Upper GI symptoms not IBS?
#97743 - 08/12/04 09:31 AM
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karmakatt
Reged: 07/27/04
Posts: 45
Loc: Massachusetts
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Can anyone else confirm this? Maybe this is a question for Heather?
My symptoms are primarily upper GI - gas pain, indigestion, back pain, nausea; no C but hard/pebbly stool w/lots of mucous (gross, sorry).
I was diagnosed w/IBS seven years ago after *extensive* GI testing. Had a flare-up 2+ months ago, with same symptoms. MD put me on lo-dose (5mg) Amitriptylene. Fiber supplements, lo-dose antidepressant, exercise and Eating for IBS Diet help IMMENSELY... although I'm still unable to eat anything more than the very basic SF's...
BUT: In 'IBS The First Year' - Chapter 1 says "upper GI symptoms are not related to the syndrome..." Does this mean "never" or "not usually"?
My MD's been great so far, and will re-do tests at my insistence (since he is sticking w/original diagnosis)... but before I go back, I want to get some info & feedback from people here as to whether this is a) necessary and b) not IBS, and push for another diagnosis?
I'm so confused!! Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
kk
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i have always read that upper GI symptoms are not related to IBS. then i see a lot of people who come on these boards are talking about things like indigestion and acid reflux. now... whether those are just 2 different manifestations of the same thing or two separate things all together... who knows?
i do know that lots of us get gassy. i do believe that this diet helps make people more comfortable in that regard. as for the indigestion--- if it's like an acid reflux thing, start eliminating foods you haven't eliminated yet (many fruits, OJ, coffee, tomatoes... go to Google for a comprehensive list on a kajillion different websites). many people find that a food journal helps narrow down the culprits for a lot of the things you've described...
if dietary changes don't work, i'd say make a laundry list of symptoms, no matter how minor they seem, and take them back to your doctor and have another go-'round.
hope you find some relief and answers!
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Who do you see? (You're in MA as am I....)
I have upper GI issues, many of the same you describe, some back pain, and I have more of a tendency to D rather than to C, but I do have nausea-- usually with a migraine... today I got it out of nowhere, just WHAM.
I'm having a colonoscopy done tomorrow.
But I am on medication for reflux and I get TERRIBLE gas also.... I think it's possible to have both... since both my PCP and my GI specialist (who is the head of the Dept. at Brigham and Women's)have come to the same conclusion.
Colonoscopy is to rule out my having developed colitis recently, due to extensive D despite following the diet and fiber strictly but we all doubt it.
Hope that helps... wish me luck,
Karen =)
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omg, yes it does help, thank you! i get the back pain and occasional reflux, but no migraines. (have they ruled out hormones?)
my PCP mentioned a colonoscopy, but i'm trying to hold off. was the prep as horrible as everyone says?
i'm seeing richard pingree/PCP bill brugge/GI and susan tredwell/GYN, they're all at MGH. to date, they have been quite responsive and as supportive as md's get... but i'm definitely open to new opinions... ??
and do let me know how your tests turned out! i've had my fingers crossed for ya ;->
-kk
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hi casey,
not to be totally dumb but i am LOL - how did you bump this up? and thank you for doing so... i think it's a question that might take awhile to get answered...
kk
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Hehe...
#98037 - 08/13/04 10:05 AM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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By replying to a post, you "bump" it back up to the top of the front page of a forum. I was kind of curious about your question as well - I have a lot of nausea - but the post had gotten down to the bottom of the page, with no replies, so I thought I'd bump it! 
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aha... great trick! yeah the nausea is bizarre, and also the absence of C or D. (not that i'm complaining!) i'll bump it again to see if there are responses.
ps: made your dijon mushroom pasta recipe: YUM. big hit with my no-carb S.O. too! 
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bumping again -nt-
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I think that Heather has what she calls pain predominant IBS, not really C or D, just excrutiating pain. That was my experience also, pain and bloating, for years before the D attacks started happening on a regular basis. And mine were also higher up, rather than crampy pain down lower. However I also have GERD just like my dear old dad, so like others said, maybe it's that.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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