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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group
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I'm fairly newly diagnosed. I'm at university, and was told I have an underactive thyroid, which I didn't think would make any difference! but then my stomach took a turn for the worst, and it hurts everytime I eat, usually making me run for the loo, but sometimes without success. I undertook many tests, including coeliac and an endoscopy, with no luck. my doctor put it down to IBS, which im not happy about! it seems to be a mixture of symptoms that are so vague, that no one knows how to help them.
I know being nervous about exams etc makes it worse, but I also know being nervous of my symptoms makes them worse, and how can you stop that? always being told to change your diet is annoying, when eating anything at all makes it worse, don't you think? I still have days where i don't eat at all because its the only way I can guaruntee no symptoms. there has to be a way, other than diet, to help? I'll only be happy to change my diet when I feel comfortable to eat and know I can then continue with my day as it was.
Still being new to IBS (although I think I've had symptoms for years) I need to know I will be able to get my life back on track, that I can book a day out without starving the night before in preparation!
Any comments or suggestions?
jen xx
By: jenandrew
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Jen, Your story sounds
10/28/2009 - 20:36Jen,
Your story sounds exactly like my story. My severe problems started the day AFTER I got married and have carried on for the first 3 months of my marriage. It has been so stressful and depressing, however..I finally got an answer. I, too, am hypothyroid and have been for 3 years. Little did I know that a lot of other problems can stem from hypothyroidism. I was tossed around from doctor to doctor to doctor and had every test known to man done (colonoscopy, endoscope, CT scan, blood tests and stool tests) and the doctors diagnosed me with IBS. I refused to accept it, as I knew that there was something more to it. I have always had a sensitive stomach, but this was just extreme. I was nauseous ALL day, every day. I wouldn't eat because I had NO appetite and didn't want to deal with the repercussions of eating, just like you. It took over my life! It finally got SO bad that I wasn't eating or drinking because I was too sick and became extremely dehydrated. My husband had to bring me home to PA (we live in VA), so that my parents could help care for me. Praise GOD we have an amazing hospital in our town and I was finally listened to and given answers. I was first told that I didn't have enough bacteria in my stomach due to large quantities of antibiotics in the Spring. I am now taking Align, the probiotic, and it has worked magic. But, the part that I think you should have looked at, which is related to hypothyroidism, is Gastroparesis. It means a paralyzed stomach. The muscle in the stomach does not push the food down, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea..loss of appetite. I had to do a test that required me to eat an egg sandwich with radioactive material inside of it...they then took x-ray pictures for 2 hours to see the process of digestion. After 2 hours the stomach should be between 32-64% full with the sandwich, mine was STILL 92% full. There was my other answer. There is a medicine for it that helps strengthen the stomach muscle. It has been miraculous. However, my doctor did explain to me that this syndrome is severely understudied and many doctors do not know about it. I highly recommend you to research it and see it sounds like you. I hope this helps you, as I know how desperate one can be when so uncomfortable. It really has given me my life back! :)