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IBS

Posted , 6 users are following.

janelle59755
janelle59755

At the age of 18 I started having bad stomach cramps and diarrhea. I was ignored by a few doctors. Told it was anxiety. Another tested for celiac and it came back positive. I had a colonoscopy though I was out of it I remeber the doctor saying he saw something flattening showing some damage already.... No idea what he was talking about as I was out of it and my mother heard no cancer and ignored the rest. A year on a gluten free diet and I was not better. Saw a gastroenterologist and was told I had been given the wrong blood test and did not have celiac... Then was told it could be a number of things and sent on my way. I gave up for years. Dealt with my life with chronic stomach pains. Now at 31 I feel pain still at times on my right side. It's like it is inflammed. Bloating. Diarrhea, nausea and lower back pain. It comes and goes. Can last a few days or can last a month. Don't know what triggers it. I had an endoscopy done and saw some inflammation but nothing to worry about. Is this irritable bowel? All my blood test come back great but I just feel so ill. Was put on prilosec for silent reflux. I just can't afford any more tests. The doctor bills are starting to out weigh the symptoms.

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • margaret22116
    margaret22116 janelle59755

    Posted

    Hi. Do you have other health issues or just this problem ? I had those issues with a form of vasxulitis which is an auto immune disorder. I knew I didn't have ibs though kept being fobbed off with that. I ask because you mention inflammation. That is the root cause of bowel issues with auto immune disease. I am now disease free after good treatment but took me til my 40s to be diagnosed.

    Just a thought. Too often ibs is just a catch all when no one understands underlying problem. It may 'just' be ibs but I think you know within yourself if it is or isn't that.

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 margaret22116

      Posted

      I was told by my GPS that is have PCOS and mild Vitiligo. Other than that they can't seem to find anything. I also get bouts of all over body pain. Those are worse in the summer months. Every muscle will ache as well s a headache. This too doctors could not explain. These bout usually last a week. Warm compress and advil help but do not eliminate it.

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755

      Posted

      Unfortunately autocorrect mad my GP (general practitioner) into GPS. Thank goodness this is false.
    • margaret22116
      margaret22116 janelle59755

      Posted

      Yes all very similar to me. Even yo the extent that hot weather made my flares worse. Could not tolerate intense heat. Had the body pain migraine and joint pain. It sounds very very like auto immune disease. Does not show up in scans. Blood work can be indicative but not always all that useful.

      But do check these things est crp and ana in your bloodwork.

    • margaret22116
      margaret22116

      Posted

      Sorry that should be esr...inflammatory markers.
  • diane79126
    diane79126 janelle59755

    Posted

    Hi,

    Have you gone diary free yet? Try it. It can't hurt

    I went on almond milk instead and it's helped

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 diane79126

      Posted

      I recently started dairy free. Over the weekend I stocked up on almond and coconut products to replace my dairy intake.so that diet started Saturday. Then Tuesday my stomach started cramping up for no reason and I have been bloated and nauseated with back pain all week. I have no idea what is causing it. I feel like i have been playing a game of connect the dots the last thirteen years but they are not connecting.
  • borderriever
    borderriever janelle59755

    Posted

    Janelle

    You need to know and understand what was found when they examined your Colon.

    I do not know if in your State your Family Doctor keeps the results or you. If they have been sent to your Insurence company contact them for a copy and your family Doctor should have a copy and push you onwards to a Specialist who  can treat your condition

    You need to confirm your Diagnosis, with whoever has your paperwork

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 borderriever

      Posted

      When I went to get the endoscopy done I was with the same hospital. I asked if she could look up my record. She said that when they switched from files to computer a lot of that stuff didn't transfer with it. She looked up my file but nothing dated as far back as 2003. Her suggestion was to get another colonoscopy done but after the endoscopy she also felt I should get an endoscopy with an ultrasound on a lump she found suspicious. This she felt was more important then the colonoscopy so I did that first at another hospital that specialized in endoscopic ultrasounds. The results came back fine but I was left with two bills for expensive procedures and cannot afford the colonoscopy. It was my hope to try and figure out on my own what could be the problem until I can pay off all these medical bills.

    • borderriever
      borderriever janelle59755

      Posted

      janelle

      We are in the UK and here we get results sometimes from the hospital and explanations of treatments undertaken, Our Doctor also gets copies of odered tests and treatment results, the Surgery can also see my full records now on computer. This was not always the case when our records were hard copies.

      Try and approach your doctor from that time, that is all I can suggest. If this is not possible you may need a further test. Although if the tests were so far back, 2003 you may have problems and the test will be well out of date

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 borderriever

      Posted

      I am from the US. My doctor would have also received these records. He also retired about 5 years ago. It seems every avenue I take there is a roadblock. Thank you very much for your help on this forum. I understand that I cannot diagnose myself so easily and this question might seem.... A bit of a reach. I guess after so many years desperation has set in. If i have an understanding of my symptoms and knowledge to back them up it might ease the anxiety so I can focus on the problem at hand. With so many confusing answers from doctors I always think the worst and at the end of the day and I had hoped reaching out to those that experience these same symptoms might give me more insight, perhaps put me at ease that something more sinister is not lurking until I can afford their tests. Have a great night.
    • borderriever
      borderriever janelle59755

      Posted

      Janelle 

      You need to put yourself in a better place and the best way is have this test repeated, hopefully the result will calm you and help you move on.

      Sometimes after an extended period of time we need to touch base with our health concerns and I feel here that will help you take control

      Good Luck

      BOB

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 janelle59755

    Posted

    Your symptoms sound like IBS which can include joint pain. Try a food diary to see if you have any food triggers other than gluten.
    • diane79126
      diane79126 pippa58442

      Posted

      Everyone I have spoken to say they have been thru so many tests and come up w/o an ans. I was dignosed by the VA. And been fine until I had a reaction from something I ate. So I d coded to avoid diary and gluten and it's been much better.

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 diane79126

      Posted

      So happy you were given diagnosis. I dream of that. For a doctor to say "Hey, we know what's wrong". I have been doing research on top of research. Watching live video after live video on auto immune diseases. It's all quite confusing and a lot to take in.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 diane79126

      Posted

      I was told by a doctor that my symptoms were confusing and she hadn't got a clue.  It took eight attempts after several tests to identify stress related IBS.  Fortunately, food poses no problem for me.

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