IBS? Or something else?

[Matthews34]

I need help with some stomach/digestive problems. I feel a lot rumbling in my abdomen, coupled with odd pains in abdomen(not severe but all over the place), lower back is sore off and on and even sometimes in my testicles(not last few days). Bowel movements have been different, some loose some normal some diarrhea but most have been flatter smaller (not pencil thin) Went to a doctor already and he gave me purg-odan to “flush me out” which just gave me diarrhea but didn’t seem to give any sort of real bowel movement. Odd symptoms I’ve felt are frequent urination and cold sensations. Also, appetite seems less as of yesterday.

The first symptom I had was frequent urination/the urge to pee, and it never hurt or burn or anything of the sort. That did eventually go away.

I have googled every possible symptom and of course that makes things worse. I feel completely down about this it makes me so irritable. Please help.

Should add, I’ve self treated for constipation and the doctor had given me things for constipation. No relief from symptoms

[Matthews34]

Oh I should mention, one doctor did already say all of this points him directly to IBS

[Linley]

Hi! sorry to hear you have unexplained symptoms, I am no doctor but can suggest a few pointers that may help you.

1st you can have an irritable bladder, and an irritable bowel( C or D) can give the symptoms you talk about but.............no diagnosis does not help the anxiety levels which may give you other symptoms. The GP may be right that all the pointers say IBS but suggest another trip back to your GP if no better-they should again ask you a set of questions and get blood tests done then if they still are unsure may refer you to a Gastro-this way you will have peace of mind and a proper diagnosis. Good Luck

[Hidden]

Could well be IBS, as the symptoms you describe are typical. Just have another trip to the doc first, as Linley suggests. Frequent urination is a sympton too, and you can occasionally get a bit if an ache in the testicles. I think that is probably pain being transmitted down from the gut. Where you feel pain is not always the source. Try not to get anxious about it, that wont help. You may like to try Colpermin, I find that is as good as anything, although it does not work for everyone. Once you’ve have seen the doc, if it is confirmed as IBS then you need an action plan, plenty of advice on this site.

[Matthews34]

Thank you everyone. Today I had a normal bowel movement and it put some of my anxiety to rest, as I am guessing it’s a good sign.

[ELAGABALVS]

Matt, soory you have ran into obstacles. I have as well. The only thing I can say (as I am not a physician) but a patient myself, is that when you stated constipation towards the end, I am thinking possibly IBS-M (Sometimes labelled as 'IBS-A'.

Now, if your symptoms are predominantly diarrhoea that of course would be classified as IBS-D. I have been in an unusual situation as now I can say that I USED to have IBS-D, but now been reassessed as having a subtype (very similar symptoms)of IBS-D called Functional Diarrhoea. It is essentially the same as IBS-D but minus the abdominal pains. I have not been sustaining any amount of significant abdominal pains lately. Both IBS and Functional Diarrhoea are classified as FGD (functional gastrointestinal disorders).

Now if you have gone through all the required exclusionary tests and been 'officially' diagnosed with one form of IBS or another Then the Rome IV Criteria for functional disorders sems to indicate that you do have IBS, then you would of course be included in the FGD classification and fit the Rome IV Criteria. Might want to look that up. One excellent website that I have found quite informative is the Minnesota based information and research called International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD iffgd.org

Hope this is useful!

Elagabalus

[Mart100]

Hi Matthew,

I am experiencing a kind of the same symptoms you have. I had obstipation/constipation after 2 back surgeries. I use after these surgeries (2 in 3 months time) a drug called tramadol, thats an opioid painkiller. I thinks that caused my bowel intestines and stomach a lot of problems. I developed a giaridias bacterie that was later taken care off with an antibiotic called Metronidazol, treatment for 7 weeks . Then is was gone but not the bloating, pain in my stomach and intestines. My gut healt was abominable. Good eating didnt solve it. Maybe I need a special diet with anti- and probiotics. Today I am going to ask my Stomach/liver/intestines docter how to handle the ongoing pain. I also think its remarkable that if you experience stress in your personal life this effects the pain in your intestines, stomach and back also a great deal. Maybe I will try a revalidation circuit to work on my mental health also. Maybe you dont have IBS but its just your guts causing the pain by your mind. greetings, Mart

ps let me know what you think off what I wrote here to you