tried Duloxetine 60 mg, but I stopped after one dose because it caused significant difficulty urinating.

My GP has now arranged:

• Blood tests.

• Stool tests.

• A CT scan referral.

A relative of mine who is a gastroenterologist suggested that SIBO should be considered, but I have not yet had a hydrogen breath test.

Has anyone experienced similar symptoms, especially constant bloating and abdominal discomfort without diarrhea or significant constipation? I would be very interested to hear your experiences.

Thank you for reading.

Ferenc

  Back last year however a few issues cropped up.  Every three months or so I would have blood on the toilet paper which would then disappear for a few months and come back again.  To date since that started I have had four FIT tests and all have come back normal.  The GP suggested the issue was internal haemorrhoids so suggested anusol or germolene cream and thankfully no blood for many months now.  However also late last year I was getting bouts of Tenesmus which is for those who don't know an awful feeling of needing to open the bowels even thought nothing is there.  In January I came off one of the urinary tablets and the tenesmus vanished so assumed it must have been the meds as they were a bladder relaxant and assumed they could do the same to the bowel.

However the tenesmus has returned with a vengeance in the last few weeks coupled with a funny stomach feeling, almost like a hunger pang but always there.  All is fine when I wake up and is fine until I go to the toilet.  Then the fun starts and that feeling of needing to go again occurs and the stomach starts feeling "off".  Sometimes I go again and there is a small bowel movement that occurs, sometimes it's only a little mucus (sorry for being graphic) but more often than not nothing.  I also have a lot of gas going on which is still there despite a BM.  I thought it may be my newer urinary med and came off it abruptly but the day after was really bad and I did need to go several times, so I went back on it and whilst having to go often has subsided the feeling (tenesmus) along with this icky stomach is still there.

It's never been this long as it usually just goes away after a couple of weeks.  The really strange thing is that it calms down in the evening and is ok overnight right until that morning BM and the cycle starts again.  Maybe lying down on a recliner rather than sitting on an office chair helps, or watching TV takes your mind off it, no idea!  I have tried buscopan, colpermin, peppermint oil, probiotics, paracetamol, lansoprazole and nothing works.  Before this latest issue I was playing a lot of golf so getting regular exercise.  All recent blood tests were fine bar my blood sugars still a bit high as I am a Type 2 diabetic but they have been higher before and no stomach issues.  It can't be the urinary meds if it carried on this time after coming off them.  Tried booking a GP appointment but nothing until the end of October so wondering if anyone has any ideas on what might work with tenesmus as it's a nightmare at the moment?  I am in the UK.  Thank you and sorry for the long winded post.

I am a 34 and been suffering with my stomach since my early 20s and was diagnosed with IBS. I am currently suffering with awful bloating daily, constipation and episodes of loose stools. I have tried so many different things to improve it but nothing has helped. I had stool sample a year ago which showed a small amount of inflammation but nothing to be concerned about. I have however been referred to the hospital for further testing due to my late father having crohns/bowel cancer but have been waiting nearly a year for appointment. Does anyone have any advice on easing symptoms? Its really getting me down now. Many thanks

In my view, most cases of IBS seem to emerge from a genetic predisposition. Because IBS covers such a broad spectrum, there isn't just one root cause, but several factors playing together. I suspect that in the beginning, there was a single genetic factor that initiated the others in a "domino effect."

For a patient struggling with IBS, many things matter—not just food. Here are my tips and my personal struggle.

I started smoking at 16. I mention this because it is an important part of the problem. I began eating unhealthy foods and heavily consuming processed drinks—two to three bottles a day of Cola, Fanta, and Ice Tea. I drank no water at all. Constipation started to plague me. At 18, I noticed mucus in my stool. Smoking began to have a laxative effect on me. For many years, I was too afraid to see a doctor about this. My problems worsened significantly, and I developed hemorrhoids.

My daily routine back then: Smoking, corn flips, chips, and a salami sandwich for breakfast; processed sugary drinks of all sorts; no water; fast food for dinner (often just fries with mayo and ketchup because I love them); and very little movement (though I was always skinny, no matter how much I ate).

Many years later, I started to realize these patterns and quit my bad habits to make daily life with IBS easier.

What I have learned: With IBS, everything matters; I could write books about it. I found out that I am allergic to corn, citric acid (which gives me "sticky" stool that prevents me from emptying completely), and an exotic fruit—I think it was papaya. Years ago, after a multi-fruit drink, I struggled to breathe for a full hour.

