Hi, initially i was posting in colon cancer forum (As i always assume the worst) but im not so sure thats what I have now.

Whats it like , the life of an IBD/IBS sufferer?

What does my story sound like?.. (Yes i am actively going to the dr currently, this is not a self-diagnosis thread, will be undergoing a flexible sigmoidoscopy in about 3 weeks)



Im not sick all of the time, I can go weeks without one symptom and feel completely normal. Then it hits!! Abdominal pain/uncomortableness, sometimes frequent BMs, and just an all around "BLAH!" feeling. I also have seen blood mixed in the stool on 2 occasions, but a fecal occult blood stool test the drs issued me came back negative.I think it was blood anyway, the watr turned slightly red, but I dont think the drs were too concerned since their tests for blood came back negative so to them, blood was never "conirmed". (I understand blood in stool is a contradiction of IBS, which is also why my drs are not just passing this off as IBS but trying to rule out more serious issus)

Normally what tends to happen is im fine throughout the day but every morning I would have ab pain and then slight diarrhea/or constipation and the pain was relieved with the BM. But these last few weeks the morning pain has stopped, and it seems to hit at random times during certain days. (But again, this isnt a daily thing, i go for WEEKS without symptoms)

What is going on with me? I feel fine most of the time, but when "it" hits it can last days. Sometimes the stool is runny, other times im constipated. Sometimes it comes with a nauseating feeling but i never vomit. Is this an IBD/IBS or am i dying of cancer? I also have gas.

It seems these symptoms go dormant but then ill have days where they seem to "flare up". usually when im experiencing symptoms i can still do everyday things, but it gets me down in the dumps and all i want to do is sleep it away. When the symptoms come i also , at times, have a loss of appetite, but not every time.

Also, about 4 days ago I had previously been showing no symptoms for weeks, i had a bowl of chili and went to bed. the next morning I had a BM and the stool was tinted orange and or the next few BMs it still looked a bit orange. I hope it was not blood. I am experiencing symptoms now and its not fun, im not in pain but its uncomfortable and gross. I tried to make a BM and couldnt, i feel constipated.

With an IBD/IBS is it normal to feel "blah" and just want to sleep til your symptoms go away? I think part of my wanting to "sleep it off" is that i am worrisome that this may be serious. But im capable of getting up and getting things done, I just plain dont feel like it - too worried.

Im young, the drs dont think I have cancer but want to rule it out. They think I have an IBD/IBS. Do you think so?

What could this be? Does it sound like your story? what were you diagnosed with?

Why do my symptoms come and go. I can go weeks being normal, then sick for up to 4 days. No fever though that im aware of. Just abdominal discomort (usually in the lower left area), BMs (loose and/or constipation) and a "blah" feeling.. once in awhile all of this is accompanied by loss of appetite. I have not kept a chart on anything but I did notice the last few times i went into symptoms I had eaten Pizza, BBQ chicken, and this last time I had had a bowl of Chili. Its really odd and im wondering if this sounds like symptoms of an IBD sufferer or someone who is dying?

There is a big difference between IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). The two are not related.

If you are asking about the latter, your symptoms could be related to IBS. The frequency of symptoms varies from person to person however most of us experience daily discomfort and pain. It sounds as though you could be reacting to specific foods which might indicate a food allergy of some type. Or perhaps just a sensitive tummy that can't take fried, spicy, or bean dishes. I can tell you that if I ate anything from that list, I would probably have to be rushed to the hospital! Even folks with steady stomachs might have trouble with that menu!

Sigmoidoscopy is a good test for things like hemorroids or anal fissures. I don't think it will yield any information for you about your pain. Since your doc said the fecal occult test came back negative, he might be looking for hemorroids as the source of the blood. But if you want a more thorough diagnosis for your pain and the D, you would need to undergo a colonoscopy. I am sure your doc will recommend if he thinks it necessary.

Hi, yes i know IBD and IBS are different things, im not sure what I have and think it may be IBD OR IBS.

Dr doesnt think a colonoscopy is neccesarry at this point. I go in soon for the sigmoidoscopy.

With IBD or IBS is it normal to feel sick for like a week? Im on day 5 of pain and feeling kind of lethargic. Pain is relieved with a BM but comes back when I eat :(

Hi Jesse, I had to search for your post and see that this has been worrying you for some time. None of us can say for sure what is causing your problems but as your doctor has suggested a sigmoidoscopy, that is probably the first step to confirming you have IBS. Let us know how it goes.

Love,

Hi, yes i know IBD and IBS are different things, im not sure what I have and think it may be IBD OR IBS.

Dr doesnt think a colonoscopy is neccesarry at this point. I go in soon for the sigmoidoscopy.

With IBD or IBS is it normal to feel sick for like a week? Im on day 5 of pain and feeling kind of lethargic. Pain is relieved with a BM but comes back when I eat :(
If doc expects either IBD (most definately would need a colonoscopy) or IBS (best way to diagnose would be colonoscopy) I really don't understand why he would order a sigmoid. You might want to ask what he is looking for with this test.

For IBS sufferer's it is normal to feel icky for days at a time. It is also normal to get some temporary relief from a BM, only to have the pain return.

While IBD and IBS share some symptoms, the former also includes a great deal of bleeding which requires a different form of treatment. I would be very thorough in questioning my doc about which one he is trying to diagnose.

I had bright red blood in stool once like a month ago, so i think thats the reason for the sigmoidoscopy (And I read with a sigmoid you can also see i theres inflammations/polyps etc). He said his initial thought was possible IBS or crohns, but he wants to do the sigmoidoscopy and other tests to rule out more serious things like cancer before he diagnoses me with something like IBS.

