I should be having a colonoscopy within the next two weeks to determine what is wrong with me.

[woodland]

I would like to ask if there is anyone out there who has suffered with the infection hyplora helicobactor and then been diagnosed with irritable bowel or anything similar? I have read about so many people's problems not realising how many people there are who are suffering with bowel problems and when you try to explain to people what is wrong with you I am sure they do not really understand what we are going through!

[kiwimiwi]

I personally haven't but my mum has had IBS-C since she was 16 and a good few years after her diagnosis she was taken to hospital with severe abdominal pain and bloating and the doctors initially thought she was unknowingly pregnant and in labour! It turned out to be a case of Helicobacter pylori and it was cured with a cocktail of antibiotics and she's never had it since. It had no long term effect on her IBS. I can't ask her the specifics as she isn't with me at the moment but she said her bloating was so bad they had to inject something into her abdomen; I remember her telling me but I can't remember exactly what!

[Boogie]

I have not had the infection you speak of but my IBS-D started after a bad stomach bug. I had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago and still waiting the results. For me the procedure was fine (yes you need to be near a loo when taking the prep) but I don't stray to far from the loo anyway these days. I have read some bad (painful) experiences from colonoscopy on some websites, but I told my consultant and requested good sedation and I was fine throughout. From what I understand its the samples they take that inform the consultants whats going on in your bowel.