Hi,
I have mostly IBS-D....bad cramps and most the time extremely urgent Diarrhea...
I am wondering if anyone else has a problem with the bad cramps and Diarrhea waking you in the night? I am afraid that i won't wake up in time sometimes and get to the bathroom...

thanks,
Twiggy

Now I don't know if this is necessarily true or not as I have been told MANY things by MANY different doctors, but one GI doc told me that IBS symptoms should not wake you in the middle of the night. He told me that if that is the case, I probably have something else - not IBS. My symptoms never woke me up at night so I did not give it much thought. Have you had a colonoscopy to rule out everything else? stool tests?

My doctor did also tell me that it shouldn't wake you up in the middle of the night.. but since it WAS he gave me all the tests.. colonoscopy etc.... everything came back normal.


and YES I DO wake up with diarrhea/pain sometimes.. and actually this past saturday night I woke up due to horrible pain/diarrhea and was up for 4 hours going to the bathroom.

if you've had the tests to rule out the other things that might be going on.. then know you aren't alone, others with IBS do wake up in the middle of the night with this problem.

Hi,
thanks for the replies...
i have had IBS(or symptoms) for about 10 years...finally went to the doc about 3 years ago. I did a stool sample...a few diff. types and they were all fine...also had some blood work done. At the time i was also seeing my doc about Fibromyalgia which i also have...so i am not sure if the blood work was for the FMS or the IBS...
i haven't had any other tests.
We had gone over my symptoms and he concluded IBS...
Should i get more tests done?
what do they do with a colonoscopy?

thank you!
Twiggy

Hi twiggy,

I've woken up once or twice in the past with IBS symptoms and a need to go to the washroom. So, what you have may not necessarily be anything apart from IBS.

If on the other hand you have mentioned this to your doctor and he is not concerned that it could be anything else, and you would like a stronger confirmation that you don't have anything more than IBS, you could opt for a colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy is done by a gastro-enterologist, who specializes in intestinal disorders. Any procedure ending in "scopy" is likely a procedure using a scope which is inserted into the part in question and then used to view the interior. Colonoscopies check the large intestine with a scope (a long tube like aparatus with a camera at the end). Endoscopies are the same except the scope is put through your mouth.

I've had one done myself and it confirmed that I merely had IBS.

Cheers, Raju.

i agree with 6th_sense.... if the tests you have had done are confirming the IBS, i would say it's nothing to worry about as I too, like I said, wake up with pain/diarrhea sometimes in the middle of the night.... Not too often, but it doesn't happen.

Like 6th said, if YOU WANT to go ahead and get a colonoscopy just to be sure, I would say do it for your own peace of mind. Sometimes just knowing it's "just IBS" will help ease your mind and the stresses of thinking it might be something worse.

However, it's kinda a double ended sword. Because, you find out it's IBS, and really... there's not much that can be done medically to really treat it too effectively. There isn't a pill you can take thats going to alleviate all your symptoms, which can be rather discouraging. However, there are medicines that do help control the symptoms. Sometimes people with IBS wish they were diagnosed with something that could be treated more effectively with medicine or even somewhat cured... sometimes the more serious conditions have better treatment options...

I have felt that way a few times... However, I'm glad I know its not something life threatening. Truthfully, a person can lead a NORMAL life with this... like we all have read I'm sure, but it can be done. It's going to involve a lot of thing. With me, diet plays a big part in controlling my symptoms, as well as relaxation everyday of some sort. Either listening to music, playing my guitar, or just laying down and watching TV. Also, exercise is so important for overall well-being. It can strengthen the muscles in the intestines and really help them start to function more properly. Medicines can help also, although they don't help all the time/completely, but they can help manage.

Thanks again,
I am thinking that if things get worse or change i will ask my doc. for the colonoscopy.
Not something i am overly concerned about at this time...i am thinking if it was something more than just IBS it would be more apparent by now...but i guess you never know.

Thank you again for all your info!
hugs,
Twiggy