Can this be ibs?: Hi everyone .. my stomach... - IBS Network

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Can this be ibs?

Sanic_ profile image
33 Replies

Hi everyone .. my stomach problems started about 2 months ago.. well I’ve always had this problem were i would eat and within the 10 minutes or 30 minutes had to go poop .. and my biggest fear was eating on long road trips or not having access to the restroom right away. When this would happen sometimes my stomach would cramp up and would go poop and felt better after. Anyways back to 2 months it started as a cramping and going to the restroom a lot i thought it was a stomach bug .. It went away for 2 days but came back and ever since I get Sharp pain all over my abdominal even my sides .. I’ve been to the emergency room 4 times !!!! They’ve done 3 ct scans and 4 stool test to check for bleeding and everything normal and a hida scan they actually ended up removing my gallbladder( they said the gallbladder was the problem .. but i still have sharp pains and my stool are weird(they’ve gotten a little better sometimes they’re thin).. I’ve never seen blood but my stools but clear white shape as stools I guess Mucus ? . I’m just worried because the way I’m using the restroom(the stools had gotten a little better) and my sharp random pains in my abdominal oh and sometimes I get lower back pains ... also my stomach growls so much. I’ve also just had a colonoscopy and it was clear still waiting on biopsy answers. The dr said theres nothing to worry about meaning anything scary but i asked for more testing as endoscopy and an mri and I’ll be getting it. I’ve always had anxiety but it has gotten much worse. I just got diagnosed with severe anxiety and mild depression.

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Criland79 profile image
Criland79

Hi Sonia, this is Cristina from Italy. If nothing more serious is found in all your examinations, I would say this is Ibs! At the beginning I had the same symptoms, tried many things but What it has worked better for me so far it s a NO FODMAP diet with enterelle probiotics. It could be possible that at the beginning you need to take some medicines to calm down your intestine (such as duspatal or lexil, these are Italian names, don t know if they are the same worldwide), but only for a couple of months. Should check your vitamina D and C ( I was lacking). Need to work a bit on what it s causing your anxiety, but give yourself sometime, go little step by little. Walking in the nature and Sahaja Yoga meditation helped me a lot. If you need I ll give you also my email. Good luck in the meantime! Cristina

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toCriland79

Thank you for responding ! I forgot to mention I get pain in my upper right abdominal by my ribs now I’m freaking out because of my liver. I’m going to try this no fodmap hoping it works. I also have probiotics but i stopped taking them since he seemed that it didn’t work unless I didnt Take it for to long. I’m gonna see about my vitamin c and d as well. What’s causing my anxiety are all these pains that I’m getting. I kjow They said everything looks fine but it’s still in my head that something is wrong because I’m still in pain :( I live in the US so not to sure if we have those duspatal or lexil.

Kellysann profile image
Kellysann in reply toSanic_

I have very similar symptoms. And pain in the right side under ribs and between shoulder blades on that side :(

I am also going to try the NO FOODMAP diet to see if that helps!

Thank you Criland79 and all the people who take time to reply and share useful and valued information. It does mean a lot! Sometimes I feel so alone and do not want to talk about it with my family and friends as I think they are fed up of me complaining about this.

Criland79 profile image
Criland79 in reply toKellysann

Dear Kelly, thanks to you for your message! I exactly know how you feel. When talking with friends or family about ibs they usually think about a little stomach ache, not understanding much about the daily (not monthly or early) real symptoms and the consequent deep social discomfort, since for you it becomes difficult even to eat outside or somebody else house or even doing a walk cause you don't know if you might need the bathroom, not to mention about your job or summer holidays. Despite this you don't even want to be treated like an ill person so sometimes you say sometimes you don't.

Anyway, the NoFodmap diet with enterelle probiotics has solved a big part of my IBS D symptoms (not all). I can't hide that in the meantime I found a new job and now working most of the time from home and I think this has also helped my emotional side. I practice Sahaja Yoga meditation on a daily base and the same for some strecthing exrcecise or a little walk. In my case, I cannot rule out that there is actually a correlation between my emotions (a kind of emotional hypersensitivity) and the manifestation of these symptoms. If I am over stressed for any reason, the symptoms start again. For example, first part of the week (mon, tue, wed) I m generally better than the second part (thu, fri, sat), when I start being more tired. Seems like my body tries to get rid of all mental heaviness. I have the same pain on the right side but my liver and gallbladder are ok (so far). I think this pain is more related to the colon part.

