[claire2601]

Hi, I was diagnosed with IBS about 10 years ago and up untill 8 weeks ago i only had the occasional bout with stomach cramps and constipation which were usually relieved with over the counter medication. 8 weeks ago i started having abdominal pains in my left hand side which when severe feels like someone it stabbing me over and over and when not so severe it feels like i have had a opperation and i am very sore and tender, to me it does'nt feel like IBS but i have tried my usual pills and it did'nt stop so i went to the docs, who has been brilliant, and since then i have had a CT scan to check for cysts been admitted to hospital for 4 days visited the docs 8 times and now i am waiting to see a bowel specialist. I am also suffering from severe joint and muscle pains, tiredness, nausea, depression, stomach acid in the throat. The doctor at the hospital said it was just a bad bout of IBS and perscibed me mebeverine, which has not helped, and i am currently taking Tramadol for the pain. I have just found out that i will be seeing the same doctor when my appointment comes through so would appreciate any advice from other IBS sufferers so i can ask for a second opinion if he diagnoses IBS again.Sorry for the long post but please help if you can.

 

[Kathleen M.]

Severe pain in the abdomen can be IBS.What says something else is going on. Now a few of these can also make the bowel worse from a new bowel problem, but the physical stress of a lot of these can just make the IBS a lot worse than usualsevere joint and muscle pains, tiredness, depression--More a sign of either Fibromyalgia or maybe something autoimmunenausea, stomach acid in the throat--Signs of upper GI trouble, probably GERD (acid reflux disease)Make sure the doctors are aware of the whole picture of new symptoms.

 

[kev15]

I have almost the same exac t symptoms as you. I too have had severe ibs for about 10 years. My ibs has been terrible in the past but in the last year it has been on a totally different level. I have seen every kind of doc lately; gone through every kind of test; and have been on every kind of med. When I discribe my pain to others and docs, it is the same as yours. I have extreme fatique too. The only answer I get from docs is that it is just a severe chronic case of ibs. I have to take a nap for about 1-2 hours every day when I get home. It helps some but I have no choice in laying down. I work out for an hour at the Y when I get up. I have to take phenergren for the nasesea which helps some. As far as the acid burning, I am taking the generic of prevacid which only helps some too. But I also get pains right over (or under I don't know) my heart. They say my heart is fine, I think my stomach issues are connected to this problem, but I don't know. Your symptoms are the closest to mine of anyone I have read on this forum. I wish I had some answers but if you find any, maybe it will help me too.

 

[kev15]

Kathleen - You seem to know quite a bit about ibs and the symptoms that go with it. I have read your posts on many forums and have been impressed. Claire 2601 posted a problem(s) that are exactly like mine. If you had some answers for her, maybe it would help me. Thanks for your help! - Kev15

 

[claire2601]

i don't know how much more i can take, the pain, the depression, its all driving me crazy. I've been off work 8 weeks now and i just want my life back. It sounds as though it may be IBS i was hoping it was'nt and there may have been a magic pill i could take to make it all better! Thanks for the replies

 

[Kathleen M.]

There are a lot of treatments for chonic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and depression. Some of them do double duty, but you have to be clear with the doctors about the whole picture and not just the abdominal pain. Although some treatments for abdominal pain for IBS are also used for the other issues, but you do want to get the whatever else is going on diagnosed as well.