At my witts end, IBS or Gallbladder, Doctors fed up of me

Digestive health
1

I wish I had the money to go private so my GP surgery would stop treating me like I am making things up! I am getting so distressed and upset I don't know what to do anymore. I cannot change surgery as I live in a really rural area and this one is the nearest and it's 18 miles away and feeling so ill I struggle to get there!

Shortish story. Was diagnosed with IBS when I was 19, I am 33 now. It was manageable for several years but when I got M.E (CFS) in 2009 my IBS went downhill badly with severe constipation non stop. I was simply given a range of laxatives to try and ended up having to take the maximum dose of something I forgot the name of for months.

Last year things got really bad and I started having bad pain in my right side under my ribs aroud the front of my body (not the back). I was sent for a Colonoscopy which came back 'normal' with some colitis. I was told this wasn't a problem and was normal due to the flushing out procedure prior to the exam.

Fast forward to now and the pain in my right side is bad and constant and I've had it for 3 months now, it started around the front and also spreads around the back as well plus been getting twinges in my right groin and sometimes my right hip hurts. I was left for a month as the GP said it was a muscle strain and was given Voltarol gel (didn't work). I went back after a month and handed over a diary I kept of my messed up digestive system and they did blood and urine (checked basics and gallbladder and liver function), all those samples came back as normal and I was told it was 'just IBS' and told to buy Buscopan, I did and it's done nothing. I begged and cried that something was wrong and they scheduled an ultrasound of my Gallbladder wondering if I may have gallstones but the GP acted as if I was a time waster because he kept saying "for your piece of mind, even though your bloods are fine, gallbladder and liver issues are picked up in bloods and yours are fine".

The local hospital is so stacked up I have been told I will not get this ultrasound until the end of August. That has left me in dispair as the surgery refuses to push it forward because I am walking and talking and my bloods are fine.

I am now getting pain on my left side under my ribs as well and I have been experiencing explosive and watery diarrhea first thing in the morning which leaves me feeling faint and weak and aggrevates the pain in my right side.

I was told not to take any painkillers incase there was something wrong with my liver so I am hurting with no relief except a hot water bottle which doesn't really help, neither does a cool pack.

I have begged and begged and even written a letter to the practice manager but to no avail, I have just been told to wait for the ultrasound. I am terrified I am going to die of something before the ultrasound (sorry but my Dad died young and suddenly of Liver and Pancreatic cancer because Doctors told him he had IBS) or if I make it to that ultrasound I am worried it will come back as 'normal' and I'm going to be left in agony suffering forever.

I don't know what's wrong, no-one cares and I am struggling to cope emotionally and physically. I cannot leave the house anymore as it hurts to drive and I feel so so ill everyday.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Is it really 'just IBS'? If it was why do none of the IBS pills work like Buscopan or Colpermin? Could it be Gallbladder? I always thought you had an 'attack' for Gallbladder pain, not constant pain for 3 months? What else could it be?

Thank you so much for any help given, I feel very alone in this, least of all because I have moved house and have no friends or family nearby as this all started a month after I moved.

2

I know exactly how you feel. I'm also 33,my GP told me that my bloods are fine (well in March they were) and I had a private ultrasound in May which cost £85 and it returned nothing abnormal bar a slightly fatty liver. It's IBS apparently, and I've been referred to counselling for anxiety and physio for my back pain (right side) as she thinks it's muscular. I'm only going so she can rule that out. 

I have my up days, and my down because I've been told to wait 8 weeks before going back to them and I've started getting the same rib aches you describe. It's more of a discomfort than a pain in my ribs but I've no better way of describing other than "it's not regular"

My father had bowel cancer a few years back and yeah it's played on my mind. I'm pretty scared at times too because like you I'm spiralling a little bit, even if everyone around me says I'll be fine. 

What general area are you in? Pretty sure you might be able to find a clinic to scan you for around the same price. 

