Do I have IBS?

[Kellygreen]

I have been dealing with intestinal problems since I was a toddler. I am 47 yr old and about 1 year ago kept up with finding a diagnosis. My gastroenterologist seemed very willing to help me. I had many tests and even the pill that has the camera that I swallowed. Doctor said everything looked good. I have symptoms of IBS, but it seems to be more constipation. I don’t go to the bathroom for days and then I have very bad abdominal pain. Then I have to run to the toilet and it usually starts out with hard stools and then turns into watery stools. Even days in between I get the abdominal cramping and do not use the bathroom at all. Does this sound like IBS? I just want to be able to start doing some kind of treatment for this . So today I’m going to diagnose myself with IBS and I would like to ask everyone what can I do to keep from getting constipated and then abdominal cramping.? I have tried everything out there to have normal bowel movements. The MiraLAX and Metamucil just gives me gas. I have tried a high fiber diet and drinking more water. Nothing seems to help and it seems like this month it has been getting worse. Any suggestions?

22 days ago

[b1b1b1]

You say you have seen a gastroenterologist. What diagnosis did he give you?

[Kellygreen in reply to b1b1b1]

My gastro never gave me a diagnose. He said after the last test that everything looked fine. I also failed to mention that I became anemic and I was put on iron supplements. I think the omeprizole I take May have been to blame for the iron deficiency.

[weegmack]

Hey there. I’m 44 and had the same problems as you since I was a little girl too!

Did the Gastroenterologist tell you you have IBS....or did you get told you have “IBS symptoms” and then patted on the head and told not to worry??

So my IBS is mainly constipation. What happens when we are backed-up, is that the intestine keeps trying to move it all along....and eventually all that poop gets mashed up along the way, with the spasms of the intestine and bowel (sorry if this is disgusting). So what we get is “overflow diarrhoea”. You’ll eventually get loads of horrible pain, in strong spasms and cramping, then you’ll have to poop pretty quickly! It’s usual for the firmer stuff to come out first and then all the mashed up poop will come out as diarrhoea. Yuk, right?

I take something called Laxido and there’s another laxative of the same type called Movicol. These are osmotic laxatives, which draw in water from everything we eat and drink, in order to keep our guts moving more regularly. If you eat a lot of fibre, you MUST drink plenty, or your gut will just struggle to move it along. Drinking plenty is really important. I started on the Laxido about 2 years ago now, and it made me very gassy and sore for the first two weeks. It also took me a few weeks to get the balance right as to whether I was having one or two sachets a day. But this has made a difference for me. I still get constipated at the second half of my menstrual cycle, but I don’t have the same problems with cramping, pain and diarrhoea.

I also decided about 12 years ago to give up wheat. I’m not gluten free though. I also watch my saturated fats and don’t overdo the dairy. However, I also have a hiatus hernia and GERD (gastro-osophegal reflux disease) and gallstones! So I’m very careful what I eat.

I feel more in control of my IBS now, but it makes me very anxious (hang-over from childhood and parents not helping). Nausea is a problem still and I get really fed up with it at times. So I know how you feel. Here to chat anytime. X

[Kellygreen in reply to weegmack]

Hi! Thank you for the response. The explanation you gave me about IBS sounds like mine. I just hate that it takes so long for me to eliminate my wastes. I just starting taking magnesium supplements and I think it may be helping. I am also taking a digestive enzyme. I chew on mint leaves to help with gas and bloating. The doc said I have a small hiatal hernia as well. I get horrible acid reflux if I do not take my omeprizole. I tried going off it but the burning in my chest was so severe. Thank you again for your response. Talk to you soon! 😃