Trying to detect what's causing IBS, when should symptoms go away?

[danp123]

I'm 40yr/male and I've noticed that I have bloating and cramps and a little pain.  Sometimes I'll have some fluttering.  This has been happening the last month at least.  Could be longer, but I don't really remember.  That last month I started drinking green tea and have had metamuscil in the morning.  I've read caffine and metamuscil could cause this.  I'm not in huge pain or anything, but I notice it.  My main question if it's from either of these, how many days would it take IBS to go away?

I stopped the grean tea and didn't feel any different the next couple days.  Then I stopped metamucil and I felt better the day I didn't take it in the morning.  But, the day after it felt bad again.  Does it take time for this stuff to go away, or should it just constantly go down?

I did notice the day I felt bad, I had granola for breakfest that has gluten and the day I felt good I had a corn based cereal probably without gluten.

I'm almost thinking that I have a minor gluten aleregy and maybe the caffeine triggered IBS.  I also have high liver enzymes, but my doctor says I don't have celiac.  My doctor and a Gas specialists also think I have a drinking problem, but I've had 0 drinks between 2 high liver enzyme tests and probably drank 5 or 10 times in the last year and a half.  My blood test also tested positive for signs of sjogren and I developed vitiligo in the last year (both I read could be linked to gluten).  It's only been a few days that I've been changing my diet to see what effects my IBS, so I'm more wondering how many days to test each diet change.

[patient915]

Black stools can be caused by some medications, some foods, or bleeding higher up in the digestive tract.

[danp123]

Thanks it was redish brown for a couple of days a bit back, but it might have been from some foods I've eaten.  I haven't seen it since and my sypmtoms are almost gone after a gluten free diet for a few weeks.  I'll monitor my bowl movements in the future then, to see if I notice any differences.

[patient915]

Without any bowel changes it is unlikely that this is IBS.

[danp123]

I don't really notice much change in my bowl movements (I don't really pay attention though), I'm not really having any problems.  Since I've cut gluten out of my diet, I haven't really had any pain or discomfort.  I guess I'll keep on a Gluten free diet until my next test and see what happens.  I did have a small bit of fluttering this morning but very minor and maybe because I drank some milk in the morning.

[patient915]

Have you had any changes in your bowel movements?

[danp123]

Sorry, gas for gastroenterology.  I saw a specialist because my liver enzymes were high.  Did an ultra sound and a lot of blood work and they can't really find anything.  I'm getting tested again in 2 month for my liver enzymes and they said I should do a biopsey to find out what it is if it is still high.  I don't think I'll do that yet though.

I would take metamuscil every once in a while, but for the past few months I was taking it more in the morning.  I started taking it because I have high cholesteral and my dad talks about how good it is for him.  I started taking grean tea during the last couple months and I've read that caffiene can trigger some stuff.

Maybe I've had this off and on and haven't realized it, or it was very minor.  I'm not in great pain or anything, it's just feels different than usual.  And certain days it's worse than others.  I've really only been keeping track of it the last couple of weeks.

Now that I think of it, over the last year I've added more gluten to my diet.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  IBS is usually a chronic condition and is not something that is diagnosed if you have only been having symptoms for a month.  Why did you start taking the metamuscil?  What do you mean by a gas specialist?