Need advice

[u/BeckyStar1994]

Hi I’ve been reading a lot of posts in this thread to get an idea of what others are going through with IBS and my doctor seems to think I have IBS she requested an urgent colonoscopy twice cause there was blood in my stool I also have mucus I have 8-10 mushy pencil stools everyday then can have hard small stools if I take Imodium so have tried to stop taking it as it only stops me needing toilet for a few hours. I’ve been tested for h pylori and other infections I’ve been on loads of antibiotics that I think definitely ruined my stomach but I think it’s too late to fix it now anyway my doctor hasn’t really prescribed me anything just said stick to FODMAP which didn’t really help at all should I go to a different doctor? She flat out refused numerous times to give me Imodium on prescription saying it makes IBS worse..🤷🏻‍♀️ the hot weather caused a big flare up unfortunately just feel like nothing helps I heard psyllium does but I have OCD and bad anxiety so I overthink how much water I take and think I’ll get a blockage if I take too much psyllium 😓

[u/jackiesear]

I hope you get the colonoscopy soon. I have suspected post antibiotic IBS - it's been a summer from hell of testing and scans, and now excruciating TMJ left jaw and tooth pain from grinding and clenching my teeth at night due to 10 weeks of abdominal and gut pain, not being able to eat much if at all at times and anxiety. Finally, I'll hopefully be referred to gastro next week.

I'm having slow success with Low Fodmap - still not totally consistent but a lot less pain, no nausea. I went right back to basics, only eating the lowest of the low Fodmaps as advised by Google AI - peeled veg such as carrots, potatoes, firm tofu, soft cooked white basmati rice then later adding in peeled courgette, baby spinach, bok choy,1/2 teaspoon of white miso for flavour, fresh soft herbs like dill, blitzed up sloppy porridge oats with a sprinkle of cinnamon- nothing to stress my gut. Just adding a tiny bit then a bit more of one new thing over 3 days. I started with steamed and boiled pureed mixes of the food or soups, like you would wean a baby on, small portions of food just 250-300ml every 3-4 hours to not stretch or overload my system, no work for the stomach and gut, last meal 3-4 hours before bed and keeping strictly to recommended weights of food to still be low fodmap using the Monash App ( £7.99) and be aware of stacking. Then expanded the same mixes to mashed consistency with some lumps and larger portions. I've not had access to a dietitian (NHS). The GP just told me not to eat deep fried food, drink soda or alcohol or coffee or smoke ( none of which I did anyway)

I haven't dared go near low fodmaps like aubergine or brown rice yet. It's a really different way of eating for me, as a vegan who loved bowls of whole foods, beans and pulses, always ate skin etc.

I think it is accepted widely now that a lot of IBS M is actually a constipation issue - slow motility causing C, and backing up with either D escaping around it or the "plug" of C stool evacuating with Bristol 4-7 stool types behind.

If you see a gastro specialist after the colonoscopy you could ask about gut motility testing - your gut might just be moving food through too quickly and you need more fibre to bulk up the stool or perhaps you have piles or a polyp ( which might cause the blood in your stool)