Is this something worse than just IBS? can anyone relate?

Digestive health
1

Hi there, I am a 23 year old female who would like some answers.

 I'll make a long story short. For nearly 2 years now I've been dealing with a stomach/digestive issues, and my dr has no idea what it is. I've been booked for a specialist appt. soon, but that's not for another few months.

I do have some anxiety, but the symptoms come and go, and have began to get worse rapidly. I'm wondering it it's possibly IBS or if it's something worse? 

These are my symptoms:

- Excessive burping with metallic taste

- sour stomach / churning stomach (I can hear it)

- loss of appitite

- weight loss 

- swelling stomach/ terrible bloating

- random intense burning sensasion in abdomen, that lasts for hours (even wakes me from my sleep)

- Diahrrea 

- fever / chills, come and go. I get random hot flashes where my back is burning hot and I'm actually sweating.

- anything i eat seems to go right though me some days, not always but it's getting to the point I can barely stand to eat anything

- neausea / sour stomach at random times

- when I lay on my back, my stomach sinking in, that slight pressure causes that awful burning sensation throughout my entire torso. 

- Dr felt a tender spot on my lower left side, just above my hip (near belly button) that when pressed, is painful and upsets entire stomach. 

- also, on my period the burning pain doesn't stop. It's constant, and bloats my stomach. It feels like there's fire burning inside and nothing takes it away, I usually have to sleep it off.  I've had regular cramps in the past, when I first began my period (i was 15) and now it's been just god-awful, burning pain that nothing takes away. 

- also get terrible aches in spine now and then, that last anywhere from 15-45 mins. This has happened more than a few times. 

I've had to leave my full time job due to the stress, and constant feeling of being unwell. I'm tired of not knowing what this could be. 

 I've been through 5 labs of blood work, urin samples, ultrasounds (for my ovaries and abdomen) and nothing's been found. 

Anyone have any related symptoms like this? Or have an idea of what this could be? 

Thank you so much for your time. 

2

I relate to some of this. I have a sick relative so no time to be more exacting but you are not alone and good see the chills mentioned as I get this but very few others' do.  I have taken the best part of a year off with sickness so you are not alone there.  I started a new job for 2 weeks and then took another 3 months out.

I went through all the doc visits and blood work and specialists and the result was IBS. Don't be surprised if you are told the same.

Drink lots of water - Top tip now must dash it is stage 4 here 

3

Most of your case sounds like IBS, maybe try tablets to help yourself.

4

I also had similar symptoms. In my case the diagnosis was IBS and gastric oesophigal reflux  disoder, both of which can be controlled by a combination of diet and medication. 

Jan

5

I think it is more than IBS, go for endoscopy and colonoscopy to find out. It can be Crohn's diseases or ULC for you accompany with fever that most patient with Crohn's diseases have it. Symptoms of Crohn's diseases is similar to IBS that is why the mis-diagnosis is common mistake to GP. Crohn's diseases does not exclude age so, hurry up before it is too late. I really sorry for you. God bless

6

Thank you all for your replies. I'm going to schedule another appt. with my doctor this week, and bringing up the possibility of IBS. It's never been mentioned before, my dr. assumed I had ulcers in my stomach and put me on meds for a few months. When those didn't help, I had to go through the various tests and nothing was found. I was convinced it was just my anxiety, but not being able to handle food well, running to the washroom after every meal, and dealing with the pain has really convinced me otherwise. 

I may try some OTC meds, for IBS and see if they help my symptoms improve. 

I had a friend mention the possibility of chrones disease too. I was hoping it wasn't that but I'll schedule another couple appts. with my family doctor and ask about a colonoscopy. hopefully find out soon enough what it is for sure. 

Thanks to everyone again for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it!. 

7

the burning etc that get worse when you lie down is most probably acid reflux. try liquid antacid 3-4times a day. it would cause the nausea, burping, metallic taste and even the back pain.

8

I have severe IBS, experience bad stomach burning as well. The stomach burning is caused by a hyatal hernia and acid reflux. Often stomach burning caused by acid reflux or hyatal hernia can cause pain that radiates to other areas in the body. It's not always easy to get simple answers concerning stomach issues. I found out about my hyatal hernia due to an endoscopy. I've learned that we, as patient's, must be very pro- active about our health care. It doesn't hurt to talk to other's with similar experience or to do your own research on your issues. But at the end of the day we are not equipped to diagnose our ailments. I know it's a hassle but you sometimes have to see a series of docs before you get the correct diagnosis. Feel better.