My Dr. says I have IBS - Bowel Disorders Message Board

heavyweight · 10-01-2005, 05:04 PM

My Dr. says I have IBS but I am convinced I have something else. I have changing bowel habits. I frequently use the washroom 3-4 times per day and I have increased bowel sounds, flatulence(sometimes awful smelling), sometimes foul smelling stool, undigested food in stool, sometimes mucous in stool and cramping in the lower left quadrant. Also I find that if I go more than 3-4 hours without eating I get very gaseous and my bowel habits are altered as soon as I eat. I am 31yrs old and I have not lost any weight because of this condition. Could someone please help me out

inhisname · 10-01-2005, 06:00 PM

It does sound like IBS
I have ulcerative colitis and have very similar symptoms but I have bleeding with a flare up.
Did he offer you treatment?

Darby01 · 10-01-2005, 09:11 PM

I've been to my GI dr. with the same problems you're describing. I really didn't get anywhere. They told me to take fiber.
I've been seeing a holistic dr. for many years. About three weeks ago I went in and told him I was gassy (foul smelling) and loose stools that were also hideous smelling.
He found it was a bacterial problem. Put me on a supplement and within a couple of days, symptoms were gone.
But I didn't have cramping, and I didn't go many times during the day.
But everyone is different.

Angela22F · 10-03-2005, 10:40 AM

Sorry to say but it sounds like IBS to me. Google it, and check out those threads on this board. IBS doesn't have one consistent set of symptoms like other syndromes do, and its different for everybody. I would suggest taking some metamucil capsules with psyllium (sp?) and asking your doctor about some antispasmodics - ie dicetel or similar. Also, try some pro-biotic supplements such as acidophillus (sp?). Sometimes IBS, or similar problems may be caused by bacterial imbalances. There are alot of good support networks available for those of us afflicted with IBS.

mcruk · 10-04-2005, 08:26 AM

Getting diagnosed officially is a long hard road as far as im concerned. I have been suffereing similar problems for 2-3 years and am also told I have IBS. It wasnt until i spotted occasional, very small red spots in my stools a few weeks ago that my doc has arranged for me to see a specialist and then get a scope. He's now saying its piles and possibly an Inflamatory bowel disease. Time will tell.

To me IBS is a process of elimination and a scope of some sort is the best thing to eliminate other causes.