Can you ever be 100% sure it is IBS?
#64320 - 04/23/04 01:49 PM
|
|
|
|
|
crc
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 161
Loc: Maine
|
|
|
On page 2 of Heather's book she lists all the things you should have ruled out before you can be sure you have IBS. I am having trouble ruling out the following:
Celiac Disease
Endometriosis
Crohn's (if you don't have blood (sorry) in your stool can you rule this out definitively??
Food Allergies
It is exhausting trying to fix yourself if you are going between 3 or 4 diseases and aren't even sure which one you have. Does anyone have some words of wisdom on the above?
Cindy 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Your doctor should be able to do tests to rule out the above.
--------------------
~jules
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
Your doctor should be able to do tests to rule out the above.
Except that the food allergy tests are unreliable. And, of course, the fact that you could have IBS along with something else. So the best test (after you rule out the more serious stuff with tests) is to watch your reactions to what you eat.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm kinda in the same boat you are. What I'm trying to do is just test and watch my body. After all nobody knows it better than I do! I have noticed that I feel better if I don't eat wheat, so I stay away from it. As far as endometriosis, I'm gonna try the pill and maybe that will help. A pain diary helps too. Write down what days you have pain. Then you can identify a cyclic pattern if its there. Food allergies? Try a food diary. Its helped me. Not sure about Crohn's though. I wonder about that too. It helps sooo much if you write things down. Then you can go to your doc and have solid evidence and it may help them diagnose you. Write down your bowel movements too if you have to! Hope this helps. I know exactly how you feel. I wish there was a way to test for everything all at once! That would make things so much easier and give so many people so much peace of mind. Good luck! 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks, it is hard. I would like to be devoting my time otherwise but.... yeah, you should see my date book marked with my bodily functions...oh brother!!! But I think that you are right about tracking things. I will give it a whirl and good luck to you too.
Cindy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
But not the case. They say it sounds like endometriosis but I don't want to put you thru a laporoscopy so lets just put you on this medecine or your bloodwork suggests celiac but your endoscopy doesn't, just go wheat free and see what happens. So you try these things and nothing fixes your symptoms 100% and you just end up more confused.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
I agree. nt
#64359 - 04/23/04 05:13 PM
|
|
|
|
|
crc
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 161
Loc: Maine
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
My calendar is ridiculous too! Every bodily function is on there! If someone who didn't know me ever saw it they would think I was kinda crazy but you gotta do what you gotta do! 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Crohn's
#64491 - 04/24/04 03:32 PM
|
|
|
|
jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
|
|
|
a colonoscopy should give your doctor an idea whether you have Crohn's or not. make sure you have a colonoscopy if you haven't had one yet!
your GYN would diagnose endo... make sure you're seeing ALL of your doctors!  
as for the others, you can get a good idea about the gluten problems through the blood test and through an endoscopy, but they're not definitive. my bloodwork was negative, but i had a hunch. i eliminated wheat and was almost immediately better. now, if i cheat (which i never do bigtime i just sneak the occasional Tofutti Cutie!  ), i can't feel it! it's impossible to explain, but i can tell when that wheat is in my tummy. UGH. now i just avoid it. you can try elimination diets on your own (but talk to your doctor about it first, or a nutritionist. you need to make sure you're not eliminating vitamins and minerals and other goodies that you NEED!). stay off a questionable food for 2 weeks or so, then add it back in. if your symptoms had lessened or disappeared while you were "off" and came back or got worse when you go back "on" well... ya may be onto something!
good luck!
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I had a lap 10 years ago, no endo but now gyno thinks I have it but does not want to do a lap????? I am tracking my symptoms on a calendar now to show when they are most awful.
Had a colonoscopy 7 years ago with no Crohns, how often do you have to repeat this test to be sure it is nothing else but IBS?
For the food allergies I am getting the message about a food journal and will be starting one.
Why do I feel like I am playing the doctor here? Oh brother! I want off this ride! Sorry, feeling a little overwhelmed.
Cindy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
