Hopeful that it's IBS - Lots of issues!
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all!
Ok here's my story: (I'm 47 now and a male)
From what my mother tells me I've had stomach issues since I was 5. She tells me about stories of me being on the toilet crying because of the pain. My own memory of my stomach issues is sitting in class in high school having a very loud and embarrassing talking stomach. I remember the occasional bouts of diarrhea with pain as well.
But the most significant memories start in my 20's. A night of drinking with my friends was disastrous for me later that night or more normally the very next day. Horrible cramping and lots of diarrhea. I would also get horrible cramping out of nowhere and then diarrhea. I'm assuming it was food based but could never really pin point it to anything.
In my early 30's I had a long bout of stomach issues with cramping and diarrhea that wouldn't go away. They did a CT scan and saw what they thought was bowel wall thickening. My doctor called to tell me I most likely had crohn's disease. However, after going through a colonoscopy with multiple biopsies I was told that I didn't have crohn's or UC or anything else. They were kind of stumped. This really started a whole issue of health anxiety for me that helped me to accumulate multiple ER visits and many many CT scans.
Recently I've had a CT scan of my abdomen (not pelvis) and everything was normal aside from a few tiny liver cysts. I also had an upper endoscopy as I was having a feeling of something in my throat. All was normal save for some gastritis most likely caused by bile regurgitation since I had no signs of gerd. All biopsies taken from the esophagus, stomach and duodenum were all negative.
What I've been presenting with for the past month and a half, aside from the feeling of something in my throat, is feeling as if something is in my rectum. If I pass gas the feeling goes away momentarily. I've also had more of an urge to pee. I've had a mixture of diarrhea but it's been mostly solid with bits of undigested food like peanuts and quinoa and tomato skins. I'm not getting the awful cramps I did in my younger days but I've had intermittent pain across and just below my belly button and then down the left side. I also feel gas or something squirting through different parts of my intestines even in my rectum. Sometimes it feels like I have gas in there but it just kind of magically dissipates. I had a DRE done which was normal as well as a fecal occult blood test which was negative. I've had multiple urinalysis which were all normal and three sets of blood work which were also all normal.
Oh by the way, this whole episode started almost two months ago with me trying to get in shape. I lost 12ish pounds in about 2 weeks but cutting down on how much I ate, when I ate and moved from all the crap I was eating to fruits and oatmeal. I also added in a weigh lifting routine. I also added in come creatine and nitro booster. (just a couple of doses each) So I started at 221 lbs and went down to about 208. I'm now 203 because for the last month I've had no appetite.
In december of last year I had the worst case of diarrhea I've ever had. The stuff that was coming out was disgusting. Mucous like I've never seen. That went away after about a week and a half and stayed away until April when I got my first covid shot. Then I had diarrhea for a few days which then went away until about a month ago.
My doctor wants me to get a handle on my anxiety regarding all of this and doesn't think it's necessary to push for a colonoscopy at this time. That's the sentiment of my GP and my GI doc.
So what does everyone think? Possible IBS?
0 likes, 4 replies
amarjeet007 chris69864
Posted
You are 47 now.
That should mean you know more about your body than any doctor does.
This anxiety thing they ask you to handle is just a catchphrase of all doctors when they fail to diagnose the real problem.
Anyways... coming down to your symptoms...
You feel something is stuck in your throat... well! that is nothing but a classic symptom of acid reflux. Endoscopy cannot tell whether you have one.
You feel something down their in your rectum, and feel some constant action inside your belly ( intestines),
that is gas, as simple as that.
I tell you how to spend the rest of your life in peace...
Make massive lifestyle changes. Eat small meals 5-6 times a day. Walk as much as you can, or 1 hour of brisk walk every day. No need to hit the gym.
Eat everything ( except those foods you are strongly allergic to). If you find it hard to digest milk and gluten, then practise moderation.
Take 1 spoon of Psyllium Husk with yoghurt once a day. It is more than just a laxative.
Do yoga, first thing in the morning, and meditation,, last thing at night,
In yoga, focus more on breathing exercises ( especially Alternative Breathing). It will help you reduce unwanted stress.
There are medications like PPIs (nexium, pantoprazole etc) to help with gastritis and reflux. And antacids like Gaviscon.
There are probiotics and prebiotics available to aid digestion.
Anti-cholinergic drugs like Clidinium Bromide to relax the cramping and pain. Talk about this category with your doctor.
Drugs to kill worms in your digestive system.
Well... there are drugs for everything.
It is a multi-billion dollar industry.
Some medications are truly useful no doubt if your doctor's diagnosis is correct.
But, I would suggest you to stick to lifestyle changes primarily, because that would actually help you in the long run.
Good luck.
chris69864 amarjeet007
Edited
Hey there I appreciate your candor and helpful response.
So I know I definitely have anxiety. It's actually more of an OCD coupled with anxiety. Once I feel something wrong with my body I get all crazy and research and research until I think I have everything in the world. I've been on Paxil for about 16 years to try and cope with it.
I started Align about 4 days ago to help with my digestion and will certainly try your other suggestions for Yoga and Meditation.
If I have gas and the gas is caused by IBS then great. No problem there with me. I just want the symptoms mostly gone and my life and sanity back.
My biggest question is whether or not this sounds like IBS to anyone?
amarjeet007 chris69864
Posted
All your tests/reports are normal. One thing is for certain, there is nothing serious going on.
And this IBS is very very common. You may take a second opinion from a more competent GI doctor. Two heads are better than one.
The last thing I would advise, is to stop using Google for medical information/symptoms. Google is not a doctor.
A visit to the psychiatrist is a good idea for OCD and hypochondria stuff you mentioned.
Good luck!
itsmerod chris69864
Posted
NAD and certainly not telling you what to do but at 47, I would definitely get the scopes done. They're fairly painless and simple from what I hear and will give you reassurance! Best wishes to you. Would love to hear how you get along.