3

Hi firefly,

I'm so sorry you're feeling so down but I can totally relate to your sense of helplessness!As I've found out, symptoms like yours can have many causes including ibs or gallbladder and the normal route is to rule things out one by one. Ive had gallbladder problems, which presented as continuous pain under the right rib and to the back. Like you all my bloods were fine which meant it wasn't treated as a priority in spite of the fact I couldn't eat for days on end.

Not all medications work for everyone so it doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't ibs but you need the scan to check for other issues. You dont say whether you have pain after eating, which is a classic sign of gallbladder problems? (Though not in all people) . In the end I borrowed money to pay for private treatment but I know this isnt possible for all.

This seems to be a good forum for support through tough times so don't feel that you're alone.

Take care

4

Oh my goodness. You are really in a bad way, Firefly. Is your mother not nearby? You could use some serious support. That is terrible that your doctor has been so insensitive. Unfortunately, doctors are overworked and they can give you...maybe 10 minutes, 15 is pushing it! It might be worth seeing another doctor; a gastroenterologist. Phone your doctor's secretary and tell her that you need to see a gastroenterologist asap. Or send her a copy of your desperate email. 

Since you are getting no help from your doctor, you really need to become an expert on what makes your symptoms better and what aggravates them. Keep a diary as you have been doing. Try to figure things out for yourself. No one cares more about you than you. 

What is your diet like? Are you eating plenty of fruits and vegetables? 6 - 10 servings? Are you drinking plenty of water. Just changing those two things could solve your problems. Then cut out all 'bad foods'...and I am sure you are very motivated and will try this because you cannot go on as you are doing. Bad foods are greasy, fried, packaged foods, sugary foods and drinks including fruit juices and most things that are beige in colour.

Prepare FRESH, colourful foods. This may be foreign to you but it is what our digestive systems crave; 6 - 10 servings per day!  So you would be sitting down to a dinner plate of jewel toned veggies. A choice of beets, carrots, peas, green lettuce (never iceberg), fresh tomatoes, asparagus, spinach, green beans, sweet potato etc.. The list goes on. The meat should be no larger than a deck of cards. That is may be half a chicken breast for example. Breakfast can be a smoothie with 2 or 3 of the following: apple, berries, 1/2 a banana, melon etc..and almond milk whirred together. Yum!  (Avoid dairy until you are well) I add protein powder or eat an egg. Lunch could be a delicious salad. I used to make my daughter an 8 veggie salad every day to take to work with her. Snacks, if you need them, could be nuts and seeds with a fruit.

Probiotics are a must for anyone with digestive issues. Buy it soy based, not dairy based. 

Since I have suffered with IBS since age 13 or 14, I know just what to take to be regular. It took me years to get it right. Around 4 pm I take psyllium (which is natural) in a tall glass or two of water mid afternoon. It's the ground up husks of the plantain plant. At night before bed I take 2 - 3 tablets of a natural mineral, magnesium glycinate or magnesium citrate. You should empty your large intestine completely every morning and the possible back up (which causes pain and discomfort) will move right along into the large intestine.

If you are overweight, you might have a very common condition that causes pain in the areas you are mentioning. It is  Non Alcoholical Fatty Liver Disease which as much as 30 % of the population of the UK suffers from. http://virtualpressoffice.easl.eu/low-vitamin-d-linked-to-fatty-liver-disease-in-uk-children/ Check out this condition and see if you feel that this might be the issue. You can have a simple and quick ultrasound to scan the liver to see if this is the case. And in any case, you can diet eating as outlined above. Keep your protein up along with the veggies (meat, eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes) and you will not feel the cravings as much. Visiting a dietician might help.

Let me know if this has been helpful and if after a week you don't feel much better and can relax and get back to normal again. Just think, your insides are screaming out that it is not happy with something you are doing to it. Treat it well and it will settle down for sure. Good luck little Firefly!

