Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | need advice -- no firm diagnosis of IBS yet

I've been kind of "lurking" around here for a few weeks now. This is kind of another one of those is-it-really-IBS? posts. I have a colonoscopy and an endoscopy scheduled in a week, but I just wanted to get some feedback from people here who have IBS.

For several months now I've been noticing a change in how I react to food. I would have diarrhea infrequently (between six weeks to three months), and my stomach seemed easily upset. I didn't change my eating habits too much, but did cut back on greasy foods -- i.e. I'd still eat a cheeseburger and a glass of milk, but no fries.

My symptoms got worse towards the end of May, and in early June I went to see a doctor. He said I had IBS and told me to get more fiber and exercise. (I didn't know at the time how dismissive this was.) I tried fiber supplements but they made me sick (even very small amounts -- I tried Benefiber, for one), so I made an effort to eat more foods with fiber. Didn't help. I went to another doctor in late June, who gave me the same run-around. Shortly after, I discovered this website. I instantly dropped all forbidden foods, went on a rice and peppermint tea diet, and ordered the cookbook. The rice/tea didn't help either. I tried fat-free saltines and homemade soup (w/ IBS-safe chicken broth, chicken, rice, and parsley only). I seemed to stabilize for awhile on this. Then I got sick again to the point where I ate nothing but saltines, and even those didn't help. I went to a third doctor, who referred me to a GI specialist.

Right now I am on a diet of nothing but boiled potatoes (with nothing but salt and pepper) and bananas. This has helped somewhat -- but hasn't solved my problems, and I still go through much of the day feeling like I'm going to throw up. I eat very slowly, chewing my food thoroughly (though there's not much to chew right now). I drink lots of water and no other fluids. (I did try drinking some unsweetened peppermint tea over a week ago and ended up having severe stomach pain.)

My symptoms? Besides diarrhea (which I now have about once a week), my biggest problem is frequent nausea, especially right after I eat (no matter what I eat) and during a bowel movement. It is rarely severe enough where I actually vomit. I also have bad abdominal pain that generally stays in my lower abdomen. I don't have troubles with constipation, gas, or bloating. I have lost weight -- over ten pounds in three weeks, and I was thin to begin with (5'6" and 120 pounds). I have no energy and it is a monumental task to climb stairs.

The first doctor I went to suggested going off birth control in case that was causing problems. My cycle was regular when I was on it (though I would sometimes experience small amounts of bleeding when I didn't have my period), but it's been very erratic ever since then -- when I got off it, I had three periods in a row with a week in between, and though my next period didn't come until three weeks after that, it was very spotty and light. I'm not sure if this is normal. I had been on birth control for a little over three years.

I'm 22 and the first two doctors told me that I'm too young for anything serious to be wrong with me. Obviously that's not true. However, since following the IBS diet rules haven't done a whole lot for me, I looked into other possibilities and found that my symptoms could match that of ovarian cancer. These symptoms are vague, admittedly, but I don't know if it's worth going to see a gynecologist about. I'm just afraid of getting blown off again. I have no regular gynecologist, though I do get a pap smear every year (I go to Planned Parenthood), and since I have no relationship with a gynecologist, I'm worried (s)he will be more inclined to airily wave away my fears. I also saw that symptoms of ovarian cancer are back pain (which I have) and leg cramps/pain. I have been having bad leg cramps in my right leg (but not my left) for a few months. That's another thing that makes me wonder if I should at least get ovarian cancer ruled out.

Anyway, any advice that anyone can give me would be appreciated. I know, I know, I should wait until my endoscopy/colonoscopy before worrying any more about this. Easier said than done.

The gastroenterologist told me that his first inclination is that it's not IBS because people with IBS generally don't have the problems with nausea that I do, or lose weight quickly. Is this true?

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for listening.

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