IBS and me........ (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Member Name: lel1969

Product:	Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Date:	05/02/09 (307 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Can completely take over your life

IBS and Me...........


Not really being a subject and symptoms that are easily discussed with another person, no matter how close that person may be to you, for many years, like so many others, I suffered in silence with my all embarrassing symptoms. I would lie in bed many a night worrying myself sick that something serious was wrong, but then by the time morning arrived I would be feeling normal again. I couldn't go to my GP, he would just think I was wasting his time, why should I waste an appointment that someone who was really ill could be using when my pain kept disappearing?! That was exactly what I was told when I did pluck up the courage to go to my GP. I wasn't able to get an appointment with my usual GP and had to settle for another one in the practice. I explained to him that I really didn't feel well, but I couldn't explain exactly what it was, I had tummy pains, bloating, frequent urination and I had trouble sleeping at night. He immediately told me there was nothing wrong with me and that there were people out there who were actually ill. As soon as he had said this to me I just broke down, I had persuaded myself that the doctor would be understanding and that I really shouldn't worry about visiting him, but when he said this to me I felt so terrible for wasting his time. He then continued to tell me that I was obviously just depressed because I had broken down, needless to say I left no further forward.

Another 6 years passed by with my silent suffering. Having to live my life of pain secretly like this was starting to take its toll on me. The pain and embarrassing symptoms were taking over my life, everything I did had to revolve around how I felt, which, when you don't talk to anyone else about it can start to cause considerable problems. I decided to confide in my husband and explain to him how I felt. He immediately persuaded me to go to the doctor telling me how silly I was not talking about it, but at the same time he knows I hate going to the doctor for myself. After a couple of weeks my symptoms were really bad and I was now getting very emotional too, so I decided to be brave and go to the GP but I was going to make sure I saw my own GP and no-one else.

My GP is a lovely man. When I sat down in his office he turned his chair to face me, looked me straight in the eye and asked what the problem was and then he let me speak, whilst he listened intently. After listening to everything I had to say he explained in great detail all the ins and outs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. He explained about the workings of the bowel and how many different triggers can set off an attack. He explained to me how stress can play a big part but more so that food can also be a major factor.

IBS is such a difficult condition to treat because basically no two people are the same. Some people are bothered with pain, bloating and diarrhoea, whilst others may be bothered with pain, bloating and constipation. What foods might irritate me might not necessarily irritate someone else. It, unfortunately, really is down to the individual to try and work out, through trial and error, what foods are ok and what foods are not. This is probably most easily done by the use of a food diary, by keeping track of what you eat and how you feel afterwards. This can be time consuming and may take a long time but it does work. I personally have found keeping a food diary and using food exclusion very difficult but over the past few weeks I have had a major breakthrough. I do not eat meat (not a vegetarian, just no meat) because of this a very large portion of my diet is Quorn. Using my food diary and also through research into the Quorn product, I have now establish that I unfortunately have a bad intolerance to Quorn. I love Quorn products but they obviously do not love me, giving me very painful stomach cramps. I will miss Quorn but I certainly will not miss the pain!

After first diagnosis I was initially given Fybogel, this is an insoluble fibre in powder form, which you dissolve in water and drink before a meal. It is supposed to work by making you go to the toilet more easily and more regularly. This, however, only made me worse and the constipation was making me ill, but I persevered until I could go on no more and I relented and returned to my GP.

This time he explained to me in layman's terms that there are two types of fibre, soluble and insoluble fibre. We are always told we should eat plenty insoluble fibre such as whole grains, bran, raw vegetables, unpeeled fruits etc. to keep our bowels healthy, but this type of fibre, although very important, can cause many problems for suffers of IBS. This kind of fibre does not dissolve or break down in the bowel. In some people insoluble fibre can cause diarrhoea and in others constipation. In my case, having a very high insoluble fibre diet, thinking this was supposed to help my constipation, all the time it was actually making it worse. Although a very important part of everyone's daily diet, if you are experiencing problems with bowel function then a couple of weeks with little or no insoluble in your diet and a higher level of soluble fibre could be enough just to kick start your bowels into functioning properly again. Good sources of soluble fibre are rice, pasta, oatmeal, potatoes, barley and peeled fruit. Once your bowels have regained their function again then insoluble fibre should be slowly introduced back into your diet. Insoluble fibre is a very important part of our daily diet as it helps to keep the bowel clean and healthy by acting like a brush and removing any unwanted bacteria, but it should be eaten with care. To ensure both types of fibre work properly within the bowel you must also drink plenty of water between 2 - 3 litres per day is advisable for everyone, not just sufferers of IBS.

Stress can also play a big part in making IBS symptoms worse. It is very hard but you should try to relax and stay as calm as possible. A good way to do this is with exercise. Regular exercise is a good way to help keep the bowels functioning the way they should be. One exercise that is thought to be particularly beneficial for IBS sufferers is Yoga. Yoga is a very good form of relaxation, which can help overall fitness, lower blood pressure, improve muscle strength, aid sleep patterns and reduce anxiety levels. In turn this has been proven to give relief to IBS symptoms.

==SUMMARY==

==Symptoms==

· Diarrhoea
· Constipation
· Bloating
· Stomach Cramps
· Bladder Frequency
· Headaches
· Sleep Disturbance
· Nausea
· Mild Depression

Obviously if you are suffering from any of these symptoms then you should try to visit your GP. Although rare the symptoms of IBS can also be the symptoms of more serious conditions.

==Good Sources of Insoluble Fibre==

· beans
· fruits with edible seeds
· lentils
· pulses
· wheat bran
· wholegrain breads
· wholegrain cereals

==Good Sources of Soluble Fibre==
(which also help to lower cholesterol and maintain blood sugar levels)

· apples (peeled)
· barley
· citrus
· oats
· pears (peeled)
· white rice
· potatoes

==Important Points to Remember==

· IBS symptoms need constant monitoring
· IBS is something you may never get over
· IBS is not an excuse to get out of doing something
· IBS is not an easy subject to talk about
· IBS is not contagious
· IBS has many different symptoms/causes which are unique to each person
· IBS is not easily controlled
· Try to avoid trigger foods
· Drink plenty water (2-3 litres)
· Take regular exercise
· Try to relax

Overall the most sound advice for IBS suffers is to try and avoid trigger foods, which you know irritate your bowel, you should also try to avoid foods with a high fat content, eat plenty of soluble fibre but also make sure you include insoluble fibre cautiously and always drink plenty water.

I have tried to write this review in a simple, informative and yet not too graphic way in the hope that it may be of some help and indeed relief to other sufferers out there. I also hope that it will help non-sufferers to understand how truly terrible and debilitating this disorder can be.

==For More Information==

www.helpforibs.com
www.ibsrelief.co.uk


©lel1969

Summary: If you have these symptoms then seek help - it is out there