Atypical IBS??

Digestive health
1

I apologise for this being long winded, but I am going totally crazy with worry.  I am 54yr old Female, UK, 7 years post menopause.

 

I went to see my GP in April after starting with a lot of strange symptoms in March which I had initially thought were down to viral illness so didn’t want to bother him.

 

One of them was a discomfort / niggle (I can’t truly call it a pain) in my left chest area when I for example put my shoulder bag on or carried something (even something very light) but it disappeared when I changed sides.  I just put that down to a little muscle tear (although to try to work out where I may have done something strenuous enough to tear my muscle was beyond me!!).  I started being quite bloated, nauseous, having numerous stool movements a day (I usually have 2-3 but was having 6 or so) all normal consistency.  Dry mouth, random fevers and flushing across my face and an increasing sensation in my left side, tucked under the edge of the rib cage, I would say on a level with my bra strap.

 

I also developed discomfort from that same position up the side of my chest to under my arm, and round into my back, up my shoulder blade.  This feels “deep”.  It doesn’t move, it is the same position, and it isn’t gurgling or anything like that, but feels like a fist or a pressure.  If I stand still, for example to chop veg or wash the dishes I end up with a build up of pressure in the back, left side, radiating up towards my shoulder.   Also now if I lift anything – shopping bags etc, then I can feel it build up until it takes over the entire upper back like a burning sensation.  As soon as I put things down it stops.

 

Finally, I developed for a period of around 3 weeks really profuse diarrhoea.  I would eat, about 40 mins to an hour later get an increase of the pain in my upper back (bra strap level) and then have terrible diarrhoea.  This settled and went back to normal stool but still around 4 times daily, and all floating, which remains the same now.  I would get woken by this night after night at 4am and need to go urgently for the loo.  I lost 16lbs in this period, was eating but everything just went through me.  I saw my GP – I told him directly that I thought I had a problem with my pancreas (location of the pain, weight loss, Loose stools, etc).  Sent for Ultrasound Abdomen and bloods – all OK other than fatty liver.  So when I did eventually see my GP to get my results he said he thought it could be “atypical IBS”.  We batted this back and to between us for a little while – I said my discomfort is far too high, static, not spasmodic etc and there all the time not just when I have eaten or need to go to the loo.  He has therefore advised me to follow LOFODMAP diet and to have CT Colonoscopy and a Gastroscope but will not hear my concerns that I have something else.

 

Has anybody ever heard of “atypical” IBS – he basically said it doesn’t fit the usual criteria?  Can anybody please advise on these symptoms?  I am scared that there is something more serious going on but that he thinks I am being overly worried – and that he has IBS in his mind and nothing will change it.  Also I thought that IBS was the last diagnosis to be reached when other things have been excluded.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read and for any help or direction you can provide

2

it could be crones discease, 

3

Your doctor is hearing your concerns that you might have something else when he suggested a CT colonoscopy and gastroscopy.  These two tests would pick up other conditions if there are any present.

Some of your symptoms sound like IBS especially the diarrhoea, bloating and nausea.  My IBS started as constant pain but not spasmodic.  Then it changed to come and go, spasmodic pain.  The weight loss could be from your frequent bowel movements and worry.  People with IBS tend to be prone to worry and particularly have health anxiety.  A common one is the pancreas. I had this along with many other fears. Worry fuels symptoms.  Have you had any stressful events recently before the onset of symptoms?  I had extreme stress for months before my IBS began.

The pain you are having under your ribs may be costochondritis.  I had this for 3 months and I thought I had pulled a muscle. I too tried carrying lighter bags and in different hands and it easied the pain. It can cause a lot of breast and back pain.

The face flushing could be menopausal symptoms too. You can get stomach disturbance with the menopause. I don't know about the dry mouth and fevers though.  You may have a number of conditions going on at once.  .Not all your symptoms are typical of IBS.  However. i have not heard of atypical IBS. Definitely try Fodmap and have the CT colonoscopy and gastroscopy done to get a clear picture of what is going on.  

 

4

I completely agree with Pippa - the tests you are having will pick up any other coditions, and your GP wouldn't have referred you for them if he was simply ignoring your concerns. I was diagnosed with IBS a couple of years ago. I had been having symptoms for about 6 months before I went to my GP who I have to say was brilliant. I had an urgent colonoscopy ( within 10 days of seeing my GP ) which revealed nothing other than a small benign polyp. My symptoms were similar to yours, although I had a constant dull ache in my right side, frequent and urgent diarrhoea, nausea, fatigue, hot flushes, fevers, etc.etc. Even though I was well past the menopause. 

It is not uncommon for IBS to accompanied by joint and muscle pain. Do try a Low Fodmap eating plan, it has certainly helped me enormously. 

Good luck. 

Jan

5

Thank you for your replies.

I also need to add my stools float (always now but only in past 2 weeks) and can take 3 flushes to get rid of.  Is that typical of IBS?

I will try to stop worrying about him ignoring my concerns although I remain concerned that with every day going by something could be wrong but I understand that the investigations will help that.

Yes, Pippa - I had had 2 huge stresses literally one after the other - the death of somebody very very close followed within a day or so with learning my parent has a terminal illness.  I admit to drinking alcohol very heavily for a a few weeks - not heavily enough for me to not attend work but much more than I would normally drink.  I haven't drank alcohol now for 10 weeks simply as I recognised that I was using it as a crutch and it wouldn't help.  I also think that having drank alot is why I began to worry about my pancreas and fitted all the symptoms to my pancreas.

Jan - I have looked at the FODMAP diet.  Am useless in the kitchen totally, but will concentrate on the list of LO foods and cobble some meals together.

When I look at the human body tho, the intestine is nowhere near where my pain is (neither is the pancreas but I do know that alot of pancreatic pain is felt in the back and shoulder blade).  My GP also talked about irritation of the diaphragm but I didn't really understand this.

thank you

6

I was told that floating stools were 'fatty; stools - too much fat in the diet.  I burn up , get 'flu  like symptoms, dry mouth, thick throat ( some kind person here told me this was due to acid and to drink milk)  I have had very little support  apart from being told that I have a spigilian hernia ( which is rare,) following a colonoscopy.  I have read on the hernia site that some of my symptoms could be hernia related.  It is still trial and error.  I can't eat any cereal, avoid potatoes and the only bread I can eat on rare ocassions is sourdough.  It's so frustrating.

7

IBS can develop within six months of a stressful event, so IBS could be your problem. Only one doctor asked me about stress and this is what got me my diagnosis.  No other doctor considered it but I didn't connect my symptoms to the stress I had gone through either because I am usually anxious anyway so I didn't think of mentioning it at first.