I have not been diagnosed with IBS, but I'm 90% certain that's what's going on with me. I don't have fever, weight loss, nausea or blood in my stools. I've certainly had my share of diarrhea over the years, but not for such an extended "run." For the past two months I've haven't had a single bowel movement that I would consider normal. It started as mostly liquid diarrhea/loose stools. Some were more formed than others, but all were on the loose end of the spectrum. That was troubling enough, but then came the mucus and gas. Now, I'm no stranger to gas, but this feels more "trapped" than usual. In part, that's because I'm afraid to let it go due to the accompanying mucus. At least, I assume that it's mucus. It's slightly yellow, translucent and (when attached to feces) tends to dangle in strings. Sometimes all I manage to pass is mucus and gas.I've been to my family doctor, and my stool sample has been checked for parasites and such. I've also taken a course of Cipro, with no change. I've got an appointment with a specialist, but it's still a month away. And, try as I might, I cannot stop obsessing about it.This week I've been eating a bland diet in hopes of getting my damned colon to settle down. For the first few days, I thought it was helping. My stools were smooth and formed (though still a bit wet), and I hadn't seen any mucus. The past couple of days, though, I got stressed out about some non-colon stuff, and the mucus and gas started up again. And so now I'm spiraling downward, not only worried that even the bland diet isn't going to stop things, but even worried that the worrying is the problem.How can I stop this cycle?--Freaked Out
Gas and mucus is freaking me out!
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I've been having very similar symptoms. In addition I've had rectal bleeding, weight loss of varying intensity, for the past 15 months. I also have a history of kidney stones. About a month ago I had a colonoscopy, where I was assuming they were going to find signs of ulcerative colitis, crohn's, hemorrhoids, fissure...something...anyway I was "normal"...nothing looks wrong, biopsies normal. I've been considering diet changes...but honestly I don't know what to do or who to go to about the gas and mucus diarrhea followed by constipation and fatigue. It's beginning to seriously effect my performance at work and my GI doc has literally given me no options. Anyway I know this isn't helpful other than to know someone else is going through something similar and I'll let you know if I figure out what's going on with me and maybe you can do the same?-best
I am not a doctor or anything, but I pretty much had the same exact symptoms as you. Down to the form and mucus.I went to my doctor about it, and after testing things such as Celiac, Giardia, etc, I was diagnosed with IBS. Coincidentally, my PCP has it as well. He recommended I take in more fiber (I'm now at like 12-18g a day).In addition to the fiber, I've been eating Activia once a day around the same time.Let's just say, for the first time in 5 months. Every BM I had since last week has looked normal. I'm still gassy occasionally, but that may be due to the bacteria in the Activia.
Thanks! I realize that I still need to see a specialist, but it's comforting to know that someone is experiencing the same symptoms and it wasn't something more serious. (Not that this isn't frustrating/depressing.)I just started trying Activia, but I've only been at it a few days. Do you take a fiber supplement? If so, what would you recommend? --Appreciative
I take the Benefiber powder. Specifically the one that comes in its own little packet per usage. If I eat a meal that is low in fiber (sushi with white rice, for example), I take one. I'm still in the process of increasing my fiber intake though. I'm taking it really really slow. I've been increasing very slowly over the past two months. Just remember that when you start taking fiber, you need to drink a lot of water so that it takes the water from your stomach and not your body (which may dehydrate you).The following information is from "Soluble Fiber Supplements ~ How Soluble Fiber Helps Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)". I'd post a link here, but it looks like the filter prevents it. Put what I have in quotation marks above into Google and it's the first result.
Each Benefiber packet is 3g of fiber, by the way.Since I'm technically IBS-C, I may need up to 30g per day. I'm currently around 12g-18g a day. I'm already starting to feel the best I've felt in months.Lastly, good luck! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me (everyone else here is pretty helpful too!
Hello,I can sympathyze with your symptoms since mine are the exact same! Mucus, constipation, Hemorrhoids, fatigue, rectal spasms and burning. I get bloated and gassy then need enemas to go. I am worn out with all of it. I have had a sigmoidoscopy and it was normal! Some hemmi's and some irritation, but not extreme. My doctor says this is IBS C. Did you ever find relief? Any product or drug that helps? Even sitting here typing hurts to sit! If you have any recommendations I'd like to know.Thanks
Hey there, I have had similar symptoms. In fact almost the exact same as yours. I was diagnosed with IBS-D, but mine alternates. The G.I. said that although certain foods and stress can exacerbate it, the problem is not so much a matter of what you eat but, "that you eat". This is because when you eat you trigger a strong gastro reflex that starts the contractions in the gut. In a normal person they don't feel this but with IBS these contractions can be very strong and disruptive/spastic because of "hypersensitivity". Thus the mucus, diarrhea, and cramping. For me he prescribed Cholestrymine (brand name Questran) to slow things down. It worked wonders for 5-6 mo. but I made the mistake of taking advil and now I am having a flare up. Take comfort in knowing that you can get this under control. Also, you may want to look at a new study surrounding a physical cause for IBS being micro-inflammation because of mast cells and the antihistamine (ketotifen) that has been used to reduce their symptoms in a group of IBS-D sufferers. My suspicion is that much of IMS-D may in fact not be IBS at all but possibly Mastocytic Eneterocolitis (a newly classified disease because the diagnostics to test for it are fairly recent, and a disease that is not well understood). At least, after reading this new study it appears there might be some overlap between the two. You, however, need to get checked out by a specialist to rule out more serious aliments. Peppermint oil (entric coated so they make it to the intestine), a good probiotic, hypnotherapy, soluable-fiber, water and exercise may help. I say "may" because a lot of it is finding what works for you.
Hello. Are you still an active member on here? I seem to be going through something similar.
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Same thing here,
Small caliber stools with mucus and flatulence. Freaking out of course over the big C.
If there's any new insight please let me know
Small caliber stools with mucus and flatulence. Freaking out of course over the big C.
If there's any new insight please let me know
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