I said why dont u just do the colonoscopy as its most thorough and he said at this point he does not think one is neccessary and ppl have died from it so if he doesnt feel its NEEDED hes not just going to give it to me *Shrug*

Im thinking after the sigmoidoscopy he may end up issuing a colonoscopy.

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*Edit* I just got an email from my dr he said he issued the sigmoidoscopy because I complained of blood in my stool and grey stool once.

Hi Jesse,
you sound like you have IBS or a spastic colon. I'm not a dr so I can't give you advice but only share with you my opinion.
I'm sorry you're suffering so much.
stress can make IBS flare up. foods can also cause it to rear it's ugly head.
stay away from gaseous foods also.
people who have a family history of colon cancer need to get checked more often and start getting colonoscopies at an earlier age.

IBS can also make people very tired and just feel plain yucky.
just being constipated alone causes a person to feel grouchy and not feel well. I know I don't feel so happy when I'm constipated.

they say people with IBS are more sensitive people and feel pain more easily too.
I hope your test goes well and that they can finally give you a diagnosis.
if you don't trust your doctor's expertise, than you should find another dr you do trust when he tells you something on his medical expertise.
they're specialtists and work in this field everyday and for years.
your doctor would have a pretty good indication if it were colon cancer.
so I would try to trust his views rather than go by your gut feeling.
our minds can MAKE us believe it's the worst.
med students who have to study and read actually start feeling the symtoms of the diseases they study. see how strong and powerful our minds are and what it can do to our bodies?
so you have to remain calm, try to trust your dr who has many many years of schooling and hands on work with people who have had cancer.
remember, he's the doctor, you're not.
we have to be careful to not assume the worst. it only will make you more anxious and then you won't believe the dr when he does tell you everything is ok.
usually people with IBS have to be consoled by their doctors that really everything is ok and that they dont' have some form of cancer going on.
because IBS can make you feel that there is some horrible cancer happening. you should get plenty of rest when you get your flare up's.
it's common to have flare up's with IBS.

by the way, what is IBD?
I'm not familiar with that term?

I wish you a speedy recovery and a final diagnosis so you can begin to heal.

sincerely,
L

I don't know much about IBS, but if your doc has suggested looking at the sigmoid colon, might as well do all the way and get a colonoscopy and get the whole colon looked at. That is probably going to be the only way to relieve your mind. I know what anxiety can do to a person.
God Bless you in your search.
Barbara

@Lintek, you know what, you`re right. I also seemed to get more sick when the dr calls and appts were getting scheduled, because at this point i had no idea WHAT was wrong (i still dont exactly) and the drs kept wanting me to come in ASAP, i was a nervous wreck and it was causing me to not eat, lose weight, and vomit. I felt like i was dying.

Now that things have calmed down I have felt much better, but when I see something "odd' I begin to freak out again. For instance, after I had chili one night my next 3-4 stools were orangy looking, but I keep thinking "why" and "WHAT IF it was blood?" it didnt strike me as blood, but what if. That threw me into sick mode for a few days.

Also like a month ago there *was* blood and that scared me as I know IBS sufferes do not get blood, but I did get a fecal occult blood stool test which came back negative.


@bmc- That`s what I said, but dr said some people have died from a colonoscopy so he is not just going to give me one if he does not feel it necccesarry at this point. The sigmoid is because i said i saw bright red blood and pale stool. I saw these things about a month ago, though.

Ive been researching things online and every site seems to say something slightly dif, some say a sigmoidoscopy is good, others say it isnt. *Shrug*

Well heck, some people die when having their wisdom teeth extracted too! I think it's a bit odd that your doc would make a statement like that about a test that has been repeatedly recommended for the dx of a wide range of diseases. Heck, even Katie Couric had one done on TV!

If it were me, I'd ask him what exactly his hang-up is with the colonoscopy. It just sounds wierd.

Finally my dang "i just want to lay in bed/feeling nauseous/pain" has ended yesterday. I still get a bit of pain these 2 days but atleast im free and up and about and finally back working and getting stuff done.

The worst was i was constipated and it was causing further ab pain, when i finally had a slight "urge" i tried to go, it took like freakin 15 minutes and all that came out was like 2 small pieces of poo. (Not trying to be gross but ***? this has never happened before) it really sucked and kind of hurt.

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Im not sure about the whole colonoscopy vs sigmoidoscopy thing but i just decided im going to trust him on this, ive told him everything..........

Hi,

I can speak for having lived with IBS since I was 6 years old...I was not officially diagnosed until 18 but I've had the same symptoms for most of my life. I have IBS with frequent bm's, lots of nausea, and intense cramping. The best advice I can give you is to search for a good doctor, one who does not believe that IBS is a catch all condition. I've been tested for Crohn's, Celiac's, IBD, Lactose, Ulcers, pretty much you name it and I've been tested for it.

I'm pretty much able to manage my IBS through diet and herbal supplements. However, there are times when I have flare-ups, usually due to stress and it is not fun. I usually feel very tired for a whole week and have been known to occasionally fall asleep on the toilet.:( The best medicine I've found is Phenagran (sp?), a powerful anti-nausea drug that knocks you out. I usually sleep for a couple of days and feel better.

It sucks to have to deal with flare-ups when you have a job and life that doesn't stop because you have to be within ten feet of a bathroom. Whenever you get a firm diagnoses, you should alert your employer and maybe even have your doctor write a note in case you need to miss work.

Good Luck!