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When I was doing my university finals I was in so much gut pain I thought I must be about to drop dead, but it turned out to be the consequence of stress + no sleep for several months. I wouldn't believe the docs when they said it was stress related.
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Sympathy for those that suffer. Like @hootsmon I too have AS and all the associated symptoms.
In my case certain foods don't agree with me - pepper sauces, creamy sauces in general especially Italian, Nando's spicy sauce etc. and some ingredients in processed foods I haven't nailed down yet. Then there is the psychological part, once you've had a few close calls while out and about it adds stress to the situation and stress has a similar effect on your bowels...makes things worse. It can be self-fulfilling.
Otherwise, try to eat and sleep well.
(Mind you, they were Swedish, so probably didn't know any better.)
I still feel bloated sometimes and have a feeling of "urgency" for the toilet (hmm, thanks for sharing that Phil), but I put that down to all the veg I eat. I don't get the churny feeling or weird noises in my guts - which were often quite embarrasingly loud, especially somewhere quiet like a cinema - any more.
If you're in your 50's and you get a new change in bowel habit lasting more than 6 weeks, go see your GP.
IBS isn't a diagnosis of exclusion, it has very clear criteria, but there are a couple of things that should be checked first (including to make sure you're not coeliac).
Do not let your GP fob you off as not needing a colonoscopy.
Over the years too many young people have had serious conditions missed. I don't mean to scare you as the odds are its IBS but make sure.
PM me if you have medical questions @ThorpyFX
Best wishes
My non-smoker, non-(alcohol-)drinking wife was diagnosed with a bowel tumour at 40 and had to have it removed in an emergency operation as the GP(s) had been absolutely useless and tried to fob her off despite many visits to them, her being unable to work, eat properly, etc. She was determined to deal with it/the GPs herself but it was only when I hassled the GP and demanded that he send her to the local hospital there and then that within 24 hours it was diagnosed and dealt with. It was a very, very stressful time but she is now fine. You can imagine his face a couple of weeks later when I pointed out what they'd missed - even on the day she went to hospital it was obvious that he thought it was nothing (yet the first thing the hospital did was dose her up on morphine because of her pain score...)
The point being you're highly unlikely to have e.g. a tumour but if you do have something serious you REALLY want it sorting out ASAP.
A 35 year old male needs a decent history taken, a physical examination and a couple of blood tests unless there are particular alarm symptoms. As I've said, IBS isn't a diagnosis of exclusion, it has clear diagnostic criteria.
If your symptoms or the blood tests suggest something other than IBS then it's reasonable to have a look at your colon but to go straight in with a scope would be unwise and unnecessary.
Its far too easy to say that stress causes it, and plenty of contradictory evidence, e.g. someone I know left a job he loathed and got a higher paid, working from home job that he loves. His IBS kicks in. So immediately the amateur psychology starts - he must be stressed by the new job, he must be stressed by working from home, he must be stressed by the bigger salary, etc. Another one found their IBS kicked in on a lovely weekend away in the Lake District doing lots of walking that they love. Is that stress? My point is that saying the cause is stress is just unhelpful.
Experiment with different foods to see what works for you. My son has cut out dairy stuff. I find dairy makes no difference to me. Friends cut out potatoes and like rice. I have no problem with potato but rice seems to make mine worse. You need to find what works for your particular gut bacteria and genetic makeup
I thought I had it for years- it was heliobatactor pilori though- and that's easy to rid yourself of.
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