[Top_Banana]

I have had IBS for 10 years now- well, at least I think I have. My GP has never actually diagnosed this- he just gave me some Colofac tablets and left me to it.I've complained to him many times about my symptoms being worse than IBS, but he won't have it. Because I have suffered with anxiety and depression he has it in his mind that I am paranoid about my health. This is not the case. I am fully fit mentally now (as confirmed by my psychiatrist) and can think straightfor the first time in years.My symptoms are as follows:Bloating after eating 'standard' sized mealsA general discomfort after eating food (even tiny snacks like a couple of biscuits or a medium sized drink)Burning/inflammed eyesExtreme fatigue/lack of energyNo appetiteLack of concentrationLower back painHeadachesSmall amount of blood on the toilet paper after wiping (this has been present for 10 years but my GP will not act on it)A tender abdomen (maybe even a little swollen)LightheadednessI did suffer from IBS symptoms such as going from having the runs to having constipation, but these have subsided in the past 3 or 4 years.What could it be? It seems far too severe to be IBS (which I appreciate is just awful).I need to start getting my life together (job, college, etc) but I am held back by this. Please advise me.

 

[BQ]

Not sure why you think it isn't IBS...??Bloating is very common for IBS'ers. (typically.. the size of the meal doesn't matter)General discomfort?? Sure.. plenty of IBS'ers will tell you the same thing.Burning inflamed eyes??? NOT an IBS symptom. See an eye Dr.Many of us have fatigue.Many of us also have no appetite.Lack of concentration ??? ANYone with a chronic illness would probably say the same is true for them at times.Lower back pain??? I don't know.. but some people referred abdominal pain there and have JUST IBS. But get it checked out by another Dr if you think you need to.Headaches??? Again not typical IBS but could be from not eating... (as can happen with no appetite)Small amount of blood on toliet tissue is more than likely from hemmies or sore anal tissues.. any number of over the counter salves or ointments could help.A "tender" andomen?? Sure any word you could use to describe pain or discomfort would fit within an IBS'ers experiences. "Swollen" goes back to bloating or distention.. which are common for IBS'ers.I'm sure these seem severe to you hon.. but I gotta say.. they really are not all that severe in comparison to many that post here.So....Sounds like IBS to me. But if you are not satisfied with your diagnosis... then by all means get another opinion from a different Dr.I would say that is your biggest problem... a Dr that doesn't listen to you. And not to mention hasn't diagnosed you.. I would seriously consider getting another Dr. At least get a proper diagnosis!

 

[Kathleen M.]

If the fatigue and mental concentration seems more than sick and tired of being sick and tired (and that by itself can be substantial) I would get that evaluated. Make sure your thyroid is fine and you are not anemic. But otherwise it really sounds a lot like IBS. IBS can be very severe and very debilitating and it doesn't have to be something else if it is bad enough to interfere with your overall functioning.Have you been evaluated for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue by a doctor that would do that (so maybe your GP but it wouldn't be your gastroenterologist). The GP may be able to do that, but if you are not anemic, your thyroid is normal and you aren't depresses (fatigue is a physical symptom of depression) it may be worth looking into one of the fatigue syndromes.The GI symptoms sound consistent with IBS and an internal hemorrhoid (I assume you have had sometime over all the years a routine blood test called a complete blood count? If that is normal that points to the bleeding being a hemorrhoid irritated by the IBS which is what your bleeding sounds like).I would also get the eyes checked by an eye doctor. Could just be allergies which would also tend to make you really tired, but it may be something else and it would be worth having the eye doctor check them out.

 

[clareuk]

I suffer with terrible lower back aches when I am suffering with diarrhea. When that was diarrhea everyday for years, normal pain killers wouldn't make any difference to the back ache. I suffer with extreme tiredness and have done throughout also for years. When it was at its worse (things improved at the moment) I couldn't even eat a dry cracker without getting terrible stomach cramps and diarrhea. Some mornings before managing to get to work, I had been on the toilet with diarrhea for hours and would quite often be very lightheaded and shattered. I didn't know how to be ready for the day ahead.I always assumed that ibs was a mild problem until I got it, and now I know just how severe ibs can be.

 

[Top_Banana]

Thanks for all the replies- I appreciate it.I guess I am worried that it isn't IBS- mainly because of the bleeding, and the fact the constipation/diahrrea (etc) have gone away.How do I talk to my GP about it? Here in the UK it is difficult to get referred to a specialist. Even if you do, the waiting list is 3 months+.