Soon I will try to make some Bioresonance Therapy that worked very well for a friend of mine that had intestinal parasites and tapeworms (any medical cures, even hospital could help her). I will definetely share with you if I get any good result! :-)

Criland79 profile image
Criland79 in reply toSanic_

Hi Sonia! I have the same right side pain and my liver is ok; actually I also have pain in the left side, but mainly in the right. I think it is more related to the colon part. For the No Fodmap diet, there is a mobile app that helped me a lot; it's called FODMAP from Monash University. There you can find all the food that you can have or avoid or can have but in a small quantity. Please share if you have any good result! :-)

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toCriland79

I never heard about no fodmap .. I live In the US. I just came back from hospital because the pain was bad and I’m losing weight without even trying :( they did more blood work and it seems fine. The did a ct scan and it seems fine .. So I dont know what’s going on .. I stress everyday and have anxiety everyday but I don’t think that has to do part of losing weight? I’m gonna try that app hopefully I can Get it.

Criland79 profile image
Criland79 in reply toSanic_

Hi Sonia! What is the diagnosis according to them? Have they excluded Crohn's disease?

Can I suggest you to do one simple thing for at least a few days to reduce this anxiety? A footsoak with salt: it's simple, natural, free. It's part of the meditation I practice (always free) and now I would never cope my daily stress without it. Water and earth (salt) has the power to clean also our energy side, especially when there are blocks. You can do the same thing with your hands, it has to last at least 12-15 mins, better if done twice per day, closed eyes and possibly a relaxing music on, remember to breath deeply. Here you can find a short guide on how to do it freemeditation.com/articles... and here you can try to enter a free Sahaj meditation course: onlinemeditation.org/. Following some videos:

youtube.com/watch?v=Awb6Q0Q...

youtube.com/watch?v=xXpg1zj...

youtube.com/watch?v=cdxm83B...

If you manage to do it, please let me know in a few days how it went :-)

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toCriland79

According to them nothings wrong with me :( I do have a uti. But that’s all they told me. Tomorrow i see my new gi dr to get a endoscopy and than an mri. I’m gonna ask my dr about Chrons tomorrow as well. Yesterday i had took a bath and I filled up my bath and out epsom salt. I just hate this because I think I have something scary like cancer :( I get so depressed.. my depression just gets worse :( im gonna try these videos thank you so much !

Criland79 profile image
Criland79 in reply toSanic_

I'm not an expert, but if it was cancer, shouldn't you have at least some blood results or exam not completely right? What about Candida infections or other intestinal parasites? could be related to your uti as well.

I have to say that during the first months in many cases I have really thought I was going to die because of the pain, the weight loss (no more than 5 kg), the weakness and tiredness and spending most of the time in bed. Don't know how many doctors I have seen (and still will see). Then, started slowly slowly going through it, gaining knowledge about this disease, about my body, how it was working, which medicines or practices were helping, in general about myself. In a way I can say a journey to better discover my-self has started with these symptoms and in a way I'm also thankful for this. First thing, please try to reduce your thoughts and anxsiety, it's not helping much. Try to divert your over thinking in something else, footsoak and meditation will help :-)

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toCriland79

Well at first i was thinking Colon cancer because the pain the my thin stools. So I got A colonoscopy and it was fine. But than I started to overthink what if he missed something ? I have Had several ct scans it looks fine many blood test seems fine. So at this point I’m tired and frustrated because there’s still pain ! I’m gonna a talk to the gi tomorrow and tell him about my uti maybe that will lead to something and could help me out. I lost 8kg I think That’s right ? Because I’m In the US so we go by pounds. And I losT so much weight because my whole diet changed from so much junk food to healthy food and i would eat alot before and now i eat smaller portions. What were you diagnose with ?

