General Chat

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

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

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.

bananas & liquorice

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.

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):

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.

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

Hi Baby butterfly, yep i can join your merry band of fellow sufferers, i was diagnosed about 25yrs ago, in those days it was reffered to as a spastic colon!!----lovely. I am ok as long as i dont eat any junk/processed food, drink any booze (but sometimes i do and just suffer the next day)! and avoid all stress, which is easier said than done, all that said i have learnt to live with it and i control it other than it controlling me. it does get easier as you learn to live with it honest folks kes x x x

I've had it for some years now, and mine is mostly stress (or worry)-related. I used to be prescribed Merbentyl but one of the side effects was to lower blood pressure and I didn't like the strange feeling. Now I take Mebeverine (Colefac) and I find that Coke is very soothing too. Mandy :)

STRESS is definitely the cause with me - am trying to be more laid back and not let trivial things bother me. Had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago - they didn't find any poly-whatnots or cancer - specialist gave me a diet sheet: Drink plenty of fluids NO to beef, sausages, pizza, fish in batter/breadcrumbs, spuds, onions, sweetcorn, citrus fruits, wheat, corn, oats, corn and veg oil, most dairy products, tea, coffee, fruit juices, alcohol, tap water, marmalade, mustard, salad cream, yeast, gravy mixes, vinegar, nuts, chocolate. When symptoms have cleared, re-introduce one food for two days, in large quantities, if no reaction go onto the next forbidden food. Once chocolate, for instance, has been tested it can go back on the menu! A mixture of 2 teasp sodium bicarb in half pint water will help to reduce duration of reaction. Lily

Kes, That made me smile - my Mam had 'spastic colon'. I have the modern version - IBS! Mine started after a car crash left me on strong painkillers long term. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and allergy problems last year and had to change my diet completely. It's definitely helped my tummy problems too. I GENERALLY keep my IBS under control by avoiding the following - bananas too much of any fruit (I'm allergic to most anyway). I certainly wouldn't eat too many grapes, Baby - too acidic Caffeine stress and fatigue (not always possible, i know!) beer/lager drinking ice-cold drinks (had to get used to drinking room-temperature water, but it definitely helps) white bread too much fibre of any sort I don't eat bread at all, but eat loads of veg, pulses and beans. Pain pills and iron tablets are a big trigger. If I have a big bout of it, i take lactullosen for a few days, slowly reducing the amount. I got some very good advice from a specialist nurse for how to beat constipation. If you will excuse my bluntness -- if impacted and unable to shift it. Sit on the loo with your feet on a footstool so that your knees are elevated above your waist slightly. Put your hand to your mouth - blow slowly through your hand as if blowing up a balloon. It works amazingly well. I think the blowing relaxes your bowels. Hope this helps! Sal

I've had it for years, even had a tube put up my bottom to make sure it wasn't bowel cancer (most unpleasant). Somedays it can be really bad, but it is stress related, if I get upset it is really bad, or before i go on a journey. I try to watch what I eat, make a diary of things you eat and then eliminate them one by one to find out what it is thats upsets you most. Hope this helps Lesley

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

have finally got my appointment through for the camera thingy,has anyone else had this done??

I have a form of it Doc calls Diverticulitis. Seems to come on if I eat Muesli although they tell me a high fibre diet is the best way to avoid trouble.

Colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, barium meal and follow through, and various cameras shoved down my throat, tubes up my nose and into my stomach. Errrrm got a bit carried away there. I think the answer is simply Yes. Beth :)

they have said camera may have to go either way,if you know what i mean,do they put u out for it?

Nope.

I had the Barium enema. Not nice but not painful either.