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they need to run tests to rule out inflammatory bowel diseases and celiac. They may be able to do this with just bloodwork, they may need to do a colonoscopy. And depending on your age, symptoms, and family history, they might need to run other tests as well. All the info is in the glossary here IBS
I'm so sorry you had such a bad doc. I do hope you find another, much better one, soon. 
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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I know exactly how you feel. I've been to so many and they were all so rude and cruel they make me want to scream. I can't stand docs that are so clueless! My currant doc is such a moron. He's one of the worst people ever. And guess what his daughter and wife are docs to and they are just as bad as him. Take laxitives, drink lots of prune juice, eat what ever you want etc. That's what they say!!! Irritating idiots.
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I completely understand about unsympathetic GI docs, too. I went to one who supposedly had a great reputation but who treated my symptoms as if they were nothing, even though they were debilitating to me. He did do blood tests, an Upper GI, and a Sigmoidoscopy, but said he knew without a colonoscopy that I didn't have IBD. Then once he had officially diagnosed me as having IBS he blew me off and pretty much told me to just eat more fiber and deal with it, just like so many others have heard. He seemed to think that if it wasn't Crohns or Colitis it wasn't worth wasting his time on. My mother has been bugging me recently to go to another doc who will do more tests and possibly get into some medication with me, but at this point I just have no desire to because I have no faith in the medical profession when it comes to dealing with IBS. It's sad that it has to get to that point for so many of us... but thank goodness for Heather. I don't know what we'd all do without her! 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Well, I've posted my GI story several times, so I won't repeat it again here. Suffice it to say, I've had the same lousy experience as everyone else. Stupidity and GI seem to be inter-related; ignorance just goes with the territory. I just believe that GIs don't know anything about IBS. If they can't treat it with a pill or surgery, they show you the door. Don't get me started.
Another gal on the boards came up with a pretty good solution, though, in a private e-mail to me the other day. She said the most we can hope for is to find an understanding primary care physician who will listen to our woes and try to help us out, after our GIs will not. I'm lucky enough to have such a doctor. He knows about my GI -- he referred me to him -- and he has heard all my complaints about him. Although he is non-committal about him, he understands my anger. I go to him with my problem, explain what I need and tell him what I want, and he gives it to me. I've gotten so much help from these boards that I don't need to turn to him for advice -- I get better advice here -- but when I need a certain medication, I can ask him for it. He hasn't let me down yet, and I'm doing a lot better than I have in a very long time.
I can live with this situation until the day that GIs finally figure it out.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Wow looks like GI's in general suck! One of you mentioned lactose intolerence...I'm severely lactose intolerent, and I just realized, shouldn't he have asked/tested me for that?? I mean I already know I am, but he doesn't know that. And he didn't even ask me how long the symptoms have been going on either!
To be fair, he did seem more concerned about my upper GI problems (potential hatial hernia, may need surgery ). But still, there's no reason to focus on just one problem and not another, right? I'm seeing him again for the stomach problem, so I think I will print out that list Heather, and bring it to him. Maybe then he will take me seriously!
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IBS-C
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I'm sorry you had to go to this doctor and not get the right answers.
A word of encouragment. There are good doctors out there and not always easy to find. Once I got the referral to my GI he ran all the neccesary tests to "rule out", even though he was 100% sure it was IBS.
My suggestion is ask around and find a GI who believes IBS exists and get the tests and treatment you need.
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