I was first dx with ibs a decade ago after full upper gi with small bowel follow through, colonoscopy and biopsy and celiac blood test. I figured out my IBS pattern, did an elimination diet, and had it under control for the most part for many years. mine is alternating but an emphasis on constipation. the usual pain, gas, bloating, need to use washroom frequently, don’t always feel like bowels emptied.
since then, I have added the following symptoms or conditions: GERD, canker sores, nose sores, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, GAD, panic disorder, steatorrhea, hemorrhoids, black stool, tingling in extremities, occasional mucus in stool, food avoidance due to fear, constant nausea, weight gain bc I always just feel starving–the only way I can describe it is like I’m drinking water but never sated, but with food. thin dental enamel and receding gums. I have used laxatives and I’ve had to go home to change clothes bc I didn’t make it to the bathroom. I have attributed any additional or worsening GI symptoms to the ibs and then just collected other issues. also I’m short–my mom is too, and I was born preemie–but where it’s weird is I have an identical twin who is multiple inches taller bc I was sickly as a kid, constraint headaches (migraines), allergies & asthma, and stomachaches alllll the time so we just assumed that’s why.
when I finally got my fibro dx I was dissatisfied because everything ive experienced seems systemic and autoimmune when I finally stepped back. I didn’t realize I had the steatorrhea or black stools until I started having different worse gas and new excruciating localized stomach pain, and when I was going down an internet rabbit hole realized that’s what my own stools have looked like and maybe I should’ve gone back to the doctor already. I have a niggling suspicion I have an IBD instead of IBS so that’s why I’m posting:
has anyone had such systemic problems with IBS? or symptoms that got progressively worse, and/or changed or added new ones? are all my issues just coincidence?