Irritable Bowel Syndrome I.B.S.

Serenity · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:00 am Post subject: Irritable Bowel Syndrome I.B.S.

I've suffered from IBS on and off throughout my life. I know Jules (Cheekychops) has too. Here are a few facts about this often distressing syndrome.

About IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition associated with an upset bowel. It is extremely common in the UK with around one in three people being affected at some stage in their life.People with IBS will experience a number of symptoms, which often includes painful abdominal cramps and spasms, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. However, IBS affects people in different ways and can be very changeable and unpredictable, so there may be times when the symptoms are mild and other times when they are severe.

In my case, everything can be fine for a few years and without warning start up again.

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Serenity · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:03 am Post subject:

Symptoms

Abdominal pain and discomfort can strike at any time, without warning, and can have a considerable impact on your everyday life. There may be times when the cramps and spasms from abdominal pain can literally stop you in your tracks or leave you doubled up in pain. This can be really disruptive and may prevent you working, studying, sleeping or even carrying out the simplest tasks. Other symptoms can include wind - bloating - tiredness - headaches -backache.

So what causes abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain can be caused by muscles spasms in the stomach, intestines or colon. These spasms can be triggered by a number of factors, both internal and external. Internal factors include food allergies or intolerances from the things we eat or drink that can have a bad reaction, quickly setting your muscles into spasm when consumed.

Other factors that are also a cause of abdominal spasms and cramps are psychological in nature, such as tension and stress. Imagine when you feel nervous or anxious - your body can often become tense. The organs of your digestive symptoms may be said to mirror this tension, causing the normal muscle rhythms to go out of balance. This can result in the muscles irregularly contracting causing strong, painful cramps. Although painful, abdominal cramps are usually harmless
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Serenity · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:16 am Post subject:

Top Tips
Step 1
Get Diagnosed
Be sure that your symptoms are due to IBS and not another condition.

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Step 2
Treat the root of the problem
To cope with pain, a number of treatments are available for painful abdominal spasms associated with IBS.

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Step 3
Exercise regularly
Exercise helps relieve depression and stress, stimulates normal contractions of your intestines and can help you feel better about yourself.

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Step 4
Identify your trigger foods
Keep a food diary. People can often identify food and drinks that trigger symptoms and diet can subsequently be modified.

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Step 5
Talk things through
It is often the case that stressful events can bring on or exacerbate symptoms. Through dealing with the bigger issues, the pain may be avoided. Don't be afraid to try psychological therapies.

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Step 6
De-stress
Stress can often be the cause of symptoms to flare-up and can further exacerbate an existing attack so look into relaxation techniques.

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Step 7
Be informed
It is important to feel in control of your symptoms so gather as much information you can.
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Serenity · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

There are a range of medical products readily available from supermarkets and pharmacies that may be helpful in relieving symptoms associated with medically confirmed IBS.

I used to take a prescribed tablet called Colpermin, which was a peppermint tablet used to treat the toilet issues. Aslo a anti cramping tablet, that I've forgotten the name of. lol

I've also had trouble with an irritable bladder over the years too. I sound like a hypochondriac pmsl !! Its the same sort of thing as IBS, something either nerves or something you eat or drink, irritates the lining of the bladder making you pee frequently. I found that changing to Decafe Tea bags did the trick!! Was obvious after all those years, that caffeine irritates me

Sometimes it's just a simple change that can make all the difference.
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redhead · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

Both my daughters suffer with IBS one as it under control , the other one not so good at the moment she has a new boss at work who totally stress's her out so IBS as flared up bad .

Selious5 · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject:

Know people who have this IBS and it is a terrible thing to see. I don't know if this would help with the cramps but it does for musular spasms and that is Indian tonic water because it has quinine in it It must be Indian not ordinary stuff. The tablets you are taking quite possibly have a quinine content somewhere so the tonic water may work for you
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Hannah

cheekychops · Member User Online: Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 124

ty for this debs, i also have irratable bladder to , drives me mad, bloody frustrating , i took those tablets u took to , did no good at all ,ive got some diff ones at moment, went to hos today , they dont think at mo i need to have cam down , he deff thinks its bad dose of ibs , which like he said can take over ya life at times, which it is for me at mo , hes sent my doc a prescription for some medication to take before i eat so i can digest my food a bit easier , cos main prob i having is i feel 10 stone heavier when ive eaten , and takes hours to digest, he says stress is one of biggest causes , well ya cant help ya personality which for me is a born worrier and a total stresshead lol but do feel better for going to hos today ,

Serenity · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

It's nice just to be listened to Jules, and for a doctor to confirm theres nothing more serious going on, not that IBS isn't distressing, because it is! Strange how we both had IBS and bladder too! I'm like you though, a born worrier, some of us just are eh *sigh* lol I would suggest for your bladder tho (and bowel), switch to decafe, if you havent already? It really worked for me

xxx
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cheekychops · Member User Online: Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 124

i dont drinkk a lot of tea hun and dont drink coffee atall , lucky if i drink 4 cups of tea a week ,and uptil few weeks ago didnt drink it at all lol only have boiled water lol

Ducky · Member User Online: Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 145

it must be terrible living with this sort of thing. i get constipated quite often but thats because i dont drink enough water and take pain killers. theres always some adverse affect and this is one of them. it can be a real nuisance at times. id hate to have problems constantly though.

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Val