So, am I part of the club? - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

WorriedTeenager · 06-07-2005, 04:30 PM

Finally, I'm so damn relieved! You are all probably thinking that I am insane but I'm actually pretty happy.

I'm 15 years old and I have been having stomach pains, gas, bloating, for nearly 2 years. I went to a Gastro doc. who basicly did nothing for me. My mom brought up all these crazy theories about depression, anxiety, stress, etc. I saw a therapist who couldn't think of anything and wanted to basicly play a guess and check game with me. She would prescribe me some sort of natural vitamin and we would see if it worked or not. After my first trial, last week, I had no success. I finally said, screw it. I don't want to play guess and check with my health unless the doctor has some facts to back her/his theories. I went to see my regular Pediatrition who was the one who sent me to the Gastro doc about 2 years ago. He told me 2 years ago that he feels some stool in my stomach. He described a bunch of symptoms and I said yes to every single one. He then asked me if I have a family history of IBS, I said no. I asked my mom and she told me that she has it and my aunt has it. So anyway, I'm about to start fibercore ( Forgot the name )? My doc is going to send me to a different Gastro doc who he knows will do something about my IBS. I guess you can say its a theory that I have IBS considering I haven't had any X-Rays or Colonoscopy.

Score!

.. Enough of these crazy theories. Finally something that explains all my symptoms.

The thing is.. I'll be seeing a new Gastro doc soon but what is he going to want to do? My mom still thinks its stress. To be honest, I'm confident it isn't. I think she puts her stress in front and thinks that because she can't handle herself, I must be stressed. Is that Gastro doc going to send me to therapy again? I don't respond well to therapy. I know this may seem ignorant but I feel most doctors who are therapists aren't true doctors. I want a doctor who actually has the legal rights to prescribe me medicine. Is the gastro doc going to do a colonoscopy right off the bat? How is that... I must say that doesn't sound too good.. AT ALL

. Can I refuse? Are there other options.

So lets go ahead and say I have IBS.. Should I be worried? Is this going to bother me for the rest of my life? Will this interfere as much as it does now?

Thanks

WorriedTeenager · 06-07-2005, 04:37 PM

I should also mention I am a male ( Just to get it out there ) .. Seems kind of strange since a lot of people who suffer IBS are females.. Oh well :-\

FireWoman · 06-07-2005, 06:29 PM

Usually a colonoscopy is the first test they use to rule out any other disorders or god forbid - cancer. Almost EVERYONE with IBS has had a colonoscopy. It's really not a bad test at all.

WorriedTeenager · 06-07-2005, 06:56 PM

Eh.. I'm going to do my best to not get that test done.

aaronon · 06-08-2005, 09:33 AM

Dear worried,

Getting the colonoscopy done is a vital part of a diagnosis for IBS. It will also tell the doctor if anything else is going on in your colon. It's a good test to have and it's not a bad test. I don't remember anything, they doped me up and within minutes I was in recovery, or so it seemed. If I can have it done, which I did, anyone should be able to have it. I'm the biggest fraidy cat of anything medical, shots, tests, blood work, etc. The only thing that bothered me was drinking the liquid the night before. I couldn't do it. I did manage to get some of it down, but, yuck! it wasn't pleasant.

Your doctor may not even suggest a colonoscopy! He may just go on the symptoms you are presenting with.

Good luck,

A