What is the one thing you would like your doctor to understand about IBS?

[Fencinggirl]

Hi all,

Thought I would throw this one out there.

For me, the one thing that I would like doctors to understand is that being told you have IBS is not reassuring. Yes, it is good to know that I don't have bowel cancer, but you are condemning me to an illness that is poorly understood, has no cure and no effective treatment.

Let me know your thoughts.

[winfong]

That a "functional" disorder doesn't mean it isn't real, or that it's "in your head." All it means is that the science hasn't quite caught up yet. In the case of IBS, that would mean the gut microbiota. Medicine is just beginning to learn about that,

[Boxroad]

That it really makes me feel unwell and affects my life to such a point that I don’t go out very far from home, I don’t socialise anymore because people stoped asking if I wanted to go out because I kept saying sorry no because I might need to rush to the toilet. And for the doctor to stop saying everything else I have is IBS. At the end of 2020 I had chest pain to be told over the phone I didn’t need a face to face as it was wind issue due to IBS, after making a fuss I was given an ECG at my surgery then told to go strait to A&E where after a few ct scans and visiting the cardiac centre in Essex found out I also have angina and put on pills and a spray, not IBS related at all.

[Frasina]

I have always said it would be beneficial for any doctors who have IBS to offer their wisdom to everyone else and share how they cope (if they do!)It is no good doctors just saying it is a 'stress related syndrome' that has no cure... we all know stress plays a role, but so do other factors which are only now being looked into. Doctors will never understand how distressing it can be and should be more on the ball considering IBS affects a large proportion of us; 40% of people have mild IBS, 35% moderate IBS, and 25% severe IBS. These stats should be more than enough for GP's to sit up and listen more!!

[Sparrow58]

It's not JUST IBS. It's life changing. I just want to go to the toilet normally. I want to eat what I want to eat. I google things because I want answers. I want the Dr to understand that it's not fair and just because I've had it for years doesn't mean I am coping with It.

[eliz45]

I totally agree. A diagnosis of IBS is basically a diagnosis of elimination. It says that the tests we did came back negative. I was told l had IBS. But no one tested for celiac, SIBO, and microscopic colitis. So for years I went on not knowing. Be sure they test for these also.And any other possibilities. I am 76 and learned l had celiac 7 years ago. I was told l had IBS in my early 40s.

[Den64]

I have IBS I also have Anxiety. Double whammy and my Dr doesn't understand either. Covid worry made it worse and not being able to see my Dr. easily has too. At our practice you are put through the fifth degree to even get to see someone now. When you do it's rushed and all they do is type on the keyboard. They never look you in the face anymore.

I'm really struggling at the moment. Ibs, aching with arthritis and my anxiety.

[Readmeastory]

I would like the dr to understand how it ruins peoples lives . And effects family life . The pain people suffer ibs D or ibs s C doesn’t matter it a life changing disease .