 

[clareuk]

I'm from the UK as well. If you talk to your doctor and they think that your symptoms warrents a hosptial appointment they automatically put it on their computer. I was going to doctors for years about the same problem and when it got really bad they said I needed to see a specialist to sort out what was going on. It did take about 3 months but that's out National health system for you and I certainly couldn't afford to go private. I did get blood on the toilet paper a few times although it was only a tiny bit so I always assumed that it was due to wiping too much. I think it is much more serious usually if there is loads of blood. However if you don't really have bowel problems as such it might be worth just going to see a different doctor.

 

[Top_Banana]

Thanks Claire.I'm going next week and will plead once again.My main troubles are with the tiredness. I can cope with the bloating as I tend to only eat full meals at home where I can relax. However, I am too exhausted to do anything at all- I feel done in after the slightest thing.Do I have to have a colonoscopy before I can be diagnosed with IBS?

 

[Kathleen M.]

A colonoscopy is not needed.It will not see IBS.Some people may have symptoms that mean other things need to be ruled out and the colonoscopy will check for those.Young adults with clear IBS symptoms and no symptoms of other things may not need a colonoscopy as for some the risk of a problem is much higher than the risk they missed something by not doing this test. Often doing more and more tests only makes the IBS worse so some doctors will do fewer tests rather than more.

 

[shipou900]

I have ALL those symptoms ALL the time. Sounds to me that you really do have IBS, but if your doubting your doctor 'cause he's hinged on your mental disabilities then I advise dropping him. You need a doctor whose gonna listen to YOU and not get hinged on HIS ideas or HIS ideal thinking. Your illness is affecting YOU not HIM. Bleeding in your stools is quite common for severe IBSers, mucus is another factor in IBS stools also, btw. Get a proper diagnosis from a less self-idealed doctor. Burning and inflammed eyes is not an IBS symptom that i've ever heard of, so see a eye-doctor, its probably not even related to the other symptoms (I have stomach migrains as well as IBS). I also have lower back pain, constant fatigue, no appetite, no concentration (caused from lack of sleep caused by pain), & tenderness in the abdomen. Headaches arn't symptoms of IBS, but likely are caused by IBS from lack of sleep (thats me) or bad attitude and stress (pressure headaches), so for headaches I reccomend *dramatic music*... IBUPROFEN XD lol (sor, you sound like you need a good laugh). For me, the symptoms have NeVeR subsided (*sob* DX) i've had severe IBS for the entire 17 years that i've lived. It's not particular foods that cause it for everyone, just the act of eating can cause pain. IBS sucks, its hard to function in "normal" society with severe IBS and you may not ever be able to live properly (if you ask me, anyways). Just remember, CONSTANT VIGILENCE! If you give up and wallow it will only get worse! If people pic on you for it, just ignore them (most ppl will try to simpithize though), if they keep bugging you, be a tattler, tell on them to someone whom is there authority :} *evil grin*. Don't back down and don't give up! IBS is very severe (I should know

D: don't laugh its not funny

lol) and can be MUCH MUCH worse then this. I know its tough, but you gotta try. My personal-self motto is: if you can stand than you can work and if you can work than your functioning.

Of course I can't exspect you to have this motto but remember CONSTANT VIGILENCE! Fatigue is a toughy I suffer from chronic nightmares and IBS pain, so i'm usually exhausted most of the day, but theres not much you can do for that. One last thing, don't forget to laugh. O.O strange thing to say I know, but laughter is a natural and FREE medicine. Remember, God is with you even if you can't feel Him and he crys for your pain as much as you do. I'll pray for you every night! <3

 

[Top_Banana]

Thank you Shipou! Great post. Its comforting to know others are in the same boat.

 

[stevefriel]

My symptoms are as follows:Bloating after eating 'standard' sized mealsA general discomfort after eating food (even tiny snacks like a couple of biscuits or a medium sized drink)Lack of energyNo appetiteLack of concentrationLower back painHeadachesSmall amount of blood on the toilet paper after wiping (this has been present for 10 years but my GP will not act on it)Lightheadedness

