more IBS/gastroenteritis

I have had IBS for 6 years, and have been handling it this last year with probiotics, zinc, vitamin D , tumeric and fish oil, besides my usual "green" multiple and kelp meal for trace minerals. I was seeing success, and then in a binge of candy on sale, caused what I think was gallstones. I did the liver flush, and used castor oil packs (as well as internally) for pain, and added apples and apple pectin and "stone ZFree" as part of my program. I have been able to work, but have continued to have pain in the bowels, Fasting is very painful, and passing stool is often not a relief. I find kipper snacks are a quick relief for pain and easy when I am out in the car away from home. I often take yogurt, but also take the soil based organisms. These usually work, and I think I am fairly free of actual stone pain now, but my bowels just can't get right. It has been at least 4 weeks, and still continue to have bowel pain and liquid stools. NSAIDs are no help and indeed I find they worsen my problem. I also take pancreatin with meals. The pain sometimes radiates to my back. My husband recently had a bout of gastroenteritis and he had the same pain, but he also had N/V which I have not had. I did have chills, which are relieved by vitamin C (several grams per day). The hospital I work in has had a very slow moving gastroenteritis going through patients and staff. I thought I had that already and it was just gut pain and was relieved with much yogurt. This virus seems to have a long incubation period. It's nothing like Norwalk.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

If the symptoms continue, a colonoscopy is warranted to ensure that it isn't anything more than IBS.  Other causes can be colitis or inflammatory bowel disease.  Of course, cultures of the stool can be done to look for infection.

If negative, you can consider sending the stool off for culture and analysis, as well as obtaining a blood test to exclude celiac disease.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com
www.twitter.com/kevinmd

[FurballsMom]

It's just as well that NSAIDs are not helpful, because you're less likely to use them.  Watch out with using too many NSAIDs.  They are known to either cause or aggravate kidney issues.  They also aggravate problems like GERD.

I had terrible IBS symptoms that actually acted like gallbladder issues myself.  The pain was in the same region of the abdomen and I was getting the symptoms with the kinds of foods that are known to be caused from gallbladder issues.  I had the ultrasound done for the gallbladder and the gallbladder showed no issues.  Interestingly, the same thing happened with a friend of mine.

I just wanted to tell you this, so you will know that if the issues you're having don't show gallbladder issues, like gallstones, that contrary to what people may have told you, you can have IBS pain and symptoms in the same region of the colon where your gall bladder is located.  The symptoms are not always just in the descending colon on the lefthand side.

You can also be gluten-intolerant and still have a negative test for the Sprue that is used to confirm Celiac, which is what happened to me.  Yet, that may be because I had already removed gluten from my diet.  Celiac is very often genetic.  My nephew found out that he has Celiac, too.  That confirmed to me that I was right all along for myself.

Also, be aware that it is very common for people to have IBS and Celiac at the same time.  It is common for people with IBS to be both gluten intolerant and lactose intolerant.