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Is it really "just IBS"?

Posted , 5 users are following.

kh4591
kh4591

I'm Kevin. I'm coming up to 64 and a few months back had a really bloated stomach and change in my bowel movements, diarrhoea alternating with mild constipation and often a sudden need to go "now", often very soon after eating a meal.

My GP had a prod around and listened to my stomach but, apart from confirming there was a lot of gas, didn't really seem too concerned.

As nothing much changed I went back after a few weeks and she arranged a blood test and ultrasound scan. When the results came through she said nothing really showed up so suggested avoiding things like cabbage which can cause bloating but nothing more and told me it was probably just IBS.

I have always been a worrier and in addition my role as a fulltime carer for my wife for the past 20+years hasn't been easy. I had of course done some reading up on my symptoms etc.. and given my age was obviously worried that it was something worse so GP eventually agreed to refer me but only as a routine case so I won't get an appointment until mid summer. To be fair I haven't noticed any blood or weight loss (and my worrying about things will be causing that anyway!) but my actual bowel symptoms are still erratic to put it mildly.

Would appreciate any thoughts and thanks for taking time to read this.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 kh4591

    Posted

    If you have generalised, shifting abdominal pain, it could be IBS especially if you are having change of bowel habit particularly after eating.  Try a food diary to identify problem foods.
  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 kh4591

    Posted

    This sounds like IBS to  me. Try COLPERMIN which you can buy from a chemist. If they work you can get them on prescription.

    Hope they help.

    Sarah

  • FA54321
    FA54321 kh4591

    Posted

    Hi Kevin, it could be IBS, or it could be Coeliac disease or even a food intolerance. A food diary is a good way of finding if it’s a food intolerance. With Coeliac disease you need a blood test, but you must be eating gluten for at least 6 weeks every day prior to the test - even then, you can get what is called a ‘false negative’, and the only way of finding out for sure is an endoscopy with biopsies taken. (You still need to be eating gluten for this as well, as the antibodies are only produced when you eat gluten). 

    If you think it’s a food intolerance (or more than one food) you may like to consider the low FODMAP diet which can be of great help to people with IBS. It’s a bit restrictive but after 2 months you can start to reintroduce foods one at a time to see which ones you can tolerate. There’s a lot of information on line on the low FODMAP diet. 

    You said you were worried it could be something worse, your doctor should know if there are any ‘red flags’ and would have referred you more urgently. Has he/she asked for a stool sample at any point? People over 60 usually get screened for bowel cancer, if that’s your concern. Not that I’m saying it is of course, but worriers tend to think of worse case scenarios.

    If you are a bit of a worrier, and I can understand that if you are a carer for a loved one, the stress of that alone can cause IBS, You need to try and relax (I know it’s easier said than done) perhaps some form of meditation would help you, or yoga breathing exercises.

    • kh4591
      kh4591 FA54321

      Posted

      Thanks Pippa, Sarah and Fiona for your replies.

      Your reassurances that it sounds like ibs is a relief. Fiona, you are quite right though that, having checked the symptoms and given my age, my immediate reaction was "thats that then, I have bowel cancer". Afraid my glass has been almost completely empty for many years, and I am too old now too change.

      My GP hasn't asked for a stool sample although I did do one two or three years ago which I think was the routine age 60 screening. I never heard anything so I assume everything was OK. As I said before, she did arrange an ultrasound and blood test late last year which apparently didn't reveal much so that's when she told me it was probably just ibs. I didn't think to ask her directly if those tests would have actually shown any signs of cancer.

      In the light of your advice I will certainly try and keep a diary of not only what I eat but also my symptoms and bowel movements to see if any pattern emerges. I'll also consider introducing that Colpermin at some point and note any changes.

  • martin31040
    martin31040 kh4591

    Posted

    Hi, sounds like typical IBS, check out online the FODMAP diet it's list of foods likely to cause problems like your describing, it's pretty good the FODMAP diet list, list of foods you probably don't want to be eating and a list okay to eat, it tells you why certain foods cause problems, just look up FODMAP diet.

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