Which tests did the doctor used to diagnose your IBS? Worried!
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi,
I have an appointment with GP tomorrow to see if I have IBS. I'm feeling very stressed out, I've had symptoms since the end of May. I've been feeling gassy right after eating, frequent urges to go, feeling relief after emptying my stomach and then feeling of incomplete evacuation. The stool is never normal again in terms of shape of consistency -it's neither constipation or liquid but very mushy but my rectal area feels very strained and irritated afterwards. No blood in stool and the color is normal to light, just a lot of undigested pieces. It also varies from day to day, one day I will pass just one stool and feel almost normal but the next day will go around three times and never a normal solid poop and only a little bit will come out! I'm terrified of what tests they will offer to do. I cannot have a colonoscopy and refuse other invasive procedures and I know that first thing they do is insist on a colonoscopy ! What tests did your doctor conduct to diagnose and confirm IBS? Can I avoid a colonoscopy and get an MRI or a CAT scan instead to rule out any abnormalities?
0 likes, 34 replies
sam90321 layna68454
Posted
i had a colonoscopy done thats how i was diagnosed why you dont want to do a colonoscopy? not sure about MRI or CT but i do know these scan can pick up stuff especially MRIs just not sure about IBS unless in the moment u do it when ur bowel might show inflammatory
sunflowerseed layna68454
Posted
i had what sounds exactly like yours. i went to my doctor all he did was give me Anti-Diarrheal meds, that worked during the 5 days of prescript, then back to same problem. it lasted 6 months, the more i stressed the worse it got. Then something happened it my life that took all my time and attention & one day i realizes i no longer was having loose bowels. i think stress/worry is a major contributor. not saying you don't have something, just saying stressing isn't helping it. btw i had a routine colonoscopy when i turned 50, they're quit simple. Doctot will probably just ask questions tomorrow.
layna68454 sunflowerseed
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply! I'm actually under an enormous amounts of stress -have been for a long time, also lack of sleep due to stress and on top of it I work in an office where I sit for prolonged periods of time for over 8 hours per day. Naturally this could all be contributing to my symptoms. Thanks again for posting and I'm glad you feel better!
sunflowerseed layna68454
Posted
did you find out anything today?
layna68454 sunflowerseed
Posted
Thank you so much for asking! I told him my symptoms and he seems to think that it sounds like an IBS that is stress-related. He asked me whether I had any stress in my life and I told him that I was under an enormous amount of stress and lack of physical activity (I sit in an office for around 7-8 hours daily, five days a week). I was afraid that he was going to ask me to do a bunch of horrific tests but it quite the opposite-the did not even want to examine me, feel my abdominal area of anything like that. He just told me to try and take some probiotics for about a month and see of there is any improvement and do an elimination diet, no dairy or wheat. He also gave me a referral to see a gastroenterology specialist. However, he said it was up to me if I wanted to see one, so basically wait and see if there is any improvement in my symptoms and then decide if I wanted to go that route. I told him that I at least wanted to run some basic tests like blood or stool but he only agreed to do a basic blood test. When I told him that I could not have a colonoscopy he laughed and said that that's what the gastro specialist would do anyway if I went. That is why I hate doctors and our "glorious" medical system. Unfortunately I do not have a good insurance and not able to see better doctors. I did a research and purchased some good probiotics which I will get delivered in a few days and start a strict diet, I want to see it it will help, I will also try to exercise more. Thank you again for caring and God bless you!
sunflowerseed layna68454
Posted
yup, sounds like exactly the route i took. i dont know if youre US or England but after trying several probiotics, the one thar seemed to work the best for me was Probiotics Pearls, but we're all different, so who knows. i havent had a reoccursnce since May last year and long ago stopped taking them. i do drink 2 Tbps of Apple cidar viengar in a glass of very warm water & a splash of lemon juice every morning, which seems to keep me good. Hope all goes well, stress is a killer on the body.
layna68454 sunflowerseed
Posted
I'm in the US. The doctor told me to try either Probiotics Pearls or Align. However, I was a little hesitant about buying either one due to GMO's and other additives, I like to go with organic or natural products. I did some research and bought some BIO Schwartz advanced probiotics , it was highly recommended online by many holistic experts and people with IBS so I will start taking them and hopefully see some improvement. I also did some research and saw that slippery elm supplement can do wonders for IBS and digestive issues. I do take a table spoon of apple cider in the morning but I'm not sure it's doing anything for me.
