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IBS Symptoms or Something Else?

Posted , 7 users are following.

Jadedsins
Jadedsins

I've been diagnosed with IBS for about 3-4yrs now. Funny / Sad thing is I self-diagnosed & it was confirmed by my doctor at the time that I have it. I saw the pamphlet at the doctor's office; picked it up & read what it said. Sadly I checked off I think all but two of the symptoms mentioned in said info pamphlet. 

I've struggled with it off and on since the diagnosis & I am not sure at this point what they could put me on / I could do myself to help with my IBS.  I'm currently not on any medication for it - a gastrologist said I had ' very mild' IBS about a year and a half ago. I'd honestly hate to experience what they consider moderate or severe sad

Stomach Cramps that are usually in the middle/lower abdomen - Check

Runs & Constipation - Check

Bloating and Gas - DOUBLE Check 

Severe pain in my right AND OR left flank / back - check? 

I don't know if the sudden onset of pain is from IBS or if it is something else going on. I've been to the emergency room on multiple occasions if it's on the left side they kinda shrug it off on the right side they usually make me chug things to ensure it's not my gallbladder or pancreas.

Today I made a breakfast of grilled chicken, a bit of shredded cheese, lettuce, and a squirt or two of Ranch dressing. First bite I get sudden left side pain that's in the middle from back to stomach. Given my whole stomach was cramping & starting to bloat. Severe nausea and just an overall feeling of 'ick'. I don't know at this point when this type of thing happens & it's been going on since 10am & it's 8pm. Everything I try to eat/drink makes my stomach suddenly hurt or severe nausea .. or both!

Is this something I should go to the ER or a doctor for at this point I've had a hot bath, downed Pepto about three times when the nausea was too much to handle. Haven't puked but been really close a few times. 

I moved from SC to GA on the 1st of Aug, so i'm still in the process of finding doctors for my health issues and at this point I'm feeling extremely frustrated because until today I'd been a lil crampy but nothing this bad. 

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • kimd
    kimd Jadedsins

    Posted

    J,

    I can just go by what I have known the past 9 years. IBS is so horrible in that you never know how or when it will flare. I do know stress is the number one cause.

    I just got out of er late last night for sever bloating, pain in lower left abdomen, and pain in back. Nausea would come in waives. All blood work and all test were fine as usual. The dr prescribed 30 mg of Prevacid and continuing my Bentyl.

    Hot packs help me a lot with pain but today I have been on a liquid bland diet. I seem to be some better.

    The er told me if the pain came back, come

    Back to the er. Follow your heart! Hope this helps! God bless.

  • stephanie61588
    stephanie61588 Jadedsins

    Posted

    If you are still feeling nauseous and cant sleep well do go to E£&E, it could be ab alkergic reactions. Maybe sonething in the ranch sauce did not agree with you? I know for me, no garlic ( and it is mad that is is sverwhere this stuff!!!!) and no lactose/coffee.. It makes acid reflux in my earophague and I feel sick afterwards. Horrendous! I take omrprazole as it helps and a wuarter of motilium to make the food go down.. I try now to eat very little snacks, mainly bread, ham, chicken cheese not melted, avocado.. Im lucky sweets and chocolate go down well..??

    Try and avoid anything processed, like sauce and ready meal.. Follow fodmap partially.. See if it gets any better.. Does peptibismol works?

  • mark6651
    mark6651 Jadedsins

    Posted

    Exactly what I have, you need to be so careful what you eat.
    • kimd
      kimd mark6651

      Posted

      I have been on a liquid diet for two days now. This afternoon I attempted plain white tuna and whites of eggs boiled. So far I'm OK other than my back still killing me. And I blow up like I'm 7 mths pregnant. Never know what size I will be sad

      I hate IBS!

  • Chuckj
    Chuckj Jadedsins

    Posted

    Sorry you are having such a bad time. I was diagnosed with IBS a few months ago, although I suspected I had it for years, as I was always needing the toilet 3 or 4 times a day for a bowel movement.

    Since starting a low fodmap diet, adjusting itvwhere I can tolerate some foods, things have improved 95%. Milk, too much onion, pulses or sauces are a complete no, no. I can tolerate bread, cheese, citrus fruits, nuts, so that is good, but the bread and cheese in moderation as I am watching my weight!

    Hope this helps, and good luck!

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 Jadedsins

    Posted

    Avoid spicy, fatty and fried foods.  Processed foods can also trigger symptoms.  Try eliminating dairy as well.   IBS can cause food intolerance.
    • Jadedsins
      Jadedsins philippa61759

      Posted

      I tend to also avoid greasy stuff as well because it often causes instant cramping
    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 Jadedsins

      Posted

      Before my IBS I developed upper digestive tract problems and my stomach wouldn't digest oil.  It used to make me feel very sick to the point of vomiting.    I still get some problems with it but not as bad as before.

  • emily_92420
    emily_92420 Jadedsins

    Posted

    Self diagnosing is so so bad for you! You should never think you know better than the doctors. Even if you end up being correct in your diagnosis. Your bowels are spread over a large area of your body. When they contract or spasmn this will create pain in other areas. We link our bowels to our stomachs but people get pain in their rib cage, behind their back etc. Its perfectly common, everyone is different.

    You can get anti spasmostic medication which will help with the cramps, the stronger stuff is known to be better (obviously) but some people find milder tablets you can buy at the chemist work better on sensitive stomachs. However im super sensitive and my perscription medication works well with me.

    Maybe look at a few diet changes to. You may notice some difference. Google up IBS friendly diets. Fodamap is known to be good.

    Good Luck.

    • Jadedsins
      Jadedsins emily_92420

      Posted

      I didn't feel I knew better than my doctor it's just the one I had at the time basically ignored the symptoms of my IBS for about a year and I didn't know why I was having the symptoms I was having. It was a new pamphlet in the doctor's office so I picked it up. Before then I'd never heard of IBS or anything like it. It offered an answer to what my body was doing. It was more helpful than my doctor another reason I ended up changing a few months later. 

  • icecool
    icecool Jadedsins

    Posted

    Have u had an ultra sound scan to check for gallstones?
    • Jadedsins
      Jadedsins icecool

      Posted

      No they never checked for gallstones. They either assumed it was my 'chronic pain' or if the pain was on my right side made me drink the liquid to ensure it wasn't my pancreas, etc The pain is on the left side though. I slept ok but the pain woke me up out of a dead sleep

    • Jadedsins
      Jadedsins icecool

      Posted

      I know if I do that though I'll make myself worry bout things more I've done that in the past with other health issues and ended up making myself sicker due to the worrying about the what ifs and uncertainty of possibilities :c

    • kimd
      kimd icecool

      Posted

      Yes, they ruled those out. sad

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