IBS or more?

[panther05]

Hello,

First off, I'm a 21 year old white male. About 4 months ago, I become very anxious and nervous over the summer, and subsequently started noting a change in bowel movements. They were yellow-ish and would occur many times a day. They were never red or black, and I decided to go to the doctor just to have it checked out. The doctor mentioned IBS, and reassured me that colon cancer was almost out of the question just because of my age and no history of it in my family. But just to be sure, we had some general tests done. I had a blood test, which everything showed up normal, except for a high amount of bilirubin in my blood. I also had a urine analysis, which was also fine, except showing trace amounts of bilirubin as well. This lead my doctor to have me get a hepatitis panel, which came back all clear, and an ultrasound of my liver, gallbladder, pancreas, right kidney. The ultrasound also came back all fine, and we did another follow up blood test (about 1 month after the previous blood test). The doctor reported that my bilirubin levels dropped back to normal and ordered me to come in in 4 months to check again. Also, I had a stool sample done to check for parasites and occult blood which also came back negative. Other general symptoms that I've had are abdominal pain that tends to come and go all over the abdomen, but more often than not it is on the right side (upper and lower) and right flank area. I have also had some lower back pain, but it also comes and goes. The pain in general seems to be more obvious when I'm worried/anxious, and will sometimes go away for a week or two until something triggers my anxiety. Do you think it is just IBS, I've read a lot online about how people struggle to cope with the fact they might "just have IBS" and not something more serious, and I think I fall into that category. My stools now have been more often than not a brownish color, unless I become anxious and then they revert back to the yellow-ish tint. Thanks for any help!  


This discussion is related to Could these symptoms indicate cancer?.

[panther05]

Yeah, I know IBS itself wouldn't produce changes in bilirubin levels, but I was wondering if the other pain in general sounded like IBS. I haven't had any bilirubin in my urine in a couple months, my doctor thought that was just benign random issue. I was more asking if my other symptoms were reminiscent of IBS or something else I should be worried about. My doctor ruled out liver/gallbladder issues with the second blood test and ultra sound in his opinion.

[CalGal]

Just a quick note......IBS would not produce changes in levels of bilirubin in the blood or urine.

[CalGal]

With the presence of changes in the levels of bilirubin, your doc may be looking to rule out anything going on with either your liver or gallbladder. Problems with either of those organs can result in 'spillage' of bilirubin into the blood or urine. You may want to discuss dietary changes to see if that might help with the transient issues, since you're finding the pain sometimes localizes to the URQ. Lower amounts of fat in the diet might help if the doc suspects the issue is possibly due to gallbladder issues.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  I would agree with your doctor that it is not colon cancer.  It does sound like IBS to me.  I don't think people should ever say "just IBS".  IBS is a condition (even though it is a condition of exclusion from other conditions).  IBS can be very painful/disruptive to life.  I would say that as long as most of your symptoms are limited to when you are anxious you don't need to get more testing done.