Re: Ibs and bloating
Originally Posted by
Elizabeth Fry
Hi, I have health anxiety and it is a major thing at the moment. I older, live alone and during the pandemic I have had all sorts of anxiety-related issues.
I have post infectious Ibs and have had antibiotics for it but it is still difficult. I also have gastritis, Gerd and I’ve had my gallbladder out. I’ve had a hysterectomy so not worried from that side and a year ago I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy after having had all sorts of tests. The GP says all is fine but I had a darker stool last weekend (not black) I think it was because I had eaten dark chocolate and chocolate cake etc! and the Specialist Nurse agrees. The Ibs has been bad recently due to increased anxiety and for the last few days I have had bloating (notice it a lot when sitting down as pants are tighter), rib pain, lots of gurgling etc. I’ve had the Mirtazapine increased from 7.5mgs to 15mgs for the last week.
Is this worsening Ibs symptoms? I am worried. Please help if you can.
Thank you.xx
Hi Elizabeth,
The bloating could be an IBS symptom or it could be due to the change in med dosage as increased gas and bloating is reported by people who've taken the drug. If so, it should settle down in a few days. I get bloating with my IBS and I find that drinking peppermint tea is very effective. Gurgling can definitely be IBS, rib pain is more likely Gerd, I think?
It's interesting that you've posted this actually because I'm being investigated for abdominal pain and other symptoms, and as usual all tests are coming up clear - except my Calprotectin which I'm still waiting on. Oh, and Low Vit B12 which was low. Before the pain came on, I've had other symptoms which I can trace back to what I 'think' was the gastro version of Covid (back in February) and it's been downhill for my poor insides ever since. At around the same time, I was also needlessly given some hefty antibiotics so this would have been a double whammy to my insides and it's likely to be the case that the bad bacteria is now playing silly buggers in my insides, as what doctors generally don't tell you to take a probiotic when they dish out the antibiotics.
You could also try that if you're not already? I'm off the dairy, so no yoghurts, but I open up a probiotic capsule and mix it in with my food.
This is something that I'm going to put my GP if they continue to find no obvious cause for my issues..
Anxiety will definitely worsen your symptoms, so the more relaxation you can do, the better you will feel. We carry a lot of nervous tension in our abdomens so it stands to reason that constantly tensing this area will make matters worse..
Don't worry about your poo lovely - it's down to what you're ingesting and chocolate will do it every time. That said, the sugar in chocolate will also irritate your IBS along with the caffeine and a number of other stimulants like Theobromine. Good news though - studies show that chocolate also acts as a probiotic, so perhaps just limit the dark chocolate to a few ounces a day?
Problem with milk chocolate is the lactose and a lot of older people become less tolerant. This has happened with me too and I'm a mere baby at 50.
Low FODMAP is a good diet to be following with IBS, and chocolate has a place in it but only in very small amounts.
If I was you, I'd go through my diet with a fine toothcomb, as it were, and eliminate (if only for research purposes) anything you're eating which is High FODMAP (naughty but nice foods - convenience etc)
All the best.
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