Is This IBS or Something More Scary?

Digestive health
1

Hello,

I'm looking for advice from other people in this forum regarding some unfortunate symptoms which has taken over my life since recently.

About a week and a half before April of this year I noticed a funny feeling in my stomach. It's hard to explain but the feeling was uncomfortable. When April began, I started experiencing mild abdominal pains and a change in overall bowel movements (sometimes solid other times loose).

I went to my GP who said I was saying I'm too young for these symptoms and even asked if cancer runs in my family (a bit odd but it doesn't). He sent off a CEA (cancer marker test) which came back normal and also did a Barium Enema test which also showed no abnormalities and that everything was normal.

Upon bringing the barium enema results to him he simply seems to suggest it could be IBS or something else, prescribed meds which he said I should take if I have "another attack".

What puzzles me is, what attack? I've pretty much told him that these symptoms have pretty much persisted from the start of April (some days it's hardly noticeable). After the Barium Enema test, my symptoms had eased about a week but they're pretty much back. I've also noticed pain near my rib section and on my left side and the mild pain in my stomach still continues.

Full Symptoms:

- Abdominal pain started around navel section but is now general throughout my abdominal area

- Growling stomach

- Diarrhea (semi-solid to diarrhea)

- Felt sudden pain in left side of stomach/rib area which was worst when lying down. That was just one night.

- Sometimes using the bathroom relieves me of symptoms for a while

- Mild pain usually comes on throughout the day but is never really felt in the morning when I wake

I really want to know for those with "IBS" does symptoms last this long? Based on research it seems IBS should not persist this long (typically 2-4 days then goes).. So, all in all, I'm confused and a little worried. I've booked myself to see a specialist since he wouldn't really recommend one but I'd like to know the thoughts of others.

Sorry for the long "essay", looking for some advice. Thank you for listening.

2

When do you see the specialist?  You  are  taking the correct course in trying to find out what ails you or, alternatively, that there is no real cause for worry.  Speaking of which, are you under any strain right now?

3

You have classic IBS symptoms especially since your tests were all normal.  When you get an attack this means a flare up of the symptoms you are having.  Doctors usually prescribe an antispasmodic med to reduce the abdominal pain.    However, you will find that these medications will not get rid of the pain entirely. You may have to try several before you find a suitable one.

Try keeping a food diary to see if any foods are causing symptoms.  Ask about the Low Fodmap diet which can help with iBS.

The severity of symptoms can vary throughout the day; this is what confused me.  Sometimes, I had hardly any pain whereas at other times I had a lot of pain.  Pain can last hours, days, weeks or months.  My first flare up lasted 3 and a half months.  It can be constant or come and go and moves all over your stomach.  You can get different types of pain: deep grinding, dull, sharp or sore to touch.  Lying down on it can be painful.  Stress/anxiety will make your symptoms considerably worse.  Everyone is different in the range of symptoms they get.

However, you should push for a firm, defiinitive diagnosis rather than 'it could be IBS'. You are doing the right thing in seeing a specialist. The doctor who diagnosed me told me that I had IBS.  I had to go to several doctors on eight occasions before I got this unexpected breakthrough. Diagnosis improved my symptoms and got rid of my panic. 

4

I see the specialist in 2 weeks (May 18). He seems to be very highly qualified locally and that's the earliest I could get. I'm not really under any stress right now however I must admit I am someone that suffers from anxiety from time to time. During the period of the initial onset of symptoms I was a little bit stressed.

5

Thank you for the very detailed response. I really appreciated reading what you had to say. That's my idea behind going to the specialist, I want a firm solid answer. Recently there was a friend of the family that died of pancreatic cancer because of a misdiagnosis of initial symptoms. All these things run through my mind especially as I see symptoms that just isn't normal for my body.

Not trying to think the worst but of course it would relief me to clear that all up. I have since changed up my diet (eliminated fatty food for the most part, eating more fruits when I can etc.). I also saw a dietician which helped me make better food choices.

I will most definitely start keeping a food diary. I already started recording my daily symptoms to present during my consultation

6

Hi

It does sound like IBS yoy don't seem to be showing any red flag symptoms.

IBS is a general term the medical profession give out when they can't pin the symptoms with any other problem

Ask Dr for refural to see a GI consultant.

He may not give you one.

As I said IBS is usually diagnosed when other issues are ruled out.

As for length of time IBS can flare up I'm now 12 months and counting......

7

Hi Mike, I too am concerned re the length of time for 'flare ups' my IBS symptoms are every day! And have been for a good year now, which is why I am insisting on further tests!

