[Guest]

i was diagnosed by my primary care doctor with ibs (not a gastro doctor) she came to this conclusion from my symptoms, but the more i read about ibs the more i see people in pain and i have no pain, does anyone have an idea why i would have

UNSTOPABLE D with no pain or bloating, but lots of gas

. I'm not sure it ibs

 

[Guest]

A big problem with curing IBS and also diagnosing it is that not everyone has the same symptoms. But in order to find if you have IBS, you have to make sure other things aren't causing the symptoms. I had pain when at the beginning but I don't have any now. Yet, you should be tested and by a gastro. doc. I'd get a second opinion. Just to show what a typical IBS 'test sheet' is - here are all the tests I took over 5 doctors, all of which came back negative.1. Barium x-ray upper gi series2. Ultrasound3. Colonoscopy4. Endoscopy5. Gluten Intolerance6. Lactose Intolerance (this did come back positive)7. Hepatitis A, B, C8. Stool culture (for salmonella, shigella, campylobacters)9. Sonography10. Tested for celia sprue, small bowel disease11. Tested for ulcer, gastritis, gastroenteritis12. Tested for common food allergies (by allergist)13. Blood and urine tests for liver and kidney If all your doc. did was listen to symptoms w/o testing, her diagnosis is very dubious.

 

[Guest]

If she came to this conclusion just from your symptoms, without tests to rule out the many health problems that mimic IBS symptoms, I'd think seriously about going to a gastro and getting a thorough exam to double check - some of the things it could be are not things you want to ignore - and some of them are things that medical doctors CAN get rid of (incentive enough?)Good luck!------------------Oh yeah - all the tests? - those were the ones I did, too!Bethae3Today is the Tomorrow you worried about - was it worth it?[This message has been edited by bethae3 (edited 02-27-2001).]

 

[Guest]

I've had IBS for 18 years and didn't have much if any pain until about 1-2 years ago. So, don't rule it out just yet, but do take the others' advice and urge your doctor to run some tests. They usually do that to rule out other conditions.

 

[Kathleen M.]

You can have functional diarrhea that is similar to IBS, but there is no pain.What is your diet like? There are a number of commonly consumed foods that can cause diarrhea.CaffeineAlcoholHigh fructose corn syrup (in soft drinks)Sorbitol (in sugar free gums and candies and apples pears prunes and peaches)Lactose (dairy).Sometimes its a dietary thing and getting rid of the right trigger foods helps.Have you been on antibiotics recently, if so have you been tested for C. difficile?Sometimes there is just no good reason why someone has functional diarrhea. Did you have your gall bladder removed, that can lead to chronic diarrhea with or without pain depending on the person.You could try somethings. Calcium supplements, Imodium, Prescription wise there is Questan, Lomotil.K.------------------I have no financial, academic, or any other stake in any commercial product mentioned by me.And from the as if IBS isn't enough of a worry file...from New Scientist's Feedback column: photographed on the door of a ladies' loo in the Sequoia National Park in California by reader Liz Masterman: "Please keep door closed to discourage bears from entering."

 

[Fay]

hi,my g.p. and the g.i. dr think I have ibs, was diagnosed as having a spastic colon 23 years ago, have been having unstoppable D-attacks daily for about 8 months, am going for a barium X-ray next week, I never had any real pain (the spasms of the D are very strong, but I don't associate them with pain, just with extreme discomfort if I have to try and stop them). I have been taking the calcium carbonate (see threads about calcium) for more than a month now and that has stopped the urgency and the accidents (had 1 relapse sofar), so maybe that can help you as well, but I would ask your dr. to refer you to a G.I. specialist for more tests just to make sure, it's not something else.Fay (you can e-mail me if you want to compare symptoms, my e-mail address is underneath the letter-icon)

 

[Guest]

I too went to a gi and they said IBS. I have no pain but had a problem with trapped gas. pain from that was excruciating like birth contractions. But since I eliminated certain foods and sauces I have been pain free for 2 years. the gas was usually a week before and a week after my period. I cut out onions, potatoes, sauces and nuts and have had no problems. I had a horrible problem with daily D but I take calcium and the d is virtually non existent. the urge is my problem now but I can hold it really well now with the calcium. I think I will have the urge for the bathroom always but I feel a lot more in control now since the D is under control. hang in there and find out what foods or sauces give you gas and try a probiotic and do try the calcium. It takes a good 6 weeks to really work I think.