Questions - Bowel Disorders Message Board

poolsharky2k · 12-27-2003, 12:46 PM

I am a 46 year old female. I am not sure if this is a Bowel or a digestive disorder. The reason I am posting this here is because I needed some suggestions. It is very hard for me to talk about some of this but, I feel that I have let this go on too long and here at least I can type and not see someone face to face. Here are a few of my symptoms:

Severe Bloating or Extended Stomach ( I look and feel about 6 months along)
Major cramping lower left side
Many bouts of diarrhea sometimes last for a day or can last 3 or 4 days
Other times very soft and ribbon or tape like stool and on occasion it seems normal.
I have noticed that when I am having a diarrhea attack there is a lot of mucous and very dark stool. "Very explosive" I have passed out on a couple of occasions because of the pain ( my husband is not happy because I have yet to see the doctor... he wanted to take me to the ER and I had refused.
The pain is so bad it takes my breath away and I feel like I cant move until the pain quits. I have not noticed much blood,very small amount only on a couple of occasions.
The only other symptom is I have alot of night sweats and also during the day when at rest. And I sleep alot. I have taken my tempature for 2 weeks straight and it seems to be a bit below normal 97.1.
Does anyone think that this is IBS??

Any suggestions or comment are needed. Thanks

auntjudyg · 12-27-2003, 12:56 PM

One possibility is diverticulitis. If you don't want to go to the ER, how about a visit to your physician? It really needs an exam by a physician to pin down exactly what is going on. If you start running a fever, you need medical attention IMMEDIATELY.

Harry · 12-27-2003, 06:21 PM

auntjudy is right you really need to see a Doctor. There are several possible problems that need to be addressed---diverticular disease is one that needs medical attention.
With diarrhea you don't absorb the nutrients required to get well. The bloating indicates your intestinal bacteria is out of balance and needs to be corrected.

There is nothing to discussing problems like this with a Doctor -- they hear it probably daily.

God Bless---Harry

poolsharky2k · 12-29-2003, 06:09 AM

Thank you both for your reply. I am making an appointment today. I did some reading up on this and I am wondering if this would be it since this seems to be a constant thing for the past year and 1/2. Anyway Thank you so much for your reply and I will keep you posted on what I find out.

suzi47cmt · 12-30-2003, 11:57 PM

poolsharkey,
as a sufferer of crohns diseas for 30+ years I advise you to see a doctor soon, preferably a gastroenterologist. Your symptoms are exactly the way I started out. You certainly exhibit ALL the signs of one form or another of IBS.

Good luck to you (i am a 47 yo female by the way). God bless, and please let us/me know how you are doing and what you find out. Do not let this go on with all this pain please. I really FEEL for you.

Suzi47cmt

P.S. I have had enough experience with these symptoms to just say please get some immediate attention.