5

Thank you so very much all of you what a lovely place for a friendly ear and support, this in itself has helped no end smile

I ended up phoning my GP yesterday and apologising that I was pestering but I was suffering and I felt that wasn't fair being left for so long with no advice or treatment. She was very understanding and has said she will try and move my ultrasound forward because further delays were now showing as me having to wait until the end of August. She has also referred me to a Gastroenterologist but the appoint isn't until 9th September, ughhh.

I am currently following the very expensive FODMAP and low fat diet with no dairy, wheat or gluten so this is why it's quite costly, it's very unfair that people who have digestive illnesses are punished by having to follow these diet rules with the high costs of wheat, gluten and lactose free, it's for our wellbeing not a fashion!!

Just a few replies to questions now. I am not overweight, I am 5ft 8 and 10stone 4lbs, oh and female too, I was 4lbs heavier 3 months ago, still not overweight but I have lost that as I cannot eat properly.

I've always had a pretty balanced and healthy diet with the odd temptation but everything in moderation. As I've had IBS for over 10 years I have learnt to be healthy, drinks lots of water, eat plenty of fruit and green veg, I don't drink alcohol but my downfall is exercise, I cannot exercise at all due to my M.E and Fibromyalgia. I try to stay as fit as possible with housework and going up and down the stairs. However, I know this is where it all goes wrong, I do smoke. I smoke 20 a day, roll ups with filters. It's bad I know but when I have tried to give up last time I started to suffer from terrible anxiety and panic attacks. Even my GP recommended that I concentrated on my general health first before putting that much stress on me. The insentive is there, I will quit, I just need to cut a break!

I don't have pain after eating, this is why I am confused about it being gallbladder as my GP said that was a classic sign, it's also been constant pain for 3 months and my GP said that gallbladder issues usually come in attacks but sometimes can be constant. So... I did an experiment 2 weeks ago, I bought a McDonalds meal, it was absolutely revolting but I pushed myself to eat it. I didn't get any pain after eating it and the next day I was 'the same as normal'. I'll just have to wait for the ultrasound I suppose and see what that says. Then if that's clear (as I fear) I'll have to wait for this Gastro appointment. How I am going to get to all of these I have no idea, there was me thinking rural living was the key to being healthy and calm LOL

I will look into some probiotics, soy based ones. I bought some Papaya Enzyme from Holland and Barrett but all that did was give me really bad wind which hasn't seemed to have gone away!

I notice that a lot of these threads on here which I have read didn't get updated so I have put a reminder on my desktop to update this one as and when I can, hopefully it will help others to hear if I get a solution to this all.

Thank you again so much for your kindness and support, it really meant a lot to me when I felt so low yesterday *hugs* smile

6

Hello Firefly,

Glad to hear that your doctor has responded well and that you are going to see a specialist. It still could be that Fatty Liver is 'the issue' even if you are of a normal weight...but less likely.

Can you still pay more attention to what you eat and drink? Smoking takes away the appetite...so maybe you aren't drawn to fruit at breakfast or a lovely, crisp apple or juicy pear as an afternoon snack... Remember, the NHS recommends 6 - 10 servings per day.

Drinking water is always beneficial for any digestive issues. Keeping a jug on your computer desk helps me drink more. Water keeps things moving in the right direction and flushes out the system.

In spite of normal results on blood tests, could it be gall bladder pain? Are your stools pale?  http://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Gallbladder-Disease

You tried a McDonald's meal and it didn't make your symptoms any worse...maybe the McD meal was not a fatty meal...or any higher in fat than what you normall eat.. Is that a possibility?. How about trying another experiment; no smoking for 24 hours...or longer? See if that makes a difference.

Also can you at least cut back in general and not smoke on an empty stomach? Have almond milk on hand and have 1/4 cup before you smoke. See WHEN your symptoms are at their worst; keep a food and cigarette diary.

Until you are well, I would suggest that you cut out ALL dairy...not even a bit in your morning coffee. Consider that even coffee is very hard to digest...and milk is as well. If I have a coffee on an empty stomach I feel nauseated and often have to make myself throw up...and it's all bile! This may be the first thing that goes into your stomach each morning...when it may be begging for a fruit smoothie. (berries, apple, almond milk, protein powder in a blender). 