Criland79 profile image
Criland79 in reply toSanic_

In theory, the colonscopy should tell you about the presence of cancer quite right. If the weight loss is connected to a healthier diet, so it shouldn't even be Chron's disease. The pain I had at the beginning reduced a lot after the Duspatal therapy (that lasted for 2 months) given by my gastroenterologist. I found a possible english equivalent: lagaay.com/shop/product/13428, Duspatal Retard. Try to have a look or can ask to your doctor tomorrow. My diagnosis has always been IBS D so far and I also made colonscopy, ultrasound, blood tests, breath tests. Let me know tomorrow!

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toCriland79

I’m getting an Endo and mri next .. I’m so scared .. I hate Thinking the worse :(

Criland79 profile image
Criland79 in reply toSanic_

Inside yourself there is an energy that is brave and positive; direct your attention inside and get what you need by this energy! I think we are here not only to enjoy or suffer, but to learn new things for our soul and evolve. Take this as an opportunity to know more about yourself :-) and in the meantime, good luck for the exams ;-)

xjrs profile image
xjrs

Hi, Your story has prompted some other experiences I have read on this site about people having their gallbladder removed - I found this online which links it to IBS

verywellhealth.com/digestiv...

I'm sure someone else mentioned that this can also be linked to BAM (bile acid malabsorption) - there is a separate test for that and treatment which can be quite successful. I haven't experienced this myself, but hopefully others on this site will be able to explain this further. You might want to mention this to your doctor and have further tests done. Good luck.

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toxjrs

Thank you so much for this!! That’s what the dr mentioned as we that it can be bam i think the endoscopy can see this since he’ll be looking into my small intestines .. hopefully he can and hopefully it’s this so I can get better soon. I’m gonna look into the link !

Baenav profile image
Baenav

Hiya Sonia, I’ve been on this site for about a month now and it has been so interesting, and somewhat reassuring to read from those with similar conditions to mine. I do agree that following your tests if nothing has been found then that at least is good news. Your frustrations and concerns will be borne out by NOT having a diagnosis and therefore a plan to address your issues. This is not uncommon - there are things though that you can try. LOW/NO FODMAP diets are excellent and if done properly can indicate foods that have an impact on your health. You may have other issues that you can address - I note you have been alerted to BAM - If this is what’s going on in your abdomen, then a reduction of fats in your diet may help - eg: butter and margarine

mayonnaise, fried or breaded foods

baked goods, such as croissants, cookies, and pastries, lunch meats, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, or other processed meats full-fat dairy products, such as whipping cream or sour cream. These are not healthy options in any case, but you might wish to reduce your intake to see if this addresses your pain. What I will say is don’t cut out fats altogether as you need these to function. Drink plenty of water (up to 2 ltrs a day), and get out for some exercise every day. Fingers crossed for you.

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toBaenav

Hi thank you for taking you time and responding! Yea I’m glad nothing a scary has been found but it’s really frustrating and scary that they’ve done so many test and more to come and they haven’t sound anything which I’m glad nothing scary but it’s still stuck in my head that it is something scary because I’m still in pain or they missed it while checking it. I’m have really bad anxiety so ir sucks. I havent Been eating to much fat since the stomach problems started which was 2 1/2 months ago and I lost 17lbs that’s another thing that has me so worried. I don’t know if it’s because when all this started my diet changed so much I havent Ate any junk food or anything with flour since (I’m barely starting to eat some stuff with flour) all I have Had is chicken, fish, chicken broth, rice,

Oatmeal so i don’t know if that’s the case that I lost Weight which I hope It is. I’m gonna try all thes and hoping it makes me feel better.

Shn12345 profile image
Shn12345

You have a lot of the symptoms I have. Im new to this group I feel so down some day’s because know one knows my pain and what I go through. You can tell people how you feel but know one knows. First thing that started to help me if you have had all the test done and they keep coming back negative. Get out of your head and stop looking up symptoms I did that for years telling my self I know there something. Is wrong stressing makes your body worse. Try Metamucil 2 scoops in one glass once a day. You will have to use the bathroom more but your stool will bulk up meaning you have low fiber. And if you’re getting an endoscopy get a colonoscopy at the same time it’s only smart to do both while you are sleep I did both. It would make no sense to get one then come back and do the other. Also you need to drink a lot of water. Water help move your colon. I suffer from thin stool and Constipation. Drink water has help me a lot Mix with the Metamucil but good luck to you and try not to stress it makes it way worse

