Insight before going to the doctor

[atonicat]

Hello all. I'm a 27 yo female with some questions about IBS. I've never considered that I have IBS, I just thought I had a weird stomach/digestive system. My symptoms are:

After waking up and urinating for the first time in the morning, I will go back to bed and a few minutes later will be hit with severe stomach pain/cramping that lasts until I have a BM. This happens every morning.

After eating (not every single time but at least after one meal everyday) I will get the same stomach pain and cramping and have painful diarrhea.

My BM's are not consistent. Sometimes they are normal, sometimes I'm constipated and sometimes I have diarrhea. It's different every day.

I usually have 3-4 BM's a day, more if I have diarrhea.

I often feel like I have not evacuated my bowls all the way which is very uncomfortable.

I guess what brought on my questions is my stomach is really crampy and gassy right now and it made me think about IBS. I guess I'm just now connecting all of my symptoms. I started taking Imodium AD which helps on bad days. And days right now to calm the pain and gas. I just thought it was normal to have cramping and pain when you need to have a BM. Mine have pretty much always been painful and I thought it was normal but now I'm not so sure. Just want to get some input before I go to my doctor. I've never seen my current primary doctor and I'm not sure I want this to be the subject of my first visit to him. Thanks!

[kaysbigadventure]

Keep us posted on whether you experience any success with the increased fiber and any particular probiotic. Due to some other issues, I've been shopping around for a really good probiotic, so I'm interested in any new suggestions!

Good luck!

[atonicat]

Thanks! I will for sure try those out.

[NickOne7]

All of your symptoms do sound like those of IBS.  With your age it is unlikely to be something serious. Before seeing your doctor I would recommend trying to increase your fiber intake, also try taking a over the counter "Probotic" it puts billions of "Good bacteria" back into your stomach. This seems to help in a lot of people with these types of symptoms.

Try this for a week if this does not help seeing your doctor would be a good idea. Also do not hold back talking about your BM's with your doctor. They have heard it all

Hope this helps