Are you taking a multi vitamin...with iron in it? Iron can cause very bad digestive issues including bad constipation. 

If you have an ulcer, a round of antibiotics will clear it up. If I were you...and suspected an ulcer, and was in constant pain as you are, I would present myself at the hospital for an ultrasound. They cannot turn you away. You cannot suffer, especially if it is an ulcer. It could perforate without treatment.

Are you going to take magnesium at bedtime? It will keep you nice and regular with NO morning cramps. It could be that your digestion is slow...and sorry to badger, but cigarette smoking does interfere with peristalsis; the muscles moving intestinal contents through the bowel. So magnesium will really help. Try 2 at bedtime and then if you feel that you need more efficient 'emptying' try 3. Each tablet has 400 mg of magnesium citrate in it. According to studies, 60% of us are magnesium deficient.

While we are on the subject of supplements, do you take vitamin D throughout the winter? Do you get out in the sun every day? Your level of vitamin D could be very low like 100% of Brits by December 31st according to studies. Of course, fish oil is the best source such as krill oil or omega 3.

Copied from the site Web MD: Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

 A mild deficiency may cause only mild, if any, symptoms. But if untreated, it may cause symptoms such as:

Weakness, tiredness, or light-headedness  

Rapid heartbeat and breathing

Pale skin

Sore tongue

Easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums

Stomach upset and weight loss

Diarrhea or constipation

If you think you have symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, you can ask your doctor for a blood test to check on that.

I was seeing a new doctor who wanted to do a routine blood test. I asked him to add B12 to the test and sure enough, the results showed that everything was normal...except my B12 levels were low. So I take a little, sweet flavoured pill under my tongue.

What if the gastroenterologist says that you have to quit smoking? I feel pretty sure he or she will because smoking does cause digestive issues.

https://patient.info/health/acid-reflux-and-oesophagitis#nav-5

You may as well start reducing your smoking now, don't you think? Get on a program. There are many excellent ones. They say you can't stop a habit; you have to replace it. So maybe eating an apple while you go for a walk...could be a good alternative. Or skipping with a rope for 5 minutes. Or calling a friend or drinking a glass of water. Anything to keep busy instead of smoking. 

Hope something in here helps and that you take your health in hand, become 'the master of your own destiny' and not be like so many of my generation who relied on the doctor and passivley obeyed his orders without question. I am sure you can find the solution, through trial and error and documenting what works and doesn't. Then when you do see the doctor you will have valuable information to share with her. Good luck, Firefly!

7

Am so sorry about your problem and it is so annoying when smeone says all you have to do is change your doctor or something so black and white and simple that you could hve thought of for yourself if it were sensible and practical.  There are cases of ibs where the person is in agony.  I am in a similar situation and also have no family or friends nearby so this makes it worse as stuck at home on my own not feeling well enough to go out or do things and just worryng. I long to go to bed and night and sleep and dread waking up to it again. For what it is worth I am there for you, truly.

8

It is all very well say prepare delicious beautiful vegetables but very often we feel too ill to eat, or to go out and get food or to stand and cook it.

9

You say if you have an ulcer a round of biotics weill clear this up. This is only the cause with those caused by bacteria, those caused by damage done by medication do not respond to this.

10

Hi again,

re gallbladder pain. Mine was pretty much constant and I often had after effects the next day. Having said that, I'm still having problems 5 weeks after having the gb out so there could be something else going on! It's probably best to have thorough investigations now as I find once docs have identified the cause, treatment can become a bit blinkered and other potential causes ignored.

You're right to persist with your gp, you know your own body better than anyone and your health is too important to ignore. Good luck and keep us up to date with your progress.

