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#112123 - 10/11/04 04:35 PM
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gardenmaker
Reged: 10/09/04
Posts: 1
Loc: Portland, Oregon
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Hello, I am new to this website...I am fairly new to IBS! I have not had all of the tests that you mention we ought to have to illiminate other more serious illnesses, but my doctor has said she thinks I have IBS from me just explaining my symptoms.
I have read often that persons with IBS have these all of a sudden painful attacks that can drop you to your knees or send you running for the bathroom...and I dont ever experience this. However, I do have some of the other symptoms. I experience cramping and a dull, sometimes pretty strong, chronic pain, that sometimes will last a month or more...I experience soft stool, but infrequent movements. I have had mucus in my stools. Not diarrea and really not hard stools. I have alot of pain from gas in my system pretty often, and sometimes I belch and belch (my husband cant believe how much air I have in me!) There are a few food that I have identified that cause me grief, but sometimes I think that it isnt food related.
I want to address this issue, and plan to go through some of the testing required to diagnose properly. What does everyone do, just print out the list on this website and hand it to the doctor and say "here, I want to do all this" or, how do you all handle this? I have Kaiser insurance, and they are not always willing to do anything more than they have to.
Is there anyone that has IBS that has constant pain in their midsection...not the urgent pain episodes that I have heard of? Thanks so much....
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Hi there! I don't have any pain, so I can't answer those questions, but I did want to at least say hi and welcome. 
When I went to my doctor, I took her a complete medical history, of all my symptoms, any other illness I've had, etc etc. I've had IBS symptoms for 17 years, so I had quite a history to relate, heh. Anyway, I actually typed all this up, and she read it, and put it in my file. I think being THAT complete was the best thing I ever did... by the end of that first visit, she knew EXACTLY how she wanted to proceed with treating me, and I didn't need to take her a list of tests or anything like that.
Good luck with the doctor's visits - and even more so with dealing with the insurance! 
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It sounds like you and I have a lot of the same symptoms. I experience the dull cramping in my lower left quadrant of my abdominal area and also pain in the upper left. I have been through every kind of test and they have all been negative, however, don't let your doctor short change you. A lot of other conditions mimic IBS...example: gluten allergy; colitis; gastroesophageal reflux; inflammatory bowel disease; gallbladder malfunction...just to name a few. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this website. Welcome and good luck dealing with this "demon"
J9
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- Jennifer
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Hello and Welcome! I have a lot of the same symptoms as you! See my post today under DOES ANYONE HAVE PAIN PREDOMINENT IBS. Mine starts off, pain, lots of pain.
I get periods where my tummy just plains hurts for days or weeks at a time. It has been this way since I was 15. I'm 34 now. I used to be severly constaipated and was put on miralax to keep things moving. Try using the heating pad on your tummy when it hurts, I find some relief in that. Try using lots of gas-x, sometimes the pain is caused from trapped gas.
Don't be discouraged by the drs. I have seen a ton of specialists and none of them have been overly helpful! I currently see an internist for my IBS problems.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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