IBS - Gastroenterology

by StaciLynn, Dec 15, 2003 12:00AM

Hi!  I understand your concerns because I have some similar ones of my own.  I also get a funny feeling in my stomach in different spots as well, which I was told was gas.  I get pain in my ribs all the time both on the right and left sides.  I had gall bladder surgery done back in February and it wasn't long after that when the rib pains began.  My ribs seem to hurt much more when I press into them and like you when I am laying down and doing nothing everything hurts less.  Two doctors told me it was excess gas, but I never pursued seeing a GI specialist.  I guess I am just afraid of the kinds of tests that they do, but really hope it is nothing serious.  By the way, I am 45 years old, so I am just about the same age as you.

Have you had any kind of testing done even though you say you never were tested for IBS.  There is actually no test for that but sometimes other tests are done and when they rule everything else out, they then label you as having IBS.  By the way, my doctor also said I had IBS and that's why I get the rib pains and excess gas but I never had any formal testing done either.  I was also told by my surgeon that a lot of people who have gall bladder problems also have a hiatal hernia, but I was never tested for that either even though I had my gall bladder removed.

How long have your problems been going on?  I doubt it is anything too serious, but I really do understand that you are scared because I get that way too feeling it isn't normal to have these aches and pains every day.

Please let me know what happens.

by makaylyn, Dec 16, 2003 12:00AM

To: stacilyn

Thanks so much for your advise. I have had this pain since September. I first thought I had a bad UTI infection which I did I was treated with anitbotics for two months. I had microscopic blood in my urine. The pain I was having during the UTI was in the center of my stomach right below the navel. I was sent to Kidney Doctor then to the gyn/ob. The pain has never went away from my stomach. Now I am going to a gastro. doctor and he can't do any test until Feb. unless it would get worse. It is so scary - I just pray it's no serious. I don't have loose stools and my stomach doesn't cramp it just tightens up and swells up. And now the you can feel like round balls when you rubb down on the lower stomach - they go away if I stay off my feet. Any suggestions on what this might be??????
I am pretty healthy but since Sept. I am real tired and can do simple house chores without hurting.

Thanks
Makaylyn

by StaciLynn, Dec 16, 2003 12:00AM

Hi again. What do you mean by saying you can feel round balls when you rub your stomach? Are you sure they aren't gas pockets? Sometimes I think I feel things as well when I rub different parts of my stomach, but then I realize it is gas pockets I am feeling and sometimes they actually make noise. I am not saying for sure you have gas because that is too easy to say for sure, but I hope that's all it is. I keep being told I have gas, but then I question if that's true, why all the gas? I probably need to see a GI doctor myself, but don't like the testing that I know they would probably do. Even so, it is scary not knowing what exactly I am living with and sometimes that's hard to deal with. You know I also get right shoulder blade pain which is really typical of gall bladder problems, but the only thing is I don't have a gall bladder anymore. I was also told gas could travel to this area, but then again I read something about referred pain meaning sometimes an organ like the liver can make your shoulder blade hurt when there is a problem. Of course I feared having something like liver cancer, but since it has been going on for so many months and I know liver cancer is a pretty aggressive disease, chances are I would have a lot more serious symptoms by now if I had something so serious as that.

I really think if the doctors thought your condition was really serious, they would be having you do additional testing tomorrow, so I honestly don't think it is anything life threatening you are dealing with. Even so, I know how frustrating it is living with pain and not knowing what it is and it is human nature to always assume the worst. Please write again and let me know how things are going.

Staci

by jakey2, Dec 19, 2003 12:00AM

Hi,
I read your comments on IBS, I just left the ER for the third time now in 2 weeks, they are beginning to know me by name now when I walk in the door. Funny to them, but not to me. I went in to have a CT scan of my abdominal area, CT scan showed everything was just fine. They were checking to see if the abdominal pain maybe from appendicitis, but so far that's been ruled out. They say it is probably IBS, I do experince the pinching that you are talking about, and that is so not a good feeling, however I am glad to know that I am not alone in how I describe the discomfort and pain. Up until the 4th of Dec, I never had any issues, how can IBS just sneak up on you? I think that is very weird. I will be doing a GI series, however becasue I am afraid of any procedure being done, I am not looking forward to it. I'm not sure what my be the problem with you, however I do want to say if it is IBS, take that result and go with it and do whatever it takes to control it. IBS is not a life threating problem, so better IBS than something serious. I am hoping over time my symptoms will just go away, hopefully has quickly as they have come.

