Tests

[Poshy]

Can anyone tell me what tests you have to prove its IBS as I haven't as yet but assuming I have this condition? ......constant gut ache and nausea but no diarrhoea or constipation as such.

[Luisa22]

When I first started with ongoing symptoms, my doctor started gently and said if the Lab picked up any red flags I would be referred to a GI specialist for further tests.

So we started with a blood test plus 2 stool samples, to test for 3 things: raised Calprotectin, occult blood, and lactoferrin (not sure of the significance of lactoferrin but it was done anyway.)

He also listened to the details of my symptoms, asked me questions etc. And I was lucky (as it was in 2020) because he also did an abdominal exam; just putting pressure on my tummy in certain places, feeling for anything, and listening to bowel sounds etc. He said I matched with the "Rome Criteria" for IBS but we;d await the results of the tests to be more sure.

The results came back all normal. He said there wasn't any need for a colonoscopy at that stage unless my symptoms either changed their usual pattern or got worse.

In my case they didn't change drastically or get worse, but very slightly improved over time, even though they haven't gone away.

So I would say initially get blood and stool testing done. See what is found. It might be good if you CAN get a colonoscopy also. If you do, ask to be checked for microscopic colitis also, (if your symptoms match with that at all?) But still, you could get that done even if they don't appear to. It's only found via a small biopsy sample during colonoscopy, and only diagnosable using a microscope. That's why it can often be missed.

But if you're getting upper stomach problems then get tested for H-Pylori bacteria, and even possibly an endoscopy to check if there's inflammation etc in the stomach.

However, constipation can cause nausea. Even diarrhea can cause it. I have IBS D and can often feel shaky, weird and a bit nauseous in a flare up.

[xjrs]

In the UK there is a set protocol for this by eliminating other things. This involves both blood and stool sample tests by your GP:

nhs.uk/conditions/irritable...

[Poshy in reply to xjrs]

Thank you for your reply. It helps me get around all this best as. Naturally I am not keen on invasive tests but do want a solution to my pains also so a hard one to call. Any help is much appreciated.

[xjrs in reply to Poshy]

If the blood and stool sample tests come back OK, you won't be referred for colonoscopy. Statistically, this is far more likely.

If you are diagnosed with IBS, initially it is worth giving a well studied probiotic a try first before anything else. I've tried many over the years and the one that helped me the most with pain is Alflorex which has been clinically studied for IBS. Other people get on with Symprove.

[BabblingBrooks in reply to xjrs]

Can I ask what your main symptoms of IBS are ?

I’m wondering whether to change my probiotic.

[xjrs in reply to BabblingBrooks]

I used to be IBS-D for years, but this switched to IBS-C with visceral hypersensitivity as I got older. The visceral hypersensitivity showed up as pain referred from the gut into my mid to lower back overnight into the early hours of the morning. I linked this with food intolerances, but after being low FODMAP for years, the pain came no matter what I ate. Initially I took Linaclotide, which calms intestinal nerves for IBS-C only, recommended by my gastro on prescription. This reduced the pain by 50%-60%. When I took Alflorex probiotic my pain reduced to zero, so in hindsight I think I would have tried the Alflorex first. It has made me tolerant to a much wider range of foods, though there are still some that cause the pain. It's a case of finding what works for you since everyone is different.

[BabblingBrooks]

Yeah it’s tough because you can easily go down the route of thinking everything can trigger your IBS and that’s a miserable way to live.

I’ll look out for this one.

Thanks!