I have recently stripped my diet of wheat, gluten, yeast and dairy and still feeling no different! I think we know our bodies and if something isn't right investigate further! Good luck for your apt on 18th!

Jo.x

8

The length of flare ups you read about in articles only give you an average length of time.   This can vary widely from patient to patient.  Everyone is different.   Perhaps the foods you eliminated may not be your triggers but some other food instead.  The other possibility is that you don't have any food reactions at all or you may be one of the 5% of patients who don't respond to any treatment.  I don't have any IBS food intolerances.

 

9

It is also worth while telling your doctor even what might seem to be insignificant symptoms.  I thought my anxiety and stressful episodes were irrelevant because I am always anxious normally.  But mentioning this got me diagnosed.

10

Hi Pippa, I am reading this thread with interest as I am currently being investigated for symptoms that I know my GP will try to attribute to IBS (as he has before) but which are causing me huge concern, and when I initially told him where my concern lay (pancreas) he just dismissed it out of hand.

I am interested in what you say about pushing for a firm definitive diagnosis..........how do I do that without suggesting to my GP that I know more than he does lol!

I have had symptoms since beginning March, absolutely no let up.  I also have a tendence to anxiety and he started me on Fluoxetine.  I haven't had a normal stool since end of March, mine are Type 6-7, no fat observed, but like clockwork anywhere from 40 minutes after eating I get an urgency to go.  I also have very signifcant pain / discomfort / pressure in my left side abdo / ribs and back, and also across my back and into right side back and ribs, it is very distressing and doesn't feel relieved by anything other than moving around.  Standing still worsens it.  And heartburn!!

I have lost 18lbs in April just because I am not eating as much as eating brings on the increased pain in my left back, and then the BM.

We love to go out, eat out.....I feel I am failing my OH at the moment because other than going to work I am so worried about not being close to the loo.

I do understand that my anxiety will be having some part to play in all of this.  I have had bloods done (not had results but not had the dreaded call to go see the GP either) and am having an upper abdo USS on Thursday.  I have made an appointment to see GP the following week with the results.......but I also know how difficult and lengthy it can be to diagnose pancreatic disorders, and I can already sens that he is going to tell me it is IBS.

I don't get the intensity of Abdo pain that people on these forums mention in their "flare" up symptoms, and certainly nothing in the lower left side of abdo.  There is only the loose stools (normal colour but bitty / mushy / smelly) that I can link with IBS.

thank you

11

Thank you for the reply. The doctor I don't think would refer me to see a GI that's why I sought one out myself that doesn't require a referral and booked on my own. It's reassuring to see everyone thinks it is indeed IBS. 

12

I agree! Let me know how your tests go when you get the results. Also let me know what further tests your doctor did.

13

Will do, so far I've had numerous blood tests, one I asked for was a celiac blood test!! a flexible sigmoidoscopy 😵😵 and an abdominal CT scan! This has shown I have a dilated right kidney so seeing if that's anything to do with anything!! Not sure it will, I have apt 11th may to find out!

All the best😉X

14

Ibs lasts for always. It can come and go in severity with flare ups. Usually caused by stress if something you have eaten which didn't agree with you. But it doesn't just last for a time. You may get reucurrent flares.

You could ask the dr for a referral to a gastro dr who may give you an endoscopy and colonoscopy. That way once they have exhausted those routes it's only usually then a good dr will give you a diagnosis of ibs. Ibs is only diagnosed by process of elimination. There is no specific test for it. Try to cut out wheat and dairy for a while. See if that helps. You may have developed an intolerance for it.

15

Your symptoms still sound like IBS. Shifting stomach pain, change of bowel habit, heartburn, and food Intolerance are IBS symptoms.  Sometimes the pain can be constant, other times it can come and go.   Perhaps try a food diary to see if any foods are upsetting you since you get pain after eating which is also an IBS symptom. 

Anxiety is very common; particularly health anxiety.  The more you worry, the worse your symptoms will be.   I had multiple health anxieties because it took three and a half months to get answers because tests were negative. Telling the doctor about my anxiety got me diagnosed with IBS.  Often it is rhe simplist, insignificant detail thst gets you answers.  So tell your doctor everything.

It is very common to worry about your pancreas when you have abdominal pain.  I had the exact same worry but I asked one of my doctors straight out about it and I was told that it was highly unlikely that I had a pancreas problem because of my age.  I was immediately reassured.  This was back in 2015.  

