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IBS or being fobbed off?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Mindy707
Mindy707

Hi all, first time poster so please bear with me if this has been answered before or needs moving. 

For 6 months now I’ve been getting a pain in my upper left abdomen, almost under the rib but definitely abdo not chest. 

It started just after a kidney infection, it cane and went in two or so week fluctuations, it was irritating but not severe. The only was I can describe it is sore? Like it’s not a cramp or an ache, it’s a soreness.

Over the course of the next 4 months it gradually got more often and more intense and I noticed no specific foods that set it off, except maybe that straight after a fatty meal it can be worse and maybe fizzy drinks. The only clear pattern is that it’s worst early morning and I tend to wake up with it every day now, and it comes back when I am hungry - conclusion from me that it’s worse on an empty stomach. 

Drs tried to tell me IBS but have also had a blood test and ultrasound which came up clear. Tried me on mebeverine which did nothing and this week I’ve been given Buscopan and told to take it for at least 6 weeks before I go back!

I am really worried that this is not IBS & that the doctors are just being lazy, and so far the Buscopan is giving me headaches and hot flushes too... 

Does anyone have any insight as to what it could be? Does anyone else’s IBS only affect the upper abdo? 

All advice welcome!

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 Mindy707

    Posted

    Do you have bowel habit change such as constipation or diarrhoea?  Does your pain move about your abdomen?  With IBS you normally get bowel habit change.  It sounds rather like gastritis which can be checked.by an endoscopy.
  • Mindy707
    Mindy707

    Posted

    Hi Pippa 

    Bowel movements haven’t been “right” for a very long time but I don’t remember how long, and hadn’t notice until I was asked actually at the docs! Some days I go 3 times so days I don’t go, varying consistency. 

    The pain doesn’t move it’s always in the same high left spot

    And going to the toilet has no effect on the pain but eating can help... 

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 Mindy707

      Posted

      Since Buscopan is making you worse, I would go back to your doctor. I think other things need to be checked such as gastritis, h pylori or ulcers. An endoscopy would identify these conditions. It seems more stomach related since eating improves your symptoms.  Often people with ulcers experience relief after eating and feel worse on an empty stomach.

      Some IBS patients experience pain on their left side but often it moves about your abdomen.  Typically pain improves temporarily afer a bowel movement. 

      I see others have commented on the pancreas and ultrasounds.  My pancreas could not be seen on my ultrasound; this is not unusual.  You could have a blood test to check pancreatic enzymes  lipase and amylase.

    • Mindy707
      Mindy707 pippa58442

      Posted

      I am worried you may be right abonot t the ulcer type symptoms. 

      Has anyone else’s IBS acted in a similar way? 

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 Mindy707

      Posted

      IBS varies a lot from person to person but some people find eating worsens their IBS if they have a food intolerance.  I haven't heard of eating improving IBS symptoms.

  • mel01723
    mel01723 Mindy707

    Posted

    Hi, Have they ever checked your pancreas by ultrasound? You mentioned that you had ultrasound? 
    • Mindy707
      Mindy707 mel01723

      Posted

      Hey Mel, that did an abdominal ultrasound, and transvaginal too. I can only assume the abdominal one looked at everything round there... I know it looked at kidneys and liver and that you can’t see a stomach on an ultrasound but that’s all :-/
  • mel01723
    mel01723 Mindy707

    Posted

    Sometimes the pancreas may not be visualized on ultrasounds. An inflamed pancreas may have such symptoms but I dont want to assume and make you worry. I am just saying because of the fact that it is worse after fatty food and that the pain is in upper left. 
    • Mindy707
      Mindy707 mel01723

      Posted

      Thanks for your insight. Do you think the inflammation would be flagged on a blood test? They did loads of different tests 
    • mel01723
      mel01723 Mindy707

      Posted

      Mindy you are right inflammation could be flagged on the blood test; however, it didn’t for my aunt. It was caught on MRI. Pancreatic problems are rare in younger people. As pippa said you may want to check h-pylori and stomach ulcers. Hope you can figure out what it is. But plz don’t worry too much cause it can make it worse.
  • sam18386
    sam18386 Mindy707

    Posted

    Hi Mindy, I have IBS or so I thought, it turns out I have diverticulosis instead/on top of the IBS, apparently they're unsure what it is and how to treat it. IBS differs in all sufferers this is true, but definitely feels different to diverticulosis. Watch for constipation and diarrhoea, one or both may be prominent, against soreness across the lower stomach under the belly button, which is mostly over the left hand side. As a female you'll have the extra delight that this flares during ovulation/periods (if you're young/old enough). Buscopan never did anything for me. You can take paracetamol if you're in pain. Speak to your chemist if you know yours as well as I've got to know mine then they really will know you really well and may be your best port of call - mine for instance told me I could take evening primrose on top of my medication and not anti depressants. Good luck sorting this. IBS is like telling you 'you have a virus' if you feel generally unwell.

    • Mindy707
      Mindy707 sam18386

      Posted

      Thanks for your kind words I so hope I can figure out what it is, I’m in pain every day at the moment and it really does get you down :-( 

      I don’t think it’s diverticulitis but I hope pure ok as I have read about that and it sounds unpleasant!! 

      I’ve also noticed the last 2 days (it’s been worse than ever) that it also hurts more when I lean forward or put pressure on upper middle belly. Laying on my back helps ease it a little. 

      Does this mean anything to anyone? 

  • Mindy707
    Mindy707

    Posted

    Hi guys, I know this post was a while ago now, but I just wanted to provide an update. I WAS being fobbed off and it was NOT IBS. I was later diagnosed with gastritis and have been treated over the last 8 weeks. I’m not 100% healed but I do feel so much better than before smile 

    Keep pushing your doctors, see different consultants!! 

    • sam18386
      sam18386 Mindy707

      Posted

      Good luck Mindy, just take care of yourself that's what I try to do when I can.

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