Hi all,
I'm a 20 year old female, previously fit and healthy with a healthy BMI.
In Novemeber last year I had excrutiating abdo pain and was admitted for an emergency laparoscopy to remove what they thought was an ovarian cyst. Drs found nothing and I was told to go back to my GP who reffered me to the Gastrointestinal dept at my local hospital.
I was told I have IBS and put on mebervine and tried the FODMAP diet for 8 weeks, neither of which helped my symptons at all. I suffer from constipation and sever abdo pain. I had an ultrasound, blood tests and flexible sigmoidoscopy, all of which came back normal so it has ruled out any chances of chrons disease. I was then put on Amitryptaline and a wheat free diet, again neither of which made any difference. I have been taking 2 senna a night and also 3 sachets of movicol a day, which has helped with my constipation but not to a very good extent, and I'm still in agony every day. I've now been precribed Prucalopride (a very strong laxative) but I'm so stressed that this won't work. I'm a student nurse and I really don't beleive this is IBS. There is no particular food that irritates me, the only sympton of mine that links to IBS is constipation and that only came on 5 months after the first pains started.
My consultant told me yesterday that there is nothing else he can do for me, he has discharged me from his care and when I asked what should I do now, he said "stop over thinking things, you worry too much. Go and have a good night out and enjoy your life you are only 20". I was really upset by this because how can I when I'm in so much pain all the time? I feel like I've been sacked off and dismissed by him. He told me basically to grin and bear it with the pain and hope that it goes away. I don't know what to do, can anybody help? Is it worth going back to my GP and asking for a second opinion or questioning which dept to go to next? I've been gynae and gastro and they can't find an issue, I'm really worried something has been missed. I cannot carry on with this pain much longer, I am really at the end of my tether and just want to stop fighting the pain now.
Can anybody help? Thank you.
Hi. I do feel sorry for you. You are an educated lady who is a good thinker and you are right to analyse it rather than just believe whatever someone tells you. My theory - for what it is worth - is that the flora in the gut is out of synch. This is something that doctors do not study and know about so it is no good asking them.
They don't understand it at all. You can research it online. Probiotics, blood and white blood cells etc. You must already have some knowledge of this if a training nurse? If you get the balance right the pain stops. I had exactly the same problem and that did it for me. I had all sorts of diagonisis from the doctors - ulcers, gallstones, none of them fitted the symptoms properly.
Hi Carmel, thanks for your reply. Yes I know about flora in the gut and haven't considered that before, I'll give it a go and see what happens. I'm willing to try everything under the sun to get rid of this pain, so fed up and now even my doctor has given up 
thanks for your help, I'll let you know how I get on x
Hi Char, so sorry that you have so much pain to deal with. It's an awful thing. I used to get it every afternoon about 10 years ago and found it was from oats. I have given up all gluten and oats, even gluten free. In fact, recently I switched to the Paleo diet because many grains have an effect on my bowels.
I have tried many types of laxatives and stool softeners and bulkers over the years. I do use Citrucel daily as it doesn't give me any gas. But I have found that magnesium works the very best for me and take it daily. I would suggest starting with 400-800 mg to see how it affects you. You can use up to 2000 mg daily if you have no kidney problems. It makes the intestines move the stool out. And gives no cramping.
And if you try probiotics, get a good one. Don't skimp. I would suggest 30 to 50 billion will several strains.
I wish you the best in your journey and hope you feel better. As you learn, if it is IBS, it can be managed.
Barb
Hi there, it is really sad that you have been left like that. I do think stress is a factor and this won't be helping I can only say what works for me - I take a small shot of Aloe drinking Gel every day and this has calmed my symptoms - It's not a cure or anything, but maintains a good balance in my digestive system and I really notice if I stop taking it. I'd be happy to tell you more in relation to the brand that works for me (to maybe save you time experimenting) as not all drinks are the same, but I don't think it would be right to do so here?
Hi, I've never heard of aloe drinking gel but I'm willing to give it a go! I think stress is a huge factor linking to it and I can feel it getting worse as soon as I'm nervous or worrying about it, I tried explaining that to my consultant and his reply was 'don't be stressed then'. Absolutely useless!! I've set myself a time limit of 1 month to try new methods and if nothing's improved I will go back to my GP, do you think that's a good idea? Thanks x
Hi barb, thanks for your reply. I'll give magnesium a go! Have you found the paleo diet works well then? Yesterday my consultant told me to go back to eating what I enjoy as he wants me to 'enjoy my life' (worst medical advice ever?) but I just want to feel better!
I reckon it's worth a try - I've tried sending you a direct message - not sure if it's worked - I'm a bit of a novice at this 
Hi Char, stress is definitely a big factor in IBS. Stress has gotten me real bad right now (not by choice ☺️), and now my daily nausea has started again. I know the stressful event will be over in two weeks, so hopefully things will get better. I tend to internalize things - no wonder my insides suffer! Do you do the same?
