Wrong Diagnosis?

[amerikanngirl]

Hello. I am a 28 year old female in good physical health. I recently went to the doctor because I was experiencing lower abdominal pain right after eating. I was careful to monitor what food I ate when I experienced the pain, however, nothing was consistent for me to rule out "trigger foods". I don't have bouts of diarrhea or constipation like many who suffer from IBS. My doctor gave me a prescription (muscle relaxer) to help with the pain but don't seem to be working. I have also started taking Activia yogurt and have increased my fiber. This has helped with frequency of bowel movements but has not helped with the pain. The pain always happens after dinner and rarely after lunch and never after breakfast. I have had an abdominal ultrasound and blood tests that have come back just fine. I almost wonder if this isn't IBS since I don't have diarrhea, constipation, "trigger foods" and the pain is not relieved by going to the bathroom. It feels better when Iay down though. Are there any other disorders that have similar symptoms to IBS?

Thank you.

[amerikanngirl]

Thanks Sparke40 and FurballsMom. I have started to keep a journal to track the days when I have the pain and exactly what I ate. I am trying to find my trigger foods and how often I am getting IBS  symptoms. I have been taking Benfiber, Activia Yogurt and recently started taking a multivitamin. Maybe it's just coincidence, but I haven't had any "flare-ups" in a few days which is hopeful. I will definitely try and look out for the preservatives and dyes to see if these may be triggers as well.  Also trying to experiment with different brands/types of fiber to see what best works for me.

[FurballsMom]

I agree with sparkle40.  Food sensitivities is a big issue for me, too.  A naturopath can guide you through an elimination diet to help you figure out what your trigger foods are.  Since I also have GERD, which is also triggered by food issues, my list of food sensitivities is quite extensive.  It's true for a lot of people that they don't have a reaction to the trigger foods immediately.  This is why it's good to get the guidance from a naturopath, or even a nutritionist, to figure out the elimination diet.  It takes quite a bit of time to go through the process, but it's worth it in the end, because you'll feel better.

I agree that it is important to avoid food preservatives and food dyes.  Many people are sensitive to these chemicals and don't realize it.  When I began to look intently at labels, I found I really had to purge a lot of things, even though I thought I was being so careful with my diet.  You would be amazed at how many foods on the market have all these preservatives and dyes in them.

[sparkle40]

It does sound like IBS, the beginings of it.  I had similare pain and also when my bowels moved I had pain. It seems the pain is triggered by irritating foods and cramping.  My pain progressivly got so bad that it brought tears to my eyes. I found a supplement called MSM that helped eliminate the bowel pain.  It is a sulfur supplement and some people can take sulfur and some can't.  Take vitamin C with it.  Take MSM twice a day.  It might help, it might not.  But it did help my pain. It did not help my IBS go away.  I found I have a couple of food sensitivities.  My food issues were hard to find out also. I didn't have an immediate reaction.  Took 8 hours to 12 hours for my symptoms to show up.  Then at the same time you should look how preservatives or colorants could be aggrevating this problem.

[amerikanngirl]

Sally 32 and FurballsMom, thanks so much for your comments. It's nice to know we aren't alone in all this. I know IBS affects everyone differently and you have to try a different combo of supplements, etc. to find what works best. I had issues in the past about going #2 at work and recently have just accepted the fact that when you have to go, you have to go. Often times when I get the pain, I almost wonder if it's gas pains, rather than cramping, because I feel like if I could just pass the gas or try to go #2, the pain would go away. But this never seems to be the case.

Sally 32, I think stress is a factor and although you may not feel stressed, it may be a subconscious stress. I seem to have flair ups, and am always worried when I eat if the pain will occur. This is something that I have to work on and not worry about because I am sure it doesn't help. But the more I mention my condition to close friends, I am surprised at the # of them say that they know someone else who has IBS. Isn't it funny that if so many of us have a form of IBS, that there is no better treatment? So frustrating! But thanks again for your comments. If I figure out what works for me, Sally32, I will certainly share with you. I would recommend trying the Activia yogurt and see how you fare.

[FurballsMom]

It takes a long time to figure out what trigger foods are for each individual.  You may not have what seems like trigger foods now, but you might have down the road.  I can relate, because when I was your age, I was diagnosed with IBS, although I didn't really understand the issue myself.  As I've gotten older, the food issues have become a lot clearer.

Try a different kind of fiber supplement.  Doctors always mention psyllium fiber, which is fine for a lot of people, but it isn't fine for everyone.  Psyllium fiber, which is the main ingredient in things like Metamucil also causes gas in some people.  My gut is a lot happier with flaxseed meal.  There are other types of fiber, too, like Benefiber.

The reason the doctor mentions stress as a factor is because for most of us it is a really big factor.  IBS is often treated with anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, too.  This is better information than I had when I was your age.

[Sally32]

I have the same issue with the same kind of condition. I am a 22 year old female. My stomach always hurts after dinner. I have lots of gas and pain and it gets progressively worse as the day goes on. My doctor thinks I might have IBS as well, but they can not pin point anything. They think stress may be a factor, but I don't feel stressed. Please help me by emailing me if you figure out what is going on with us or if you have any ideas. Any information will help. Thanks.