hi,i recently saw a g.i. md. for the first time about ibs-like symptoms. he listened to me and said that he believes i have irritable bowel syndrome.i have lost 18 pounds in the past 4 months (from 120 - 102) due to depression/lack of appetite. when i eat i experience abdominal pain that is debilitating/pretty much intolerable, but is usually relieved by going to the bathroom (always diahrrea). this has been going on for over 3 years, but has been especially intense in the past 4 or 5 months.my stool specimen was negative for any blood and i'm not developing any allergy to gluten. my grandmother had colon cancer when she was 48. i'm in my early 30s. i'm not particularly worried about colon cancer, but i know the history is important.my dr. prescribed hyoscyamine + imodium and gave me the option of scheduling a colonoscopy now or waiting 2 months and talking about it then. he seemed like he thought the procedure was optional for me, that it could be unnecessary. since taking the medication, i'm having less pain and can actually eat something without being debilitated for 45 minutes or more. but now that i've been taking it for a few weeks, i'm starting to have abdominal pain again. now that i've actually started talking to someone about this problem, it's like i can't deal with the pain part. the pain that i have been experiencing for years is making me more and more anxious about what's wrong with me.i wonder if i should have the colonoscopy, just so i'd have a definitive diagnosis. but then, from what i've read about dealing with these functional gi disorders, there doesn't seem like very much that dr.s can do for you except encourage you to figure out how to manage your own symptoms.then i think i just need to channel my energy into changing my diet now that i can eat without being punished with pain. i'm sick of having my life ruled by these stomach problems. i finally went to the dr. and actually started talking about it and now i feel like i've gotten no where.does anyone out there have any suggestions as to what i might do next? i'm lost. (apologies for the length of this message).