11

Hi Firefly,

sorry to hear how you are suffering I had all those pains told by GP muscular but did arrange a ultra sound all clear.Still get it occasionally but has fractured my shoulder 12 years ago so having gone to a rheumatologist he thinks it stems from my shoulder as my spine is slightly curved to the right.I rang the hospital and asked them if I could go on the cancellation list  and got one within a week,don't know if that is possible for you also was given the all clear there and then as it is instant does not have to be reported on.I have also got IBS tested  for celiac all clear but have started a gluten free diet even so, So mine is almost sorted and also if you are anxious which I can understand you are I was that does not help.Do wish you luck and keep pushing the more you complain the better.

 

12

Just a thought have you asked for help with your smoking if you want to give it up I know the local GPs do put you on to a nurse who gave my Husband tablets for 6 weeks he was not heavy smoker just about 3 a day but did the trick, but that is upto the individual I am not saying it will help with your symptons but just to say there is help out there which you probably know .

take Care

13

That sounds exactly like I had written it, at the moment after 35 plus years having relief, starting taking Bimuno powder, certainly seems to help, worth a try, it was recommended by somebody on here, you have to give it a go .

14

Hello Carmel,

Wow! Four angry sounding emails in a row!... 

I wrote the email to Firefly  which took me well over an hour, combing favourite health sites on the internet and trying my best to help her with her desperate situation.  If she cannot eat vegetables or go grocery shopping, there are solutions that I am sure she can figure out. I believe her that her mother is not nearby but maybe she can phone her or some relative for support. It could be embarrassment that is standing in the way.

On a forum when suggestions are offered in a spirit of support and encouragement, this is not the venue to put someone down for their suggestions. I don't necessarily agree with everything, everyone says (such as taking meds without trying lifestyle changes) but I don't put anyone down or challenge them. If some suggestion is blatently dangerous, then a poster can report it to the administrators.

 

In spite of your comments, I will try to help you because I have had exactly what you suffer from. I had problems for years where I was writhing on the bathroom floor (even as young as 13 years old) and having had kidney stones and given birth to 3 children, those muscle contraction bowel pains are right up there on the Richter scale of agony! Unfortunately it took me years to figure out the solution myself when no doctor, after scans and tests had the complete answer. Through some medical advice, reading up on IBS which was not yet identified as such, advice from a friend, my own intuition and trial and error, I finally found what could be considered 'a cure' or almost completely successful management of my IBS. This is what works for me and I must adhere to it...or else. And the consequences are so painful that I am highly motivated to be very aware of the state of my insides. My aim is to be REGULAR.

1. I drink 2 glasses of water upon arising. The pitcher is beside the computer.

2. I take 2 - 3 tabs of the natural mineral magnesium glycinate or magnesium citrate at bedtime with a bit of almond milk. (I cannot tolerate dairy.)...advised by my naturopath and many sites.

3. Of course, I aim to eat a healthy diet with the NHS recommended number of vegetables and fruits. Do I always succeed?..usually but not always. When I eat (brown) rice, I am extra vigilant where my regularity is concerned. 

The result: I am as regular as clockwork, every single morning. My large intestine is completely emptied easily and gently; NEVER with any pain. I am so glad that I found this solution which has been working like a gem consistently for about 5 years now. Thank God for magnesium. It also helps you sleep better and is a brain food; both of which are good for me. 

Good luck, Carmel.

 

15

Hi Robin, Thank you very much for the information which I will have a think about. I was not angry with you but do get irritated when people say do this or that when maybe it is not the best thing to do or not possible.  i.e.  earlier on someone told someone to change their doctor and when your stomach is in a lot of pain it is hard to stand up to prepare food or go to get some. I understand that a lot of people hve help but in my own case I do not.   I have to prepare it and get it, nobody else would, and I presume there may be others with the same problem.  You say you cannot tolerate dairy.  You see I can tolerate dairy, tomatoes, anything. I will research into this magnesium thing you speak of but maybe our symptoms are different, after all tomatoes give me no problem?!