I used to consume lots of corn flips and Fanta, which is high in citric acid. I have stopped drinking Cola, Fanta, and any beverages containing lemon, lime, or orange. Nowadays, I only drink a few types of beverages that I tolerate, avoid fruity drinks (even though I’m not fructose intolerant), and consume natural yogurt and more water.

Municipal Tap Water

Tap water is chemically treated to kill germs, bacteria, and fungi so that pipes stay sterile. However, the chemicals in municipal tap water are too much for someone with IBS. Whether you drink it or cook with it, these chemicals are never fully neutralized. They pass through your intestines and react there, often resulting in diarrhea. The stool is often malformed because the chlorine prevents it from firming up. Not to mention the damage it can do to the intestinal lining. I suggest using well water or bottled water.

Bottled Water

Not all water is the same. Drink the water that makes you feel "at ease" and don't just focus on the taste. The pH level is very important. A pH between 7.2 and 7.6 is fine. If the pH is lower than that, the water is slightly acidic and should be avoided. However, you are more likely to make a mistake with alkaline water (water with a high pH).

The more alkaline the water is, the more it may "wash out" vital nutrients, acids, and minerals through urination. Even though alkaline water is heavily marketed lately, I suggest keeping away from it for long-term use. It is useful only in certain circumstances, such as when you have a sour stomach or heartburn, to neutralize overproduced acid. Otherwise, it may demineralize your system.

Resistant Starches

I recently discovered what I deem the greatest puzzle in IBS: resistant starch. It develops during the processing of certain foods. For example, when potatoes are cooked and then cool down, resistant starches develop. They aren't broken down in the small intestine but travel to the large intestine and ferment there. The result is bloating, gas, and unease.

Legumes, raw potato starch, green bananas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, raw oats (soaked), chia seeds, flax seeds, enriched yogurts/shakes and cooled rice or pasta all contain these. I now realize why my cousin had IBS; I now realize why my cousin also had IBS years ago: they ate oven-fried potatoes with chicken almost every day. Once they changed their diet, he recovered quickly. Interestingly, they still consume plenty of oily foods, so the oil itself couldn't have been the problem.

Preservatives

Preservatives are added to foods to prevent them from spoiling, but many people are sensitive or allergic to them because some bodies don't know how to process or deal with these chemicals.

Laxatives

Because food is supposed to travel through the intestines slowly to be dehydrated in the bowel, laxatives bypass this necessary step, which can cause fermentation and inflammation in the large intestine. Therefore, avoid laxatives if you can.

Items that can act as laxatives include alcohol, various medicines, drugs, and foods high in magnesium. Other triggers include caffeine, tobacco (smoking), tomatoes, and ketchup. Additionally, foods such as beans, prunes, dates, grapes, oat flakes, cereal, peanuts, and peanut butter can have laxative effects because they are high in carbohydrates, sugars, or fiber.

Hydration and Environment

Drink water regularly to prevent dehydration and constipation. Note that foods high in iron can cause constipation, so you may need magnesium to balance it out.

Constipation can also come from overheating. Avoid sleeping with socks or taking long, hot showers that dehydrate the body. Ensure the air in your room is not too dry; use a humidifier if necessary. While doctors suggest a room temperature of 18°C, I found that this made me use too many covers, causing me to sweat and overheat. I prefer to sleep "at ease" in a warmer environment (around 26°C) with thinner covers.

Meals

I prefer two meals a day: one between 11:00 and 12:00 and one between 18:00 and 19:00. I have safe snacks throughout the day, but I strictly avoid chips and corn flips.

I feel so much better now compared to years ago. If you try this and don't see improvement, you might have another unknown allergy. For extreme cases, some suggest a temporary "carnivore diet" (meat and water only) for five days to identify triggers, but you should always consult your doctor before trying something that restrictive.

Wish you ease.

I was diagnosed with IBS at 16 and have struggled since. I have had a colonoscopy and OGD which came back nil acute. I am now 25 and for the past two years have been having frequent accidents and my bloating has got progressively worse where I am severely bloated everyday. I am an ICU nurse and have been signed off as my symptoms have got so much worse. My IBS has sent me into a downward spiral with my mental health and i've been on Fluoxetine since 16 but have recently increased to 60mg. I feel completely lost and stuck. Struggle to leave the house don't know what to do about work. Currently having therapy for my mental health. I've had all treatments the NHS will offer including Hypnotherapy nothing has helped. Anybody have any similar things and any help is welcome please. I have been on low fodmap diet for 4 years take buscopan every day.