Just got dianosed with IBS... - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

sweet_chic · 09-10-2004, 02:31 PM

Hi, I'm fairly new to the board.... I just came back from a doctors exam this week, and he diagnosed me as having IBS. I am SOO relieved! Well, I'm not happy or jumping up and down, but I'm at least happy that this stomach pain I've been having for 2 years isn't due to cancer, or some non-curable fatal disease! I thought I was going crazy!!

Here's my story...( you all can be the judge as to whether or not my symptoms sound like IBS or not)

I'm a fairly healthy young 23 year old college student, and it wasn't until about 2 years ago that I started experiencing MAJOR stomach pains! Now, I must tell you that I am not usually one to suffer from stomach pain unless it's due to the flu, a stomach virus, or food poisoning. However, it seems like just one day out of the blue, I started having these really weird stomach pains with horrible horrible diarrhea. I'll never forget that awful day I was on campus after a class and had to run to the bathroom and was stricken with awful diarrhea. I must have been on the toilet for what seemed like 30 minutes! I felt so sick. Part of me wanted to throw up...but I never did.

Ever since that day I have had bouts of off and on stomach cramping and pain mixed with loose stool and diarrhea. Some days I'll be perfectly fine. I think the longest I went was about a month with being TOTALLY fine. NO stomach pain, no diarrhea or weird bowels for a month. But then BAM!! All of a sudden, I'll get stomach pain again. It has gotten to the point where sometimes I'll down Pepto Bismol like it's a drink. It's sad really. I have to carry antacids and Pepto wherever I go because I NEVER know when "it" will strike. Pepto doesn't really do much for me. But Immodium AD...now THAT's my friend! hahah...It's crazy though! I feel like some medicine-downing FREAK! I mean, this has gotten to be really irritating! At first I thought to myself: "Oh, maybe it's just a flu going around". Or, "Oh, maybe it was something I ate". Or, "Oh, maybe it was some medication I took". Ha!!! Yeah right. After a while I started to realize that there's only so many "stomach flu viruses" going around and only so much "food poisoning" one can get in a single year.

Even my mom and sister would get tired of my complaining about my stomach. Almost to the point where my mom would think I would be "faking" my stomach pain. TRUST ME...I can't "fake" pain this bad!

As far as symptoms go...

*I've experienced the "stomach gurgling" that some of you have mentioned. It doesn't hurt when my stomach gurgles though. It just sounds weird.

*I've also noticed that some mornings I wake up to a bloated stomach. I didn't know what that was until I read that this could be a symptom of IBS.

*Off and on diarrhea. NEVER constipation really. Just diarrhea and stomach pain. I've often felt like I would probably throw up, but never have. IT just scares me when I go in public, and get that "feeling" and have to rush to the bathroom...NOTHING happens, but it's just nervewracking!

*I'm not getting any back pain (at least not any significant back pain) that I can think of at the moment.

*I notice that my stomach pain/bowels will get worse with added stress and anxiety.

I tend to suffer from mild anxiety and get stressed out easily. I haven't really gotten diagnosed with anxiety disorder or seen a therapist or anything, but I'm a Psych major, so I know all the symptoms of things like that. About 2 years I transfered from a smaller college to a big University, and the fall of 2002 is when I started to experience these symptoms, so I think that the two go hand in hand.

I'm glad that I finally saw the doctor and got some prescribed medication. I'm so glad/relieved that my symptoms seem to be caused by IBS and not some scary disease as I had previously thought. Although, the doctor DID do a blood test just to MAKE SURE that everything looks normal, and that there isn't another reason why I'm suffering from stomach pains.

I'm just so FRUSTRATED though because there isn't a CURE for this!! I'm a YOUNG 23 year old for goodness sakes, and I FEEL like I've aged 30-40 years! I actually envy those who can eat anything and never get stomach pains. I used to be VERY healthy, and would NEVER get stomach aches. Never hardly if ever get diarrhea unless I was sick, or ate something bad. But now days...it's like a catch 22. I don't know when or WHERE it will strike next.

Please...tell me...HOW on earth do you all DEAL with this?? It's so frustrating to me. I never used to think my stomach pain was due to stress, but now that I'm back for fall semester I notice myself getting anxious again. And of course, my stomach pains are coming back. Do you all take any anti-depressants or anti anxiety medication?? I mean, I'm not a nervous wreck sitting down shaking in the corner or something. No. I hold a part-time job, and go to school normally, but I think I seriously have a problem with anxiety. Sometimes I just don't feel RELAXED. I feel jittery or anxious inside, even though on the outside I don't show it. :-(

Aside from IBS, I'm a fairly healthy young woman, with a fairly "normal" life. lol*

ANY advice would be great. :-)

Thanks guys for listening...

