IBS or something else? Bloating, pain, trouble eating, etc.

[KaylaMC]

Hi all. My name is Kayla and I am new here and to the IBS world. Anyway, I think what I am experiencing is likely IBS, but am not sure and was looking for some help/advice, hopefully.

For as long as I can remember, I have frequently suffered from nausea, almost on a daily basis. I have frequent bowel movements throughout the day, which has been typical for me for years. Sometimes they are firm and other times quite loose, but I wouldn't label as diarrhea.

Within the last few weeks, the day after Thanksgiving and eating lots of food, I was not surprisingly very very bloated and sick. I have always gotten very bloated by the end of the day after dinner. I would feel great in the morning and as the day went on would feel more bloated from eating and you can physically see the bloat as well. But this time was different. The bloating did dissipate, but it kept coming back really really bad after any food I hate, no matter how much or little. Sometimes I even feel like water is making me so painfully bloated.

I then started getting stomach pains, tenderness in the abdomen, almost like the skin was sore, very worn out and tired all of the time, and now I just feel so bloated and uncomfortable every day, even right in the morning when I wake up, although it's not too bad. I am so incredibly hyperfocused on my stomach and bloating now, so I am not sure if this is anxiety making me feel these things or if this sounds like IBS. It is causing me so much stress.

Does anyone have a similar experience? Does this sound typical of IBS or like there is something more sinister happening? Because I don't have extremes of constipation or diarrhea can you still suffer from IBS without those? Any help or advice is so much appreciated.

[mno123]

Sounds like you may have celiac disease. You have all the symtoms. Get a blood test done at your GP. Good luck.

[Roselynn89]

I would see a doctor if I were you. It could be so many different things; food intolerance to something you eat regularly, a gallbladder that isn’t functioning on par, SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), a general imbalance in your gut flora, etcetera. So many things! I, myself, have only recently found info on SIBO that is spot on with my gut issues. Definitely see a doctor, but also do a lot of Internet study from reputable sites. Read up on SIBO, it’s pretty fascinating and the cause of a LOT (probably most) of IBS issues. Maybe your doctor could set you up for some food allergy tests with an allergist...that’s always eye opening.

[Bits1961]

Hi. You sound like I was a couple of years ago. You seem so stressed out, see if you can get your doctor to prescribe some anti depressants, I am on Citalopram. The reason I suffered a lot of the symptoms you have were like mine stress induced.I still have IBS but it is so much more controlled and acceptable to me now. I hope this is of some help.

[ELAGABALVS]

Well, I am not sure whether this is exactly falling in the category of IBS, as for myself, my symptoms are frequent bouts of diarrhoea, intestinal pain and cramping.

I would however suggest seeing a gastroenterologist if you can, as to get more expert diagnosis than I can offer. Now usually bloating comes from IBS-C (constipation predominant IBS) but rarely do I have IBS-A or M (alternating or mixed) diarrhoea and constipation, but from what I have learned that bloating is more from IBS-C rather than (as I have) IBS-D. Sorry I can't be of more help, but this is what I would recommend at any rate.

IBS is generally caused as a functional bowel disorder, of the intestines 'doing their own thing' aka either in fast transit mode (with quick peristalsis) or slow (thus giving diarrhoea or slow giving constipation, sometimes doing both giving rise to both periods of the Hershey squirts, or at other times hard bosel motions. Good luck, hope you can get this resolved asap.

[ELAGABALVS]

(Typo, I meant bowel, not bosel, sorry)!