Irritable bowel syndrome and Amitriptyline

I think it’s an area of science that is almost like a new frontier of understanding health. My relatives consultant mentioned the Gut Brain Axis Interface - googling it I thought - wow - it’s so important and yet a lot of people don’t have much understanding about it. 

Actually that’s really interesting! It makes sense that those sorts of foods would help - I hadn’t really thought about that. Not that they’re cheap either of course! Side issue I know but it does drive me mad that in western societies (especially the U.K.) poorer people end up having to eat the most dreadful processed foods that are full of junk. 
I might try some of those sorts of cheeses. My relative can’t because they have a dairy allergy unfortunately. But they could try including  other such ‘earthy’ unprocessed foods maybe. They eat meat (whereas I don’t eat much meat and was previously vegetarian until I was told I was very anaemic a couple of years ago). 

I like the disclaimer!

Well I can certainly believe it.  When I ate and swallowed food, it felt like it was just falling into some kind of empty bucket.  Most peculiar and very alien.

Unknown said:

I felt SO empty.  It is hard to describe.

Apparently more than half our body mass is actually bacteria! It sounds kind of implausible. I guess if it is true then antibiotics can't kill most of them or we'd lose so much weight on them!

I was expecting the worst to be honest, I rarely get on with medications as my digestion is sensitive to everything that touches it. I'm like you, prefer the natural approach and almost always natural treatments work better for me rather than a medical medicine. If your relative does take it I hope they get no side effects. Sometimes some people are lucky and don't get any if that's the case then maybe they'll be lucky and it will work for them. I keep my fingers crossed for you all.

Sorry I wasn't much help here. I wasn't last time I was here either but I'm learning. *trying* to learn to be better. I've been trying the natural approach for myself and adjusted what I eat and drink. The discomfort is less so off to a good start.

Thanks Kate. You were always so wise and kind. That has not changed.

Maybe. They aren't that cheap though - I just had to have some for my cat and they cost twenty quid for just a few tiny pills! It does seem ironic to me that they are because he threw up several times and a side effect can be throwing up... Also weirdly it listed cracked teeth as a side effect!

It was suggested I take them as I am on long term NSAIDs which can cause ulcers, but I am careful to always take them with food and don't feel I need them at the moment. I am always reluctant to take more meds than the bare minimum.

The grocery prices seem to creep up every week, sometimes honestly and sometimes by sneaky product shrinkage. I notice it a lot more now I do online ordering. If it's on the shelf you just grab it and might not notice there is less of it, but when they say the item is unavailable, why not have this smaller one for more money instead it is rather obvious!

A good few years back, I had IV antibiotics - massive doses, every day for 5 consecutive days as a hospital outpatient.  Although these were essential (Lymes), they destroyed every living thing in my gut, nose, ears, skin etc.....you get the idea.  I felt SO empty.  It is hard to describe.

I tried to re-establish some of my old "good bacteria" via all the normal routes, but like you, the cost of little tubs of pro-biotics were making me upset - and frankly, not working and not fun.

Accordingly, I reverted to slightly more medieval means.  Green top milk (unpasteurised) and the most frightening and exotic cheeses I could find plus disgusting sausages and cured meats.  [Forgive me]....the bedroom smelt like an abattoir for weeks.....but hey presto, within just 8 short months (yes, I'm being ironic) my iron-clad stomach returned to some form of stasis again.

Disclaimer:-  I'm not a medical professional, nor claim to be one - if you follow my route, you might die.

Best wishes ! 

Hi Kate, I'm unable to offer any insights, but just wanted to say it's reassuring and lovely to see you back here. 

Hi Martin, thank you for your reply. It's so nice being somewhere I don't feel like a weirdo. I went vegetarian 3 years ago and I feel that's really helped me. I also find that some foods bother me one day and then not the text. I'm beginning to wonder if it's more my poor stress management that affects me,  rather than the food itself, hence why it seems to change. Feel an experiment coming on.

I had never considered myself an anxious person. Now I'm coming to realise that my normal isn't what is considered normal. Story of my life really. 

I'm currently looking for coping strategies at the moment and not finding anything useful. I was told by a therapist that my coping mechanisms to get me through the day are my biggest cause of anxiety. Do you sometimes feel like you just can't win?

