Helpful advice from the specialist

I bet there's a more than few people on here who will find this tip useful. Makes sense too.

Imodium is my lifesaver! One of my friends was very amused when I dipped my hand in my cardigan pocket and came out with an Imodium - she said most people find a toffee or something more joyful!

Thankyou so much NanKate ,I have the same problems as you (4-6 ) times in the morning which is very annoying ! I will try your tip and buy some immodium this weekend
I feel better already ! ! Thankyou

Glad it works for you too Luckygirl.

Riclorian may I suggest you get the Imodium in tablet form. I do this and cut the tablet in half and maybe have half in the morning and the other half if I need it later.

As initially the tablets made me feel spaced out, after I had taken a few I seem to tolerate them well.

You can buy them in any Supermarket as well as a chemist.

Best of luck.

Has anyone tried eliminating dairy from their diet? If I consume dairy I have the trots.

If you just want a tiny dose you can open the capsule and empty half of it out.

Added to tomorrow's shopping list!
I just wish I knew why some mornings are infinitely worse than others (my breakfast is the same every day so it isn't that!)

Have any of you tried probiotics, supposed to be good for a healthy gut?

Can I point out that I have had bowel cancer and the only symptoms I had was having to run to the loo about 4 times each morning and sometimes in the day. I beg of you who have these symptoms to get it checked out. I was nearly too late with cancer spreading to my lymph glands, however in remission now.
Good luck to you all with this problem.

Good advice Ethel glad you are well now.

Tried probiotics but it made no difference Jalima

Thanks for the suggestion Luckygirl about the capsules.

Loopylou there is no rhyme or reason to my condition and I too eat the same breakfast everyday.

Finally don't want to overload you with too much info but when I get IBS I take Colpermine tablets which are pure peppermint. They calm the gripping pains down a treat. Yet again anyone with pain, diarrhoea or any other symptoms needs to see their doctor first.

Nankate It might be worth you trying Silicolgel which is sold in Holland and Barratt. According to the label it coats the digestive tract with silica and soothes all sorts of conditions. DH found it very effective after his insides had been wrecked by chemotherapy and I have since read articles by people who have tried it for ISB with very good results. Sadly it is quite expensive and isn't available on the NHS but it might be worth trying a small bottle.

Thanks for the suggestion Deedaa.

I think threads like this can be so useful as a way of updating each other on what medicines are available, how effective they are and where to buy them.

Boots and supermarkets sell their own generic versions that contain loperamide hydrochloride. Cheaper than Imodium.

I've been investigated several times and no cause established other than stress- which isn't the cause currently.
I agree that Colpermine is very effective, unfortunately probiotics don't seem to make any difference for me.

I'm totally confused by all this. Are people saying it's not normal to have several bowel movements a day?

GP not specialist told me that once possibly twice a day is accepted norm. Consistency and urgency are a factor too.
As this thread is about motions I hope it's ok to say I was told "formed but smooth" was normal.
I hope that's not TMI

i think on a thread like this you really can't be too 'delicate' nor can you have TMI!!

But surely we all use those cute little kits that they send us out every couple of years? Mine arrived yesterday

That's what I thought Anya
I've not had a kit yet.

You're probably too young

Like etheltbags I too was diagnosed with bowel cancer with very few symptoms, please always have tests and GP consultation before self medicating. I have always done the tests and never had any positive results, my colo/rectal consultant told me that poo stick tests are only 50% accurate and he urges his patients not to depend on them entirely.

Here you go, a poo classification chart (they were dishing out business cards with this "infographic" on at a conference I attended recently, and I clocked it as "kinda useful" so remembered the name):

www.continence.org.au/pages/bristol-stool-chart.html

harrigran's warning is a sound one - I hope you are beginning to get over your surgery now.

People with IBS have a difficulty here as their motions are so aberrant all the time that they would have no inkling that they might be brewing bowel cancer. The symptoms they have would be a big warning sign in others.

My husband just had his second testing kit - he didn't do it the first time round he tells me now. As it was my birthday yesterday I'll be getting my second one this month as well. Quite worrying to hear they are only about 50% accurate though.

The poo sticks test for occult blood, theoretically you could have bleeding but not on the days you do the tests. My problem was very low in the rectum and did not give any symptoms until it breached the bowel wall.
I am a little better each day, thank you*Luckygirl*. I will need chemotherapy and possibly radiotherapy too but the consultant is pleased with the rate of my recovery.