Opinions - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

tm3912 · 07-10-2006, 01:47 PM

I would like the opinion of the board as to whether you think I have GERD, IBS or both.

My Doctor has said that I have Gerd although no test were done. However after reading some of the symptoms that you all have been talking about I wonder.

Lately I have had terrible stomach pains whenever I eat anything, the pain stays around spreads into my intestines, it's a half burning half dull pain. I also get chest pains (heart as been ruled out as possible culprit to the best of everyones ability). I also get bloated, in the sense that I eat very little but feel like I have eatin alot. I do not have a problem with gas, or burping although I do have a little burping. As a matter of fact I wish I could have more to relieve the pressure.

My BM are normal in the sense that I do not have diahrea or constipation. However I do find that I will have these pains for sometime and then, out of nowhere I have to have a BM. It feels as though my intestines "let go" or relax and I had better be around a Restroom (sorry about the description)

I also get terrible back pains that seem to appear with the stomach/intestine pain.

I guess I'm kind of lost sometimes my symptoms sound like GERD and other times sounds like IBS.

Harry · 07-11-2006, 08:04 AM

The stomach symptoms sound like gastitis but lower abdo symptoms sound IBS.

tm3912 · 07-11-2006, 08:24 AM

Thanks Harry, I am fairly well versed in GERD but know little about IBS. I have read the boards and done some research but nothing is as good as talking to people that suffer from it.

One thing that I wonder about is the frequency of attacks. Thinking back over the last year there have been 4-5 occasions when I have had an attack of D with stomach cramps but no other signs of illness. At the time I would think that it was weird to have these attacks without having the flu also, now I'm wondering if maybe they were IBS attacks. In the past I have always assumed that IBS was constant and rarely went away.

I'm trying to figure this out to decide how to proceed with treatment. For instance when I have a stomach attack I take some peppermint, however peppermint is not good for GERD. Anyway thanks for your reply I'll keep researching

Harry · 07-11-2006, 09:26 AM

Several things you can do is take a probiotic supplement that helps digestion and kills any bad bacteria that you may get. Especially E-coli, samonnilla, lysteria, and clyptosporidium and others(excuse the spelling).

The best things I have found is Lactobacillus reuteri-- in the States the only places you can buy it is Nature's Way, Natures Sushine and Stonyfield Farm products-- yogurt mostly.

Your intestines contain over 400 different bactria that are in contant warfare to keep in balance-- every now and then they get out of balance and we get diarrhea -- So, sometimes we need to give the friendly bacteria an edge.

I eat yogurt 3X daily and take supplements.
Some goods supplements that I use is Culturelle, PB-8, Pearls -- there are others but I know these work and you can buy them online at a good discount.

Also, a good fermented drink loaded with friendly bacteria is Kefir.

I suggest you start taking a water soluble fiber supplement like psyllium-- twice daily.
It will bulk up your stool -- keeping your intestines cleaner and regular w/o straining. So, you don't get hemorrhoids or diverticular problems.

I now use the Equate brand(psyllium) from Wal Mart-- it seem courser, mixes well with water and cost about half as much as Metamucil-- I need 7 to 8 grams daily with my diet for normal regular BMs.

I wish you well~~~Harry

PS-- tm ---If you have any questions-- I have been here a long time!