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Yeah in Canada I got a barium enema too instead of the colonoscopy. It's less invasive in the sense that they don't have to cut you open and it's not surgery so you don't have to go under anaesthetic or anything - but it's not pleasant either (basically they fill your bowels with barium so they can see them on the x-ray, and they do that by injecting it into your anus while you lie there  ) and the prep is the same as for the colonoscopy.
That said - not it's not pleasant, but I think it was worth it; it certainly eased my mind at any rate: JUST IBS may seem a little insulting and terrible in itself, but yeah it's better than som of the alternatives.
NOW - THAT said, I had had NO tests done at that point (after I also had blood tests and an upper GI but that was it). From reading this thread it seems to me that you've had tons of tests done and if you feel confident about it I think you have every reason to relax and start getting to know life with IBS, as Stephie explained. I'd also reiterate that stress is a huge factor - I know the underlying stress "could it be something worse?" was bad for me before I got tested - but you have been tested, quite extensively.
So I don't really have anything to add to what others have said - if you want to accept your diagnosis, then by all means do so!  If not, maybe ask about a colonoscopy or the less-invasive barium enema. But that's up to you. Please understand that lots of us here have had bad experiences with doctors having no idea what is wrong with us and giving us just bad advice or treating us like it's all in our heads - so please excuse us if we have a slight bias towards doctors 
I wish you good luck with all this, and I hope you're feeling better soon. 
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Stephie, thanks for your answer! I am not trying to say that I have more faith than others regarding doctors. Thats actually what prompted me to go see several specialists to confirm the diagnosis. I guess after seeing two generalists and four specailists I can safely assume that they know what they are talking about?
Anyways, your advise makes sense and I really appreciate it!
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Quote:
One final suggestion: Update your profile to show your location as Switzerland. That way, as you get into the diet and start asking for advice on products, no one be fooled by your excellent English into suggesting you run down to Wal-Mart to shop for an SFS. 
HTH.
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Hiya,
No problem.
Yes, I would say that since you have seen not only 1 or even 2 but 4 specialists as well as general practitioners, you should be able to trust the advice they have given you.
I do think that your anxiety is something you should really work on first and foremost. If you don't want to talk about it on these boards, I understand but I do think it's somehting you should try to address and you'll find a huge difference if you get a handle on it.
Good luck.
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Touche...you made some excellent poins! Bravo!
I would say to do some research. Look into what goes along with polyps symptoms-wise. Look into gallbladder and gallstones. Explore celaic and gluten intolerance. Do a search on google for "rare digestive disorders". I can't recall what he has now...but a guy on here named Mike has a rare GI disorder. Maybe do a search for Mike and gluten... or post Attn Mike...
I have done gobbs and gobbs of research. And I know myself/my bod better than any doc does so far...
Trust yourself! We are our own best advocate!
Feel better soon...
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Ruchie, you always speak the truth! We do have to know our own bodies even better than the docs, and we have to be our own advocates in order to be able to communicate what's going on with our bodies so our docs know the best way to help. Plus, I also had to do a lot of research and experimentation BH (Before Heather ) because I knew my docs at the time just didn't have experience using diet to help IBS. My first doc told me "3 times the fiber, 3 times the exercise." I was only 17 or 18, so I was like three times what? Where do I start? What do I do? But she just repeated her little mantra. I've learned to go into a doctor's office PREPARED and ready to ask a million questions. I write up my symptoms, meds and other treatments I've tried, because I know I might get emotional and forget important points. Since then I've found a doctor I trust, who explains things to me and, most importantly, wno listens.
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Keep on keepin' on...
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