Is stress the reason for my acute intermittent Sx of IBS.

I am a 47 y/o female with acute intermittent Sx of IBS, lower GI distress, painful cramping, diarrhea, usually starts around 4 am when I do have the episodes - it lasts for 2-3 hours, then I'll break down and take Immodium...which takes several hours to work.  IT often gets in the wway of my getting ready for work. Curiously enough, I can equate the timeline to when I began to work in a medical office in 20004, the Sx started in 2005....saw the GI doc, colonoscopy, barium swallow, EGD, the works. ultrasounds, etc.  NOTHING was shown wxcept small diverticuli here and there.  I had been symptom free for 8 days, which is a good clip of time for me...ironically, the announcement was made 9 days ago that my "boss"... is finally lleaving to go work in a hospital...the crew is relieved, as this person was getting on everyone's nerves and displayed a very "unorthodoxed" style of practicing in the med field.  Yesterday, we had some trouble with this person at the office (she is demanding alot during her exit phase which is 3 weeks from now) and BAMM! last night I woke up at the typical 4 am with the return of my Sx!  My lifestyle habits are:  I watch what I eat very carefully, excellent chol under 200,trigs around 80,HDL110, LDL in the 40's....ggt is up now at 99...about 6 years ago I was very ill and GGT was 177 along other LFT's being elevated...but then these levels went down....I get the feeling that STRESS may be the number one cuplrit. My alcohol consumption is within moderation  absolutely no hard liquor!....glass of wine in the evening with dinner or occassionally out socially . I also have been going to school at night for the past 3 years, so don't go out "partying"...no time for that and not interested anyway....I keep to myself much of the time and live in a domestic partnership with a 55 y/o male.  All other LABS are consistently perfect CBC no anenmic values, CMP great (except for the LFT's as mentioned) urine fine...T4 fine but TSH has been steadily decreasing, now down to 0.22.  My doctor has not made anyrecommendations about my falling TSH. Menses is in the peri stage...only occur every 3 or so months now...which for my age and never having children, is normal (tubal ligation at age 42)  Is stress the culprit!


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