Do you know any one who suffers from IBS?

Over the last few years I have been hearing more and more about IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) I know several people who suffer from the condition and in the last two years since having my younger two children I have also experienced some of the symptoms.

I don’t have a formal diagnoses but know from reading about the condition that I have some of the symptoms. I have in part put down having had four cesarean sections as a trigger as the symptoms started after the third one. I know that stress, some foods (mainly bread) and my menstrual cycle can also impact on the symptoms and have learnt through trail and error how to reduce the symptoms so they don’t impact on my daily life. Of course there are times when its not possible to manage or reduce the symptoms and for me if these instances increase this is when I will talk to my GP.

So what is IBS? well the most common symptoms include:

abdominal pain and cramping – often relieved by emptying your bowels
a change in your bowel habits – such as diarrhoea, constipation, or sometimes both
bloating and swelling of your abdomen
excessive wind (flatulence)
an urgent need to go to the toilet
a feeling that you need to open your bowels even if you have just been to the toilet
a feeling you have not fully emptied your bowels
passing mucus from your bottom

Bowel symptoms, these are the main ones

IBS with diarrhoea – when you have repeated bouts of diarrhoea
IBS with constipation – when you have repeated bouts of constipation
IBS mixed – when you have repeated bouts of diarrhoea and constipation

(information taken from www.nhs.uk)

For me I know that when I have over done things and have trouble sleeping if I don’t take time out it can trigger bouts of bloating, stomach cramps and constipation. Now I love bread and there are times when I crave bread which in itself is okay if eaten in moderation and as part of a healthy diet however there have been times when I have literally had several slices of toast for breakfast, then at lunch have had soup with several slices of bread and butter and then at tea I’ve had two or three more slices of bread taking my consumption up to around 10 slices in one 24 hour period, opps! I know that, that night the bloating will start and I will start feeling constipation, by the following afternoon I will have cramps and the urgency to go to the toilet and finally a couple of hours later diarrhoea. I usually end up feeling like I’ve done ten rounds in a boxing ring, drained and exhausted. It’s only over the last 18 months I have started to make connections between the symptoms and my diet and also stress.

I’ve also been reading articles about IBS and ways of managing the condition. I recently came across this article which started talking about a product called Bimuno IBAID (Intestinal Bifidobacteria Aid) and the fact that it can help reduce and manage the condition. Bimuno are a second generation prebiotic that helps sustain the good bacteria (Bifidobacteria) in your gut. Bimuno IBAD helps encourage and maintain the levels of good bacteria, helps manage their intestinal comfort and reduce the bacteria that cause bloating. Through looking around the internet I came across reviews from people who have been using Bimuno IBAD which you can find here,they are very helpful.

My reading made me aware that IBS is very common and that it’s not something to be embarrassed about either. I know feel that I can go and talk to my GP if my symptoms worsen but at present my bouts are quite spread out and happen maybe once every nine or ten months so are not at a stage where I feel I need to seek intervention. Thankfully I’m at the mild end of the spectrum and maybe by taking a product like Bimuno IBAD I could reduce the flare ups even more.

This post is brought to you by Bimuno however the content of the post is 100% my own.