Are my tummy cramps ibs or some thing else

Very similar complaint myself started around 3/4 months ago, I kept going back to the doctors as I was getting concerned too. They did a couple of stool samples and a few blood tests and everything came back fine. I was put on lansaprazole tablets to help digestion for a while and they helped initially and then didn't seem useful. I haven't had any other medication but still I wanted to rule out any more concerns and was advised to have a camera down throat check for an investigation (sounds more than it is). I found the more I thought about it the worse I became and put myself under unnecessary stress. It's easy to say relax but in honesty it's the best thing you can do. Make a food diary to see if anything triggers any reactions. I would always go to the docs for piece of mind aswell.

I developed the same symptoms almost over night along with nausea after  a series of stressful events.  I had an ultrasound, stool samples taken for h pylori and inflamnatory bowel disease and a celiac test.  They were all negative and some organs could not be seen.  I was advised to have the tests again but an eighth doctor told me it was unnecessary because I had had the same symptoms for 3 months, I had no new symptoms and I was no worse.  IBS was finally diagnosed.  I was put on Mebeverine during diagnosis and it disagreed with me.  I tried Buscopan and it worked.

 

The change in your BMs do suggest IBS, along with the cramping. The main things I was told to look for by my doctor to suggest something else wrong other than IBS was frequent bleeding whilst having a bowel movement and weight loss. As long as you aren't experiencing any of these, then there should be no cause for any great concern. However, I have also realised that not all tests are conclusive. For example, a stool test for H.Pylori is inconclusive if you are taking PPIs, as the PPIs can mask the results, I was told this by my doctor.

As for tests to rule out other things, I've had numerous blood tests looking for signs of inflammation, to check liver function, for celiac disease and H.Pylori, stool test for pancreas function all of which came back fine. I've had a sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopy and ultrasound scan, and the only problem found were a few polyps on my colon, which have been removed and tested for cancer, but are completely benign. I've been researching my problems and I'm surprised I have not been given a CT scan as a lot of people suffering with abdominal disorders have been. And even now I do doubt my diagnosis of IBS is correct, which is probably my anxiety telling me that. I get dull, achy or sharp, stabbing pains anywhere around my abdomen, nausea, bloating, changing bowel movements, among other problems.

It seems like stress was my trigger, a year and a half ago I was fine, no problems whatsoever. However I was getting increasingly stressed and worked up by my employer, who kept putting more work onto me, without any extra help. My job was quite physically demanding, and I think I got to the point where my body and mind couldn't cope anymore and my IBS started one morning, just like that. I've also had quite a stressful life and I do suffer anxiety, both of which have probably lead to me getting IBS. And like you, I always thought there was something more sinister going on, and even now I struggle to believe this is just IBS.

If you need reassurance, get your doctor to refer you for an endoscopy and/or colonoscopy, or any other tests that will eliminate your fears. But from what you have said, it should be safe for you to try and relax a bit, does sound like you have developed IBS.

All the best for the future.

Thank you all for your time replying it's very much appreciated stress seems to be a big factor! I have a lot of stress in my life at the moment work and personal life, will see what my doctor says and I will be asking for tests! Will let you know how I get on...again many thanks 

It is rarely something else from my experience. Definitely something to check but not to worry about. I have abdominal cramps but I also swing between constipation and loose unfortunately. I have been told anxiety does not help but do as I say and not as I do as I have been diagnosed with anxiety and I did not even realise it was a proper condition. I have had Crohn's test, H pylori, various camera insertions. All good fun. To be honest I never thought it was anything serious but I don't tend to think like that. I have ASD so some things my mind does not put together very well.

 

PS As someone said on here weight loss. I have always been a heavy set big stomach type of person. Think big beard and big hair Texan heavy rocker then I lost so much weight it did not look right so short back and sides and clean shaven and friends no longer recognise me in the street. It is always the slimness they comment on first. I will never be Thin White Duke skinny but considering I was Robbie Coltrane esque even I can see how different I look so yes big flag weight loss but took a few years to come on for me as it was intermittent and then I went through a year of intense illness 2 or 3 times a week and the weight just did not come back one day.

I am sure it will at some point as heavy is my default weight.