how long does irritable bowel syndrone last?

[bmw20]

Hi went into doctors office about 4 months ago and described him my symptoms and he diagnosed me with irritable bowel syndrone. Now i started feeling better but never really got back to the bowel movements i once had. Just a year ago i was diagnosed with genital herpes and since that day that i knew i was infected ive had all these symptoms. before i had genital herpes my bowel movements were nice and solid. now i have yet to have one like that. I have had diarriah for six days now. I go to the bathroom anytime i eat so i go about 3 to 4 times a day right after i eat it hits instantly and i cant hold it because ive tried. I am in great shape eating well and still i dont get why this is happening. Is this irritable bowel syndrone? I have not other problems. No stomache aches or nothing. Just when i eat then i have to diarriah. And it really smells. Im not stressed, nor irregular sleep patterns. I dunno what it could be. Someone please say something or have any recommendations? would i be wasting my time going to gastroenterologists?

[bmw20]

wow. thanks for all that info.. That was very  helpful. Im going to see another doctor see if he can help. I dont believe i am that anxious anymore. i mean i was at the beginning when i was first diagnosed but i had the symptoms that led me to go get tested which in fa ct did prove that my suspicion was correct. Anywho im not anxious anymore and i dont feel any pain at all and can deal with this problem but its just irritating because it gives no warning.  Ill schedule appointment with another doctor see where we get. THanks for info.

[Jaybay]

It sounds like your doctor looked for both parasites and bacterial infections, and you have neither.  It also sounds like you're pretty stressed out and anxious worrying about the herpes issue, as well as the bowel issue.  Anxiety can result in very real physical symptoms - particularly diarrhea.  My brother had the same problem for nearly 20 years and got tested for everything under the sun.  It wasn't until he treated the underlying anxiety with lexapro and made some life changes (like a new job) that he got better.  With such severe bowel problems, it never crossed his mind (or his docs) that all that worry was the whole, and only, problem he had.  I'm not saying you're in the same boat, but it's worth considering.  Leave no stone unturned or untried.

My personal opinion of IBS is that it is a cop out diagnosis.  Your first clue of that is the word "syndome".  That is merely a descriptive term applied to a group of symptoms, and not a specific disease.  It also means, "We know you have a problem; we just don't know what to do about it."  IBS is supposed to be a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning the patient has been evaluated for every other possible problem and had it ruled out.

Some people with chronic diarrhea have had good results with calcium supplements, and probiotics like Ativia yogurt.  Others have done well wtih cholesterol meds like questran.  If you aren't getting results from your current doctor, then go see another one - preferably a gastroenterologist.  Good luck!

[bmw20]

well i went into doctor and when i first told him about this problem he gave me two containers to test for parasites but he only had the tests done because i asked  him to but they came back negative. Are these the samples you are referring to in the post? If so would those be the only tests i need run to determine if i had them unwannted critters?

[CalGal]

If you're having diarrhea or loose stools with a very foul odor, please check with your doc and have some stool samples done to check for unwarranted 'critters.' It's possible you may have picked up something that is causing the change in your bowel habits and the stool samples are the easiest way of checking it out.