Feel like cr*p (Warning, kind of grose)

[piglet]

Sorry about this but I am getting so frustrated at the moment and it is doing my head in.

I have been feeling so horrid recently, I know it is down to stress and my diet hasn't been amazing (eating junk and then skipping meals). I think it is stress more than anything though.

I have been stupidly constipated and getting nasty belly ache for the past few months now. I have enough problems with my digestive problems as it is without worrying about this too. Literally every time I go to the loo it has been really painful and lets just say "icky*. I am bloated all the time and I have started to get that thing again where I feel a bit sick if I eat too late at night which worries me that I am starting to revert back to old ways.

It doesn't help that my loo is really rubbish, it's a saniflo and always breaks and backs up so every time I go I am terrified that I am going to break it and (stupidly I know) I will put off going because I am scared which in turn makes the constipation worse.

I really don't know what to do, I can't take laxatives because they make me ill and I really don't want to go down that road and I'm worried that if I go to the docs she will just tell me to take them or send me to hospital again for a load of test.

Feeling really fed up at the moment

[bluenomore]

............................ Sorry

[piglet]

Thanks

I'm sorry I think I just needed to rant a bit but if anyone has any ideas for herbal remedies that are really gentle it would be appreciated, all the stuff I can think of are really strong and I know that would do more harm than good

[bluenomore]

No ................................ sorry

[Jericho]

My GF suffers similar problems Piglet, its probably due to meds if your on serious ones, I'm sorry I don't have any hints.

[bulbie]

For herbal, I suggest twinings peppermint tea - pure peppermint. It's not a laxative but it does aid the digestion. It seriously works wonders for me, has pulled me out of even the worst IBS attacks, and those I'm pretty sure feel worse than childbirth or at least on par with it. Then there is also Fybogel. This comes in orange or blackcurrant. It's ispaghula husk, so again, completely natural. Again, not a laxative, just a big ole dose of fibre to get things moving along. You put the husk in the glass and make it up with water and gulp it all down in one. If you wait to drink it, it will be jelly. Sounds gross yes, but drink it straight away in one and all you'll be drinking is a refreshing orange drink. After a few days it really does start to work, and it's best taken right after food, to help it along. I think you can have two sachets a day of the Fybogel, one in the morning, and one at night, and the tea you can have as much as you like.

These things really helped me (I even get Fybogel on prescription, because it is so expensive to buy), so hopefully they'll be of benefit to you too. If you want to talk more poop, feel free to pm me!

[pentagram]

Your symptoms sounds like irritable bowel syndrome, check IBS websites. I have IBS. It is not too serious in that about 20% of the country have it occasionally. One of the causes of IBS is stress, the leaflet I got from my GP about it says diet is important and not eating erratically, though it does seem to me very difficult finding out what exactly I can and cannot eat.

You have to work out what's good for you. I know that you don't like laxatives but GP given ones are ten times stronger than any herbal remedies and will sort out your problems quickly rather than dragging on and getting you even more down than you probably already are.

websites: http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Irri...l-Syndrome.htm

http://ibs.about.com/od/treatmentofi...llaxatives.htm
http://www.herballaxative.org/

[piglet]

Thanks for the replies

bulbie, I think one of my problems is that I have built up a kind of resistance to the things that usually help. I have tried Fybogel in the past but I have a lot of issues with swallowing things that are bitty (I know, sounds really stupid), I get scared that I will choke on it and will be sick. I have been using pure peppermint, a few props in some boiled water but it doesn't seem to be helping anymore. I might try upping the amount I'm taking and see if that helps. I got some fig syrup today too and I'm going to try that, I've heard it is quite gentle.

Pentagram, I was diagnosed with IBS-CD when I was about 11 and then it changed to just IBS-C when I got in to my 20s. I know what you mean about it being hard finding what foods affect you, so far I have narrowed it down to caffeine, chilli, mustard, paprika, cherry, peach, tea leaves, if I eat white bread for too long and some E numbers. It was such a hassle cutting things out of my diet and then adding them in again to see if I got sick

[Maiya]

I don't know if this is gonna reach anyone but I'm new here so I am just browsing through the posts and looking what I can do and what can be done for me
Anyhow, my thoughts on your problems are that you really need to work on your diet. Cos when you are ill in a psychological way it tends to effect your digestive system the most. I think I have IBS myself, and I am also pretty sure that my mental problems trigger my digestive problems and vice versa! It is really frustrating! But really, junk food, late eating, fast eating, all these things just make your problems worse. If you want any advice on how to regulate your diet, feel free to let me know. I was battling constipation too.
Hope you are better now, anyway.