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Could I have IBS

Posted , 7 users are following.

marie99158
marie99158

22 year old female. Over the last month I've been having abdominal pain. It started in my right upper side, my doctor thought it was gallbladder related but an ultrasound found nothing, it eased for a week or so and came back worse than ever. I'm always bloated the pain is on both sides now, it's a dull ache and very tender to touch, for two days I could barely eat and now the pain is in my lower abdomen and groin area and is sometimes like a stabbing pain and sometimes just an ache. It starts on my lower left side and goes through my pelvic/groin kind of like waves. I'm having more bowel movements and frequency in urination and the pain is starting to radiate to my back. I've been able to eat the last couple of days but the pain is still there. Could this be IBS

0 likes, 16 replies

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  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 marie99158

    Posted

    I have had all these types of pain with IBS and the pain moves about.  I don't have problems with food but some people do.  Stress is my trigger. Keep a food diary to see if you are intolerant to anything and ask for more tests such as endoscopy and colonoscopy to rule out other causes.  Also have a stool sample tested for h pylori and get checked for celiac or non celiac gluten intolerance.

     It is important to get an official diagnosis.  If all tests are negative, IBS can be diagnosed.

    • nichola39441
      nichola39441 philippa61759

      Posted

      Hi it was good to read your post Phillipa my doctor thinks I have ibs..

      My pain is triggered by stress I think food doesn't seem to be the problem.

      I get a odd pain in my upper right side moves over to the left.. sometimes constipated also finding jeans seem to irritate me like im sore to touch.. is this anything like ibs I also get lots of trapped gas at night time.. 6 months post partum and this seems to be taking over me being a good mum sad

    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 nichola39441

      Posted

      Your symptoms do sound like IBS.  Hormonal changes can also make IBS worse.  You could try Buscopan, Nurofen or peppermint oil capsules so long as you don't get heartburn.

    • MrPenguin
      MrPenguin philippa61759

      Posted

      I'm really not sure why you suggested ibprofen when it's a well known IBS trigger not to mention an irritant to the entire digestive system.

      From BalancedGrub "Taking Ibuprofen and Aspirin are no go’s, as they can make IBS symptoms worse and in some cases have been proven to be the cause and development of IBS, in the first place. The reason for this is that they irritate the gut by disturbing the mucosal barrier (the barrier between the inside of the gut and the rest of the body), this is what helps us absorb nutrients and stops germs from passing through to the gut as a result the intestinal flora can become unbalanced. In most, this just causes a mild irritation but for those with sensitive tummies it can wreak havoc on your digestion for weeks."

      Paracetamol on the other hand doesn't irritate the digestive system. It's the only thing I will take after my disaster with Ibprofen. I wish I'd never heard of it.

    • nichola39441
      nichola39441 philippa61759

      Posted

      Hi Phillipa thankyou so much for your reply really helps settle my anxiety. No I don't get acid reflux , just odd pains that move from side to side more upper just under ribs and gas that's all really that's why I was unsure if this was ibs my doctor has given me some tablets would you recommend I take them .. I was going to just see if this clears by its self I guess my hormones are all over at the moment with having my little girl..trying to deal with extreme tiredness to.. I see you said to someone to make a food diary to I'm going to do this also I don't think mine is linked but I'm going to keep track anyway.. thankyou x

    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 nichola39441

      Posted

      What tablets did the doctor give you?  I think it would be worthwhile trying the medication to see if it helps your symptoms.  If it does nothing for you, or you get adverse reactions, you can always ask your doctor for something else.
    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 MrPenguin

      Posted

      Nurofen can be an irritant, so it is always advisable to take it with food if you can tolerate the medication. I do have a sensitive stomach but Nurofen has no effect whatsoever on my IBS symptoms.  Paracetamol is too mild for me and takes too long to work.  IBS triggers are different for everyone.
  • MrPenguin
    MrPenguin marie99158

    Posted

    The other poster mentioned IBS so I won't go into that with my reply because you mentioned you have increased frequency of urination so I seen another possibility..

    Radiating pain in your back.. Have you ever had kidney stones? Your kidneys are on either side of your middle back. You mention waves of stabbing and pain in the groin area. A bladder infection would also cause that pain and as it progressed would travel up your back to your kidneys. Just something to consider.

    I have IBS and I wouldn't say I've had radiating pain in my back as your intestines are at the front of your body. I've also had several bladder infections but only one which spread to my kidney (I only have one kidney). 

    • marie99158
      marie99158 MrPenguin

      Posted

      They did an ultrasound of my kidneys but I don't know if that would show everything you mentioned

    • MrPenguin
      MrPenguin marie99158

      Posted

      Yes, An Ultrasound would show kidney stones so at least it's not that but it definitely won't show a bladder infection. Have you had a urine test? If not and you just wih to rule it out without a trip to the doctors you can buy test strips on amazon very cheaply. I can't post links here because it blocks the post if you do so you can look as there are plenty.. Then if you get an abnormal reading you can show the doctor.

    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 MrPenguin

      Posted

      IBS can cause frequency of urination and can cause back pain because part of your colon wraps round your back.   I have had back pain with my IBS.  I thought it was a kidney/bladder infection but I tested negative and antibiotics did nothing for me. 
  • Shelly54
    Shelly54 marie99158

    Posted

    Sounds like IBS or Sibo but you should push for more tests from your doctor  like a endo and colonoscopy for sure good luck
    • Shelly54
      Shelly54

      Posted

      When you are really bloated it makes you pee more All that pressure on your groin area I have IBS and have the same symptoms that you have 
  • graham9772
    graham9772 marie99158

    Posted

    You have been suffering for a month with pain that sounds too strong.   I suggest you ask your doctor for a reference to a specialist as soon as possible.   If the specialist doesnt help ask them to suggest another for a second/third opinion.   You need to be sorted out quickly.

     

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