[janie48]

Originally Posted by PrimalJay

I have not been tested but have been checked over many times from different doctors to specialists at hospital.

Originally Posted by janie48

Incredible

Sorry if i have appeared dismissive,and a little suspicious of the seriourness of your posts,but i am just so baffled to hear that you have seen Hospital Specialists and not had tests carried out to determine your diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome,and especially if you have been having symptoms for years.

[VideoPro]

I'm not an expert or anything, but couldn't you have a tap or plastic valve put on?

Ideally, something that interfaced with Windows XP (SP3) and higher via your iPad on Wifi.
If you could get one that released a really loud fart noise on FaceBook to warn innocent bystanders, that might be good. You could even Tweet everyone on your contact list in anticipation. Technology is amazing these days.

[PrimalJay]

I have never had any tests, I suffer with depression and have been taking one Mertazepine tablet once a day at night to help me sleep as well as supposedly help my moods, but often I find they sometimes give me constipation, but I have tried all sorts of different pills for depression so that is that.

I also am not as active as I would like to be, maybe some regular exercises a few days a week, I do eat well but find I get in a rut and I can not keep things up for one reason or another.

Maybe I could go for a run or a walk a few days a week but doing all this alone is quite intimidating and annoying.

[*Peaches*]

Speak to your Dr and insist on some form of help, whether its medical or supportive

[medusa]

IBS is a 'diagnosis of exclusion' in that you cannot have specific tests for IBS. You are diagnosed with IBS if the doctor cannot find a cause for your symptoms with all of the tests for everything else.

However, if you haven't had a colonoscopy or x-rays to exclude bowel polyps, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, diverticulitis and a load of other conditions (your symptoms don't sound like a load of these already- they are just illustrative of how many different conditions are excluded) then there's no way that a doctor can tell for certain what is going on in there.

The bleeding could be just due to haemorrhoids, which would be very easy for a doctor to diagnose, but it could also be a sign of much more sinister things, so anybody bleeding in this way is advised to see a doctor specifically for this symptom. The bleeding could be unconnected to every other symptom and the doctor needs to know that you are bleeding and start an investigation of what is causing it.

In your position I'd go and see your GP and tell them that you're still having problems with this and ask them for a referral to a dietician to help you work out which foods are helping/causing your problems. I'd also ask for something to help with the constipation which, if the bleeding is caused by haemorrhoids, won't be helping them at all.

The important thing to realise is that for some people a high fibre diet does not help IBS at all and for some the fibre is a trigger for IBS in itself. I know someone who has dreadful IBS after eating any sort of wholemeal bread, lentils, brown rice, chick peas, garden peas and all sorts of other high fibre foods. It makes organising a diet rather tough for them and they have a much less varied diet than is acknowledged to be healthy, but the alternative is having crippling gut pain and being unable to leave the house for weeks at a time.

A dietician should be able to help you both work out what foods are contributing to your problems and how to change your diet to be as healthy as possible whilst avoiding these foods.

Oh- and prunes aren't rank

[PrimalJay]

Yes I have been checked to have haemorrhoids but years ago had an operation to remove them but they said it was not permanent and they do eventually come back, so can not win chose what I do.

Some days I am fine, but others I am not, I did ask for a referral to a dietician but got nowhere with it, maybe I should be more assertive or at least ask to see a nurse, maybe they would help more.

[scousemouse]

.....................google is very useful to look into different foods for IBS. The term IBS is just an 'umberella' term, every on has differrent symtons, there is no cure, just a question of managing it.

[Isabelle]

Originally Posted by PrimalJay

I have never had any tests, I suffer with depression and have been taking one Mertazepine tablet once a day at night to help me sleep as well as supposedly help my moods, but often I find they sometimes give me constipation, but I have tried all sorts of different pills for depression so that is that.

I also am not as active as I would like to be, maybe some regular exercises a few days a week, I do eat well but find I get in a rut and I can not keep things up for one reason or another.

Maybe I could go for a run or a walk a few days a week but doing all this alone is quite intimidating and annoying.

They do say going for a walk is good for the digestion, and keeping active will no doubt make you feel better mentally as well as physically.
I know what you mean about getting into a rut, sometimes I just can't be bothered to go on my bike or to the gym, even though I know it will make me feel better.

[felix24]

I suffered with ibs for a year, terrible pain, bloating, lack of energy, feeling sick , running to the loo after every meal.

By process of elimination I discovered that nurofen or any other ibuprofen type tablets caused it!

I stopped taking them, it went away. I never knew, and the doctors never mentioned this / but anyone with a delicate tummy shouldn't take ibuprofen as it can irritate your stomach and long term use is harmful!

I was so relieved to have got rid of ibs, but I also agree that stress definitely makes it worse!

Not saying its the medication that causes it in everyone, but it did me, only down side now is I can only take paracetamol for any pains

[sjcNKOTB]

Thanks for your reply and this is a great testimonial. Now I have learnt something new: ibuprofen/nurofen can lead to IBS.