i know exactly how you feel, i would get those same symptomsyesterday was by far one of the worst ever days i've had with my ibswas getting pains in my stomach really badly and that pain in the lower back due to strainingmy bm's varied a lot, first two times i had to go i felt constipated a bit and it was just pellets coming out, third time around it was coming out as normal, then fourth time it was only mucus and fifth time it was mucus and some stool.. also woke up during the middle of the night because i felt like i had to go but couldn'twhen i go to the toilet and do a bm it some times makes me feel worse when i go to sit down on a chair :S even sitting here now it feels like a bit of stool is coming out even though there's nothing therei've had just about enough of this ibs, i'm getting quite annoyed at having to sit in the house all the time, it's really not doing my head any good and want to get out more, i don't know what to do with my life anymoreonce i finish taking whatever spasomonal and anti-depressants i have left i have to arrange an appointment with the doctor to see how i'm doing on the medications... i don't feel like as if they are helping me tbh so going to tell my doctor the situation and see if he has any other suggestionsthere's capsules i was taking to help that gassy bloated feeling, think there's a packet about the house somewhere, i'll let you know the name of them once i find the packet, they're effective

 

[Borrellifan]

Have you had a colonoscopy?If not you probably should have one to be safe. It will rule out Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis. You don't want to be like that lady with the 17lb cist that was told she had IBS. If your current GI won't do it then ask for a referal to someone who will.I know myself and probably many others can't believe that we just have IBS (since it is so damn awful) but nothing else has come from all the tests I have been through. Theres really not much we can do since the medical community doesn't understand IBS.

 

[BQ]

Theres really not much we can do since the medical community doesn't understand IBS.

Oh I am sorry Borrellifan but I must disagree. I believe there is plenty we can do to manage our symptoms. As I have said before... pick your worst or most annoying symptom.... then look at ALL of our forums and choose the one that most closely applies and then read & read & post your questions. Start trying some of the methods tried by others. Through trial and error, most people find a combination of treatment methods, working in concert, to help them to manage their symptoms the best. No reason why you can't do that too!All the best

 

[Borrellifan]

Oh I am sorry Borrellifan but I must disagree. I believe there is plenty we can do to manage our symptoms. As I have said before... pick your worst or most annoying symptom.... then look at ALL of our forums and choose the one that most closely applies and then read & read & post your questions. Start trying some of the methods tried by others. Through trial and error, most people find a combination of treatment methods, working in concert, to help them to manage their symptoms the best. No reason why you can't do that too!All the best

?I don't think you understand what i was saying. I said "there isn't much we can do" in regards to the medical community telling people that there's a possibility it could be something else. Since they don't even understand IBS of course it could be something else. Thats why they try and do every test in the book to eliminate all other ailments, since they don't have a clear and simple "IBS" test.All the best.

 

[BQ]

Ok Borelli yes I didn't get that... but, now I see what you mean.Just so you know though...They do have an IBS blood test now. (Here is more info on that: http://www.ibsbloodtest.com/ )One of the more frustrating problems with IBS is it is a functional disorder meaning nothing appears to be functioning abnormally upon testing. A diagnosis is reached only by ruling out other GI disorders. So yes it is hard.

Since they don't even understand IBS of course it could be something else.

They understand some things about it and some experts are working real hard to find out more. But of course, research funding isn't stellar. But people ARE trying to help us out there. So have some hope. If your Dr does rule out the other GI diseases or disorders.. then it's usually IBS. But if you think your Dr isn't ruling out everything.. by all means... seek another Dr's opinion and ask for testing to completely rule out other GI diseases or disorders. And .. sometimes.... we need to road test a few Dr's before we find one that will work with us. So if you are unhappy with your Dr... find another one. You are worth it.

 

[Borrellifan]

Ok Borelli yes I didn't get that... but, now I see what you mean.Just so you know though...They do have an IBS blood test now. (Here is more info on that: http://www.ibsbloodtest.com/ )One of the more frustrating problems with IBS is it is a functional disorder meaning nothing appears to be functioning abnormally upon testing. A diagnosis is reached only by ruling out other GI disorders. So yes it is hard. They understand some things about it and some experts are working real hard to find out more. But of course, research funding isn't stellar. But people ARE trying to help us out there. So have some hope. If your Dr does rule out the other GI diseases or disorders.. then it's usually IBS. But if you think your Dr isn't ruling out everything.. by all means... seek another Dr's opinion and ask for testing to completely rule out other GI diseases or disorders. And .. sometimes.... we need to road test a few Dr's before we find one that will work with us. So if you are unhappy with your Dr... find another one. You are worth it.

