Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi there!

I hope to get some recognition about my symptoms on this board. I would like to try the IBS diet, but I'm not sure I really have the syndrome.

My symptoms started 8 months ago, after 2 stomach-flus. I had lots of nausea for 3 months (almost every day), sometimes I had some sort of attack, where I became sick all of a sudden, mostly accompanied by fast stool (not really diarrea). The attacks decrease -sometimes only for a few minutes- after a toilet visit.

In the beginning I had a little bit of pain in my stomach each morning. I tried prevacid, which didn't help, but after 2 weeks use, the pain dramatically worsened->all day. I doubled the prevacid and have been using it since. Still have daily stomach pain (and some abdominal), but not so bad anymore (but mostly worse than before starting prevacid). If I lower the meds, the pain increases again. I don't dare to quit.

After that first period I got another stomach flu, and my symptoms changed. I got constipated, not really bad, still could go every 2 days or so (had that in the past also). But I was zo nauseated! I could only eat like half a sandwich, otherwise I became very full/nauseated. At that time I'd lost 20 pounds.
After 2 months or so, my doctor gave me forlax, a stoolsoftener, which eased the constipation-nausea very well and I also gained some weight back. Psylium I tried before, but it only worsened the symptoms.

Now I'm still on forlax and prevacid.
I've had several blood test, stool tests, an ultrasound of the upper abdomen and an endoscopy (while on prevacid). All normal.
My symptoms now are still constipation most of the time (if I stop the forlax). But if I take too much forlax (how much I need differs from period to period) I get the old symptoms (attacks of nausea/sickness).

My symptoms seem to have something to do with my bowel movements, I'm sure. But not the pain? I can't get any control over that. I also don't really have bloating or gas, but I sometimes feel hard lumps come and go, I guess my intestines. Sometimes I think the pain in my abdomen (not the stomach pain) is gas, but I'm not sure. I have sore spots in my abdomen when I press it. Right below and at the whole left side.
So I still have pain everyday and I'm very quickly nauseated, almost always accompanied by bowel changes..??

The GI doc diagnosed a hypersensitive stomach after my endoscopy (although the movements she saw are normal and I can eat pretty normal quantities w/o getting nausea or pain after meals - when I use forlax now). Stomach pain is mostly on empty stomach, but defenitely not always..
She also said it sounds somewhat like IBS, although she wasn't sure because I don't have the bloathing and gas?!!
She send me home and couldn't do anymore for me!!

I'm not sure the diagnosis is correct and complete!? I've been to an alternative therapist who pointed at my gall(bladder), but he also said things which were not correct..

I tried a diet based on low SF, and I think it helped somewhat for the nausea, but then the pain suddenly came back heavily after a few weeks, so I quitted. After that I tried a diet of a naturopath, with much vegetables and very low in carbs. I lost 5 pounds in a week and felt worse than ever!

I'm curious if my symptoms are recognisable or you (also) think there must be further testing?

History: stomach pains since age 13, later (after H.pylori eradication) also reflux, but both very well controllable with prevacid/ranitidine.
Very bad pregnancy with extreme nausea+dehydration and after that heavy stomach complaints. Couldn't eat much dairy (bloated), sugar and fat. All disappeared immediately after delivery, but I kept having more frequent and softer stool than before (no problem

). Now almost 2 years ago.

My sister has IBS since she's little. Bloating and gas, and some nausea.

--------------------
PI-IBS-C/A nausea & very bad gastric pain
meds: lansoprazol+macrogol
started EFI +FODMAPs 1/2011. 'Relapse' for 8 months. Now partly back on track again with the diet..

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator