and I know there's nothing "just" about ibs! Please reply to me if you'd be so kind. I've had ibs for years so I'm not a new sufferer or anything-I stopped going to my gp about 5 years ago after my flexi-sigmoid came back clear. I've got so used to ibs in a way that it's just part of me. Lately though-whether it's an age thing-I'm 47 and female-my symptoms bother me much more and some have changed or just crept up on me over time. Please, I'd be grateful if these still sound like ibs to you. Symptoms range from days and days with no or very little BM followed by a day or two of frequent,loose,urgent but not always runny stools,sometimes up to 12 times in a morning. More times than not blood on toilet paper,bright red and mucous,particularly if no BM. I don't have pain in the rectum particularly-do you if it's hemaroids? Acid heartburn,gas in stomach and lately what worries me most is an all-over stomach ache or a sharp pain like a knife twisting right in my navel-this usually before a bout of D or frequent painful BM. I get this maybe once or twice a week. Generally feel tired,depressed and out of sorts-maybe again my age? Some days I can eat just about what I want (within reason!) and other days nothing at all without repercussions. Just hearing from people will help. Thank you.