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toShn12345

thank you for your response! That’s how i feel some days.. I get really sad because I’m in pain not to much but it’s so frustrating knowing your still in pain and still don’t know what’s wrong but good thing everything is fine. I’ve tried to get it out of my head but it’s so hard I try To tell myself I’m okay and everything will be okay but I can’t help and tell myself something is wrong with you. II’ve stopped googling my symptoms finally well kinda .. dr. Google just scares me. I had a colonoscopy already and they said nothing looks concerning but they still did some biopsy’s and I’ll be getting the answers today and I’m so scared .. I didnt know and about the endoscopy till now which they just schedule me one for Tuesday than a few days later and mri. I’m gonna try that as well hoping it helps. Thank you !

Shn12345 profile image
Shn12345 in reply toSanic_

I’m glad that your test came back fine I had a biopsy to. They know if they saw some type of cancer way before they been doing this for years I’m pretty sure you are fine. Ibs is hell you could have bad acid reflux I do for sure and didn’t know until I started throwing up acid. Just know if they tell you you have ibs that’s the part that makes it worse because then you are on your own there is nothing the dr can do. Meaning ibs is sooooo board and everyone’s pain and symptoms are different

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toShn12345

thank you, I’m so glad too but now I’m so scared because I’m getting pain in my upper right abdominal and now I’m like “omg my liver!!” They did tell me I have a fatty liver they even took a biopsy and said it’s fine but I’m still freaking out because obviously it’s not my gallbladder anymore causing this pain in that spot. Well the dr also said it can be BAM so they’re gonna look into that idk if they can see that with the endoscopy? I’m just hoping i don’t have anything scary. I’ve read everyone symptoms are different and there’s no cure for it.

justmyluck profile image
justmyluck

Hi Sonia, I have been suffering from IBS for years and mostly from stress. I would find that when I knew there won't be any bathroom close by it would make it even more severe. I wouldn't go for long drives, I wouldn't go in anyone else's car, all my tests just like you came back negative and they said I had IBS. Finally I went to a "functional medicine doctor" who saved my sanity with his treatment and he gave me some stuff for immediate relief but the main thing he said that I think you should also consider is eliminating foods that contribute to your issue simply because you may have either an allergy to them or a sensitivity:

1. gluten 2. dairy 3. sugar 4. nuts 5. no raw veggies like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower (gas)

Also, believe it or not, taking one teaspoon of Metamucil at night with a glass of water, will actually settle your stomach - in time of course - even if you have loose stools - also constipation.

Also, it is very very important to drink lots of water whenever you can to flash out the system.

Manage your stress level with exercise daily and meditation at night. Try going outside for an hour for fresh air daily.

Also - no fruits first thing in the morning. Have a gluten free bread, eggs, or oat cereals. your fruits should come mid morning or mid afternoon (2 hours after you eat)

I think if you follow these, it will get much better!!!

I am no doctor but I know what worked for me. Good luck hun xx

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply tojustmyluck

Thank you for replying to this ! I’m like that too I hate Going people’s car because than I start Telling myself I have to go and feel embarrassed to tell them to pull over. Well they already did a gluten test and I’m okay with that. I’m gonna try the Metamucil idk if they have it in the US I’ll look Into that. Water is all drink but maybe not enough so i should drink more. I try To manage my level but I have severe anxiety. I’m always thinking so negative and it brings me down and i panic. Like I stared To have pain in my upper right abdominal and I’m like omg my liver!!! Even tho they did a biopsy on it and everything is fine I keep telling myself what if. Also for the colonoscopy... They said it looks fine just waiting on the biopsy’s hoping they’re okay, they did say I have hemorrhoids and I’m experiencing some pain in my rectum/Anus and I keep telling myself what if it’s not hemorrhoids and it’s something more scary !!!! I hate That I’m like this. It’s sucks. I’ve had so many test done on all negative which is good yet I keep Telling myself there’s something more that they miss or misdiagnosed...

justmyluck profile image
justmyluck in reply toSanic_

Hi Sonia,

I know a lot about anxiety but this is why I do exercise to get rid of it, meditation and breathing helps too (you can look on google for guided meditation (free) when you see pictures it will also tell you how long it is for. Most of the time that's how I fall asleep.

See, the problem is the stress you are putting yourself into that is making it worse, this is why you need to find a way to get rid of the stress in any way you can.

