How do you know it is IBS and not something more serious?

[Quilt2]

How do you know if it is IBS and not something more serious? Not to say that IBS isn't serious, but I don't want to overlook something like cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. What tests should one's Physician be doing? Mine is inclined to do nothing, and just call it IBS.

[Maureen1958]

Stool tests and blood tests would be the done before anything else. Have you had these done yet?

[Quilt2 in reply to Maureen1958]

I have had blood tests, but with no explanation regarding what they would be looking for in them. All I know is blood tests were normal. I have not had a stool test. I am hoping to ask my physician for 1 today. Are there specific blood test should be done? Thanks!

[Maureen1958 in reply to Quilt2]

They don't tell you what the blood tests are, well not in the UK anyway. They just test for what they should. I would guess that would include H pylori.

[Quilt2 in reply to Maureen1958]

I'm in Canada. There was no discussion about what the tests were. The initial did not include h-pylori, so I then asked for that after and had to go back for the test. Hoping to get my results on that today.

[Maureen1958 in reply to Quilt2]

I think probably the stool test is the most important, so push for that.

[Quilt2 in reply to Maureen1958]

I'll try, but my physician so does not like to be told what to do. Have to tiptoe around.

[Quilt2 in reply to Quilt2]

Just got off the phone with my physician. Very good conversation. Going to get a fit test and a CT scan. The colonoscopy will probably be about 10 months away but if either of these tests is problematic they will be able to move me up. Feeling much better that it was actually a really good conversation with the physician!

[Maureen1958 in reply to Quilt2]

Pleased to hear that.

[Quilt2 in reply to Maureen1958]

Thanks!

[Dee12345678 in reply to Maureen1958]

Hi Maureen they will most certainly tell you what blood test they are doing if you ask them here in the UK, also the tests they are doing are written on the form they give to you.

[Viklou in reply to Dee12345678]

Yes they do. I always ask what they're testing

[Maureen1958 in reply to Viklou]

As I said to Dee above, I just assume they know what they are doing and that I probably woudn't understand.

[Maureen1958 in reply to Dee12345678]

I just assume they know what they are doing and that I probably wouldn't understand anyway.

[Dee12345678 in reply to Maureen1958]

I didn't understand either Maureen but after my husband got diagnosed with advanced prostrate cancer, I became obsessed with PSA readings and kidney function charts, I got to be quite an expert! His cancer went undetected for a long time so now I question everything, I even insist of copies of blood tests and all other results! I bet the doctors think I am a pain in the bum (excuse the pun) x

[Maureen1958 in reply to Dee12345678]

Oh well that's understandable. I would probably be the same in that situation. I just don't get worked up over my IBS if I can help it. I have had it for over 35 years now, daily for the last 28 years and it's always evolving but there is nothing anyone can do so I just have to try and cope as best I can and not beat myself up over what I cannot do anymore!

[Quilt2 in reply to Maureen1958]

What a great attitude! Especially since the stress can make it worse. I think for many of us who are fairly new to it, we want to make sure that it is indeed IBS and not something even more concerning.

[lydia52 in reply to Maureen1958]

I have had IBS for about 35 years too, and after a colonoscopy was told I have diverticulosis as well (pouches in bowel wall) but apparently many people over 55 have this without any symptoms). I think the two are linked, but like you, have learned to live with it. Yes the problem does evolve and change over the years. What I would say is that I have spent a fortune on so called treatments, including pre biotics, pro biotics which have not helped or not much. I have found altering diet to be the most effective at controlling . Minimising grains, gluten (all our food's wheat today is genetically modified) and carbohydrates.

[Maureen1958 in reply to lydia52]

Thanks for your reply lydia52, I have tried everything like yourself and I do have foods which I avoid or only eat a little of but I do feel that I don't have a problem with wheat or diary or any of the usual culprits. I think I am just a bit of an oddball generally. But thanks for taking the time to reply to me. I appreciate it.

[Hidden]

HiYou can start with a Fit test and h pylori straight away are two really good quick stool tests

[xjrs]

You can't diagnose IBS without doing tests. In the UK there is a set protocol for identifying IBS by eliminating other things. The tests include blood and stool sample tests:

nhs.uk/conditions/irritable...

[Dee12345678 in reply to xjrs]

I agree, I had a Colonoscopy last week which was clear, but all my symptoms are still here and they closed the door on it and said "discharged" I am about to ring the GP now and ask him for more tests. I have had no blood tests done, I did have a stool test which showed no blood in stool but I had a raised Calprotectin level of 69/ug/g which has been ignored as the colonoscopy did not show anything save for a single diverticulum which they said is harmless. They did take biopsies to rule out microscopic colitis and I am still waiting for the results from that.

[xjrs in reply to Dee12345678]

I wouldn't worry too much about 69ug/g. Normal is less than 50. They just use it as a marker to identify whether you need to have further investigation/colonoscopy. If they say your colonoscopy is fine after your biopsy results - you don't need to be concerned about the calprotectin level. It is the colonoscopy that is used for the diagnosis and not the calprotectin result. To put your mind at rest my level was 329! I was still diagnosed with IBS after colonoscopy.

Good luck with your other results.

[Dee12345678 in reply to xjrs]

Thanks!

[Viklou in reply to Dee12345678]

They don't get too concerned at a calprotectin level of 69. My first one was 152 and it's been up over 700. Still IBS. Last one was 398

[jardinamour]

I've often wondered the same.

I have had all sorts of tests - ultrasounds for liver, GB, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, aorta. Endoscopies for the stomach + lactose & Helicobacter pylori. Colonoscopies for the bowel + stool tests. X-rays for lung cancer which can give the same pain in the back. All turned out negative except a couple of benign polyps in the bowel, some diverticulitis, and an elongated bowel. Plus fundic polyps in the stomach caused by being on omeprazole for the last decade. I am at present weening myself off the omeprazole as I don't want to be short of B12.

PS I would be politely assertive with the doctor and perhaps ask to see a specialist. One specialist told me he tells his students he considered any pain in any part of the digestive system IBS as it can all be related.

Be blessed and get another doctor if this one refuses to do anything more. My brother died of bowel cancer because the doctor didn't investigate.

PPS Amitriptyline works for some to get rid of some of the pain, lower stress and provide a good nights sleep.

[jardinamour]

Forgot to mention I have annual blood tests for everything - kidney, liver, bone, pancreas function. Insist on them.