Hello, I've been to my gp various times and suffer with endometriosis... However this time rather than sending me back to my consultant first they want to see if I have IBS too as I've begun with major abdominal swelling, eventhough I've explained to them it's not just after food. I get a lot of left sided abdo pain (same place as my endo) back pain now and abdominal swelling which can come on rapidly.
They sent me away and told me to look up what I can do to help with IBS and go back in a couple of weeks if no improvement, but no further information from them
I need advice and help please
The response from your GP doesn’t sound at all helpful. Generally speaking IBS is diagnosed only after other possible conditions have been ruled out. I was diagnosed with IBS almost 4 years ago but that was after blood tests, stool samples and a colonoscopy. My symptoms were a change in bowel habits lasting more than 6 months, bouts of acute diarrhoea, bloating, excessive gas, and right sided lower abdominal pain.
IBS can be stress related, and/or as a result of food triggers. The Low Fodmap diet is very helpful in identifying any food triggers you might have.
To be told to “ look up what you can do to help with IBS” is, in my opinion, unacceptable. Surely, first of all you need to know that you do indeed have IBS: it is not something you can simply self diagnose by looking it up!!!
If I were you I’d be going back to my GP as a very dissatisfied patient.
Jan
I would suggest you see a different doctor for help and treatment. Perhaps ask to see a gastroenterologist who specialises in these things. Everyone is different with IBS. What you read online about IBS gives you very general symptoms rather than individual experiences. I saw several doctors until I got a diagnosis. Even then, I was only given an IBS printout from this site and told to eat more fibre even though I was already doing that. The best help I got from my doctor was a diagnosis which was a huge step forward if only that because I had to wait in panic and terror for three and a half months until I found someone who recognised my symptoms. However, after that I was left to get on with it on my own.
I had to find medication myself that suited me because I was initially given Mebeverine which didn’t agrree wirh me. What worked for me was Buscopan for the pain, painkillers, eating lots of fruit and trying to avoid streesful situations. You may have to try several antisoasmodics.
Oh my goodness, what a laugh this is! You need to see another doctor and have a dietitian appointment too, they can't just expect you to go and 'look things up'. I'd be disgusted, IBS means major dietary changes, ask them about fodmap if they feel your diet is wrong. As for endometriosis you may need your womb out are they sorting that or do you have to look that up?