Irritable Bowel Syndrome Support Group

Hi folks. This is my first post on this forum,but I've suffered from IBS [mainly pain] for nearly 30 years[I'm a 49 year old man]. This past couple of years, the pain has become much worse and more persistent.In fact there are days when I feel like ending it all because it's so hard to bear.

People have no idea just how devastating this terrible affliction is.It isn't just a bit of "tummy pain" now and again. It's excruciating agony on a daily basis. In fact I rarely feel pain in my stomach anyway. It mainly affects me around the back- referred pain. I know it originates in the gut because the pain is often relieved when I pass wind. I've tried everything under the sun and so far nothing has really helped. I've tried Amitriptyline and it seemed to help a little bit, but I had to stop taking it because of the side effects. I'm going to give Nortriptyline a go as I've heard that for most people the side effects are less pronounced.

I do appreciate sites like this. It kind of makes me feel less alone if that makes sense?!

Puppykins.

Post edited by: Puppykins, at: 11/19/2009 03:44 AM

Post edited by: Puppykins, at: 11/19/2009 03:44 AM

I have also suffered for 11 years and had to have different procedures done... with no improvement... until the last surgeon suggested that I stop eating bread altogether!... and it has made the world of difference... the constant abdominal pain is just gone!

It's tough not to eat bread at all... but the reward of no pain is brilliant! Apparently it is the yeast in the bread and not the gluten, that caused my pain.

Replace bread with rice/ricecakes/corncakes and potatoes... just try it for a month and see the difference

Hi Quartz. Thanks for your reply. I'll certainly try to give up bread for a while and see if it makes any difference.

Oh goodness, I don't think I could give up bread. That's my life. I would say I'd give up sugar before that. Does it seem to matter to any of you which kind you eat? I know white bread makes a friend of mine have real bad gas which of course causes cramping. Whole wheat is much better for a person.

I feel the same way as u do. Did you try gluten free rice bread? I really am balking at giving up bread. Did you give up anything else, Karin

It is not the gluten that causes the problem... rice bread would also have yeast. Initially I had to give up bread, eggs and coffee... but after a while I could eat eggs again and coffee.. but bread is the one thing that brings back the pain.

Scones and most muffins don't have yeast... and you can eat those... just make sure, if you buy them from a shop, what the ingredients are.

But in general I don't eat much of that either.

I think, for me, it is sugar that bothers my system. The more I eat, the more problems I have. Terrible around halloween.