IBS-D. Suggestions? :(

Digestive health
1

Hello. I apologize in advance for the long post, but I’ve found speaking to people who can relate helps me out a lot. I have been struggling with recurrent stomach issues for just over a year now. I am an 18 y/o female. I have been all over the place with diagnoses and ended up with a final diagnosis of IBS-D. I’m still not sure I believe it and I have really bad anxiety about my health. It is really exhausting and upsetting to be sick so often especially at such a young age. 

I was doing well (haven’t had a flare since January) until a few days back. Stomach cramps began and I knew the diarrhea was going to come soon after. My main symptoms are upper abdominal cramping near my ribs, it is intermittent (comes for a few seconds than goes for a while), diarreah and occasionally a low grade fever. I have been sick around 8-9 times since last January. The first episode was awful. I was extremely ill, and not convinced that was the beginning of IBS, but was told cases of gastroenteritis could cause IBS. 

However, I have had my stool tested. First I tested positive for Cdiff. Treated. Got sick again a month or so later and tested negative. Perhaps a false positive first time..? I have had an endoscopy and colonoscopy - no sign of IBD, no bacteria present in biopsies, slight inflammation in my stomach. Pelvic ultrasound - all normal. Blood tests & food allergy tests - normal every time except my CRP is occasionally slightly elevated. 

Finally, my questions are:

 could this really just be IBS or did we miss something? Should I request any other types of tests? My flares often last for a week or more. Cramping starts first and goes away first, leaving me with watery D. 

What can I do to help this? I began taking probiotics which I believe may have helped push this flare back a few months. I’m not sure if I should take something like Imodium or just let it all out? Has anyone seen real improvement from a low FODMAP diet? 

Thanks in advance. I’m a really worry wart and I’m really tired of being sick. 

2

Ok

Im not a doctor but i personaly had queasy,nausea, and cramping for 2-3 months and i ended up take buscapan cramps and Omeprazole which did the trick.

However i now have a little anxiety now which is also getting better.

I was looking on the net all the time to find out what tge problem was and the best place i found was NHS web site.

I drink peppermint tea for ibs and camomile for Anxiety. As well as exercise getting out side in sunshine (if we get any lol) and eat balance meals.

Have u got any blood in pee or poo?

Is pain in 1 place?

Are ilurgict to anything?

Are u getting enough sleep

Get some flax seed or fish oil in you.

When cramping i would stick a hot water bottle on my gut and it felt great when i went for a walk as well😊

Hope this helps

3

Buscopan, nurofen and imodium help my IBS.  Imodium stops the diarrhoea and makes you more comfortable.  My first IBS flare up lasted three and a half months  Reducing stress also helps a lot.  Was gastritis mentioned when they found slight inflammation in your stomach?  Maybe  you have both conditions.

4

Making a food diary can really help. I know you've mentioned you don't seem to be allergic to anything but maybe something still could set off your D. Try it and see. Different diets work for different people but a tip a dietician gave me was just to change one food at a time rather than changing your entire diet. Your more likely to spot foods which can upset your bowel this way.

I alternate between C and D. It's a nightmare at times. Any food which has spices can set off the D but ive still not found the cause of C.

I've always had problems with my tummy, since I was young. It started with gastroenteritis.

From what you've mentioned it really does sound like IBS-D and nothing more. But because of you feeling anxious please do ask for more tests or repeats if you feel that may male you feel better. As you know an anxious mind does your bowel no good!