by makaylyn, Dec 19, 2003 12:00AM

To: jackey2

Good to hear from you. Hey this IBS is the crazy thing I have ever had. I have been reading up on some things that help - I have been laying on my left side at night and it does help. I have also started eating a lot of vitamin C, a article I read said vitamin c helps IBS, I have also started rubbing my lower stomach and that helps with the pinching. The last couple of days have been some better. Are they giving you something for the spasms? I am taking Nulev. Its helps some but I think I will see about trying the zolcor - they say it works better. I sure hope you get better and please stay in touch - I don't get anything done until Feb. because the Doctor said he was backed up and mine just was at that level yet. Are you feeling better today. Did they explain your diet - high fiber one and lots of water? Hope you feel better soon

Makaylyn

by jakey2, Dec 19, 2003 12:00AM

Hi,
its so nice to know that there are others out there. I'm still not 100% convinced this is IBS, although I would prefer it over something more serious. I was given a CT scan yesterday to check my appendix, at the hospital. The doctor said everything looked normal, which relieved me some, until the pain reoccured. Anyway, I'm a bit confused on a fiber diet, I don't know exactly what is good, do you have any recommendations, soluble and insoluble fibers, what is all that?? What kind of foods have good fiber in them? Sorry if I sound stupid asking these questions, but actually the doctors have yet to go over this with me. I've haven't been totally focused on IBS at all, I've just wanted to make sure first it wasn't appendicitis, after all that is really hard to diagnosis. I would appreciate your advice.

by Terisa, Dec 19, 2003 12:00AM

To: makaylyn

Hello! I read your comments of December 16, 2003. I'd like to hear what your Gastro doctor says in February. My problems began at the end of October, 2003. I am 41 years old and in generally good health. I can look back now and say that this all started with a three day bout of diaharrea. Within a day or so afterwards I felt as though I had some type of "female" infection. Not having any experience with infections I went to my primary care physican....I had trace amounts of blood in my urine so I was treated for an infection with Cipro and sent for a transvaginal sonogram. All results were negative. Next I went to my ob/gyn. A biopsy of the uterus was done...again negative (good news). A prescription for Baxtra (sp) was called in for me because of the continued UTI associated pressure, pain and discomfort. After three days of antibiotic, the pain returned. The doctors said we might be looking at kidney stones. I most recently saw a urologist who sent me for an abdominal CT scan. No stones but, based on the CT films, he suggested a gastroenterologist. I see the Gastro on Dec. 26th. I was amazed but somewhat relieved to hear that someone else has experienced discomfort associated with what feels like a UTI. I have noticed some changes in my stools, but I didn't associated it with the "other" discomfort I was in. I also have experienced the pain in my stomach right below the navel, the pinching feeling, the tightness and bloating. I've been told that IBS can cause these types of symptoms. I'd be happy to hear any other comments you may have. I'll post another message after my appointment on the 26th.

by makaylyn, Jan 12, 2004 12:00AM

To: terisa

Just checked in first time since Christmas It sounds like the same problem I have been having. I had a great Christmas no pain everything was back to normal but two days ago it came back same pain. I called my gastro doctor today waiting to hear from him on what I can take besides the NuLive. I can't stand up straight today - it hurts that bad. I will let you know what I find out on Feb. 13th - has your gone away??? What stops you pain???

by jedidiah, Feb 12, 2004 12:00AM

Hey everyone. Stumbled upon this website when searching for info on IBS. I was diagnosed with it when I was in high school (I am now only 23), then again, and again and again and again when I was having mild problems....then all of a sudden (as some of you have noted) it got worse (horrible actually). Just before I moved to London in August I started having lots of the symptoms mentioned in many/if not all these posts. I then moved to London and it kept getting worse. Returning home for Christmas I was convinced I had become Lactose Intolerant (from trial and error with food and reading text on the web). Then while home I picked up a book for a dollar at a used book store: Eating Right for a Bad Gut: The Complete Nutritiional Guide to Ileitis, Colitis, Crohn's Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. by James Scala ...available at Amazon for around 11 dollars. I put off reading the book for a couple of weeks, until finally I sat in bed every night, hurting and miserable and taking mediicine that depressed me, made me dizzy and very tired.... Hyocyamine (probably the same as Nuvel, an anti inflammatory pill to stop cramps and gas in stomach)......

