General Chat

Hi Butterfly, I have C-IBS which is the constipation dominated type and have been affected for over 15 years. I eat a healthy diet, am aware of which foods I should eat and the need for exercise but nothing has seemed to work- I would often be doubled up with pain and unable to empty my bladder properly. However, 4 months I got a job and everything has changed- my bowel is actually functioning properly most of the time and as a bonus the excema that has made my life a misery for the last 4 years has vanished!! I put it down to having a new routine and more things to take my mind off of me! I didn't need to work but I am thrilled that I decided to as the IBS is now under control. I have also found that eating a SMALL amount of pumpkin/sunflower seeds each day is also a great help All the best Aileenx

Coincidentally this week, an article on this subject in the That's Life magazine - after you have read the article, read the stories and do the puzzles, to take you mind off your tum, and you might even win something too. Good luck everyone.

yes butterfly i have.suffering from bloated painful stomach went to docs who said it was most probebly that.she gave me a leaflet with trigger foods.everthing on there i mostly eat.as they say what a bummer!!xxxxxxx):

Another thing I thought of : I think you can get a special card from the hospital or a website saying you suffer from IBS and if you need to go in a hurry, you can go into places and show the card and ask to use the loo. I don't have one but was almost taken short in a charity shop the other day. Asked to use their loo but it had flooded earlier and was being fixed, so the assistant suggested I try the coffee shop next door. I just went in and asked quietly 'I have IBS - May I use your loo please?' and was shown where it was, no problem. After all, in Greece and other places, there are no public loos and everyone just walks into bars, cafes etc and uses the loo and walks out again, so why not here. I am sure you will get your confidence back and will learn to cope. Don't worry.

bananas & liquorice

Donna - if you come into Norwich for CAB go to the Health food place in Exchange St near the market - they are very knowledgeable about things that help all problems.

am being good,eating grapes are they good for it?very sour tho!!!

Donna - have a look on some websites for IBS if you haven't already done so, see what others recommend and how to eliminate triggers from your diet. Certainly I would go to a reputable healthfood store and ask advice too - painkillers won't address the problem, just mask a sympton. Good luck. Liz

Wheat products often cause IBS, but other things might too. Someone I know found that some anti inflammatary tablets she had taken for years, was the cause of hers. Val

Weird, painkillers start my IBS off.

some painkillers and laculose(?)

Donna - I have this too, and it is definitely stress related. Think of the stress you have been under lately - is that when it started or have you had it for a long time? The other day I saw something on a tv prog. where the interviewer asked this doctor/scientist about probiotics and he said you would only need them if you had IBS or other gut problems. You can buy probiotic tablets containing friendly bacteria - probably cheaper in the long run than buying those silly little drinks. What are the tabs the doc has given you? Are they painkillers or what?

baby b, if i can make a suggestion,start a daily journal,write down all you do,all you eat,how you feel at certain times of the day. see if you can find a connection,between what you do/eat,and how you feel. bryan.

as i said before hospital have given me laculose,and painkillers,cant work out what sets it off tho

Lived with it for 15 years.... used to have merbeveryn which used to help...now just careful what I eat. Mine is stress related. Viv

Ive had it for years. Sometimes I have been doubled up on the floor with it. I take Spasmonal - it used to be just on prescription but you can buy it over the counter now but cheaper to get your GP to prescribe. If I feel really bloated and my stomach is starting to hurt I take two straight away and follow up with them all day and usually that is enough to stop the pain becoming really bad.

I know the weather's hot, but how's about an almost-hot-water bottle?

agree roxanne,very good for IBS! but as roxanne says,ask your gp,before taking anything! bryan.

got given tablets by hospital,but the pain wont shift

i know this sounds yucky,btu the doc said to me my bowel was full on xray even tho id been going to loo,they gave me laxative but my tummy still really hurts even tho im loads of tablets