IBS or gastroparesis?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi all,
I've had IBS for around 10 years now, and am pretty good at 'identifying' those symptoms and what that means etc. However, I have been suffering a lot recently with terrible nausea and bloatedness, and acute stomach pain which is different from my usual stomach cramps that I get with an episode of IBS. Another difference is that I get constipated, rather than the opposite, which again comes with an episode of IBS. This has been going on for the past two years on and off, but since September of 2019 it became more constant. I have tried all sorts of diets (have cut out caffeine, only drink water, low FODMAP, no gluten or dairy) but whatever I eat causes me nausea and bloatedness. This nausea is debilitating - I have severe emetophobia and stop myself from vomiting but sometimes I wonder if it'd be better to vomit. I am now scared to eat because whatever I ingest causes me issues, and have lost weight. I'm worried about that I'm not eating enough vitamins.
Recently, I was diagnosed with hEhlers-Danlos and POTs syndrome, and have been trying to come to terms with it. When reading up on it, I saw that it can cause stomach issues, such as gastroparesis. I don't like to self-diagnose over the internet, but a lot of the symptoms matched. This feels different to my IBS episodes, and is constant (well, whenever I eat). I just wanted to see if anyone here with IBS has the same, as all the people I talk to that I know with IBS say that their main symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhoea etc which this isn't. I will make an appointment to see the doctors but I don't know if it's worth pushing for further testing - on the one hand I want to be able to eat and become healthy again, but on the other I don't want to go through more testing for them to tell me it's just IBS.
0 likes, 7 replies
sam18386 lauren_150699
Posted
hi Lauren, oh my goodness this sounds awful! how on earth do you manage? have you tried anti-acids etc to deal with the state of your stomach and if so do they work? i think you need something antisickness. it's possible the flap at the top of your stomach is insecure,, take it one step at a time and monitor these episodes have on you. good luck. the
pippa58442 lauren_150699
Posted
The symptoms you are describing sound like IBS which can change over time. You can get nausea and bloating with IBS and you can get a mixture of constipation and diarrhoea too or one or the other. I have had nausea with IBS and although I began with constipation, I have also had loose stools or diarrhoea as well. No one person is the same as another with IBS.
rebecca76514 lauren_150699
Posted
Hi Lauren,
You symptoms sound like mine. I was just recently diagnosed with IST which can also cause intestinal issues. I have had IBS since age 7 I'm now 60. It started as C then M then D and kept switching between them. I used to have D with a flare until about 3 months ago. Now I have C when it flares. I have also lost almost 75 pounds in a year which I have never been able to do before. Not sure what it is either. I have an appt with my GI on 2/17. I feel like you I don't want all the tests just to be told the same.
Good luck. I hope you find some answers soon.
leeniepie lauren_150699
Posted
I would bet money you have gastritis. the symptoms you are describing are very typical of it. see your gp, who will decide if you need an endoscopy or if they will just give you PPI's
maria47829 lauren_150699
Posted
Lauren,
Whether its gastritis or gastroparesis there are medications that will help you. You need to get a diagnosis first, however.
jolynn27461 lauren_150699
Posted
Almost the same situation with me. I take something for nausea everyday. And something for ibs. However the bloating, and headaches, have gotten worse. I looked up gastroperasis and there is a specific test for positive diagnosis. Hope you are doing better.
sam18386 lauren_150699
Posted
oh lauren, what did you discover? try ginger, lots of it, it will help, oh and antacids. i was told i had ibs-c, the constipation drove me in to hospital a couple of times.... don't put up with it! good luck.