As I do talk about my ibs fairly often (not too much I hope!) I thought I would say a bit more about it here.
A lot of people have ibs, and it is more common in women than men.
It can be severe , it can be mild, it can go away for a long time. Most people have 'flare ups' from time to time, then spells with few or no symptoms in between.
It is not life threatening, it doesn't rule your life, but it is no fun.
I was diagnosed with it at age 21. There is no test for ibs , they just note the symptoms and rule out other causes. As the name irritable bowel syndrome suggest the bowel is hyper sensitive. Things which have no effect on others send irritable bowels into spasm.
My first baby was 10 weeks old and we lived in a caravan, far from family and friends. I was in total agony and didn't know why. I feared it was some post natal complication.
The GP came out, ibs was diagnosed, meds given and more fibre recommended (opinion has changed on that now, over 40 years later as too much fibre can make matters worse)
It settled and I had no more episodes until just over a year later. We had moved to York and were living with my parents until the house purchase went through. GP called out again. We thought it may be ibs but the pain we so intense I wasn't sure. It was, more meds calmed it down.
Stress doesn't help ibs and living with my parents was very stressful.
For many years after that, I had few if any symptoms. As I grew older beef became a trigger for attacks. I could eat beef, but if I had it for 2 or more consecutive days I suffered, then eventually any amount of beef affected me. . Now I don't eat beef at all as it's not worth it for me.
I could eat and enjoyed Indian food, mild to medium, into my 50's. Then it started to trigger my ibs, so I rarely have it and if so I ask for a no chili dish. A couple of years ago I realised that a tiny amount of chili causes me a lot pain. So, for me more triggers as the years have passed.
Any food which can can cause gas in the gut is awful for ibs sufferers. Baked beans, cabbage, broccoli etc. Where it may cause no problem for the average person, or perhaps a little embarrassing wind, for us it is very very painful. The gut overreacts and the pain and gut rumbling and churning goes on for hours. I am frequently awake at night for this reason.
Pain along the whole of the colon area, worse on the lower left side are my symptoms, plus going to the loo often, and occasionally constipation. Some people have more constipation, it varies from person to person. If I eat a large meal late evening, which is rare, my body can react with really bad diarrhoea. A high fat meal can have a bad effect too.
The ibs pain, caused by cramps in the gut, is very bad and painkillers make little or no difference. Antispasmodics can help, as can peppermint tea and any heat to the tummy, as in hot water bottles or what bags for the microwave.
Most of us manage our symptoms by trying to avoid our trigger foods, drinking plenty of water and avoiding stress (I'm not so good at that one!)
I have antispasmodics on me at all times, in case something I eat away from home contains beef or chill that I am unaware of.
The attack I had over the last couple of days was so severe and at one point yesterday I wondered if something was wrong and I should go to the ER. Then I told myself it was like the severe attacks I had years ago.
Thankfully it is so much better today , and hopefully it will all calm down within the next day or so.
My DD1 unfortunately is a sufferer too.
A lot of people have ibs, and it is more common in women than men.
It can be severe , it can be mild, it can go away for a long time. Most people have 'flare ups' from time to time, then spells with few or no symptoms in between.
It is not life threatening, it doesn't rule your life, but it is no fun.
I was diagnosed with it at age 21. There is no test for ibs , they just note the symptoms and rule out other causes. As the name irritable bowel syndrome suggest the bowel is hyper sensitive. Things which have no effect on others send irritable bowels into spasm.
My first baby was 10 weeks old and we lived in a caravan, far from family and friends. I was in total agony and didn't know why. I feared it was some post natal complication.
The GP came out, ibs was diagnosed, meds given and more fibre recommended (opinion has changed on that now, over 40 years later as too much fibre can make matters worse)
It settled and I had no more episodes until just over a year later. We had moved to York and were living with my parents until the house purchase went through. GP called out again. We thought it may be ibs but the pain we so intense I wasn't sure. It was, more meds calmed it down.
Stress doesn't help ibs and living with my parents was very stressful.
For many years after that, I had few if any symptoms. As I grew older beef became a trigger for attacks. I could eat beef, but if I had it for 2 or more consecutive days I suffered, then eventually any amount of beef affected me. . Now I don't eat beef at all as it's not worth it for me.
I could eat and enjoyed Indian food, mild to medium, into my 50's. Then it started to trigger my ibs, so I rarely have it and if so I ask for a no chili dish. A couple of years ago I realised that a tiny amount of chili causes me a lot pain. So, for me more triggers as the years have passed.
Any food which can can cause gas in the gut is awful for ibs sufferers. Baked beans, cabbage, broccoli etc. Where it may cause no problem for the average person, or perhaps a little embarrassing wind, for us it is very very painful. The gut overreacts and the pain and gut rumbling and churning goes on for hours. I am frequently awake at night for this reason.
Pain along the whole of the colon area, worse on the lower left side are my symptoms, plus going to the loo often, and occasionally constipation. Some people have more constipation, it varies from person to person. If I eat a large meal late evening, which is rare, my body can react with really bad diarrhoea. A high fat meal can have a bad effect too.
The ibs pain, caused by cramps in the gut, is very bad and painkillers make little or no difference. Antispasmodics can help, as can peppermint tea and any heat to the tummy, as in hot water bottles or what bags for the microwave.
Most of us manage our symptoms by trying to avoid our trigger foods, drinking plenty of water and avoiding stress (I'm not so good at that one!)
I have antispasmodics on me at all times, in case something I eat away from home contains beef or chill that I am unaware of.
The attack I had over the last couple of days was so severe and at one point yesterday I wondered if something was wrong and I should go to the ER. Then I told myself it was like the severe attacks I had years ago.
Thankfully it is so much better today , and hopefully it will all calm down within the next day or so.
My DD1 unfortunately is a sufferer too.
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