IBS?

[dolphin8808]

.I am at such a loss. About 3 months ago I started with lots of lower intestinal upset. Not too much pain but lots of tummy gurgling, I mean lots!! Constant almost, very loud almost like you would expect with severe gas or during a tummy flu. Now it comes and goes stays for a few hours or days, then goes away, sometimes when I eat sometimes for no reason at all. I don't seem to have food triggers that I could find but I haven't tried to keep a food diary yet. I go daily, mostly soft, partially formed but throw some loose stools in there ( sorry for the too much info). I do occasionally get bright red blood when I wipe (pretty rarely and a small amount) and my primary care doc did find I have a small internal Hemorrhoid. I do also see a GI doc who said this all just sounds very benign. I have had loads of blood work for celiac, UC etc and all came back normal. I had a colonoscopy 3 1/2 years ago which came back normal except for small pockets. He seems to think another colonoscopy is not needed at this point but i am so worried that something sinister is going on and it has me very nervous. I went to the ER 2 months ago for vomiting and stomach upset and had a CT scan which came back normal as well. My GI doc want me to try meds that will help my intestines to relax... And my primary care said I can take it as needed to see if it helps. They don't seem to be that concerned but something isn't right!

I am 34 years old... And this is driving me insane. Can you still have IBS even with normal blood work? Does this sound like it could be IBS or something worse? What would you do at this point? .

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, without a detailed clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your symptoms. While the blood in stools could result from the haemorrhoid, possible causes of the gurgling/ diarrhoea that may need to be considered include dietary causes, malsorption syndromes, chronic GI infection, parasitic infestations, GI inflammation, GI motility issues, IBS, micronutrient deficiencies, hormonal/ endocrine imbalance etc. While inflammatory causes and growths/ masses would be ruled out by a colonoscopy/ CT; other possibilities may require to be evaluated for. IBS is largely a diagnosis of exclusion and does not present with any clinical abnormalities. For the time being I would suggest following your GI doctor’s advice and trying anti-spasmodic medications which may help with motility issues and symptomatic control.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!

[dolphin8808]

PS this all started from what I thought was a "bug" and the rumbling grumbling from that has just never gone away. Very frustrating!