Hi all - i've been away from these boards for quite a while. Problems with my pc which i won't bore you with.OK - i've had ibs-d for the past 20 years or so - it was diagnosed after a barium follow-through.Symptoms have kind of grumbled along but overall i've been able to lead a more or less normal life and have been able to manage the symptoms ok. Then 6 months ago, i quit smoking and whoosh!! the worst attack of ibs i've ever had, and the most prolonged one too. It seemed to calm down when i started taking probiotics and for a month or 2 i felt better than i had felt for a long time.OK - about 3 weeks ago i had a nasty attack of flu - sore throat, aching joints, shivering,..etc. And alondside of it came a recurrence of my sypmtoms only this time they really meant business. Blood, mucus - sometimes that's all i passed...yukky, acute, debilitating, the lot. Eventually i saw the doc - i kept putting it off cos i was so scared. it was a new doctor and she was basically horrified that i'd had no one monitoring or supporting me soince the initial diagnosis 20 years ago. She said that when anyone with a chronic illness that they have been managing up to now, reports a sudden and dramatic change in their symptoms should be investigated and also, she thought that the symptoms i described were indicative of inflammation...and the dreaded IBD was mentioned. my worst nightmare. I'm now waiting to see a specialist. Can anyone tell me what to expect? what tests might he or she do? and where can i find a list of symptoms for IBD? i am so, so scared.Help!liz
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