[onthebit]

Hello,I have been struggling with "IBS" symptoms since July 2009. I had a colonoscopy, stomach scope thingy, CT scan, and gall bladder ultrasound. Outcome was, "You have IBS-C. Sometimes the truth is hard to hear." And, "It's IBS. You fit the profile." Which is what my gastro wrote via email at one point. I told him I didn't think it was IBS because my symptoms didn't vary with stress or with different foods, and weren't relieved after a bowel movement, and were the same every day. I also told him I had pelvic pain, frequent urination (NOT associated with IBS, as far as I know), and dryheaving (also not usually associated with IBS). He ignored this info.Not one of my doctors referred me to a gynecologist to rule out a possible gyn condition. Due to my research on the internet, I self-referred to a gyn in August, who brushed me off and told me to eat more vegetables and try a celiac (gluten free) and dairy free diet. I did all of the above and it didn't help.I went away for about 5 months, continuing to suffer but having gotten tired of fighting the docs and being looked at as if I were crazy or a hypochondriac.Earlier this week, I got up the courage to try a different gyn, as my symptoms have been getting worse. My exam was totally normal, but I cried while describing my symptoms and she had the compassion to order a transvaginal ultrasound to take a second look.This showed a very small (1.8 cm) growth in one of my fallopian tubes surrounded by some fluid. She said she can't guarantee that this is causing my symptoms, but can't guarantee that it isn't. I'm pending laparoscopic surgery to take it out to see if that's what the problem is. I'm pretty sure it is. I'm told it is most likely benign but there is a very small possibility that it could be cancerous.I wanted to share what I have learned in the hopes that it can help someone else--if you are given a diagnosis that doesn't make sense to you, don't give up until you are satisfied! There are many abdominal organs in close proximity to each other and IBS symptoms can be caused by many different things. Specialists, as mine did, can tend to focus on their one little area without giving full consideration to other differential diagnoses.I will be so happy if this post helps just one person find an answer!

 

[thelibertine]

Really glad you're getting somewere with your gyn doctor. I can back this up, not that they have found anything yet but I got checked out gyn and they can feel something notquite right so being sent for pelvic ultrasound. Obv there might be nothing but the fact this hasn;t been explored in over two years shows how the system can fail by just focusing on the area were the symptons orig start.I hope having the growth removed helps or even solves your ibs. good luck!

 

[onthebit]

thelibertine,Thanks for your thoughts and well wishes. Good luck to you, too! Yes, one problem with some specialists is the tendency to find what they look for according to their own specialty and education.In cases of textbook IBS, this may not be such a problem, but I felt that for myself, a full workup was important based on my presenting symptoms.