RetiredDirector · 09-10-2004, 05:00 PM

Hi SC, I don't know if I can be much help, but I have the same, identical situation in having IBS as you do. Mine was diagnoised about four and a half years ago. I had all the tests from a colonoscopy (actually two of them) to CT scans, plus several others. None showed anything significantly wrong, but you can't deny the symptoms. Mine has gotten so bad at times that I have on several occasions had "accidents" when I was unable to get to a bathroom in time. About a month ago, I had my first one in public, but I did have a small one a couple years ago at work. The others (maybe a half dozen) I've had at home. I don't work any more and I'm in my 50's, so I guess I'm pretty much reitred. I am on Social Security Disability.

My doctor has been great through all of my trouble and frustrations. He has sent me to all of the specialists and arranged for all the tests to be done. Now he prescribes medications to help me be as comfortable as possible. I'm on several different meds, but the main ones to help my IBS is I take Methadone for the pain. I also have Lomotil to help slow down the bowels and diarehea, and if that doesn't do it, I have a powder that comes in a packet called Cholestyramine. You mix it with a juice or something (I use Gatorade) and this will usually do the trick when nothing else will.

If there are any specific questions you have that I might be able to answer for you, just let me know. As I said, I'm not able to work, so I'm usually around the house most of the time.

sweet_chic · 09-17-2004, 01:18 PM

Wow...thanks so much Director for your help and support! It's so good to find someone else who is suffering from the same thing. I thought I was going CRAZY!! I'm so sorry to hear all of what you've gone through. I'm hoping that the medication is working to help alleviate at least some of the discomfort and pain.

Did you find that yours was related to stress too? Or...what did the doctor say caused your IBS? Mine seemed to just come "out of the blue". Like, one day I was perfectly fine, the next day I was doubled over with stomach pain and *seemingly* glued to the toilet seat due to diarrhea. :-/

It would be good to hear from you again, and anyone else who suffers from this.

:-)

RetiredDirector · 09-17-2004, 03:56 PM

Hi SC...Yes, the meds do help, but I'm on a ton of them. I'm on a high dose of Methadone for the pain and I have several others too. Some are the normal ones, like for hypertension, GERD, etc and I do take meds at night to help sleep. The main one though is the Meth. If I didn't have that, I don't know what I would do. The high dose comes from tolerance and the fact I've had stomach surgery where they removed about 60-70% of my stomach and some of the small intestine due to a perforated ulcer. This changed my metabolism, so I don't get what most normal people get from their meds. This is why I have to take higher doses.

Mine was brought on from stress at work. The doctor thinks I've had it for some time and it was the stress at work that really made it come to the surface. I worked in television and there can be a lot of stressful situations. It's my understanding that most cases of IBS are at least partially caused by stress of one kind or another. Also, most people that have it are women. Something like 80%.

You said in your earlier post you saw your doctor and he put you on some medication. What type do you have to take for your IBS. I've tried several that didn't help and some that seemed to do more harm than good. I'm always looking for something that can help more than what I'm currently taking.

If there's any other questions you might have about IBS, I'd be happy to help you out, if I can.

whowhat · 09-17-2004, 05:23 PM

i havn't been dignoised with IBS but I know i have it i read everything on this sight and another sight and all the symptons r there I don't get insurance until Oct and i am hoping to get this problem fixed....or as close to fixed as i can get..i have had mine for 4 yrs and i am 25 now...everything u discribed fit me to a tea....isn't it weird when things r takin away u relised how good u had it...i remember being able to get up and go to work and not give my stomach a sec thought how i wish i was able to be like that again even if i don't get it, it is always on my mind i am always worring about it if i am out and i feel a rummble i don't know weather i should take my immodium or save it cuz it cost alot... i really don't know what causes mine I keep food diary but sometimes the food can cause it other times that same food won't...i hardly get it at home where i am confortable but i get it as soon as i get in a car for a long car ride or when i am out of my elimante COMBAM i get it...i am glad u got on some meds...i am scared when i go to the dr.s cuz i hear there r many different meds and u got to find the right one for u.....