I've heard of that IBS blood test, I think it may be through promethius? I've taken the one for Crohn's twice with negative results. Still, I can't imagine that they are a clear indicator of whether you actually have on or the other, I imagine the false/positive percentage must run pretty high? If I was the OP I would much rather be safe then sorry and have a colonoscopy, especially if they have insurance. No, no, no. Its not that im unhappy with my Dr. or any of that. I was simply trying to explain to the OP why these Dr's. tell people there is a posibility that it could be something else. Like you said they are simply comming up with a diagnosis by ruling other stuff out, not easy at all and quite complicated + costly to the patient. It baffles me why we can't get more research funding when the cost to diagnos IBS must be pretty high up on a list of diseases/conditions to diagnos?Anyways, I still recomend the OP get a darn colonoscopy to be safe, pain in the arse? Yes (no pun intendid, well maybe a little). Still, I would want a piece of mind even though the Dr. may still tell you it could be Crohn's, etc.Sorry for the confusion.

 

[BQ]

Dr's. tell people there is a posibility that it could be something else

Actually haven't seen many folks complaining about the Doc's saying that. I hear much more often that Dr has told the patient it is "just" IBS.Also personally, if the OP is young and with no other symptoms then the ones mentioned??? I wouldn't think many Docs would push for a colonoscopy right away anyway. Odds are it is nothing sinister.

 

[Kathleen M.]

One of the problems with diagnosing IBS is until recently there is no test that says "yes you have IBS" so mostly it is "you don't have evidence of anything else" which may sound like "you may have/probably have something else".There is one blood test that now can say yes it is probably IBS, but it is new and may not be that widely used, yet.The problem is most of the tests used for IBSers were never designed to find IBS they were to find other things. So IBS becomes a "we can't find anything else" diagnosis which has a lot more room for error than a "this test with this number in this range says it is this particular disease".That uncertainty probably does get communicated, but it is difficult to do it effectively.That it took awhile to get a test for the biomarkers for IBS made doesn't mean no one has any idea what-so-ever what IBS is and therefore it doesn't really exist and the doctors just use IBS when they get tired of looking. IBS is a real disease with real symptoms and real physical things they can find. Getting that out of research and into something you can use clinically takes awhile.

 

[Top_Banana]

Also personally, if the OP is young and with no other symptoms then the ones mentioned??? I wouldn't think many Docs would push for a colonoscopy right away anyway. Odds are it is nothing sinister.

I am quite young (28).I am feeling so frustrated because I've had this for 10 years. I have had the small amount of blood on the toilet paper for the whole time, too, and it seems to be the same amount I found back in 1999.The last time I saw the GP he said 'the trouble is we don't know what IBS is'. I was stunned. Does this mean I have to just have to suffer because it is not a simple condition? Even though it isn't life threatening I am still entitled to some kind of treatment- so far I have had LITERALLY none. At all.What should I say to my GP when I see him on the 19th Jan? I really don't want to be fobbed off anymore. He thinks I'm just suffering with an anxiety disorder, but it is the IBS that is causing my IBS and my psychiatrist agrees. She has written him a letter explaining her view.

 

[Borrellifan]

I am quite young (28).I am feeling so frustrated because I've had this for 10 years. I have had the small amount of blood on the toilet paper for the whole time, too, and it seems to be the same amount I found back in 1999.The last time I saw the GP he said 'the trouble is we don't know what IBS is'. I was stunned. Does this mean I have to just have to suffer because it is not a simple condition? Even though it isn't life threatening I am still entitled to some kind of treatment- so far I have had LITERALLY none. At all.What should I say to my GP when I see him on the 19th Jan? I really don't want to be fobbed off anymore. He thinks I'm just suffering with an anxiety disorder, but it is the IBS that is causing my IBS and my psychiatrist agrees. She has written him a letter explaining her view.

It seems to me that maybe dr's in the UK aren't as conserned about IBS as the dr's here in the states? Do you guys have state funded insurance or something, ware they're trying to bring down the cost of medical care? I'm only 25 myself and the first thing my GI recomended was a colonoscopy because god forbide its colon cancer or something serious there really isn't too many other options for ruling out these things. I couldn't believe when i saw that news article about the lady with the 17lb cist in her stomach that the dr's were telling was only IBS, here in the states that would be lawsuit central.I would simply tell the GI that you are very concerned about your health and feel you need a Colonoscopy to be on the safe side. Just be upfront with them and again if there not willing to do it then demand to be refered to a GI that will. I thought these guys make money off doing these tests?I have had every test in the book all with negative results for any other type of disease and my GI told me it could still be something else.