You know, a friend of mine told me that Hypnosis also works on IBS, maybe you can inquire about it.

But the main thing is - try to go to a "functional Medicine Dr." they are better than naturopaths and Homeopaths. They will do a blood test, a urine test, a stool test and give you natural remedies for ANYTHING you are going through, so if you find one, I highly recommend it.

I think this will solve all your problems because these doctors (functional) deal with everything that is going on in your body and if you follow their instructions you will feel better.

Hugs,

Avi

Butterfly300 profile image
Butterfly300

Hi Sonia, I’m new to this group I just joined because I had seen this at the bottom of the IBS symtoms page that I was looking at. Every symptom that you have explained is exactly what I’ve been experiencing now but only for a couple days, the abdominal pain that goes through to my back and now I’m even having pain in my ribs😖 I suffer with anxiety too, any ache or pain and I will dwell on it for days and google a lot of symptoms until in the end I drive myself crazy...

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toButterfly300

Hi there ! I get pain on back and ribs as well.. it is scary but I’m sure we’re fine But you should try to get yourself check ! :) I had so many test done! Now I’m waiting on the mri and endoscopy. When my ribs hurt or the middle between my ribs I think Omg my liver and pancreas!!! But i think those 3ct scans would of shown something scary on my liver and pancreas (I hope) lol well they told me I have a fatty liver but that was thru blood work .. and I’ve never been overweight or anything or drink .. but they do say a lot of fatty food gets you a fatty liver. And the pancreas blood worked seemed fine as well but I’m still scared. Today for the first time I havent had any pain which kinda scares me lol because im scared if i get pain it’ll be horrible and I’m it expecting to hurt but hopefully not. Don’t google I know it’s hard not to but don’t google will tell you the worse. Do you experience pain everyday ? And how’s your pain ? Does it come and go ? It just stays there all day ?

Butterfly300 profile image
Butterfly300 in reply toSanic_

Yeah anything scary would have been found by now I’m sure. You sound so much like me, think the worst! That’s good that you haven’t felt any pain today though! :) fingers crossed that it stays that way for you. It’s been every day now but only for a couple days, it’s a constant ache in my left side which can feel like it goes to my back, and then pain in my right side now and again. At first I thought it was a water infection and I’m taking antibiotics at the moment for that which I only started today.. but because of this constant pain I’ve been online looking up my symptoms and reading up about IBS it really sounds like this, although I’m not sure what tests the doctor would have to do to rule that out if it was, I’ve been so stressed before this pain came about that I’m thinking maybe this is something stress related

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toButterfly300

They did find hemorrhoids when they did the colonoscopy and I never bled but they say you don’t have to bleed. But now I’m experiencing pain in my rectum/anus i did before kinda and I’m so scared now .. which I’m sure the dr would seen if it was scary but you know anxiety takes over and i keep thinking they misdiagnosed me .. I get pain In both ribs as well and shoots to the back. The dr hasn’t told me it’s ibs so i really don’t know what it can be. I think once i get the mri done since it can literally see everything in the inside and god willing everything is fine i think I’ll be a big relief to me. At first the told me my gallbladder so they removed that but I’m still experiencing pain that’s why i told the dr to do more testing. I really hope my liver and pancreas are okay .. well I mean You can ask for testing just to make sure you're okay ! :) which I’m sure you are!

UFC80 profile image
UFC80

Theres one more stool test to do if this wasn't done. It's an Elastase Test. It determines If your digestive enzymes are adequate enough in the body.

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toUFC80

I’m going to ask the gi dr if he can do this test. Thank you

UFC80 profile image
UFC80 in reply toSanic_

Yes. This test is very accurate, and will tell you if your body is having problems digesting food. The pains you describe are associated with insufficiency. I'm getting this test soon also. Feel better. I'll post with my results! 😊

Sanic_ profile image
Sanic_ in reply toUFC80

I’m just so frustrated this pain is like everyday .. all tests are coming back to normal. Colonoscopy test was fine. Ct scans were fine. I get a endoscopy tomorrow and after an mri. I hope You get better soon !

UFC80 profile image
UFC80 in reply toSanic_

Believe me, i feel the same pain!

Thanks. You also!

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