Is this really ibs?

[Soph199116]

Last December I woke up one morning with an upset stomach then threw the week i had stomach pain and was sick the stomach pain was mainly located in my right hand side. Since then I have had a dull ache in my right hand side which some times feels sharp. I have had a few episodes since with the pain getting worse which they looked at my bowels, bladder, ovaries and even checked me for appendicitis which was all clear. About 6 weeks ago I had a raised calprotectin level and was told to repeat again which I have and I am waiting on result. Since Saturday the pain has now gone up above my belly button and it’s almost like a tight feeling and once again down in my right hand side. I feel sick and constantly full and finding it harder to pass gas the past few days. Spoke to an out of hour doctor who is putting it down to ibs but I’m not convinced. My bowel habits are usually normal I get more constipated more than anything! Can anyone relate? Sorry for the massive post. Thanks

[Nerdlady]

This sounds like my life too...i have found that i cant eat raw carrots anymore which i love...i get bad constipation. now i really dont eat very many raw veggies, and so far that belly pain has improved a lot. I am still doctoring, my next test is a blood test for food allergy/intolerance. I have been doctoring for a whole year now. Scopes, both upper and lower have come back clear, ultrasound was clear as well. So now i am doing a daily recording all the foods i eat. i think that there might be an issue for gluten/sugar. hope you find what ails you.

[Soph199116 in reply to Nerdlady]

Thankyou for your reply! Today has been and awful day the pain is just constant and I feel like I need to go a toilet but nothing will come out and I’m struggling to pass gas. I’ve been given some more meds for ibs and have to see my Routine doctor Friday. I’m going to beg for the camera as I think it’s better to rule out everything before saying it’s ibs! Oh wow really I think maybe I need to take the food diary step and see where that gets me!? Can I ask do you suffer with an upset stomach at all or is it just constipation? Mine is always constipation and I just always thought with ibs you suffer with an upset stomach but maybe I’m wrong!? Thanks.

[Nerdlady in reply to Soph199116]

I was constipated for over a year. Lol all because of those damn raw carrots, which I love!! No I don’t have an upset stomach all the time and that appendix like pain isn’t as bad and frequent since I have not had carrots, although I will eat them cooked. I take magnesium pills as well for constipation and try to drink a lot of water. I can feel good for a while and then out of the clear blue I start feeling sick, I refer to it as a hangover or morning sickness. I start to ache as in bone and muscle and get a post nasal drip, feel tired and the constipation starts. I took Claritin and things start to settle down, that’s when the dietitian thinks it could be food related. My doctor has yet to say it’s ibs, (it’s had to get testing and appoints with Covid). Next Wednesday is my blood work so I will continue eating gluten so it’s in my system for that test. It’s all frustrating. Hang in there. There’s light at the end of the tunnel

[Batteria in reply to Nerdlady]

When I lived in Italy I used to teach English to some monks in their monastery and they told me that the quickest way to block diarrhoea was to mix raw grated carrot with raw grated apple. It was harsh but it did work. So I think you are right to avoid fresh carrots at all costs. Tinned fruit, however, is very gentle on the gut. No prunes though as they naturally contain the dreaded sorbitol. Con amore Bx

[b1b1b1]

Ask if there is any possibility you could have SIBO. This stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and is diagnosed with a breath test. The treatment is antibiotics.

[ELAGABALVS]

Calprotectin? Sounds like IBD rather than IBS. I myself have since been updated by a more competent paediatric gastroenterologist in my own diagnosis from IBS to IBD (Crohn's) Calprotectin has been the usual marker for IBD. 👍🏳️‍🌈🇨🇭

[Bellazzurra]

Dear Soph199116,I’m sorry to hear about everything that’s been going on with you and I hope you find a solution soon. This sounds like it could be food related to some degree. I was chronically constipated, bloated and had issues passing gas for years - until I realised that whole grains didn’t agree with my system. I kept a food diary like Nerdlady and that’s how I discovered the issue with whole grains. I’m also intolerant to many otherwise healthy foods as I have FODMAP intolerance and without a food diary, I’d still be in denial that such nutritious foods could cause me so many problems.

[xjrs]

Being sick isn't a normal sign of IBS. Unfortunately it's best to await the results of your second test and getting a diagnosis, since otherwise you won't know what you are dealing with or how to proceed to get yourself better. If you are diagnosed with IBS please check back in here since there is much that can help. Good luck.

[Soph199116 in reply to xjrs]

My second result has come back and the Calprotectin level has gone back down to normal so they are putting it down to the fact I was taking many pain killers at that time for the pain raised the level. So now it’s back down the ibs route! I have an appointment tomorrow morning for another check of my stomach and to see what they want to do next. I will definitely keep coming back here for help and reassurance! Thankyou.

[SKWEKER]

Your symptoms sound almost exactly the same as mine! I have pain in my right side, tightness, bloating, feeling sick, upset stomach and trouble passing wind. I've also had all the tests including ct, ultrasound and colonoscopy! I'm trying Hrt now. No further forward, looking into low fodmap diet.Hope you get a solution soon, let me know x

[Soph199116 in reply to SKWEKER]

Oh wow I’m sorry your also experiencing this but it’s nice to know I’m not alone with this! I’m wondering if the symptoms get worse with anxiety as I am constantly thinking it’s something serious and then I think I worry myself to the point I feel ill! I have all tests and ultrasounds only thing I haven’t had is a colonoscopy! I’m seeing my doctor tomorrow and I will be asking if she can refer me for this and I think everything else needs to be ruled out before they can label it ibs! I will keep you updated with any news. Thankyou!

[SKWEKER in reply to Soph199116]

I was given amitriptyline (20mg), not sure if its helping. You could ask about it? I think anxiety does have an impact, but I feel the stomach problems cause anxiety, which may creates more problems! Can't win. Fingers crossed for you x

[MMili]

sounds like my life... I have been able to get the colon checked and nothing remarkable ... but i did notice that i have missed a few periods last year and that is around the time when these stomach issues started... could it be perimenopause ? No-one talk about any other symptoms other that the classics hot flashes... Do hormones also cause GI issues.. as we go thru the transition?