I am a 23 year old trying to figure out what is wrong with my digestive system. I have been told by my general physician and a GI specialist that I probably have IBS, but I'm not quite sure it's that simple. I have a copy of Eating for IBS, and have tried the diet, but my symptoms still persist. My symptoms are terrible gas and bloating, loose bowels, and what is pretty much a constant smell of flatulence emmanating from my anus. A lot of foods, in fact almost all, that are supposedly safe under the IBS diet are giving me trouble. I have been trying the foods under the "what to eat when you can't eat anything" section, and only Crispix seems to work.
The worst symptom of all is that my anus gives out a constant stench. This symptom seems to baffle both doctors that I have seen thus far. I believe that I do have the diarrhetic form of IBS, but something else seems to be going on. I have lived with this for a while, but a combination of factors this summer have increased my stress level to the point where this is a crisis.
I have started taking a supplement Align and have a free trial of Rifaximin. These have seemed to have relieved the diarrhea, but my other symptoms persist. I have been taking activated charcoal for gas, which seems to work, but the most unbearable symptom, this stench, continues on. I have noticed that whenever I eat something that later gives me trouble, I immediately have a feeling in my stomach or upper intestines that something is not right, like I ate some really spicy food or something. Could I have an ulcer?
I currently have little to no social life because of this problem. It's to the point where I don't want to be around people at all if I can manage it. I feel that if I'm in a room for more than a minute I begin to stink up the place. This is really hard for me because I have friends who want to hang out with me, but I can't handle the embarrassment.
I am having a colonoscopy on the 12th, and I plan on calling in to get other tests done at the same time. What tests do you suggest I have done?
I have only been on the IBS diet for a few days, so maybe I just need to give it more time, but when you're suffering, it's hard to be patient. I have been a vegetarian and have been eating stirfried vegetables and rice for a while before I heard about the diet, so even though I recently started the IBS diet, I've been on a similar one for a while. Anything with wheat in it seems to give me trouble especially, but I have had a blood test that was negative on wheat allergy.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Doctors have been of no help thus far, but maybe I'll find something out after my tests on the 12th.
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HELP!
