Hi there!
Im a 31 yr old female who has suffered from cfs since i was 21...finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel .
Since October of 2002,I have terrible lower tummy pain...from my belly button down,and I will add that area is also bloated. I also suffer from I.C.
The pain is not a cramping pain, but more of a general soreness with lots of pressure...feels like its inflammed and burning. I had an ultrasound which showed a cyst on an ovary of over 5cm...but then the next ultrasound showed nothing. I hada barium enema a few weeks ago...I didnt hear the results yet...Im assuming they came back neg. or I would have heard from my doc...nonetheless i do have an appointment to see her this Friday.Prob is my doc is absolutely useless! She thinks all will go away on its own...oh if were so lucky. I live in a small town , where there is a shortage of docs, so getting a new doc is not even possible at this time.
After the barium enema test, the pain has not been too bad UNTIL last week!UGHHHHH I thought maybe wheat or dairy was the culprits, but having eliminated those from my diet...im no better.
My doc mentioned IBS...is there an exact test to show this??????? I always thought with IBS you went from 1 extreme to the other ---constipation to diareah.My bowels have been regular since i increased my fibre intake....but some days I can go everytime I urinate and have alot of gas.
What tests should I ask for?
I read where some people had tests for parasites...does anyone know the name of these test to ask my doc?I am aware naturopaths test for them, but had no idea "cenventional med" did also.
What specialists would one suggest i be referred to?
Because I have IC, im hounded by lots of bladder infections....ive always felt like this prob was infection related.

Sorry this is rather long..and I hope it makes sense..
Id appreciate any feedback...and suggestions.
Thanks in Advance...

Good luck to everyone .

There really is a good chance that what you have IS Ibs. I say this because I have experienced alot of what you have, but not only that, but have talked with several very knowledgeable doctors regarding women and chronic pain. There is extensive research on the links between IBS/ IC/ and even Fibromyalgia. It seems these are related and often accompany one another.

As for your symptoms, the latest Rome Criteria (the criteria doctors use to diagnose IBS) does NOT only say you have to have Diarrhea or Constipation or both. You can just have a change in frequency OR consistency. This means that the fact you may have to go more when you have the pain, even if its a normal BM, can be IBS. Research is showing alot more cases of what they are calling, "Pain predominant IBS", which is why the latest Rome Criteria has been changed a bit. Not everyone has diarrhea or constipation.

I dont know if we are allowed to post book names here on this site, but there is a great book out on I.C. that talks about the whole link between I.C. and IBS... and how it is not based on infection at all, but more of a problem with the nervous system and how we respond to pain.

Maybe one of the moderators here can tell me if I can post a book title/ author. If I can, I will give you the name of the book.

Warm Regards
A.