Conditions
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
They say you should always establish your nearest fire exits whenever entering a new building. But for sufferers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), it is usually the nearest toilet facilities. IBS is one of the most common disorders of the digestive tract, with about a fifth of people in the UK experiencing occasional symptoms, which can include abdominal pain, bloating, and bouts of diarrhoea and/or constipation. The abdominal pain is usually accompanied by the loud rumbling and squeaking of gases being propelled through the intestines, which can be a great source of discomfort and embarrassment. People between the ages of 20 and 30 are most commonly affected, but it is twice as common in women as in men. The exact cause of IBS is unknown. However, there are certain things which can trigger an attack, such as stress, irregular mealtimes and, in some cases, a lack of dietary fibre. Some people even develop IBS following gut infections and food poisoning.
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for the last few years I have had excrutiating pain in the lower left side of my abdomen, followed by feeling sick, if I am able to empty my bowels the pain and sickness goes away immediately, if I can`t I also start to feel dizzy and faint. These symptoms don`t have a regular pattern but do seem to be worse when I`m on my period. My GP suggested taking stool softener which helped a little but I was still in a great deal of discomfort.
My daughter is 15 years old and is always complaining about terrible stomach cramps and always suffering from diarrhea nearly every week, she has had tests done and they cant seem to find the problem she has had and ultrascan on her stomach and they found nothing she says that it comes on after certain foods but the doctors say they dont know the problem?
I had the same problem from when i was 16 and docs sent me for scans and i'm now 20 and thats doctors just told me i have IBS,go back to the doctors and say about IBS. Most foods set mine off so im stuck on soup as that is the only thing that doesnt set it off. hope this helps
is it normal to go 3 weeks without opening my bowels the doctor just says its just ibs. please help.
Often when I go to social events that involve having dinner and then walking around a bit afterwards (such as to talk to people), I get huge pain in my stomach and have to rush to the loo and end up having to be there or keep going back for 30 - 60 minutes. It's so embarrassing when I just want to be able to socialize, and people probably wonder why I'm in the loo like that. Does anybody else have this problem??
Yes I have the same problem. I found that my problem is usually triggered by anxiety or alcohol. I try not to drink when going out now. I also just want to be able to socialize . It's very embarrassing.
Interesting. I don't drink at all, but I definitely get anxious in social situations. I wonder if that is the problem. This is sooo annoying!!!
Hi, I'm a 47 year old female and I live with terrible pain, bloating and a hard 'lump' feeling just below my sternum. I am severly constipated (only manage to 'go' after taking 4 laxatives which can take up to 2 days to work - which ruins every weekend!) I am semi-hemiplegic down my right side which nerve damage from the chest down due to an epidural abcess 14 years ago from a spider-bite. I'm sure this affects it but I am so fed up with looking 9 months pregnant and being in constant pain. Ofd course one of the worst side-effects is the constant bubbling asnd popping and passing of 'hard' wind which, of course, smells very bad. I work full-time and dare not take time off for a days rest. I have had every test known to man and they all say to take liquid gel etc but this does not work for me. I also used to give myself an enema every day but now even this does not work. HELP please....
Hi which probiotic was tested on the programme for helping with IBS?
hi i am a 22 year old mother of two (and 26 weeks preganat with my 3rd baby) and i have had i.b.s since i was pregnant with my eldest child (who is now 5 years old). I have tried every single drug you can get from my g.p and over the counter for i.b.s and nnone at all work for me. I do watch my diet very closely as i have loads of trigger foods and i also do exercise everyday,and nothing is working for me at all,my i.b.s just keeps gettin worse and some of the stomach cramps i get are worse than labour pains! my bowel and stomach seem to "bubble" and you can hear this when it happens,i am on the toilet at least 15 times a day and the pain is making me physically sick evey day,it is affecting my ability to be the best mum i can be to my 2 boys and it is completely ruling mine,my kids and my husbands life because i am stuck to the house,and on the toilet most of the day ,it even wakes me up at night,at least 3 times a night,is there anything else that can be done for it,it is really depressing me and its not fair on my kids 2 see me in so much pain constantly.
I saw a lady on your programme with I.B.S. she was given Amitriptolene.I got this drug from my GP for I.B.S. too. I wondered what dosage ?and how long it took to help this lady on Embarrassing Bodies? I am on 10mg at night. I asked the drug manufacturer if this was sufficient, but they do not know anything about I.B.S. treated by Amitriptolene????????????
I definitely have IBS, the noises my stomach makes, the constant wind and daily switch from diarrhoeato constipation and the not knowing what it will get up to on any particular day is really getting me down. I massage my bloated stomach every morning to express wind and stools, but stills go through this truama every day. Is there no cure?? Would a colonic irrigation treatment help in anyway? Can this lead to bowel cancer?
Im so tired of the worthless response from my doctors as well . they just simply say " its JUST irritable bowl" . they wont even acknowledge that its irritable bowl "SYNDROME" . I guess that makes it sound worse . I have symptoms every two to four days . and I am utterly useless on a bad day. so much so that I tell my employer I have to go home ,im just wasting his time and i dont want paid to sit in a restroom for for hour after hour. thankfully he is understanding to a point but it still dont pay the bills . I just pray for a cure and wish everyone the very best with their controlling this controlling condition .
Hiya im 25year old and am relieved to know there are others that suffer the same and I'm not alone with this. I have struggled my whole life going to the toilet a no 2, I mostly go every 2 weeks which leaves me bloated, tired, sick (litterally) an once I finally do go I am useless for the rest of the day and go 2 bed, I feel drained. I have also been told I have a gluten intolerance so decided to make a hard decission to give it up which helps with the bloating a little. Doctors have been useless all blood tests an results come bk negative and the doctor actually said to me "it's only ibs" and never had any help or guidance on what to do or where to go from there, after many complaints was given spasmonal, membeverine and fibergel but nothing has helped:-(. Have found most info from the Internet but am so fed up of living like this surely with all the advanced technical things they have nowadays they could find something to help!! Xx
have u tried to eat a high fibre diet,it can really help if you are constipated with i.b.s, i found it helped me for a while,but then my i.b.s went the other way and now i cant keep off the toilet,its just a suggestion , but fibre softens stools and makes it less painful to go,hope this helps a little x
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