In any case, after reading this book (well still reading through it and keeping it as a resource guide) my diet has become more strict and I feel wonderful most days....granted I have only started feeling better in the past couple of months and therefore the years down the road will only tell the true story (b/c IBS never really goes away).....My suggestions for everyone is to become educated on the subject (IBS or whatever you think you have). IBS and other similar diseases become matters of self awareness and regimented dieting. You can start to see what foods do/do not bother you after a while and therefore you start to learn your body better and start to watch what you put inside your body, reading labels and all those E230, E403, antioxidants that are added to food but are very dangerous for IBS and the body in general. I have attended doctor after doctor, CT scans and all over the years but nothing has helped me as much as this book and other research I have done on my own. So go out and get this book or any book about IBS and it will make you more aware of many things that you have never realized and therefore will be able to fight IBS like millions of humans do daily....

hope all goes well and hope this has helped.......

Jed

by jedidiah, Feb 12, 2004 12:00AM

Hey everyone. Stumbled upon this website when searching for info on IBS. I was diagnosed with it when I was in high school (I am now only 23), then again, and again and again and again when I was having mild problems....then all of a sudden (as some of you have noted) it got worse (horrible actually). Just before I moved to London in August I started having lots of the symptoms mentioned in many/if not all these posts. I then moved to London and it kept getting worse. Returning home for Christmas I was convinced I had become Lactose Intolerant (from trial and error with food and reading text on the web). Then while home I picked up a book for a dollar at a used book store: Eating Right for a Bad Gut: The Complete Nutritiional Guide to Ileitis, Colitis, Crohn's Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. by James Scala ...available at Amazon for around 11 dollars. I put off reading the book for a couple of weeks, until finally I sat in bed every night, hurting and miserable and taking mediicine that depressed me, made me dizzy and very tired.... Hyocyamine (probably the same as Nuvel, an anti inflammatory pill to stop cramps and gas in stomach)......

In any case, after reading this book (well still reading through it and keeping it as a resource guide) my diet has become more strict and I feel wonderful most days....granted I have only started feeling better in the past couple of months and therefore the years down the road will only tell the true story (b/c IBS never really goes away).....My suggestions for everyone is to become educated on the subject (IBS or whatever you think you have). IBS and other similar diseases become matters of self awareness and regimented dieting. You can start to see what foods do/do not bother you after a while and therefore you start to learn your body better and start to watch what you put inside your body, reading labels and all those E230, E403, antioxidants that are added to food but are very dangerous for IBS and the body in general. I have attended doctor after doctor, CT scans and all over the years but nothing has helped me as much as this book and other research I have done on my own. So go out and get this book or any book about IBS and it will make you more aware of many things that you have never realized and therefore will be able to fight IBS like millions of humans do daily....

hope all goes well and hope this has helped.......

Jed

by jedidiah, Feb 12, 2004 12:00AM

Hey everyone. Stumbled upon this website when searching for info on IBS. I was diagnosed with it when I was in high school (I am now only 23), then again, and again and again and again when I was having mild problems....then all of a sudden (as some of you have noted) it got worse (horrible actually). Just before I moved to London in August I started having lots of the symptoms mentioned in many/if not all these posts. I then moved to London and it kept getting worse. Returning home for Christmas I was convinced I had become Lactose Intolerant (from trial and error with food and reading text on the web). Then while home I picked up a book for a dollar at a used book store: Eating Right for a Bad Gut: The Complete Nutritiional Guide to Ileitis, Colitis, Crohn's Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. by James Scala ...available at Amazon for around 11 dollars. I put off reading the book for a couple of weeks, until finally I sat in bed every night, hurting and miserable and taking mediicine that depressed me, made me dizzy and very tired.... Hyocyamine (probably the same as Nuvel, an anti inflammatory pill to stop cramps and gas in stomach)......

In any case, after reading this book (well still reading through it and keeping it as a resource guide) my diet has become more strict and I feel wonderful most days....granted I have only started feeling better in the past couple of months and therefore the years down the road will only tell the true story (b/c IBS never really goes away).....My suggestions for everyone is to become educated on the subject (IBS or whatever you think you have). IBS and other similar diseases become matters of self awareness and regimented dieting. You can start to see what foods do/do not bother you after a while and therefore you start to learn your body better and start to watch what you put inside your body, reading labels and all those E230, E403, antioxidants that are added to food but are very dangerous for IBS and the body in general. I have attended doctor after doctor, CT scans and all over the years but nothing has helped me as much as this book and other research I have done on my own. So go out and get this book or any book about IBS and it will make you more aware of many things that you have never realized and therefore will be able to fight IBS like millions of humans do daily....

hope all goes well and hope this has helped.......

Jed



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