Starting my iBS diagnosis

[Lizg1991]

Hi. I have been suffering with terrible anxiety for a couple of months now. Being sick in a morning acid reflux and stomach cramps but only on my

Upper right

Abdomen area, gurgling Tummy and an upset stomach mainly

In the morning when I wake up anxious, because I’ve been having these symptoms for a

Few

Months I’m having an ultrasound to rule out gallstones and I’m having bloods taken in 2

Days but for

Now

She is prescribing me

An anti spasmodic medication to take, I’m just after some advice

To help with the painful stomach as it’s on and

Off

All day until I rush to the loo, she’s also said to start avoiding too much fruit,cheese and fats which due to my

Anxiety I’ve

Hardly been eating and when I do it’s not

The best choices. So any advice

To help try and cope with all of this would be amazing sorry

For the long post as doc said we will talk more about IBS after

My

Blood test? Which I don’t know why?

[Beth673]

Morning,

So sorry you’re experiencing this all.

Diagnosis of IBS is more a process of elimination for other conditions. The blood tests are the start of what feels like a million tests to look for other conditions which could be causing your symptoms.

You’ve noticed that anxiety has been a trigger for you. Are you on medication for anxiety? Calming the trigger will calm the symptoms - for me it’s a cycle of aggravation. Can’t usually take the stress away but I try and focus on how I manage the stress. In a recent bout - had no control over anything so I needed anti anxiety meds until my body calms down. I can’t resolve issues until that happens.

I had numerous tests after 11 months of IBS D, I have been

Diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption (BAM - BAD is the same condition). The tablets for that help. Far from perfect but I can function better.

In the meantime, simple things that helped me with IBS were baths when it hurt at night. Looking carefully at what triggers you worse. It used to be greasy food, alcohol and garlic for me. (That’s changed in the last year - I’m guessing when I developed BAM)

Try and distract yourself - get out for walks, watch your favourite trashy tv if it’s silly o clock when it hurts. Hot water bottles/electric blankets (although not together - esp if you’re as clumsy as me lol).

On a bad day at the moment, I snack in tomato’s and cucumber - for some people I know tomato’s can be triggering but they are fine for me.

Hope you get some coping strategies that work for you soon.

X

[Noyfb]

I've been having the same problems since Jan first few drs said acid reflex but when I got to a gi dr he "thinks" it is ibs! The problem I have with it is he thinks without giving any test at all! There might not be ibs test but there is acid tests! I personally think the medicine the previous drs had me on changed my symptoms, as they constipated me! But before any medicine I was getting vertigo with the diarrhea. I thought we had pretty good drs here in the United States, but as I read this site sounds like UK has more tests and better drs for ibs/ acid reflex! My gallbladder was taken out in 2014 for these same symptoms after multiple tests without finding anything wrong with my gallbladder I was finally given a HIDA scan and it was only functioning at 14% so if the ultrasound and stuff shows nothing ask for one of those!! Sorry I can't give you better answers, but hope this helps!

[Lizg1991]

Thank you both, I’m having a bad day today! I think I’m overthinking and worrying about the scans and the bloods which has led to a morning of sickness stomach pain and D and I feel whacked now which has made me so upset and tearful I’m fed up I have managed some toast which has stopped the sickness and I’veManaged to get my prescription today to start taking mebeverine so I’m hoping it’s helps.

[Beth673]

Sorry, it’s been a manic week here. Has mebeverine made any difference yet? X

[Lizg1991]

It seems to have stopped me going to the loo all of the time and I think it’s helping with cramps it’s just myAnxiety is through the roof atm worrying about my blood results