Negative Results ibs sufferer: So after three... - IBS Network

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Negative Results ibs sufferer

Tig345 profile image
23 Replies

So after three months of pain, had and discomfort...i am no closer to what is happening with me. My test results came back negative. No bacteria, no parasite no infection..

This was not all in my head. The gas and cramp were so bad I couldn't stand, the runny tummy almost embarrassed me on a work outing.

IBS....what is going on?

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Tig345 profile image
Tig345
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23 Replies
Helenbperks profile image
Helenbperks

Which test did you undertake to determine this?

Tig345 profile image
Tig345 in reply to Helenbperks

Stool sample, bacteria my b12 was fine, iron levels good

jbrking profile image
jbrking

Sound just look stool samples? It could be a number of things and I went through a lot of tests as I’ve suffered for years and was told IBS; what I ate, dairy, gluten, etc. Anyway. I finally got sent to a gastric consultant and explained my loose bowels and I was being sick too. I had a sehcat scan and colonoscopy. Turned out to be bile salt malabsorption. It’s quite misdiagnosed. Now on meds for it and better. I suggest you ask for a referral as it could be what I have or colitis or sibo or a number of things. Keep pushing.

ling profile image
ling in reply to jbrking

What were your symptoms?

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to ling

Stomach cramps, very loose bowel movements about half hour or so after eating with a sudden urgency to go. And continued cramps and more bowel movements. Had to live on anti diarrhoea tablets. Didn’t matter what I ate. Tried cutting out wheat and dairy and anything fatty. Didn’t make much difference. Got to the stage I was spending a couple of hours on the toilet in the middle of the night and being sick at the same time.

janke profile image
janke in reply to jbrking

If you are having diarrhoea in the night it does sound like you might have bile acid malabsorption - for which there is medication. If your doctor hasn`t considered this it would be worth asking him/her

uhcw.nhs.uk/bam/what-is-bam/

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to janke

Yes I was diagnosed earlier this year and now on questran.

ling profile image
ling in reply to jbrking

Thank you so much for sharing.

What causes bile salt malabsorption?

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to ling

There’s no reason as in nothing anyone is doing wrong. When you eat you release bile to digest the food. What is not used should be re-absorbed into your body and reused. Mine doesn’t get absorbed. It’s not quite what you eat but there are certain things to try and avoid. Caffeine, so coffee and cola drinks etc, anything fatty/oily, wheat, dairy. It didn’t seem to matter what I did or didn’t eat it just happened.

ling profile image
ling in reply to jbrking

Thank you for the information.

ling profile image
ling in reply to jbrking

Btw when u were having diarrhea, was there a burning feeling in your abdomen?

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to ling

I would have a lot of pain and yes burning because bile is acid and it does feel like burning

ling profile image
ling in reply to jbrking

Many thanks!

Is a colonoscope necessary to diagnose this?

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to ling

No just the sehcat scan will diagnose the bile salt/acid malabsorption. I had colonoscopy as well to check for any colitis/inflammation but luckily that was negative

301246 profile image
301246 in reply to jbrking

I am wondering whether I may have this problem. Did they sort it for you and how?

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to 301246

See other comments on thread. Had tests and now take a binder medication called questran. It comes with side effects though so you have to consider the worse of two evils. But you need a sehcat scan to diagnose

ling profile image
ling in reply to jbrking

Are u able to get better and come off the medicine?

What are the side effects?

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to ling

No I don’t think so, I think it’s life long and finding the right amount of the binder to take is trial and error. I took too much to begin with and ended up constipated which is not nice either. Side effects and cramps, bloating and wind especially if you take more than you need. But no different to when you’re having a flare up or bad attack anyway.

ling profile image
ling in reply to jbrking

Thank you very much, I appreciate the information. Thank you

AshAlso profile image
AshAlso in reply to jbrking

When you were dashing to the toilet with diarrhea, were you vomiting bile as well? Or no nausea/vomiting at all?

jbrking profile image
jbrking in reply to AshAlso

I’d say about 75% of the time when I rushed to toilet with diarrhoea I was also sick. And if I wasn’t I felt nausea.

AshAlso profile image
AshAlso in reply to jbrking

I'm sorry to hear that. Thanks for the reply, though.

TerrymC54 profile image
TerrymC54

I'm so sorry. I have IBS too, it doesn't make sense, when it flares, It's hell. 😢

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