IBS or IBD

[Jetblack87]

My gastroenterologist thinks I might have IBS but is doing test to make sure I don’t have IBD. My question is what symptoms did you have before getting diagnosed with IBD? My only symptom is constipation or going more often but no diarrhea.

[Valbaty54]

I had a change in bowel habit, with diarrhoea many times a day, urgent and with an unusual smell; lower abdominal pain; fatigue and feeling unwell. What tests are you going to have?

[Jetblack87 in reply to Valbaty54]

I did the C-Reactive protein test it came out to 14 mg but because the following day I had a cold they want me to retake it. If the second time it comes out high then they will do the fecal Calprotectin test. She said we will do a Colonoscopy only if the Calprotectin comes out high.

[Valerie0106]

Bleeding urgency frequency pain mucus vomiting

[Jetblack87 in reply to Valerie0106]

Thanks for the reply. Did the bleeding happened most of the time?

[Valerie0106 in reply to Jetblack87]

Yes every day for nearly a year until i was started on meds.

[Pipinha in reply to Valerie0106]

And you made blood tests? How you no its a inflamation?

[Valerie0106 in reply to Pipinha]

I had several tests and was finally diagnosed by a second colonoscopy, and calprotectin level

[Pipinha in reply to Valerie0106]

I made blood test and no inflamation

[FBmom in reply to Valerie0106]

Were you ever constipated? I bleed only with hard movements after being constipated. When I take a laxative the soft movements have no blood.

[Valerie0106 in reply to FBmom]

No never constipated. My blood tests were inconclusive and early calprotectin level low and colonoscopy negative. BUT I still had plenty of symptoms which gradually worsened.

[Pipinha in reply to Valerie0106]

You have blood? What is your syntoms , you made blood tests? You have mucus or pain

[Valerie0106 in reply to Pipinha]

Yes - see originalPost

[Pipinha in reply to Valerie0106]

How are you? Bleeding or finaly stoped? You have red blood

[Valerie0106 in reply to Pipinha]

Stopped on mesalasine and a careful diet

[Pipinha in reply to Valerie0106]

Your blood its too much or just a litlle?My starts little but now its more every day

[Valerie0106 in reply to Pipinha]

I think you need to get checked out. Bleeding is a symptom of a problem.

[jackdup]

My only symptom when I was diagnosed was weight loss.

[Jetblack87 in reply to jackdup]

Thank you for ur reply. Was it like drastic weight loss?

[jackdup in reply to Jetblack87]

I went from about 175 pounds down to 160. I was diagnosed when I had dropped to about 165 but continued to lose weight until I got it under control. That was over a few months. At first I thought it was because sometimes I would skip lunch if I was quite busy so started to watch and make sure I was eating but continued to lose weight. Doctor sent me for a barium follow thru and that is when they discovered Crohns in the ileum.

[Kjojo999 in reply to jackdup]

Hello I am having similar symptoms to what you mention one that I have caught is weight loss. I’ve started to loose weight since begging of the year. Was at 90lbs now at 85lbs. With that I’ve had other symptoms like dirreah. Constipation. Bloated,gassy,cloudy memory, fatigue. Where you put in medication or what was recommended. All I’ve gotten so far is a ultrasound my doctor hasn’t diagnose me yet but I suspect that’s what it is. What test can help to see if I have chrons?

[jackdup in reply to Kjojo999]

The least invasive is a barium swallow with follow thru but I don’t know they use them as much anymore. A colonoscopy is always helpful if it is ulcerative colitis, or if it is Crohns in the large intestine but there is a valve of sorts between the small and large intestine and often they can’t get past it with a colonoscopy so can’t see the small intestine or ileum. The ileum is where a large number of people have their Crohns although it can be anywhere in the digestive system. There is also a specialized MRI that is very good for Crohns but given how specialized it is it isn’t available in smaller centres so it may or may not be available where you are. I know I had to travel 180 miles to have one done. I was given steroids and Asacol initially but stopped taking the Asacol as it didn’t do much for me, but believe it does help some.

I finally went into remission and gained back the weight I had lost and then a couple of years later had another major flare up and again dropped down to 160 pounds but had many more symptoms including diarrhea, and again given steroids, Asacol and later Pentasa, but none seemed to work. The third major flare up I had again lost weight and was given steroids. It took quite some time to go into remission that time and even after I was gaining weight back I continued to have very loose bowel movements but wasn’t going numerous times a day. After a year with loose bowel movements saw an ad on TV for Activia yogurt and it claimed if it didn’t help you within two weeks they would give you your money back. I thought it would never make any difference and I could eat yogurt for two weeks and get my money back, but after about 10 days my bowel movements were much improved and were no longer loose. It is by no means a cure and know it doesn’t help for everyone, but it did help me. I have tried stopping taking it for periods just to see if it was really the yogurt making the difference and each time the lose bowel movements have returned. I am not promoting it or saying to use it instead of whatever you may be prescribed but it can’t hurt anything to try it for a couple of weeks and see if it makes a difference. Yogurt has probiotics and there is more and more evidence that the bacteria in your intestines plays a big role in your health beyond the digestive tract so if it does help you that is great and if it doesn’t you aren’t out much, but again isn’t a cure and you still need to do what your doctors recommend.

[jackdup in reply to Kjojo999]

Is 90 pounds your normal weight?

[Kjojo999 in reply to jackdup]

It really does feel reassuring to know I am not the only one going trough something like this.I have made some research about different ways to diagnose it but was scared to see the options. I was told by my care provider once results come of ultrasound I will most likely need a blood test and to be referred to the gastrointestinal specialist. I stop working because of my fatigue my job was closing due to covid. I just hope I am able to have a normal life again and have a job again. My weight has always been in the 80s because I had a fast metabolism but this past year I gained a little bit of weight and was steady trough out the year. I’m 28 and found it strange that I was loosing my weight. No skipping meals. I just was very bloated all the time constipated then the diarrhea more frequently. Doctors would say I just needed fiber and health healthy workout not stress. And I could assure u I was not stress in fact relived to know I was finally able to look into my symptoms when I was let go of my job.

[jackdup in reply to Kjojo999]

Don’t dismiss the effects of stress. You may not realize it but may have stress related to the uncertainty of what you are experiencing. I’m not saying that stress is what is causing your symptoms but could be contributing to them more than you realize, but you really need to have tests to determine what is going on. I know doctors can often be quick to chalk things up to stress without doing the tests to rule out other causes before making a diagnosis so is important to make sure you keep pushing to have the tests you need to properly diagnose you.

[KCRoyals in reply to jackdup]

Totally correct about stress and weight loss. Stress and anxiety are clinical ailments not just mental and can be treated.

[jakelayla]

My symptoms started with nausea and diarrhoea, fatigue, red eyelids and reddened joints in my fingers. I had extreme weight loss, my clothes were hanging off me. I never believed that I was suffering from IBS, you just have a feeling that it's something serious. I never worried about cancer, I just knew it was some form of IBD. Hope your Doctor is right and you have IBS, good luck!

[Jetblack87 in reply to jakelayla]

Wow! Sounds bad! I think is IBS as well but we will see thank you for your reply.