At my witts end, IBS or Gallbladder, Doctors fed up of me

I'm so sorry to read about your problem. After all you've done and still no action form your GP is unacceptable. You need to make an appointment and take a wittness with you. Formally ask for a second opinion and if nescessary, back up your request in writing and send it recorded delivary. Keep a diary of your visits and what was said. You may like to consider writing to your MP and the Local area health authority as well. Bottom line is the more people who know about your problem, the more difficult it will be to ignor or justify brushing your concerns to one side!

Hope this helps?

I've suffered with IBS for about 15 years but it's now under control with Esompeprazole and Mebeverine.  Unfortunately, Mebeverine makes me very constipated so I'm on 2 per day instead of 3 and a laxative powder in water which is very helpful.

I've also suffered with gallstones!  My pain was under the ribs on the right side going round to the back, and just the smell of food (especially pork chops) made me nauseous to the point I couldn't eat the meal.  I was going to the doctor frequently with the pain and he sent me for various x-rays which all came back normal.  He eventually told me it was all in my mind because he could find nothing wrong.  This went on for at least four years until I felt so bad I went private and I'm thankful I did.  The specialist asked if I had pain anywhere else and I did have pain in my shoulder (can't remember now whether it was left or right).  He eventually told me that this was a clear sign of gallstones with such referred pain.  I'd thought it was something completely different such as cold in my shoulder.  He sent me for a different x-ray where I'd to drink this special barium meal so many hours before the x-ray and another nearer the time of th x-ray which showed inside my gallbladder.  It was like an elongated banana choc-full of stones.  He got me into hospital pretty quickly and after the operation he gave me a jar with the stones in it and asked me to count them when I was up to it.  Before I was discharged, I counted them and I had 106 stones, some as big as a double back tooth, others pea sized and some tiny ones.  He said he'd never known someone have as many as that.

When I went back to see my GP, I asked why didn't he think of gallstones.  His ridiculous answer was:  You didn't fit the norm for having gallstones - you're fair, but not fat and not forty!  I ask you!  I've not had much faith in doctors since then.

So to check for gallstones, you need the special barium meal well in advance of the x-ray so it's reached your gallbladder to show if there are stones in it.

I suggest you ask for this next time you see the doctor.

Good luck.  I hope you feel better soon.

The same thing happened  to me I was diagnosed with IBS about 10 or more  years ago.that is when I was in my late 30s or early 40s.I am 53 years old now and I was having really bad continue pains in my right side under my ribs then went to my lower stomach and lower back.I went to my gastrologist and he said it was IBS but they did no test they just went with the symptoms was having.I wanted to get a second opinion so I went to another one and they said it was not IBS they did not think and did blood test ultrasounds MRIs and everything came back normal.They said there is one more thing I can try and the did a test to test the function of my gallbladder with the test I found out I had a low functioning gallbladder but they said they did not see any stones but if I wanted to get it removed it might ease some of my pain.I looked on the internet and it said sometimes stones are so small they do not show up on ultrasounds so I got it removed and when I did there was one small stone .It has only been a couple weeks since my surgery and I already feel a little better.

I hope this helps.

Have you found any relief or anything yet my husband is going through the same stuff and I believe we are finally coming to the end of it. After 8 years of being diagnosed with diverticulitis we are now looking at a dysfunctional gallbladder which means there is no gallstones all your tests come back normal. Of course everyone that has had a gallbladder removal all swear up and down that if this was the problem you would know it. Well if it was just that easy LOL! He just had another colonoscopy performed on Friday that is when we were told that he does not have diverticulitis nor has he ever had it the surgeon said that he has a coin of a 18 year old LOL he is 44. So the next step is to go have a ultrasound done which will be on the 8th now if that ultrasound shows no gallstones he is going to look further into the gallbladder just because even though there's no gallstones present the gallbladder can still be the problem he called it a dysfunctional gallbladder

Have you ever been tested for C-Diff?

I contracted a severe case of C-Diff and your symptoms seem all to familiar. I actually contracted from a nursing home/rehab that my aunt was recovering at from a surgery. From what I remember, I think they were able to detect from a simple stool sample. I was put through the same hell with every test out there! Its a simple test, to rule out c-diff.

I have been appalled at what you've said! Your surgery needs their heads read in a rural surgery is there any other doctor at all you may need to see a new one. Mine is in a big surgery and if she doesn't do things then I ask for a second opinion of someone else. I don't stand for no support with my health, my body, mine.! Put only you 1st, just you. If you feel something is a miss you know more than anyone. Good luck with it all I hope your life gets better.