A couple of years ago I began having terrible stomach pain. Eating, bathroom, any activity seemed to set it off. After going to my family dr. he ordered a cat scan, determined I needed a specialist, his first thought...crohns disease. He sent me to "one of the best" gastroenterologists around. He put me through every test in the book available: colonosocopy (twice), upper GI, sigmoidoscopy , a slew of blood work, cholecystography. He dismissed me with IBS.

A friend recommended me to his specialsit, another one of those "one of the best", blood work and a upper GI and I was sent on my way, nothing was wrong.

After five months of being bent over double dealing with the worst pain ever and spending a lot of time curled up in a ball in bed, I started calling specialists myself. I searched for gastroenterologists as well as gastroenterology surgeons. I knew something was wrong and was being dismissed without cause. I interviewed the nurses who took the call or a medical assistant until I found one that was willing to listen to my case and really LISTENED (this is where most medical practitioners fail is listening).

I found one in the surgical field. He reviewed all of my tests, had yet another colonoscopy and upper GI series (barium is some nasty stuff to drink it as often as I did), cat scan. Again, all the tests showed no abnormalities, blood work was negative for anything wrong. Then he decided to do expoloratory surgery. I was scared, but whatever it took to regain control of my life is what I was willing to do.

The result......intestinal obstruction due to massive polyps lining a foot of my small intestine leading into a half foot of my large intestine and my gall bladder looked "diseased" (never really understood that, the surgeon just said it was the wrong color).

My point to everyone is...take control of your health and your life, don't let the doctors make all the decisions. If you feel like your dr. isn't listening to you or is just dismissing you, find anther one. I have come to realize that IBS is a diagnosis when doctors can't find a problem. Also, do research, there is a wealth of information on the internet about every health problem imaginable.

A couple of months ago my symptoms came back, was sent to "one of the best" who didn't listen to what I was saying and only wants to do a colonoscopy, he's already missed minor problems, but problems that he should have seen during his last procedure. His answer...IBS! My answer, time for a new dr.!

I wish everyone the best in fighting their ailments, please never give up in hunt for the answer.