16

Hi I have similar , I'm thinking it is just ibs my bloods are also ok but I have been looking into diverticulitis and colon parasite lately , I'm in agony with my back my stomach hurts when squashed and my right side near rib is really sore some days worse than others .

17

I'm so sorry to read about your problem. After all you've done and still no action form your GP is unacceptable. You need to make an appointment and take a wittness with you. Formally ask for a second opinion and if nescessary, back up your request in writing and send it recorded delivary. Keep a diary of your visits and what was said. You may like to consider writing to your MP and the Local area health authority as well. Bottom line is the more people who know about your problem, the more difficult it will be to ignor or justify brushing your concerns to one side!

Hope this helps?

18

I've suffered with IBS for about 15 years but it's now under control with Esompeprazole and Mebeverine.  Unfortunately, Mebeverine makes me very constipated so I'm on 2 per day instead of 3 and a laxative powder in water which is very helpful.

I've also suffered with gallstones!  My pain was under the ribs on the right side going round to the back, and just the smell of food (especially pork chops) made me nauseous to the point I couldn't eat the meal.  I was going to the doctor frequently with the pain and he sent me for various x-rays which all came back normal.  He eventually told me it was all in my mind because he could find nothing wrong.  This went on for at least four years until I felt so bad I went private and I'm thankful I did.  The specialist asked if I had pain anywhere else and I did have pain in my shoulder (can't remember now whether it was left or right).  He eventually told me that this was a clear sign of gallstones with such referred pain.  I'd thought it was something completely different such as cold in my shoulder.  He sent me for a different x-ray where I'd to drink this special barium meal so many hours before the x-ray and another nearer the time of th x-ray which showed inside my gallbladder.  It was like an elongated banana choc-full of stones.  He got me into hospital pretty quickly and after the operation he gave me a jar with the stones in it and asked me to count them when I was up to it.  Before I was discharged, I counted them and I had 106 stones, some as big as a double back tooth, others pea sized and some tiny ones.  He said he'd never known someone have as many as that.

When I went back to see my GP, I asked why didn't he think of gallstones.  His ridiculous answer was:  You didn't fit the norm for having gallstones - you're fair, but not fat and not forty!  I ask you!  I've not had much faith in doctors since then.

So to check for gallstones, you need the special barium meal well in advance of the x-ray so it's reached your gallbladder to show if there are stones in it.

I suggest you ask for this next time you see the doctor.

Good luck.  I hope you feel better soon.

19

The same thing happened  to me I was diagnosed with IBS about 10 or more  years ago.that is when I was in my late 30s or early 40s.I am 53 years old now and I was having really bad continue pains in my right side under my ribs then went to my lower stomach and lower back.I went to my gastrologist and he said it was IBS but they did no test they just went with the symptoms was having.I wanted to get a second opinion so I went to another one and they said it was not IBS they did not think and did blood test ultrasounds MRIs and everything came back normal.They said there is one more thing I can try and the did a test to test the function of my gallbladder with the test I found out I had a low functioning gallbladder but they said they did not see any stones but if I wanted to get it removed it might ease some of my pain.I looked on the internet and it said sometimes stones are so small they do not show up on ultrasounds so I got it removed and when I did there was one small stone .It has only been a couple weeks since my surgery and I already feel a little better.

I hope this helps.

20

Have you found any relief or anything yet my husband is going through the same stuff and I believe we are finally coming to the end of it. After 8 years of being diagnosed with diverticulitis we are now looking at a dysfunctional gallbladder which means there is no gallstones all your tests come back normal. Of course everyone that has had a gallbladder removal all swear up and down that if this was the problem you would know it. Well if it was just that easy LOL! He just had another colonoscopy performed on Friday that is when we were told that he does not have diverticulitis nor has he ever had it the surgeon said that he has a coin of a 18 year old LOL he is 44. So the next step is to go have a ultrasound done which will be on the 8th now if that ultrasound shows no gallstones he is going to look further into the gallbladder just because even though there's no gallstones present the gallbladder can still be the problem he called it a dysfunctional gallbladder