IBS

[Lauren]

I don't know if I have IBS or not. About a year ago I got a bad stomach bug, the worst I've had since I was little. Ever since, I've had on and off stomach pains and diarroea. I go through days where I get stomach pain straight away when I eat, especially breakfast. I can go through up to a week like this then maybe a month or two in between I'm fine.

I told my rheumatologist about it and said I suspected it was IBS and I'd heard that IBS and HMS were linked. But she said that usually if it was linked with HMS that you go through periods of diarroea and then periods of constipation, which doesn't happen to me.

[Rosie]

Hiya

I haven't heard that IBS with HMS usually alternates between one and the other. IBS, or at least IBS symptoms, are thought to be a frequent part of HMS due to tissue laxity in the digestive tract. My gut symtoms, like yours, often come on when I eat, but I can go for spells when I am ok, and other times it will be every time I eat! This is also common with IBS. Your symptoms certainly sounds like IBS.

Rosie

[paige]

I didn't know either that IBS symptoms alternated between one or the other either, until I started having to go very ugently to the loo several times a day. I had in the past suffered from having a very sluggish gut movement and bloating - so when my gp told me that this was what could happen with IBS it can go either way, I was very shocked how extreme the symptoms can be.

[Lauren]

I went to see my GP who said my symptoms were probably triggered by the illness I had a year ago and could be brought on by stress, which makes a lot of sense.

He's given me some tablets to take, I haven't tried them yet, though.

He told me to take them whenever I experience symptoms but at the moment I'm kind of in between. I'm off food and and my gut doesn't feel "right" and I do have some slight discomfort, but not the pain I can sometimes get.

[trekster]

i find tonic water can settle my stomach if ive taken something that disagrees with me (i think my IBS is related to foods).

[annie welsh]

A friend of mine had colonic irrigation, and her therpist told herthat the best position for 'pooing' for everyone should be that your knees are highre bthan hios. Funnily enogh when she told me this , the following week there was a programme on 'Emarrassing bodies' and they were stopping people in thr streets of nottingham and aske then how the went to the loo. The ottom line was we should sit with our knees higher than hips. So if that meant putting a pile of books on the floor... personally I bought a cheap plasic stool( pardon the pun) and it really does make adifference.
I have a 'funstional' problem. and now know it if due to EDS. I want to 'go' but mechanically something stops the process.
using a stoll (of trurneed sideways rubbish bin!) really help!
Hope this helps

[Eloise]

Thanks Annie - That is way the european toliets where you crouch down over a hole is actually the best position to both fully empty your bladder and bowels. Unfortunately for us it does make getting back up rather difficult! I put my little girls stool under my feet when I am struggling to empty.

[Superstottie]

I have a raised toilet seat to aid me in getting up from the toilet, so I also use the kids step thing that we keep in the bathroom to put my feet on, and I haven't had half the trouble going since doing this. I got ours really cheap at Ikea,(but you can get them at most household shops) and they are nice and compact so can be kept under the sink etc, but just give that extra few inches under your feet. It is one of these http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/60101063/ (Hope that works!)

[LazyHaze]

I found if I have a really bad pain from IBS, I roll up my duvet and lay straight on my side on it so I make a cross shape. I get the pain on the left had side on my waist, so I lay on that across the duvet, it shifts my trapped wind (Do this when no one is in ear shot lol- I scared my rabbits once) and I find after I've done this I can then go to the toilet you might have to do this twice to shift it and it doesn't take very long, so you don't start hurting your joints.

[shirleytx7]

Is this IBS? I ate dinner yesterday nothing different than usual and about 30 minutes later I was in terrible pain and my stomach/digestive system was bloated and felt rock solid from my rib cage on down. No nausea or anything just extreme bloating and excruciating pain. I have had this before but I have no idea what is causing it. This morning I am tender and a bit sore but the bloating alot better. I have had the same symptoms before maybe 6 times in the past year and I cannot think of an obvious trigger. Does this sound like IBS? I am wondering if this is just another aspect of my EDS/hypermobility.

[Lauren]

Did the symptoms start after a stomach bug? That's what triggered my IBS according to my G.P, who's given me some tablets that work very well.

It sounds like IBS to me, but I would go see your GP. Also, monitor what foods trigger your problems. I find yogurt and orange juice are all right if I have them sparingly, but when I have them everyday it causes problems.

I was told mine was unlikely to be HMS related because of my age.

[sheppeyescapee]

I used to get that a lot but mine has improved with a combination of probiotics, gluten and dairy free diet and keeping on top of my constipation. I take Laxido and docusate to keep things moving. I notice when my system is slowing down again as I start getting that bloatedness and pain again. I hardly get any IBS symptoms anymore only when I don't keep up with my medication regime.

[shirleytx7]

No I had no stomach bug etc. I am vegan and so have no dairy. I eat bread only occasionally and am usually fine. I have no constipation/diarrhea and am as regular as clockwork on a daily basis. The pain/bloating is brought on by eating pain/bloating beginning about 30-60 minutes after eating and has happened only about 6 times but when it does happen I am in excruciating pain and have a belly like a drum. It is not relieved by passing gas/or bowel movements but by time and eating very plain stuff (dry cereal, bananas, etc) for a few days seems to get things back to normal.

[trekster]

Was wondering if there are common foods that cause constipation type IBS?

[Lauren]

My IBS is not related to HMS, but having acidic things too regularly, particularly orange juice, yogurt and coca cola, gives me trouble. having it just the once doesn't give me trouble, but if I have it everyday, that's when the problems start.