Is this still IBS?

[2019kitty]

I had been experiencing some bowel symptoms for the past 4 months. I had prophylaxis antibiotic for an infection in March 2019. After 2-3 weeks, I experienced right sided abdominal pain and loose stool. Its been 4 months now and I am still experiencing constant right sided abdominal pain mainly lower abdomen which is on an increasing trend. Loose stool started since March initially up to 6 times a day but for the past 2 months its been about 3-4 times a day. Had lose some weight- minimal about 4 kg. My stomach keep making lots of noise and I had notice increase flatulence. Appetite has gone done slightly. But no vomiting or fever. No indigestion or reflux symptoms. No change of diet. Just feeling more tired past week due to increase frequency frequency of loose stool. Blood test and stool test done was normal ( celiac, IBD, bacteria and parasite infection excluded) except for a low white cell count. GP thinks its IBS. Had a 2 week course of Alverine with Simethicone, Ranitidine and yeast based probiotics and occasionally takes Buscopan and Paracetamol when abdominal pain is unbearable. My symptoms persist and had never resolved or stop. My question is could this still be IBS as my had abdominal pain and loose stool every day for the past 4 months and nothing has change despite medication. Hope to get some advise .

[Ladyone]

Hi, i would go back to your gp and insist on a colonoscopy, and a lower abdominal scan. I hope that helps, as my gp has sent me for all of them and more and now they are saying it could be ibs. Please keep pushing for the tests.

[K14H]

Similar situation!

[darinfan]

Not sure if it helps, but had antibiotics five weeks ago and still in the loo. It will go away for three or four days and then back where I started. Stomach got so irritated that it bled at one point, although that has stopped now. Every time you think it's gone, it comes right back again. It's like groundhog Day. It's driving me insane. If this is IBS,it is quite unlike any IBS flare I have had over the last eight or ten years. Is it still the antibiotics? Possibly, I guess, but my brain is thinking all sorts of horrible possibilities. As with the OP, all tests have been normal. At the end of my tether.

[jalapeno1234]

SAME BOAT GUYS. I will never ever forgive myself for listening to the majority of people who told me it was stupid not to take antibiotics...I KNEW it would mess with me terribly. Mine is constipation then d*..then constipation then d* ...aaand some orange stools. Messed up but thankfully able to shut up my system on a very low fibre diet (that has its own concerns though).

Tired of being tired of this. ugh

[darinfan in reply to jalapeno1234]

How long has yours lasted, Jalapeno1234? I saw the gp again yesterday, and the c word was mentioned, together with a gastro referral. I'm a mess! Mine has been five weeks as of today. But very similar symptoms to yours, except I have had small amounts of blood as well - although that is thought to have been irritation of the stomach lining. But, like you, it flits back and forth between not going at all and then going like hell. I have found that a probiotic that seems to stops me going - but then I barely go at all!

[jalapeno1234 in reply to darinfan]

Mine hasnt been right since May 6th I believe but saying that there's been a decrease in d* ... And the days like today where I had my trusty safe foods yet feeling loose despite being constipated last week on the same diet - nightmare!! I was relieved not to have an infection though as I thought I had C diff... What probiotic is it? I had a yoghurt the other day and suffered horrific gas so thats not gonna work haha

[darinfan in reply to jalapeno1234]

I've been using probio 7 Advanced. The ingredient Saccharomyces Boulardii seems to be the one that slows the stomach down - although sometimes too much! I have to take a sample in to the GP, and can't produce one for the life of me! Mine started on 26th June. I think I can cope with the symptoms better if there wasn't that doubt as to whether it was the antibiotics that are behind this or not. The GP seems to think that it wouldn't be the antibiotic after all this time - hence concerns about colitis and cancer being raised - but visits here would suggest that she is wrong on that.