Barb
Hi Char, it doesn't help with constipation, and right now I am dealing with a big stressor, but overall YES, Paleo makes a huge difference in how my insides work. I don't have gas or very little. I believe most grains have proteins and they mess with me. And I can't eat gluten. So for me it was an easy switch as long as I could make some yummy treats. There are some great cookbooks out there. There is also an excellent book by Robb Wolf called The Paleo Solution. Great information in there including IBS, leaky gut syndrome, gluten and how affects us as well as grains.
Anyhow, hope you find some information and solutions that help you. It can take some time (don't I know it!) and even when you figure something out and it works, you then have to find something new to help you out LOL
Regards,
Barb
Hi Barb,
Yes stress does make it worse for sure. My work is very stressful and not being helped by my doctor has only made it worse I feel I tend to internalise things aswell but I'm not a firm believer in that putting your stress onto other helps too much haha! So I tend to just keep myself to myself, sounds like you do too!
I know exactly how it feels when people just expect you to get on with things as normal, i am a 20 year old male and i've been unwell for about 6 months, before hand i was fit and played football all the time. Now my stomach pain and other pains have made it so i can't eat much, lost weight and can't play football. People just expect me to bounce back and get on with it because i'm only 20.
I know what you mean when they say just get on with it and stop worrying. I tried to do what used to be normal for me, like playing football and i went out drinking one night which just made me stomach pains the worst they have been the next day. It is difficult to carry on but you gotta stay positive that there will be something that will help soon enough! If i was you i would get a second opinion, either that or just keep pushing your GP, literally that is all i have done, took me 5 months to find out i had gastritis/duodenitis. Thing is they only told me i had it and gave me no other advice what to do! But i'm gonna keep pushing and thats what you should do, don't give up. I know what its like being young, people don't seem to take you as seriously and make out it must be in your head if they can't find it on their usual tests but you know your body better than anyone else, if you think there is something more than ibs then trust your own judgement.
Hope you get your answers soon, good luck!
Hi Char. Sorry to hear about all of your troubles. I have been going down a similar road for about 5 months now - before this almost no health problems - I'm 40. I now have dull abdominal pain on lower right side of abdomen and back every single day for 5 months and loose stools. The doctors have run several tests (2 ct scans, 3 pelvic ultrasounds, upper GI with small bowel follow through, blood tests, liver function tests) and they even took my appendix out and still it is unresolved. I think it was triggered by stress - because started after I was going through a stressful time in my life - but now the stress comes from having the pain everyday! You have to keep pushing with your doctors and ask for more tests. I would get a different doctor if your present doctor can't do anything more for you. I find going to the doctor even more stressful because they think it is all in your head - but you have to do it. Good luck.
Hi
I'm now 66 and had chronic constipation for 10years with pain over my middle in the last 2 years - I see a good gastro man privately who gives me time but at the end of the day I am a difficult case and he can't sort me out......I'm only 5st 7 onw and after trying Paleo diets etc etc I'm not bothering any more as i'm always hungry and depressed; will stick to gluten free and goats yog and rice milk to play safe. Iwould rather be loose than bunged up the bad pain over my navel wakes me from sleep nearly every nigh at 2 - 3am
Seen Dr today and he wants me to try PRUCALOPRIDE again - it's not a laxative as such. How did you get on with it please?
All the best
Dear charsoton,
I am sorry to hear of your problems I know from experience how bad this can feel. Don't take any notice of the consultants comments, some of them have no bedside manner whatsoever, they have the tact of a barracuda. You are suffering sivere pain it does affect your sleep and you are naturally concerned that there is something really wrong with you. If you have had all the tests including a colonoscopy and nothing seems to be wrong with you physically then you might have IBS which I am sure you know causes some people to have constipation and stress will make your condition worse.
I have been diagnosed with IBS and constipation. I have have a tortuous colon acording to my consultant who did my colonoscopy. I also have type 2 diabetes which does not help my condition.
I have tried the Paleo diet but did not get on with it at all. When I get constipated I eat porridge with milled linseed and lots of fruit but not citrus. I drink only slippery elm and lots of water. No tea or coffee as this makes things worse. I find this combination really works for me.
I have never tried PRUCALOPRIDE but I was given laxido orange and lactulose by my GP which I stopped taking because I did not want to become dependant on laxatives.
I think it's better to find foods that work with your body rather than take lots of prescription drugs.
I hope what I have written helps you in some way and that you get better soon.
If you are a nurse you know vastley more about the human body than I do, this is not always a help to you because you are able to worry about things that I have never even heard of.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas.
Robert