I think their GP has just basically dished out these PPIs because it’s an easy thing to do maybe? For someone who is experiencing these sorts of symptoms? I think they’re a very overprescribed drug. My doctor prescribed them to me once because I had a long lasting irritated/sore throat and the GP said it might be caused by acid reflux during the night. He said prop the head of the bed up on some bricks and take these PPIs. I’d never had any issues with acid reflux - and I looked at the side effects and thought “I’m not taking these!”. To be honest I’ve always cleared my throat a lot and since realising I was autistic I think it was a bit of a nervous habit possibly. It certainly wasn’t acid reflux.

I had to take stacks of antibiotics and steroids at the end of 2021 (when in hospital) and since then I’ve been taking Bio-Kult and a few probiotic yoghurts and drinks. Love those Yakult drinks but they’re so expensive I’ve had to cut back on them a bit recently. Our grocery bill is so high these days it’s scary. 

I do the same, it is called 'resting the gut'. I also have many food intolerances, which distressingly seem to shift. over time and finding what is affecting my gut, and cutting it out, seems to help. I recently cut down dairy in my diet to a drastic degree, which helped my descending and sigmoid colon pain hugely. It also cleared up haemorrhoid pain entirely, which was an unexpected, but welcome, effect. I also take probiotic (bacteria) capsules, which seem to help as well.

I'm not an expert but I am puzzled by the PPI's. I guess it depends what kind of IBS it is, but I thought PPIs were more to reduce stomach acid to avoid ulcers?

My Dad just had to take antibiotics which wreaked havoc on his gut, he is still trying to get it rebalanced to some kind of equilibrium, but even under average circumstances it is barely under control.

I’m convinced the gut flora is the key. And this thing my relative’s consultant mentioned: the ‘gut brain axis’. It’s interesting but very complicated and a bit beyond me to be honest. But my relative has suffered so much with this for years. Doctors keep prescribing PPIs but they damage the gut biome  - and I think it’s a vicious circle. 

Hi Pikl,

I have had prolonged anxiety (decades of it) - I’m so you struggle with this too. I hope you get some help that deals with the tingling etc. Not easy. 

it’s interesting that you try a detox. In the past (for my own health issues relating to joint problems and severe anxiety) I’ve tried fasting and it’s helped me. I think it’s a good thing sometimes - and if it’s helped you then I’d say it’s a good thing! There are well documented benefits to fasting etc - I think it can be ‘the best way’ for some people. I’m really glad it’s helped you - and thank you for sharing that idea :) 

My Dad has had it for over 30 years! It started after he got food poisoning, so gut flora seems to have been the cause, but he doesn't seem able to re-establish an ideal gut biome. He is undiagnosed autistic and stress and insomnia play a part too.

Thank you. It’s such a difficult thing to live with isn’t it? For a while we they thought  it might be crohns but now they’ve been told it’s not. My family member has suffered for so many years with this - you’re right - it’s so debilitating. Thanks for being so understanding - it really helps. 

Thanks Katy. I’m sorry it was not helpful for you - and it’s awful that it made your symptoms worse. That’s the last thing my relative needs as they’re already having such a tough time with their health. I was really worried when I looked at the side effects of Amytriptyline online. Bit scary. 
Your experience is what I’ve been worrying about to be honest. Generally (for myself) I prefer more natural treatments whenever possible - but my relative is feeling pretty desperate to get help with this (understandably) and I think they’re going to take this drug.

thanks for sharing you’re experience - I shall be prepared to offer support to them if they have a similar experience. 
I hope you’ve found something that helps Katy?
Thanks for your help - I so appreciate it! x 

Hi Kate,

Its looking like my facial issues are the result of prolonged anxiety,  but this is being investigated. 

I don't mind sharing what I do when my IBS flares up, but it isn't the right way to address it, it's just my way. I'm not very good at looking after myself properly and I do tend to use harmful methods to deal with things. When my IBS flares I go on a food detox, that is I won't eat anything at all for 3 to 5 days. It's my way of resetting everything. Like I said, not the best way of dealing with it. X

Loperamide is the generic name of imodium. IBS is quite debilitating, I hope your family member gets some relief.