Smokey
10-23-2003, 01:17 AM
Just a quick question to those who are more knowledgable than me. I visited the doc's a few months ago with a wide variety of symptoms. She asked me if I had suffered with diahrrea which I occasionaly do. After some blood work (B12 deficiency) she told me that stress had induced IBS and that was the reason for the deficiency. The last time it happened was three days before I went to see the doc and at no time has there been any pain or discomfort which I thought accompanied IBS. I can't say I have any other symnptoms either so my question is this: Without any testing, can a doctor diagnose IBS in this manner????? Interestingly I haven't had any D since then either.
Can anyone shed some light please?
Can anyone shed some light please?
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cattys
10-29-2003, 07:15 PM
My Dr. diagnosed my IBS by my symptoms. I had no tests. When I get nervous so does my bowels.
maggie39
10-31-2003, 02:18 PM
There are no "tests" for IBS, in fact it's usually the thing they resort to after tests for other bowel disorders come back negative. I think it's odd she's assuming that stress caused the deficiency in B12. There are lots of things that can cause that. In fact my understanding is that its usually the other way around, a deficiency in B12 reduces one's ability to handle stress. Were you significantly deficient? If so, I think I would want to get a second opinion as to why. If only a little difficient, maybe just try supplements. I know that birthcontrol pills can lower you B12, and I suspect other things can too.
It doesn't sound to me like you have IBS since you don't really have symptoms other than occasional diareah, and lots of things can cause that. You could be lactose or fructose intolerant, or intlerant to some other kind of food. If you think it might be some kind of food, the best way to narrow it down is to keep a food diary. Some foods can take several days to get through the gut, so if you have a problem, you need to look back at the previous 3 days at what you ate. Keep doing this until you see a pattern.
[This message has been edited by maggie39 (edited 10-31-2003).]
It doesn't sound to me like you have IBS since you don't really have symptoms other than occasional diareah, and lots of things can cause that. You could be lactose or fructose intolerant, or intlerant to some other kind of food. If you think it might be some kind of food, the best way to narrow it down is to keep a food diary. Some foods can take several days to get through the gut, so if you have a problem, you need to look back at the previous 3 days at what you ate. Keep doing this until you see a pattern.
[This message has been edited by maggie39 (edited 10-31-2003).]
Smokey
10-31-2003, 03:44 PM
Maggie thanks for the reply. I don;t think its IBS either as you're right I had no other symptoms whatsoever. I just wanted to confirm really what I thought. B12 level was 103 with a band of 138-781 and she said it was stress brough on by immigrating. I know know that a body has 2-5 years worth of B12 supplies so I'll be going back fairly soon (just need to feel a bit awake so I can discuss it better with her!!...zzzzz)
Thanks, Pat.
Thanks, Pat.