All the tests done for ibs show that there is no disease seen and hence ibs is a functional disorder of the gi tract. My question is why should one diagnose ibs with the exclusion tests done only on the colon and endoscopy and a few other tests ex blood tests? Whenever we go to the gi docs all they do is a colonscopy or an endoscopy or a few blood tests and tell you dear there is no disease seen in these organs and hence you have ibs or functional d or functional c. But how much research/studies or tests been really done on the S/I to see if this organ is diseased or even functioning well. Maybe the S/I holds the key to solving ibs problems, since other gi organs seem to be ok and no one really knows for sure what is going on or going wrong in the S/I and it is the S/I which does most of the digestion, so in my opinion the S/I should be researched and tested more throughly.
The Answer May Be in the Small Intestine
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The pill camera showed severe inflamation in the stomach. Doc said it is due to too much acid but I have never one single day felt any heartburn or acid reflux. For the s/i he said that the villi are normal and that I do not have any gluten enteropathy. But I still believe that much more detailed testing has to be done on the s/i as not too many studies have been done on it. Maybe one test could be done using the pill camera and still eating 3 meals a day to see what goes on in the s/i and if that is even possible.
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When I told my GP all my symptoms he said he suspected I have problems with my S/I as opposed to my large one. However despite saying that i had the usual gastroscopy, colonoscopy, blood work, some ultrasounds but nothing was ever done to actually inspect my S/I. I think you may just have a point. When I expressed interest in trying the camera pill I was told that it doesn't show up enough to actually be able to tell if something is wrong unless the something is rather large and easily seen so that test was immediately dismissed for me.
Hanna:Firm believer that the cause of the majoirty of people who have been throughly tested is the inflamation/irritation of the intestines.Since April i have focused exclusively on this aspect, using Aloe Vera Gel and Acidophilus.Has worked miracles for me.This may appear to be simplistic, but appears to be working for me.Bill
Hanna,"showed severe inflamation in the stomach."That is not IBS.On another thread you also mentioned fever.Again not IBS.Also inflammation cannot explain pain in IBS.You need to work closely with your doc on all this.Do you by any chance take a lot of nasids or anything.
I'd be willing to back you on that theory. I've often wondered that very same thing. I don't understand why doctors feel the need to dismiss the complaints of their patients (I mean, it is our body, don't you think we know what's going on with it??). Did you try some of the new acid reducing medications yet? Prevacid, etc. When my doc did the endoscopy he found patches of mild inflammation in my small intestine (which he has since written off as nothing... hmmm, the last time I checked anything inflammed was bad.)
Little fact you may not know:Although its called the small intestines it is in fact the big intestines. What I mean is its very, very long but has a narrow diameter. Where as the large intestines is short but has a wide diameter. Do people try to confuse on purpose, I do wonder sometimes. Must have been a guy describe them, I'm sorry to say.Note to self, girth is all the matters.
Flux. I don't take any asprin like drugs or any or that matter. After the camera test doc prex Nexium 40mg 1x a day. Took it religiously for 4 months. Retested with endoscopy on Aug 18, he said no inflamation now. For H/pylori I tested positive about 5 years ago done by a gp doc. Was given a/b for one week. The current gi doc refuses to do a retest for H/pylori. In your opinion what could or was the cause of inflamation?
Eric. I also think that my problems are due to something else and not ibs, but docs say I have ibs. As for fever I used to have a low grade fever for many many years right after food poisoning some 3 decades ago. Just wondererd about the fever in other ibs sufferers if they have or had similar symptoms. No I do not take nsaids, only for an occasional headache once in a while take tylenol that's all. Neither do I have attacks of d or pain, lucky there. My problems started right after post-infection and the bm have never been normal since then; mushy incomplete bm on the d side on a daily basis and I mean just daily. Watch what I eat, done many different diets, the only closest thing to some relief is the SCD, very hard to stay on it. Seems like I have trouble digesting any grains and also fats.
Hanna:I tested positive for H-Pylori in 2000-took the antibiotics - no H-P, but do have IBS.I have my blood tested twice annually for H-Pylori - simple test.May want to change Docs - probably need a Gastrointerologist - although most are clueless for IBSThere are some Gas Docs who specialize in IBS - may want to consider - number are in the yellow pages.Bill
knothappy.my insurance did not cover the camera test. I had to dish out $2185.00 geezers for it. The test involves swallowing a large capsule (camera is in it) on a fasting basis, in the morning. A few electrodes are attached all around your tummy and a large battery pack is worn on a belt around the waist. Come home just relax, you can eat light meal from 6 hours later and about 4pm go back to the doc's clinic, where they remove all the electrodes/battery belt. That's it, nothing invasive, except on the bankbook. WLHX.I didn't know that some Gas Docs specialize in ibs. Will try to find one, who really understands and knows hopefully more. The endoscopy and biopsy results came back today. There was no H-Pylori found.
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But I know that a/b usually reduce my symptoms better than anything else. Big question is why. Maybe I should go on a maintainence dose once I start Rifaximin. What have got to loose, pardon the pun.
Eric. My endoscopy test done on Aug 18 came out ok with no inflamation. Previous test done via camera in March showed inflamation. doc's answer when I asked why is there inflamation was that it's due to stress. Gosh I do have to find an ibs specialist gi doc. Blood work and stool tests were done about 2 years ago and were normal. Tested positive to H.Pylori in 2000 and given a/b. I am back to square one now after the camera test and recent endoscopy with the biopsy which showed no inflamation or H.Pylori But still think the answer lies in the S/I which does the major part of the digestion. I still speculate there is some sort of bacteria in the S/I mucking up the system. Bacteria have their own ways of behaving and life cycles. That may be why symptoms vary for people on a day to day basis, depending on what behaviour mode/ life cycle the bacteria may be in on a daily basis. Not sure if I'm making any sense but this is the best way I can explain my theory.
Hanna, bacteria have been studied and are still being studied extensively in IBS and for the last twenty years no pathogen has been found.Only the PI IBS. But that infection is resolved.Its normal for people to think of bactreria in IBS, but they are diseecting the digestive system and looking at it under very powerful microscopes and still nothing as a pathogen in IBS. In IBS there is NO overt Inflammation.There is Intestinal Diseases Research Program, Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canadaand you should ask Jeff here who lives up there for a resource for a good IBS doctor.or you can also contact theThe Canadian Association of Gastroenterology http://www.cag-acg.org/home.htmThe symptoms of SIBO mimick some but not all symptoms of IBS.
Hanna, have you ever read this site before or seen it?http://hopkins-gi.nts.jhu.edu/pages/latin/...se=43&lang_id=1There is a whole lot of information including testing.
eric.Thank you for the above link. Very educational and informative, gives a detailed and comprehensive view about ibs. It tells it all, I like this link, will keep it in my own records for reviewing when I need to. But my speculations on ibs will still continue on, but wow I've really learned so much from this link.
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