HI everyone, I am new to the boards and am really glad I found this place...I have been suffering from IBS with constipation for 10 years now...I have had gall bladder removed, complete hysterectomy(which by the way should have never been done) because come to find out, all the pain I was expierencing was due to the ibs problem. Thought pain would go away after hysterectomy and to my surprise, I still have it. my symptoms are of course costipation, with a swollen right lower abdomen, backache on lower right side, releif only comes when I finally go to the bathroom. I cannot take zelnorm right now at the moment cause I don't have health insurance and need a colonoscopy to be sure of no adehesions (which I know I probably have those from previous surgeries and laporoscopy surgeries. The pain is overwelming and has crippled me of my everyday life. I have tried many things to get some releif and nothing is working. I don't qualify for medicaid because I am not considered disabled, but on the other hand I can't get health insurance becuase of the IBS pre existing condition, I get denied every time. I don't know where to go to get the colonoscopy done so I can finally get some releif or atleast be treated for something other than just masking the pain. I stay away from painkillers because those just make me more constipated, but there are days that I do take one just so I can be pain free for a few hours. I drink metamucil twice a day, drink water, take 3 colaces a day, and try to eat as much fiber as possible each day and for the life of me I am still constipated. I also take dyclomine for the spased out colon, my stomach ties in knots and you can literally feel the knots in my stomach, then the severe pain starts until I go and relieve my selt only to go from constipation to diahrrea, Then and only them am I pain free, with no bloting, gas or pain until the next round starts again 2 or 3 days later...I need help and would like to know if there is any place I can go to have these test done. My last stomach doctor refuses to see me because of no insurance. I called him about 4 months ago because I was passing a lot of blood, he said he couldn't help me, I asked, what am I suppose to do just lay down and die and he said thats not his problem. He did remove polyps from my colon about 10 years ago and I feel I need to have another one done asap because of the passing blood. The polyps that I did have were benign but were also the type that if left untreated they could turn to cancer. Sorry this is so long, I welcome any suggestions, any programs where I may be able to get help on my problem. I am a 38 year old female. Thanks so much for any advice you may be able to help with...Summer1965