It's amazing to me that we are all here sharing information and looking for answers because we can't get any from MDs including gastroenterologists. Are we all just dollar signs to be scoped, poked and prodded to generate revenue for the medical community?I just found this forum and I am truly amazed that there are so many questions and doctors have no answers other than, "let me run a lot of expensive tests that will make you feel worse" or try adding fiber to your diet.What does anyone else think?
What does it say that we are all here?
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In the UK I've yet to find anyone who seems to have much of a clue about IBS. The fact that it isn't a terminal condition seems to equate to apathy from the medical world. I've had the same recently with headaches. I've had headaches far too frequently this year. Along with my Doctor I'm fully of the opinion its nothing bad, i.e. I don't have a tumour. But then this appears to result in complete inaction, other than throwing some beta blockers in my direction (which just made me sick). And I don't know about the US, but here you get all of about 10 minutes to try and explain your condition to the Doctor before they're looking to kick you out so they can see the next patient. When you have a medical history like mine that's insane.You've set me off now
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I hear you, but what can the doctors do? They're not God's or miracle workers. Research needs to be done to provide needed information to them. It's all to easy in "modern" countries to fix every medical problem we have with a pill. I for one won't take them. Instead I choose to suffer and try to figure this out on my own (30 years of trying). I've come to the conclusion that my intestines reject everything that goes through them with a vengence. Why? I may never know. In the meantime, I'm just trying to eat foods that aren't so painful to evacuate. I can deal with the cramps, the diariah/constipation, it's the hemorrhoids and fissures that follow that I can't live with.
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After ten years of this, 10 years ago I found a supplement that stopped the problem. I mentioned this to a friend who is also a doctor, thinking she might know someone who would be interested. Her comment was that the GIs she knew were really only interested in cancer research. (I suppose that is where the money is.) Flash ahead 10 years and I finally turned up a study that might explain why I have had such a recovery. I sent the study to my current doctor. Same answer. I even contacted the doctor who co-wrote the original study. His only response was that one case doesn't prove anything and all of the other changes I have made to my diet and lifestyle might equally have been the cause. Not interested.It is not just IBS, either. I have a friend who uses the same cardiovascular support supplement for his Multiple Sclorosis. It has worked well enough to keep him alive past the experience of any of his doctors, for a person with such a severe case. In spite of this, there has been no interest by the MS Society in this style of treatment. This morning I read in the paper that an Italian doctor has traced MS to a cardiovascular condition in the brain and has developed an operation which, in a small study, removed all symptoms over a two year period for over 70% of those who had the surgery. The US MS Society is discouraging patients from getting tested or seeking the surgical intervention. "Rather, it continues to promote drug treatments to alleviate symptoms..." (Toronto Globe and Mail) Drug companies financially support the medical research community and many (most) of your legislators. Really, I don't think you have to look much further than that. Mark
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Well, when the FDA allows medications for IBS to be on the market for brief periods of time doctors do actually prescribe them. Unfortunately the FDA believes that people are willing to go blind for an erection, or die just to save themselves from the horrors of acne, but IBS drugs must have zero risk. If they are riskier than fiber (which sadly we can't convince them is not a cure-all nor or even that it makes some of us a lot worse) then either they are pulled from the market or the regulators insist on making doctors jump through a lot of extra hoops to prescribe them.
I agree this forum has been more help than most doctors. I started having problems about a year after being in the US from the UK and doctors said it was just stress and home sick and sent me on my way. I would say give it time and doctors will figure it out it just really isn't a big of priority as cancer or aids. I will say that Ian and Kathleen have been a bigger help than the doctors I've seen. Thanks a million to you two!Cheers
Which supplement is this?
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We're probably here because we know there has to be a solution.The medicines the doctors can offer for this particular issue usually have side effects as bad, if not worse than the syndrome itself.The hope is that maybe some combination of readily available items are either missing from our diets, or there is some supplement that can provide relief without the nasty effects of the medicines.Also, someone may have visited a doctor who has his/her own theories on the issue, and is providing little-known solutions for the problem.
I've been to a GI a few times now and I seem like an nuisance whenever they see me. They make me feel like I'm a whiny little kid and that I should just suck it up. The typical response I get is "here, try this medication and call me in 2-weeks." The part that makes me feel uncomfortable is that the group he belongs to has Inc. in there title, making me think they are in it just for the money. The unfortunate part is they are also suppose to be the best GI's in town. The sense of apathy from them makes me wonder if I am living in some sort of dream and if I can ever get some real help.
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I've had my fair share of bad experiences with doctors and I feel that some of them are incompetent money pushers.That said, I think it's unfair to categorize all of them as such. IBS is complicated and while some practitioners do not choose to understand it, others are limited by the fact that there is no clear cause or solution for it.And some hospitals or physician groups do have "Inc" in the name - Most of those who join a group have no say as to what the name is, so it's probably just coincidence.
I must say that my own GP,i live in the UK is very supportive and understanding to my severe ibs and i have also lived with chronic fatigue syndrome for 11years.I feel like i am falling apart.My GP has done all she could to help from blood test,prescriptions,listeneing,referrals to professionals and supporting me when i have went privately for alternative treatments.My symptoms are awful 24/7 and i am not the person i was many many years ago,but i do try to cope the best i can.But i really do not know what else to do.I wish there was some professional could find something to help all us sufferers.Maybe one day!At times i do feel ibs is looked on as just something that you suffer from on a rare occassion,but as many people on this forum know that is so not true!shame these hospital doctors dont see that!We live in hope!
Hello RichardWI to suffered headaches at times severe for a number of years,i was taking tablets on a daily basis at one point.Saying that my GP did send me for a head scan which showed no abnormality which was good.But i carried on having them.Eventually i was told it was probably down to my severe ibs and chronic fatigue and i had to try and stop taking tablets every day as that was not helping the pain,i just kept getting recurring headaches.Over the past 2 years i have managed to not take so mant tablets and the headaches eased a bit,but i do still get painful ones and at time migraines.I take paracetamol and it usually shifts it eventually.So i am learning to live with headaches to.Hope you find something that helps.
Thanks Diane - yes I wondered about the IBS/headache link. Personally, though, I'm convinced its my sinuses. I get bad hayfever, and this year has been very bad. Anyway, I had a cold a couple of weeks ago and the following week I had a permanent headache. Its also worse when laid down, which is supposedly a sign of sinus issues. We'll see - I could do without yet another chronic symptom!!
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