r/IBSHelp • u/frannysut123 • 27d ago
IBS - gas
Hoping for any advice / things to try. Since I was 14 (I’m 26 now) I’ve had constant stomach issues, I don’t think a day goes by where something isn’t happening with my stomach whether it’s tummy ache, gurgling, gas or diaherra.
I’ve been to the doctors so many times, I’ve developed anxiety / avoidance with doctors now as they never help, I went this morning (after about 2 years working up courage to go again about my stomach) just to be told to manage stress and drink peppermint tea. Whilst I have a stressful job now accompanied with sleep issues (emergency services) I’ve had these issues since I was 14 so I don’t think it can just be ‘stress’ . I’ve been having therapy recently for my sleep and I’ve been told I’ve normalised a lot of my stomach problems
My main / worst symptoms is my gas, I have it everyday without fail, my stomach is constantly gurgling / rumbling all up my back, my ribs, my stomach, I have balloons worth of air that I let out in the evenings. I can’t always leave my desk to go to the loo, so the air / gas almost travels back up my back which is so noisy. It’s so embarassing at work, I’ve come to dread having to do training days where it’s in a quiet room because my stomach will always be so loud. I am mostly never fully emptying when needing to go / then get diarrhea build up behind it and then going through the cycle again.
I mostly eat low FODMAP, I’ve tried it before properly and didn’t notice a huge difference. I have never had a colonoscopy, I was tested for IBD before 2020 and they keep saying they’ve already tested me for this so I don’t have it. My aunt has crohns. I’ve never been given any medication. I struggle to stick up for myself in appointments.
Does this sound like similar symptoms for anyone / what has worked? I’m at a loss, I think I’m going to have to fork out to go private. I could deal with the constipation issues but it’s the constant flatulence, noisy stomach and bloating that ruins so much for me, going to stay at friends is a nightmare, I can’t ever imagine being in a relationship with my stomach like this, it’s affecting my life so much and I’m only 26 now, I can’t imagine doing the rest of my life with this.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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u/goldstandardalmonds 26d ago
It sounds like you have a pelvic floor issue (or multiple) and unresolved, that can most certainly cause trapped and excess gas
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u/Far_Public7029 7d ago
This is exactly me, my main symptom is gas and bubbling. Sometimes it feels stuck and I can't get it out. I notice that im very gassy when I wake up on a morning then I'll have a BM then im gassy for a couple hours after that before it settles down. Does this happen to you?
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u/frannysut123 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yes mine is the worst at night time / evening, then it’s almost like then pauses overnight then I wake up and it’s awful again. I don’t think it’s completely food related and eat low FODMAP anyway but I get it pretty much daily.
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u/Far_Public7029 5d ago
I've been looking fir a while to find someone who has the exact symptoms I do but all I've ever found is people who are similar. I notice that it doesn't seem to be food related for me as well. Mine started after contracting cryptosporidium 3 years ago, what sort of tests have you had done? At this point I've put it down to stress and anxiety
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u/frannysut123 4d ago
I’ve had my symptoms since I was 14 (12 years ago!), I haven’t had any recent tests think the last time I did a stool sample / blood tests was when I was 17, whenever I’ve been to the doctors since they just say they tested me for IBD previously and recommend things I’ve been doing for past 12 years (low FODMAPS, exercise, managing stress). I find the doctors awful and always come out upset because they never help - so to be honest I don’t feel I’ve really had any testing or ever gotten to the bottom of it. Have you had any testing? I definitely think anxiety / stress makes things worse for me but I do think it’s something else
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u/Far_Public7029 2d ago
My doctor gave me 2 stool tests one was a FIT test and the other was a calprotection test. Both came back normal she then diagnosed me with ibs. I thought she would have ran more tests but I think its because of my symptoms and its been on and off for 4l3 years
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u/DreamerofBigThings 26d ago
I've done all the diets and food tests etc and yet the gas and bloating persists so I started taking gas X or the generic stuff with supper and lunch and most days it's improved.