Ibs symptoms

[Bass20]

I was diagnosed with ibs in May this year but I'm beginning to doubt it's what I have my doctor insists it is but reading some other suffers accounts I really doubt there diagnosis.

I suffer permanently with stomach pain and the feeling I need to use the toilet I don't have flare ups I just have a few days when it's not quite as bad and I've always got blood when I go even when things are relatively normal.

All my doctor says is take more loperamide I think he would be happy for me to take 20 a day if it stops me contacting the surgery.

Does anyone else have these kind of issues or am I being paranoid and my doctor is correct would love your opinions if only to put my mind at ease

[Bassem1979]

Sorry to hear you going through that, I feel the same. I feel I have got a Misdiagnosis as my trapped wind feels like I have a blockage and that is not IBS.

[Bass20 in reply to Bassem1979]

Hi I think ibs was the easiest thing for the specialist to diagnose at the time I couldn't get any doctors appointments hospital appointments were cancelled the appointments I did manage to get were never followed up I was constantly chasing results that never materialised I had a 90 second phone call with a specialist who said its ibs then couldn't wait to put the phone down so I wouldn't be at all surprised to find at a later date that it's not what I have

[Maureen1958]

Hi, you can have IBS everyday. I have had it everyday for nearly 30 years and before that it was roughly every other day!

Can I ask if you are have diarrhoea or constipation or a mix of the two?!

[Bass20 in reply to Maureen1958]

I have a mix of the 2 its the blood when I go that alarms me the most the doctors did say I would have occasional blood but it seems to be more all the time and there's nothing occasional about it

[Maureen1958 in reply to Bass20]

Have they done stool tests?

[Ibs_1]

Hi..really sorry to hear this. Do you mind me asking what investigations you've had done? If you haven't had a colonoscopy I would really push for one - it will put you at ease..

[Bassem1979]

It sounds awful, I agree that you need to push for a colonoscopy. Bleeding is common with piles but after every BM I would defo push for further investigation.

[MT1967]

Hi, I have had IBS for 20 years, now, I have never had blood in my stool. Have you had any tests?

Ask the doctor to refer you to a gastroenterologist, they will do the proper investigations.

I have had colonoscopies, investigative surgeries etc .

They didn’t find anything serious.

Hope you get answers.

[BabblingBrooks]

You shouldn’t have blood with IBS or not that I’m aware of . If you have more than one GP at the practice ask to see another or report new symptoms with your current one if you haven’t.

[iloveglee]

I guess the important thing is, have you had any other investigations done. Passing blood is not normal unless this has been investigated and nothing found. the thing about ibs its a disease of exclusion in as much as everything has to be looked at, and if nothing is found, they put it down to ibs.

There are many problems that can cause bleeding, from simple (if painful) conditions like haemorrhoids, to inflammatory bowel conditions, right up to bowel cancer. In your situation I would want to know the full picture if you don't already know.

Loperamide is fine, but I would worry if I was needing to take it in massive doses. I buy it over the counter, but apart from taking that amount would cost an arm and a leg, that dose really should be done under supervision, and I don't mean just told oh just take as much as you like.

I don't know how easy it is for you to change your GP, but if mine was being as neglectful as yours appears from your post to be, then I'd be wanting to see someone different.

[Frasina]

Just want to reiterate what others have said... you DO need to push for a colonoscopy although it could be many months down the line (if in UK) that you will get one. You will need to be seen first by gastro people at a hospital and they will suggest the colonoscopy. Unfortunately, a GP cannot request this test. It is the only way you will find out if it is IBS or some other bowel disorder... please do not get disheartened ( I had 20 plus years IBS) and if abdominal pain is really bothersome and you are not getting relief from various meds then you should push for a referral to gastroenterology. Good luck