Ibs

Anonymous

Ibs

I'm pretty sure I have ibs, I had a bad case of gastro last year and since then I get random bouts of diarrhoea. I take a probiotic which sometimes helps but sometimes doesn't. Just wondering if anyone else has ibs and how they cope with the sudden onset of diarrhoea and does it negatively impact their life? Thank you

Posted in:  Health & Wellbeing, FAQ

14 Replies

Anonymous

Probably are lactose intolerant form the gastro bug that’s what happened to me

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Anonymous

I can have lactose without any effects there is honestly no pattern to it

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Anonymous

Gastro Stop is a god send. I don't know if it's good to use for this purpose but sometimes it's all I have to keep me off the dunny.

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Anonymous

I know you said there's no pattern to it but there probably is. Bread, cauliflour, cabbage, dairy all sets me off. Try the elimination diet to see what foods you are reacting to.

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Anonymous

Have you wormed yourself. I used to get this all the time. I took one lot of tablets, then another a fortnight later and voila no more stomach cramps, diarrhoea, gas etc

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Anonymous

Have a chat to your GP - these symptoms can be caused by many different things so best yo get checked out then go from there

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Anonymous

You could have undiagnosed celiac disease.

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Anonymous

You could have a wide range of medical conditions that cause intermittent gastric upset, including bacterial infections or parasites. Go to your GP and get some referrals for investigation. IBS is a default diagnosis when other specific causes have been ruled out.

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Anonymous

You definitely need to go and get a formal diagnosis. As someone above mentioned, IBS is the diagnosis you get when all the scary stuff has been eliminated.
You don't want to just assume that it's IBS because you could be delaying treatment/diagnosis of something more serious.
It also may be that the bout of gastro left you with an intestinal infection.

I'd be heading to your GP.
Request a stool sample and bloods at the very minimum. A trip to a gastroenterologist (stomach specialist) would be wise too.

I have medically diagnosed IBS.
I swing between both extremes either can't go or can't stop going.
I've come to realise that mine is caused by about 50% diet, 50% hormonal.

I can handle small amounts of lactose if I'm not in the middle of a flare up. Garlic will render me bed ridden and other fruits high in fructose will make me extremely bloated, gassy and nauseated.
Look into the low fodmap diet. Removing gluten can be helpful too.

On the hormonal side of things I've noticed that my symptoms are at their worst the few days before my period. I wouldn't be surprised if yours is due to hormonal fluctuations too, that would explain why you don't notice a particular pattern to it.

I also find Inner Health Plus IBS Support (probiotics) really helpful.

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Anonymous

It's not just scary stuff they rule out. Lots of simple things to treat get investigated too.

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Anonymous

No but things like bowel cancer, bowel disease, chrohns and colitis will be the first thing they'll want to rule out. Also things like ovarian cancer and other gynaecological issues because intermittent diarrhoea can be a symptom of that too.
It really could be from a number of things, simple or otherwise.

I'm not trying to frightenen the OP, just trying to stress the importance of getting a formal diagnosis.

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Anonymous

Most doctors would never test for all those things at a first appointment, sad but true. It would depend on your history and age, general health. She will probably be told to try a food diary or elimination diet then return after a certain time.

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Anonymous

My husband got sent for a colonoscopy in his 20s the first time he went to the doctor about it. We have private health so it was done 2 weeks later and the GP was shocked he had bowel cancer. He had half his colon removed 3 days later. He had no sinister signs or symptoms, just intermittent loose poos. A good GP will always make a referral to investigate.

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Anonymous

That's got me really stressed out now, I'm only in my 20s as well so didn't really think bowel cancer was on the cards. Did he have to have a stoma or anything?

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