Troldepus71 layna68454
Posted
Hi Layna
I have similar bowel issues - on and off for almost a year. I am not diagnosed with ibs but have had a nervous stomach in various periods of my life.
For about 1 1/2 years I have been perimenopausal and loose bowels, constipation and a change in bowel habits is very common in this stage. The fluctuating hormones cause the mess and worsen ibs...
I don't know your age but maybe that is a possibility?
All the best to you!
Troldepus
layna68454 Troldepus71
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply!
I'm 39 years -old, hormonal changes is definitely a possibility. I've been struggling with BV and UTI infections for several years now and suspect that it might be due to hormones, so perhaps this IBS / stomach issue is causes by hormonal fluctuations as well. I'm not sure if I can be perimenopausal at 39?
Troldepus71 layna68454
Posted
When I suspected hormonal changes to cause my struggles, I googled perimenopause to read about symptoms. And boom - suddenly it all made sense. And yes - you can be in perimenopause at 39.
sam18386 layna68454
Posted
hi layna, only go 1 step at a time! talk to your doctor then see what needs to be done, lots of people have been through what you have experienced, tell your doctor how scared you are. be blunt about all of it, the more you tell your doctor the easier it is to help you. it does sound like you could have ibs, but only blood tests and maybe a camera etc will be performed to double check this. i wish you luck, tell us on here how you get on tomorrow, we'll try to help you.
layna68454 sam18386
Posted
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm determined to tell the doctor my symptoms and start with blood tests first and maybe a CAT scan or an MRI but not jump into invasive testing right away. Thanks again for the support and God bless!
sam18386 layna68454
Posted
good luck to you have been told i am selfish but despite that i think i am not; i hope you get on ok!
sylvia38199 layna68454
Posted
You really need to have the endoscopy and colonoscopy to ensure there is nothing serious wrong with your stomach. I had both and found out it was IBS, which I have had for many many years
I wish you luck
SYLVIA
pippa58442 layna68454
Posted
What tests you are offered depends on your doctor. Doctors don't automatically offer a colonoscopy unless they feel your symptoms warrant it, I was not given a colonoscopy which was just as well because I wouldn't have been able to tolerate it either. In fact, I have complications with most so called routine procedures, My tests were a urine test, an abdominal ultrasound and pelvic ultrasound. The latter had to be abandoned because I couldn't cope with it. I had two stool tests; one for fecal calprotectin and another for h pylori. I then had a celiac blood test which had to be done in the hospital because a nurse at my doctor's surgery messed up a previous one and caused me permanent nerve damage. The hospital was much better and dealt with all my reactions one by one when I explained my difficulties. All my tests were negative and after three and a half months, I was diagnosed with IBS which I believe was caused by the nurse messing up my blood test.
Your symptoms sound like IBS, but see what your doctor says first. Explain all the problems you have with tests and your doctor should be able to advise on what is best for you. I have to explain all my reactions to my doctor and dentist before I can have any treatment. I know I will also need an eye test too at some point but I have been avoiding it because of the stress of having to explain all the problems I had with one fifteen years ago.
layna68454 pippa58442
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply, I appreciate all the information. I really dislike going to medical doctors and get stressed out by tests and having to explain my problems as well. I'm going to see the doctor today and will do my best to explain all the symptoms and take it from there. Thank you again for taking the time to respond!
sam18386 layna68454
Posted
how did it go?
pippa58442 layna68454
Posted
How did it go?
layna68454 pippa58442
Posted
Thank you so much for asking! I told him my symptoms and he seems to think that it sounds like an IBS that is stress-related. He asked me whether I had any stress in my life and I told him that I was under an enormous amount of stress and lack of physical activity (I sit in an office for around 7-8 hours daily, five days a week). I was afraid that he was going to ask me to do a bunch of horrific tests but it quite the opposite-the did not even want to examine me, feel my abdominal area of anything like that. He just told me to try and take some probiotics for about a month and see of there is any improvement and do an elimination diet, no dairy or wheat. He also gave me a referral to see a gastroenterology specialist. However, he said it was up to me if I wanted to see one, so basically wait and see if there is any improvement in my symptoms and then decide if I wanted to go that route. I told him that I at least wanted to run some basic tests like blood or stool but he only agreed to do a basic blood test. When I told him that I could not have a colonoscopy he laughed and said that that's what the gastro specialist would do anyway if I went. That is why I hate doctors and our "glorious" medical system. Unfortunately I do not have a good insurance and not able to see better doctors. I did a research and purchased some good probiotics which I will get delivered in a few days and start a strict diet, I want to see it it will help, I will also try to exercise more. Thank you again for caring and God bless you!
