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Do my symptoms sound like IBS? I have some questions...

Posted , 7 users are following.

emma492
emma492

I apologize in advance about this being a bit long, I have a quite a few questions and I would really like to know how likely it is that I have IBS or if my symptoms point towards something else.

So I'm 23 years old and since about January this year I started having the problem of alternating between having diarrhea and being constipated. Before this year my bowel movements have always been normal (I very rarely ever had diarrhea). It wasn't until I was in the car with my boyfriend and I started having a really agonizing stomach ache that I got really worried. Also I don't know if it could be related at all, but around April last year I had suddenly had overwhelmingly bad stomach pain, so bad that I called an ambulance. The doctor at the hospital said I probably had an ovarian cyst that burst as my mum has had ovarian cysts. The pain went away after taking panadeines. (When I went to see my doctor she was pretty unhelpful and just said it may not have been an ovarian cyst and it could've just been a one off thing that can happen when a woman has her period).

So anyway after the bad stomach ache in the car I got a blood test done and everything came back normal, and then I eventually had a stool test and it came back saying I had Salmonella, but just the regular type that is meant to come and go within a week or so. Because my stomach problems were already so bad I didn't even notice any difference having Salmonella, as I wasn't vomiting. Anyway these are the symptoms that I've been experiencing constantly for the last 3 months:

- Alternating between diarrhea and constipation, having severe stomach aches and diarrhea usually every 2-4 days and usually being constipated the rest of the time. The stomach ache eventually eases after going to the toilet about 1-4 times

- Sometimes nausea, feeling very tired, occasional headaches

- Often having little appetite and getting full quickly when I try to eat a decent sized meal (but I'm not sure if this is just due to the fact that I often go days eating very little)

- My stomach gurgles and churns constantly especially when I eat/after I eat, and sometimes when I need to eat - I'm curious to know if people experience this a lot as I haven't really seen it listed as a common IBS symptom? and I find it quite uncomfortable

- Occassionally I experience this odd feeling in my stomach that sort of feels like a small throbbing sensation, it usually only lasts a few seconds... Does anyone else have any idea what I'm talking about/experience this? It may just be part of my stomach being unsettled but it's an odd feeling.

- At times I've had pain/discomfort in my very lower abdomen, lower than where I get stomach aches, although I haven't noticed this very much in the last month or so.

Other things I want to mention..

I don't have any acid reflux, I never have any pain in my chest it's always in my stomach.

Sometimes when I have a burning, less severe stomach ache, I find that passing urine helps. Is this odd?

I also find that when I have very severe stomach aches, the only thing that seems to help a bit besides using the toilet, is drinking water. Is this usual/do other people found this helpful?

I haven't tried any sort of pills to help with the stomach aches yet but my doctor prescribed me Colofac tablets. Are these likely to be helpful?

I also have a lot of anxiety and tend to worry a lot about things in general.

I managed to go a whole week I think without having any severe stomach aches and I was eating very bland foods mostly, though I still draink fizzy drinks. Then I ate some chips and two chocolate biscuits, and bam, two hours later I had a severe stomach ache and diarrhea. So I've decided I'm definitely cutting those two things out of my diet, and I'm going to look into doing the FODMAP diet thing.

But I feel like I need to get more tests done as I'm still worried it could be something more severe causing my problem. My doctor is quite useless and hasn't suggested getting more tests done but I'm going to ask to next time I go. Though I'm really not sure what other things I'd need to be tested for. But with everything I have described, does it sound like it's very likely IBS?

One other question I had is, I've also had pinworms for the last two years (haven't been able to get rid of them due to my current living situation). Could this be likely to be causing my stomach problems? All my doctor said when I asked her was a very vague "yes it could be".

Thankyou very much in advance to anyone that replies

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 emma492

    Posted

    I agree with leeniepie buscopan is really good for stomach cramp
  • gale99224
    gale99224 emma492

    Posted

    - Alternating between diarrhea and constipation, having severe stomach aches and diarrhea usually every 2-4 days and usually being constipated the rest of the time. The stomach ache eventually eases after going to the toilet about 1-4 times

    - Sometimes nausea, feeling very tired, occasional headaches

    - Often having little appetite and getting full quickly when I try to eat a decent sized meal (but I'm not sure if this is just due to the fact that I often go days eating very little)

    - My stomach gurgles and churns constantly especially when I eat/after I eat, and sometimes when I need to eat - I'm curious to know if people experience this a lot as I haven't really seen it listed as a common IBS symptom? and I find it quite uncomfortable

    - Occassionally I experience this odd feeling in my stomach that sort of feels like a small throbbing sensation, it usually only lasts a few seconds... Does anyone else have any idea what I'm talking about/experience this? It may just be part of my stomach being unsettled but it's an odd feeling.

    these were common symptoms with me before being diagnosed with Celic Disease and adhering to a strict gluten free diet. also anxiety/depression.

    celiac disease causes much inflammation in the gut so if passing urine relieves pressure on it with the bladder emptying, yes that may help ease discomfort there.

    If you've cut a lot of things out if your diet and then eat chocolate biscuits which contain a lot of gluten, then yes, the body will react the way yours did if you do indeed have CD.

    I hope you get to the bottom of things... Be well.

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