PS...I also don't want to get a colonoscopy...my doctor perscribed Levbid and said he would see me in three months and then decide if I needed one (colonoscopy) since presently I do not have any other symptoms of Colitis, Crohns etc...I never took the levbid since I changed eating habits and the way I think about things, so I don't plan on getting that awful test until it is necessary or I am at least 45 or 50!!
I have had the exact symptoms since I was in my teens...I am now 37 years old and have had 2 upper GI's, gallbladder ultra sound...all normal results. I have diarreah as you described..when I am nervous, after fatty foods sometimes for no reason, have the gas pains with no bowels...everything you said is cloned to my situation. This past January I had a 1.5 month flare up of nonstop diarreah which I now attribute to some stressful situations I was going through at the time. I went to a GI doctor who told me IBS (again) which my Int Doc had told me a couple times before. So, I did research on a website and found a womens link which had tons of info on IBS. I think her name is Heather Von Vourous which you can find in your search engine. I changed my diet to mostly starchy foods, white breads, pasta, rice, banana's, apples without peels, green iced tea, etc...I stay away from red meat, not too much dairy, but I still eat cheese, cereal...Not to mention I lost weight from all those carbs because they are all low in fat. I take fibercon, acidopholous (good bacteria for your stomach comparable to yogurt) everyday, and I take xanax for my nerves if I know I am going to be in an anxiety situation. So far, I have been feeling pretty good. I don't have the diarreah out of no where anynore, sometimes I get gas and my normal morning bowels aren't alway's great, but I feel so much better, and I accept that it is IBS and now know trigger foods & moods will certainly have a huge effect on my stomach!! Good Luck, Maria
Have you checked for parasitic worms?
If you want to neutralise gas,you can try chewing gum,use GAS X,alkaselzer.
You did not mention any acid reflux medicine like nexxium,prevaicid,prilosec??
So cancer and obstructions are things you can have for over 20 years? That's what I don't understand.
You didn't mention whether you thought a second opinion was a good idea or not.
I have looked at the symptoms for other bowel diseases but they don't seem to fit me. If they are possibilities, shouldn't the doctor test for those?
Yes, I eat yogurt and it doesn't help.
Thank you for the answers!
Suzanne
have you tried eating yogurt with live culture??
If you are having chronic diarrhea symptoms, you want to rule out the most serious disease first - namely a cancer or obstruction. Being in the early 40's, the chances of these disease are admittedly low, but given that other tests have come back negative, a colonoscopy would not be an unreasonable option.
This is a comprehensive test that can also evaluate for inflammatory bowel disease or colitis.
Thus, a colonoscopy is not an unreasonable option. If negative, you can then consider looking for more uncommon GI conditions (i.e. malabsorption, celiac disease etc).
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b