Maybe IBS - not sure
Hi. I have, whatI would call, minor stomach upsets fairly regularly, around once a fortnight. The reason for writing is that I have a major upset rarely, once every 6 months to 18 months. The pattern is that it starts off with a low grade pain normally within 30 mins of eating. As soon as I get this feeling I know what it is going to develop into. The pain grows and ends with me ‘ emptying out’ with watery diarrhoea. By the end stage the pain is so great that I feel faint and often vomit. I have had theses episodes from early childhood ( I am now 69). My Mother also had the same. I have never had them medically investigated. They now seem to be getting more intense and I am frightened that I will, if on my own, collapse. Incidentally i have always taken Kaolin & Morphine liquid when I have an episode. This appears to now be an ancient medication and is hard to get.
Does any have similar and have any idea what causes and can prevent them or how to better deal with them. I have never found a pattern to them e.g. food type, eating too fast, time of day. Etc.
Thank you for sharing and reaching out. Sounds like you've tried to find correlation or patterns. Have you tried keeping a simple food/symptom journal? Sometimes an intolerance or reaction can be delayed or perhaps there is another variable that's contributing such as physicial activity, oncoming illness, stress, gut bacteria inbalance, etc. I'd encourage you to speak with your doctor about any new, changing or concerning symtpoms. In addition to speaking with your doctor, this article on Diarrhea and urgency and potential causes may be helpful: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/symptoms/diarrhea Best, Kelly, Irritablebowelsyndrome.net Team Member These "bad turns" sound awful for you, and I suppose they can come on with little warning.
I understand about not being able to easily associate it with food, as I have had bad IBS flares at times when I had only eaten my "safe foods" for days previously, and on the evening in question.
But it could perhaps be possible we missed something. And if there has been any unusual stress in life. Stress is different for each person. Some people would get stressed only after a family argument or a long journey, but some could get stressed from having to do the weekly shop at the supermarket, or over bills that need to be paid.
Lack of sleep, or odd sleep patterns can be a trigger. If you are histamine sensitive, even foods that are okay sometimes or even regularly, might not be if you have racked up a histamine overload at the time.
I agree that it can sometimes be helpful to keep a very strict food journal. So we don't forget that one nut we ate, or that extra half cup of coffee. etc. Or the tiny glass of wine at a friend's the day before.
Sometimes there are no clues, even by doing that, but sometimes there are.But IBS can suddenly flare up and give you a bad day for no obvious reason. Just because it can. I get flare ups that I cannot trace to anything, and I have learned to be quite a detective with this! Those completely baffle me.
I hope you get some help from your doctor and I hope these bad flares go away!
