Is it IBS?

  I was recently diagnosed as having IBS, without any tests what soever to exclude any other illness.
  I am a very healthy adult and recently turned 40. I run 18 - 20 miles a week, swim regularly, competeting in a swimathon (5000 metres) every year. Quite recently I joined a health club and attend often.
  I am quite perplexed and frustrated with my symptons which started about 6 weeks ago. These symptons are in a mild form and don't usually affect my work or leisure, although I do have a disinclination to drink as much alcohol as I used to, which I admit was probably excessive.
  Up until June of this year I had probably visited my Doctor about 5 times in the last 20 years. However in June I caught a fever and had diarrhoea for a week. The doctor took a sample and in the meantime I starved myself for about a day and a half. after this I got bad stomach cramps every hour and had to go to the toilet. The doctor prescribed immodium and after taking them the syptoms (symptoms) disappeared almost immediately.
  I was informed later that I had contacted campylobactor. At the beginning of October I started to get rumblings of the stomach and a feeling of being full up soon after eating. Then I noticed that I was belching a lot more and had a lot of wind. I felt quite bad after my 40th birthday - Oct 10th - but put it down to the hugh amount of alcohol consumed. I finally went to the doctor and he put it down to a bug. The symptons persisted and I saw a different doctor who diagnosed IBS and gave me some merbyntal tablets and told me that they would rectify my problems.
  I felt better for a few days but then the symptons returned and I also noticed I was going to toilet more than usual, the stools seem to be a different consistancy, and that I felt the need to go soon after eating. I saw another doctor who gave me some more merbyntal and asked me to see him the following week. The tablets did not seem to make any difference and on my return to the doctor he suggested I carry on taking the merbyntal but cut out all milk and dairy products.
  I have complied with this for the past 4 days and still I get bloated after I eat, belch after I eat and have more wind after I eat and first thing in the morning. However, the less I eat the less uncomfortable I feel. I still carry on with my physical exertions and don't feel any real pain. I just feel uncomfortable and frustrated. One of the doctors did mention that my previous bout of campylobactor may be lingering and he did consider antibiotics, but did not prescribe them.
  From what I've read of IBS I don't seem to have the classic symptoms - no diarrheoa or constipation and hardly any abdominal pain. The syptoms (symptoms) occur after I eat, when I find myself full-up, desire to belch, increased flatulence and more need to visit the toilet. Can you help
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Dear Chris, IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion made after other possible causes for the symptoms have been excluded.  In your case one must wonder about the possibility of a second infection.  Giardia is considered a cause of upper abdominal distress in conjunction with diarrhea.  Before diagnosis IBS the doctor must also exclude inflammatory bowel conditions.  Endoscopy and/or barium studies may be needed.
This information is presented for educational purposes only.  Ask specific questions to your personal physician.
If you are in the SE michigan area, we would be happy to see you at the Division of Gastroenterology of Henry Ford Health System.  You can arrange an appoinment with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in intestinal disease, by calling our Physician Referral Line at [phone]
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: diarrhea, IBS
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