Is This IBS or Something More Scary?

I see the specialist in 2 weeks (May 18). He seems to be very highly qualified locally and that's the earliest I could get. I'm not really under any stress right now however I must admit I am someone that suffers from anxiety from time to time. During the period of the initial onset of symptoms I was a little bit stressed.

Thank you for the very detailed response. I really appreciated reading what you had to say. That's my idea behind going to the specialist, I want a firm solid answer. Recently there was a friend of the family that died of pancreatic cancer because of a misdiagnosis of initial symptoms. All these things run through my mind especially as I see symptoms that just isn't normal for my body.

Not trying to think the worst but of course it would relief me to clear that all up. I have since changed up my diet (eliminated fatty food for the most part, eating more fruits when I can etc.). I also saw a dietician which helped me make better food choices.

I will most definitely start keeping a food diary. I already started recording my daily symptoms to present during my consultation

Hi

It does sound like IBS yoy don't seem to be showing any red flag symptoms.

IBS is a general term the medical profession give out when they can't pin the symptoms with any other problem

Ask Dr for refural to see a GI consultant.

He may not give you one.

As I said IBS is usually diagnosed when other issues are ruled out.

As for length of time IBS can flare up I'm now 12 months and counting......

It is also worth while telling your doctor even what might seem to be insignificant symptoms.  I thought my anxiety and stressful episodes were irrelevant because I am always anxious normally.  But mentioning this got me diagnosed.

Hi Pippa, I am reading this thread with interest as I am currently being investigated for symptoms that I know my GP will try to attribute to IBS (as he has before) but which are causing me huge concern, and when I initially told him where my concern lay (pancreas) he just dismissed it out of hand.

I am interested in what you say about pushing for a firm definitive diagnosis..........how do I do that without suggesting to my GP that I know more than he does lol!

I have had symptoms since beginning March, absolutely no let up.  I also have a tendence to anxiety and he started me on Fluoxetine.  I haven't had a normal stool since end of March, mine are Type 6-7, no fat observed, but like clockwork anywhere from 40 minutes after eating I get an urgency to go.  I also have very signifcant pain / discomfort / pressure in my left side abdo / ribs and back, and also across my back and into right side back and ribs, it is very distressing and doesn't feel relieved by anything other than moving around.  Standing still worsens it.  And heartburn!!

I have lost 18lbs in April just because I am not eating as much as eating brings on the increased pain in my left back, and then the BM.

We love to go out, eat out.....I feel I am failing my OH at the moment because other than going to work I am so worried about not being close to the loo.

I do understand that my anxiety will be having some part to play in all of this.  I have had bloods done (not had results but not had the dreaded call to go see the GP either) and am having an upper abdo USS on Thursday.  I have made an appointment to see GP the following week with the results.......but I also know how difficult and lengthy it can be to diagnose pancreatic disorders, and I can already sens that he is going to tell me it is IBS.

I don't get the intensity of Abdo pain that people on these forums mention in their "flare" up symptoms, and certainly nothing in the lower left side of abdo.  There is only the loose stools (normal colour but bitty / mushy / smelly) that I can link with IBS.

thank you

Thank you for the reply. The doctor I don't think would refer me to see a GI that's why I sought one out myself that doesn't require a referral and booked on my own. It's reassuring to see everyone thinks it is indeed IBS. 

Your symptoms still sound like IBS. Shifting stomach pain, change of bowel habit, heartburn, and food Intolerance are IBS symptoms.  Sometimes the pain can be constant, other times it can come and go.   Perhaps try a food diary to see if any foods are upsetting you since you get pain after eating which is also an IBS symptom. 

Anxiety is very common; particularly health anxiety.  The more you worry, the worse your symptoms will be.   I had multiple health anxieties because it took three and a half months to get answers because tests were negative. Telling the doctor about my anxiety got me diagnosed with IBS.  Often it is rhe simplist, insignificant detail thst gets you answers.  So tell your doctor everything.

It is very common to worry about your pancreas when you have abdominal pain.  I had the exact same worry but I asked one of my doctors straight out about it and I was told that it was highly unlikely that I had a pancreas problem because of my age.  I was immediately reassured.  This was back in 2015.  

To get a firm, definitive diagnosis does require tenacity and persistence but it is worth it. First of all write down copious lists of all the conditions you are worrying about.  Then ask your doctor to explain each one if them and to tell you why you may or may not have that condition. Ask for as many tests as possible to give you reassurance.  

The more tests that come back negative, the more things are ruled out so you will have less to worry you. If you are not satisfied, see a different doctor or if possible go private.  I went eight times to different doctors. On my last visit, I was in despair and diagnosis was the last thing I expected.  I had downgraded my aims to simply asking for advice.  This helped me to cope with my panic.  These strategies really worked for me.  Your doctor will not mind you doing these things.

I too doubted IBS in the beginning when it was mentioned twice while waiting for answers because I felt it was too simple a diagnosis and I had read about IBS overdiagnosis.  I didn't even recognise that my symptoms were lIke my brother's.  He too suffered from IBS.  His symptoms differed slightly from mine.  However, I soon learned, particularly from this site, that everyone is different.  Some people have mild IBS whereas others have moderate to severe symptoms.  I have experienced all three varieties.  At the moment, my symptoms are mild.  If you don't have severe pain, this is good.  Don't worry about a diagnosis of IBS because it is treatable and can be managed.  Some people get rid of IBS; my brother did.  However, most will have periods of remission and flare up.  But it is important to remember that IBS is not a frightening diagnosis.  For me it was such a relief and it cleared my panic.

Diagnosis acceptance can be very hard at first.  In the end you have to trust your doctor.  If nothing else shows up, IBS can be identified.

Although my symptoms have not gone, they are a lot better than they were and no alarm symptoms have appeared so I know my doctor's opinion was right.  

Once you find your triggers, you are winning the battle.  Mine is exclusively stress related but thankfully not food.

I was very similar looking back over my life I have had IBS 25 years but has taken untill last 3 weeks to get a firm diagnosis. This in fact has made a lot of my symptoms disappear....I walk form the consultants office with a new lease of life....I still have symptoms but they dont bother me or stress me which normally would bring on even more symptoms....It to a colonsocpy finally to convince me nothing was wrong....The consultant made me watch the screen myself as proof I was fine.....

 

That was a long time to wait for diagnosis!  I thought waiting three and a half months was bad. Although tests do reduce the number of things to worry about, if no one can tell you exactly what is wrong, your worry will come back.  In the three and a half month wait I had,  I thought about nothing else but a diagnosis all day, every day and through the night as well.  Nothing else was important.  I was completely worn out by the time I got answers.

The length of flare ups you read about in articles only give you an average length of time.   This can vary widely from patient to patient.  Everyone is different.   Perhaps the foods you eliminated may not be your triggers but some other food instead.  The other possibility is that you don't have any food reactions at all or you may be one of the 5% of patients who don't respond to any treatment.  I don't have any IBS food intolerances.

 

I agree! Let me know how your tests go when you get the results. Also let me know what further tests your doctor did.

Will do, so far I've had numerous blood tests, one I asked for was a celiac blood test!! a flexible sigmoidoscopy 😵😵 and an abdominal CT scan! This has shown I have a dilated right kidney so seeing if that's anything to do with anything!! Not sure it will, I have apt 11th may to find out!

All the best😉X