dianajune

I posted this message on the IBS board, but didn't think to ask about it here. I am desperate for answers and hope that someone can help me. In the below post I forgot to mention that I had an ER visit within the past month for abdominal pain and thought I had another intestinal blockage, but the xrays and bloodwork said no. I was diagnosed with trapped gas. Anyway, here's that post:


My IBS seems to be going into overdrive lately. For the past month or so I've had a few nights when I had severe cramps, which eventually went away on their own with or without bowel movements. This latest round of cramps started around the time I ate a large serving of carrots, some of which were under-cooked.

Now I'm on stool softeners in addition to citrucel tablets. They seem to be helping, but my stools are flat. With IBS, I noticed that the shape and size of my stools have varied in the past, but now they're flat all the time. There was only one exception (not to gross out anyone), but yesterday part of one was bigger than the rest of it.

I'm not seeing any blood, nor am I having any black stools. Sometimes there's alot of mucus. I've seen blood in the past, but my doctor attributed it to hemmorhoids. Oftentimes I have to strain.

Should I be concerned about this change? I mean, I'd have flat stools from time to time, but now it seems to be most of the time. However, from a few reliable web sources, IBS can give one flat stools.

I will see my primary care provider on Thursday. Should I tell her about this or ask for a referral to get a colonoscopy????

Btw, I have a history of stomach surgery. I had a strangulated hernia/bowel obstruction in '09 and the hernia was repaired (the repair failed since then) and my small bowel was resected. In August 2010 I had a partial blockage due to adhesions.

Could the adhesions be getting worse?

I would appreciate any help/advice anyone would provide as I am so scared I can barely function. I'm tired of having gut problems all the time. Thanks.