layna68454 sam18386
Posted
Thank you so much for asking! I told him my symptoms and he seems to think that it sounds like an IBS that is stress-related. He asked me whether I had any stress in my life and I told him that I was under an enormous amount of stress and lack of physical activity (I sit in an office for around 7-8 hours daily, five days a week). I was afraid that he was going to ask me to do a bunch of horrific tests but it quite the opposite-the did not even want to examine me, feel my abdominal area of anything like that. He just told me to try and take some probiotics for about a month and see of there is any improvement and do an elimination diet, no dairy or wheat. He also gave me a referral to see a gastroenterology specialist. However, he said it was up to me if I wanted to see one, so basically wait and see if there is any improvement in my symptoms and then decide if I wanted to go that route. I told him that I at least wanted to run some basic tests like blood or stool but he only agreed to do a basic blood test. When I told him that I could not have a colonoscopy he laughed and said that that's what the gastro specialist would do anyway if I went. That is why I hate doctors and our "glorious" medical system. Unfortunately I do not have a good insurance and not able to see better doctors. I did a research and purchased some good probiotics which I will get delivered in a few days and start a strict diet, I want to see it it will help, I will also try to exercise more. Thank you again for caring and God bless you!
pippa58442 layna68454
Posted
I think your doctor has the right approach here. You don't need actually need tests if your doctor can confidently diagnose IBS. based on your symptoms only. They only do them if they can't diagnose you or they feel your symptoms warrant it. A CT colonoscopy is a good alternative to a standard colonoscopy.because it doesn't require sedation.
However, your doctor should not have laughed when you said you couldn't go through with a colonoscopy. That is unprofessional behaviour.The Practice nurse laughed when I complained at the mess her colleague made of my arm. That behaviour on top of the botched blood test caused my IBS.
Try to sort out better insurance and ask for an antispasmodic if you get any abdominal pain.
ann55375 pippa58442
Posted
i have ibs. it comes and goes. i refuse to have a colonoscopy as i am extremely anxious and have to take medication for it. i cannot go to dentist or optician due to it. life is pretty awful with this unsolvable problem
pippa58442 ann55375
Posted
I have to force myself to go to the dentist but I avoid the optician even though I know need an eye test.
sam18386 pippa58442
Posted
hi pippa, i would go with you to the optician's as i am ok about this now. my dad had glaucoma and i don:t want to go blind! just go for a nice piece of cake afterwards.
pippa58442 sam18386
Posted
I think my reluctance to go to the optician stems from my avoidance of medical procedures where at all possible. The last time I saw an optician was over fifteen years ago and the man I saw was very jumpy and excitable and caused me to feel the same. The lenses they use to test your eyes hurt my eyes and caused a headache which stress probably caused as well. Incidently, my niece couldn't tolerate the test lenses either and found that the square frame you put your head into worked better for her. If only they did it the old fashioned way where you put your hand over one eye at at a time and read from the card. I was always able to cope with that.
It's just the sheer hassle of having to tell the optician all the adjustments I need that put me off. I get by with a magnifying glass, reading glasses off the peg from a local shop and zooming text on the computer and my phone. The only thing I can't cheat with is my blurred seeing vision. I find one eye takes a while to focus in the morning too.
sam18386 pippa58442
Posted
i think this fear is an asperger thing from what i know of the condtion i go because i have to now. the lights and lots of people puts me off. i can cope physically but don't like conversations about eyes, i'm squeamish about them since they operated on mine when i was little.
pippa58442 sam18386
Posted
It is very much an Asperger thing to avoid difficult tasks and situations. I think I could get an A* in avoidance tactics.
sam18386 pippa58442
Posted
your dentist has down graded you to d- for never turning up! so has the optician! oh dear.