Marjorie's story
1st March 2023

Marjorie Gibson has suffered with IBS for 40 years but has recently been experiencing a period of relief, in part, she puts this down to the advice, information and support she has received from The IBS Network. She shares her story.

I first became aware of something amiss in 1982 when I was 26 and on holiday in an out of the way part of Spain. We put it down to a dodgy paella, but symptoms have persisted on and off for the last 40 years.

It was always difficult to talk to a doctor about it. I wanted them to see me when my condition was at its worst and even in those far-off days, it could be difficult to get an appointment sooner than a week.

Also, the flare-ups have always been so erratic; it could be months and months between episodes, and at other times, they could occur weekly. Whatever I read about IBS seemed to suggest that it meant urgent trips to the toilet and/or constipation, never really mentioning that symptoms are very individual and can be different for everybody.

I lived in Spain for 13 years and I found it difficult to get any sensible diagnosis: one doctor told me dismissively to eat less salad. My father had also had a lifelong ‘funny tummy’ that was never diagnosed, but he suffered terribly, particularly in later life, with some similar symptoms, though certainly not identical to mine.

In the last few months, my flare-ups have been much more frequent, even weekly, and at times, the pain would keep me awake at night. I have always had bad migraine-like headaches accompanying the sometimes-crippling tummy pain and suffered a debilitating lack of energy.

Working in hospitality, I had to become quite adept at smiling and just carrying on regardless. There have been times when I have been forced to take to my bed for a couple of days and just opt out of life completely. Despite my being almost retired, it had got even more painful and certainly more frequent.

I found The IBS Network online and immediately found it to be both supportive and helpful. And at a time when I really needed both! I was always loath to do The Low FODMAP diet as I have had a lifelong interest in nutrition and kept food diaries to no avail, but in desperation, I decided to give it a go. I stuck religiously to the guidelines for six weeks.

After two weeks, I called the network helpline and spoke to Rachel, who was a godsend! She explained that my triggers might not be food and suggested deep breathing, yoga and to discuss with my GP low dosage anti-depressants to ease stress and calm the gut. I don’t consider myself a stressed person and think that I have a largely easy, relaxed lifestyle. When I completed my six weeks of The Low FODMAP diet, I had an appointment with a GP who turned out to be very clued up and empathetic (not always the case, as we know). She was about to suggest The IBS Network and was happy to prescribe a trial course of mild anti-depressants at the lowest possible dose. I am now in my third month of taking them and I can’t believe the difference.

I have experienced a couple of semi-attacks during that time, but both have been short-lived and nothing like those that I was experiencing immediately before. Yes, it’s too soon to say definitively that the medication has been the cause of this sudden and dramatic improvement, but my GP has put me on a 12 month repeat prescription with instructions to contact her if I experience any changes.

I don’t know how common this stress induced form of IBS is, but I’m sure that it could help many other sufferers like me.

Since taking the medication, Marjorie experienced some symptoms and has worked with her GP to readjust the low dose of medication.  Read Gut reaction issue 127 March 2023 and turn to page one for more information about our new campaign, Positive Steps – managing IBS and mental health, which has information about the connection between mental health and the management of IBS symptoms.