advice on IBS

by Michael
(UK)

I have been diagnosed with IBS and put on medication i.e. Fybogel, Mebeverine tabs and Senna. For a long time I thought that it was my appendix but my GP assures me that I am suffering from IBS. I have pain on right side of stomach and unable to have regular bowel movements. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 days before I open my bowels. Is it ok to take Fybogel continuously? I even get worried about having cancer (which does not help the symptoms) I suffer with wind sometimes trapped and don’t know what to take for this I have started eating bran flakes daily.

Please can you give me some advice as I am continually worrying about this?

Help For IBS

From your description, it sounds as if you have constipation predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This is very common and in some ways an easier form of IBS to treat. You mention that you suffer from trapped wind and normally with this form of IBS, a high fibre diet can actually make symptoms worse. What you should be having is a low fiber diet with laxatives. I have outlined below the sort of IBS diet you should be taking:

Your diet should be balanced and incorporate the following:
• White bread rather than brown or granary

• Pasta and rice, BUT not wholemeal

• Cereals that don’t contain high fibre. Examples would include corn flakes and rice cereal and NOT bran flakes

• White flour containing foods

• Fresh fruit and juices, but avoid skins and seeds

• Vegetables, but NOT beans, pulses or corn. Remove skin from potatoes and other skinned vegetables

Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and juices. Avoid nuts.

Laxatives can be taken alongside the above diet. Fybogel may not be a good option for you, although If you find it helps then it can certainly be taken in the long term. So called osmotic laxatives which draw water into the stool such as PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) such as Movicol or Miralax. Magnesium containing laxatives such as Milk of Magnesia may also be of benefit. Try to avoid Lactulose. Whilst this is an osmotic laxative, it can increase wind and bloating.
Make sure you take regular exercise.
As for your concerns about having cancer, why don’t you discuss this with your GP. You don’t mention your age, but if under the age of 45 years with no family history your risk of bowel cancer is extremely low.