No clear answers
Posted , 3 users are following.
My story started over a year a go when I had my first 'funny turn' which has now turned into intermittent episodes of the same symptoms. I start to feel nauseous, dry heave, have to run to the bathroom urgently and usually have diarrhea. I will then start shaking violently. I will have several more bouts of diarrhea until the nausea passes and I feel exhausted. I will generally then be off my food for days. My stools also look a bit narrow in these times. Having a very quick metabolism, this is not great as I do drop some weight. Since the first of these episodes I have had a fair few more with them lasting anywhere from an hour to me feeling this way for up to a week. Since the first episode my bowel habits have never been quite normal, though they do return pretty close to normal, though I now have a tendency towards some constipation. Stools return to a normal diameter also.
I generally have no pain, though do sometimes get gas pain. I sometimes get pelvic pain unlinked to these episodes that feel like mild period pain. I also did have some discomfort in my lower right side but this has pretty much resolved, though I feel it occassionally. I also get a lump in throat sensation which has been diagnosed as globus. No visible blood in stool and stool looks a healthy colour.
I have had a ton of tests (some whilst symptomatic) but all of them have been totally utterly normal:
General blood work
Celiac blood test
Throid function blood test
H Pylori blood test
Calprotectin stool test
Abdominal ultra sound carried out by a specialist doctor
2x pelvic ultrasounds
Flexible sigmoidoscopy carried out by CR surgeon - this showed visible inflamation throughout the procedure but all biopsies were normal so the inflamation was put down to the enema before the procedure
Endoscopy - no biopsies taken which I was annoyed about but the procedure was carried out by an experienced Dr who said there were simply no abnormalities to be seen.
I am awaiting a colonoscopy because I insisted. I was put on omeprazole 6 months ago and I feel this helped my symptoms and my episodes were less and if they did crop up more short lived but I had to discontinue this for the endoscopy last week. I have had a flare this week and am feeling rubbish. No appetite at all.
My partner was rushed into hospital a month ago and I had my first episode in a while the day after, so part of my thinks it could be stress. An episode is also more likely to come on with my period, so that makes me think hormonal. I have tracked food for months and seen a dietician and done low fodmap strictly and identified no triggers for these episodes, but realised I am a bit sensitive to some vegetables which I now avoid.
My GI consultant insists this is IBS, but the episodes I have just sound so odd when I read other stories here. Also the lack of pain. I am desparate for answers and am having a hard time accepting the IBS diagnosis. I am meant to ve moving (alone) to the US for work later this year for several months and I need answers and a management plan before I go. I feel like I am going mad. My partner says I should just accept the diagnosis...
Does anyone's syptoms match these? I know there is no one size fits all, but these seem unusual for IBS. I am 30. No history of bowel cancer or IBD in the family.
Thanks in advance.
0 likes, 3 replies
susand1408 michellelvj
Posted
As you have had all the tests you have a glad on the one had and the negative on the other hand as there isn't an easy fix.
There are some good bacteria drinks that cam help. I prefer the wheat based ones as dairy can make ibs worse. Plus the wheat based ones usually have a bigger range of bacteria. They are a lot more expensive but are worth it.
Take it they have ruled out gallstones as well.
Stress will make your symptoms worse.
Also the more healthier the food the worse the effects can be. More complex fibres aggravate the gut more.
Due you suffer fatigue etc? They can also be symptoms of fibromyalgia and /or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Hope it helps!
jan48389 michellelvj
Posted
For me, accepting that I have IBS, and that I can pretty much manage and control it meant that a lot of the anxiety I had about my health ( I guess most people fear the worst) disappeared. I do still get flare ups, but they're usually short lived and I've learned to accept that they're just one of those that have to be got through.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Jan
philippa61759 michellelvj
Posted
I had all the tests you had except for the colonoscopy. Although, I did have an endoscopy years ago because of acid, and nothing was found. I had a bad reaction to the sedation, so I would have to avoid this one in the future.