To get a firm, definitive diagnosis does require tenacity and persistence but it is worth it. First of all write down copious lists of all the conditions you are worrying about.  Then ask your doctor to explain each one if them and to tell you why you may or may not have that condition. Ask for as many tests as possible to give you reassurance.  

The more tests that come back negative, the more things are ruled out so you will have less to worry you. If you are not satisfied, see a different doctor or if possible go private.  I went eight times to different doctors. On my last visit, I was in despair and diagnosis was the last thing I expected.  I had downgraded my aims to simply asking for advice.  This helped me to cope with my panic.  These strategies really worked for me.  Your doctor will not mind you doing these things.

I too doubted IBS in the beginning when it was mentioned twice while waiting for answers because I felt it was too simple a diagnosis and I had read about IBS overdiagnosis.  I didn't even recognise that my symptoms were lIke my brother's.  He too suffered from IBS.  His symptoms differed slightly from mine.  However, I soon learned, particularly from this site, that everyone is different.  Some people have mild IBS whereas others have moderate to severe symptoms.  I have experienced all three varieties.  At the moment, my symptoms are mild.  If you don't have severe pain, this is good.  Don't worry about a diagnosis of IBS because it is treatable and can be managed.  Some people get rid of IBS; my brother did.  However, most will have periods of remission and flare up.  But it is important to remember that IBS is not a frightening diagnosis.  For me it was such a relief and it cleared my panic.

Diagnosis acceptance can be very hard at first.  In the end you have to trust your doctor.  If nothing else shows up, IBS can be identified.

Although my symptoms have not gone, they are a lot better than they were and no alarm symptoms have appeared so I know my doctor's opinion was right.  

Once you find your triggers, you are winning the battle.  Mine is exclusively stress related but thankfully not food.

16

I was very similar looking back over my life I have had IBS 25 years but has taken untill last 3 weeks to get a firm diagnosis. This in fact has made a lot of my symptoms disappear....I walk form the consultants office with a new lease of life....I still have symptoms but they dont bother me or stress me which normally would bring on even more symptoms....It to a colonsocpy finally to convince me nothing was wrong....The consultant made me watch the screen myself as proof I was fine.....

 

17

That was a long time to wait for diagnosis!  I thought waiting three and a half months was bad. Although tests do reduce the number of things to worry about, if no one can tell you exactly what is wrong, your worry will come back.  In the three and a half month wait I had,  I thought about nothing else but a diagnosis all day, every day and through the night as well.  Nothing else was important.  I was completely worn out by the time I got answers.

18

Just doing a follow up for those who had replied to me and you can all share your thoughts.

I got the opportunity to see the GI specialist and highlighted all my symptoms to him and presented my previous test results.

He didn't seem alarmed by any of my symptoms. He sent me to do a stool test for h pylori and I assume something else but today all results came back negative. I told him I just wanted to make sure it's nothing too serious. 

His conclusion was that it just has to do with a change in balance of the good vs bad bacteria so he prescribed probiotics which I am now to take. I asked if it could be IBS but he said he wouldn't draw that conclusion at this point in time. It seems also from the negative barium enema and normal CEA test which the local MD had done (which I showed him the results of) was enough for him to conclude it's nothing serious.

I must say for the most part my symptoms have subsided I still feel the occasional very mild discomfort but nothing near where it was. The only issue I have now is inconsistent stools (sometimes normal, sometimes light in color, sometimes small etc. - it differs day to day).

Still unsure but I guess I have to now try and rest my thoughts. Thank you for all the input from everyone! Any follow up thoughts and/or discussions appreciated.

19

Your symptoms still sound like IBS.  If your symptoms go away completely after probiotics, then it may well be an inbalance in your gut flora.  However, if you continue to get flare ups. it is probably IBS.

20

Haven't been back here in a while. Thought I'd give an update and get some feedback. Glad to see you're still on the forums giving advice pippa!

So for the latest update with me, after seeing the GI specialist and taking the prescribed probiotics (Enterogermina) things seemed to calm down a bit. The belly aches disappeared for a bit but I still had inconsistent stools throughout the whole time. Stools with moucus, sometimes floaters, sometimes oily stool, sometimes flat stool. The whole ordeal.

In October I noticed the lil nagging pain resumed and now in late November/December it seems I'm back to sqare one. I have belly aches almost daily which starts up mid morning and lasts throughout the day. My stool is stlil very inconsistent and has a pale appearance and sometimes floats. Researching online is terrifying with the serious illnesses (aka pancreas issues).

I wanted to know, did you ever experience pale/light colored stools with IBS? Did your stool ever float?