Sorry for the delay in entries, been dealing with teeth issues just to give me a change from the stomach issues. Think it would be useful if I could opt to be a Hooloovoo, a Douglas Adams character who was a superintelligent shade of the colour blue. He didn't have a body but was refracted into a prism for special occasions. Would then not have to deal with intestines and teeth.
Stomach has been pretty good over the last two weeks, slightly dodgy today but nothing major. Despite this improvement I have decided that I am going to go see an IBS specialist to try to get some more help, as although I am surviving I am still having some bad pain. The doctor I have chosen is someone who specialises in both food problems and bacteria and bug problems, ie: parasites and an imbalance of friendly to unfriendly bacteria.
As ever there are different views as to how important these bugs are in the causes of IBS, but there is some pretty convincing evidence that these bugs can cause some cases of IBS, especially if you were a food poisoning victim as I was. What is in no doubt is the fact that parasites such as giardia can cause serious GI symptoms and can live in the body quite happily for months and even years.
I'll let you know how I get on when I go for a consultation (just have to get my teeth sorted our first. And go to Hooloovoo training school).
WOW!
when you say pain...what sort of pain are you talking about?
See..for about 3 years now I have been trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I get the most gut wrenching, "double over" terrible pain in the right side of my abdomen....ONLY that spot..everytime without fail. The pain lasts anywhere from 5 minutes to all day and ranges from "pretty bad, but barable" to "oh dear god please kill me now" pains when I must lie on the floor and clutch my stomach. For the most part, however, I just don't know that I really have any other symptoms of IBS. Maybe some, but not consistently.
I guess I tend to have fairly loose bowels more often then not...and yes, I have certainly had to rush to the toilet a few times...but nothing that I would call "Tales of Diareahh or constipation". I just have this horrible pain..and it doesnt really seem to be triggered by anything in particular, in fact, it seems like it comes on sometimes when I havent eaten anything at all...but maybe Im just not paying close enough attention.
Anyway, I dont want to get too long with this, but in the past 3 years, I have seen 3-4 different General Practitioners, a Urologist and I am currently seeing a Gasrtoenterologist.
I have had an IVP scan, a CT scan, Abdominal&Pelvic Ultrasounds, a Colonoscopy/Endoscopy and a Hydoscan (which lead us to believe that my gallbladder was malfuncioning...and I had it removed)all done and noone has been able to find any evidence of anthing that is wrong with me. I have also had bloodwork done to test my liver and pancreas. NOTHING! So now, I am left with the diagnosis of IBS...and up until I read some of these stories...I just wasnt convinced. But now, I am starting to think that maybe this is, in fact, my problem. I just dont know. I would hate to give up and treat myself for IBS and then find out down the line that there was something else that was simply overlooked.
So, I thought that maybe someone who potentially is dealing with what I am dealing with could offer me a better perspective than a Gastroenterologist.
Can you tell me if these symptoms are similar to yours? And what treatments have worked the besst for you? I have taken Belladonna, Robinol with no results and am now on a small dose of Nortriptyline...which was recently increase. It seems like it might be helping SLIGHTLY...but I cant tell if it is wishful thinking on my part. I drink a TON of water and minimal caffeine. I also take a fiber supplement and about 800-1200mg of Ibuprofen (2-3 times a day)...for the pain...sometimes this seems to help...but I am building up a tolerance to it so quickly that I fear, it will be useless to take it, very soon.
Any advice would be very much appreciated. I just dont know what to do anymore...and I am about ready to just give up.
Thankyou for anything :)
Hi Erin - sorry to hear you've been suffering so badly. To be honest I can't advise people on specific cases as I have absolutely no medical training and would just get myself into trouble...
It might be worth looking at the Rome Criteria for IBS - if you do a Google search for those two words you will find a list of symptoms which doctors look for in IBS patients, and some symptoms such as bleeding that are 'red flag' symptoms and indicate something other than IBS.
Thanks anyway, I just thought maybe you could tell me if that sounded like anything that you had gone through.
I understand what you are saying though, and appreciate the info. :)