Went to a GI specialist....
#48998 - 03/09/04 12:06 PM
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fishnets
Reged: 10/09/03
Posts: 515
Loc: MA
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So I went to a GI specialist today. I told him how I was diagnosed with IBS though hadn't I hadn't had any tests done(my doctor just heard my symptoms and said "you probably have IBS"). He basiclly was like yeah those are IBS symptoms. So I asked if I should get tests done to rule out other problems, and he was like no there aren't any ways to test for IBS, eat a bowl of bran everyday  At this point I realize the guy is a total moron....I was like I can't eat bran it gives me symptoms! He said just try to eat more fiber. So yeah, that's my GI experience Apparently no one gives a crap enough to actually test me for anything!
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IBS-C
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Sadly I can relate. I have been to 3. They all said more fiber, so I loaded up on whole wheat ceral and got worse and worse. I had to kick and scream to have any tests done at all. My husband is changing jobs in the next few months and I will be able to choose the doctor I want to see instead of being sent to the ones that are part of our current coverage. Excited about that! Hope to find one who will listen and is willing to try new things.
Keep Looking!!
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I can sympathize! I just got out of a 4 1/2 minute appointment that I waited 1 1/2 for in the waiting room.
OK, I exagerate about the length of the appt. by a little, but not about the wait.
He gave me a prescription for Tofranil (an antidepressant) and said "we'll see ya again in a month."
What a waste of my time. I learned tons more from you all on the board. At least I wasn't SURPRISED that this is all I got from the GI dude.... I didn't want to go back anyway but my primary guy wants me checked for celiac.
OY! At least it's over.
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This attitude from doctors just makes my ill!! I also went to every doctor in my plan but luckily they covered themselves enough from malpractice by sending me for all the tests to rule out things like cancer, crohns, parasites, etc. and I've had all the tests more than once. However they had the same attitude, eat more fiber, it's not gonna kill you and stop being a baby or stop being a hypochondriac female. None of them even suggested lactose intollerance or anything else to help me (which by the way I found out about that over 10 yrs ago on my own by seeing lactase in the store and reading a pamphlet) I wish there was something we could all do to EDUCATE DOCTORS! Try calling back and say you INSIST on having a colonoscopy & stool test, that this is a standard practice by good physicians.
Edited by crampgirl (03/09/04 12:57 PM)
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Your Doctor failed to mention "Soluable fiber"
I to loaded up on insoluable fiber I was in bad shape for 2 weeks. So I did a bowel cleansing then tried the soluable fiber diet. I Feel great. Try it. It Works!!!
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I can absolutely relate. My husband ( the ibs-D sufferer) has over the last year seen 2 gastro specialists. Last year he went for both an endoscopy and colonoscopy which showed nothing ( good news). Since he was still suffering so much, a few months ago, we consulted with another gastro. This one took all kinds of blood tests, did stool studies, did another endoscopy and colonoscopy ( this time to check the small intestine..which he says the first doc did not do) and other than a few benign polyps found nothing. ( again good news) However, when I called for a follow up appointment to discuss what alternatives we had..could it be a food allergy, should we see a nutritionist, etc. ..the doctor wasn't interested in seeing us. All he said was take metamucil and immodium. He absolutely did not want to help us any more. I guess he had already made his money on the tests. I'm sure there are some competent and caring gastroenterologists out there, I just haven't been able to find one!
I was very grateful to have found Heather's site, ordered and read her book, and just ordered the acacia. At least there is someone out there to listen and offer both help and hope. Thanks Heather!
Good luck!
Roz
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I have never been actually diagnosed with IBS but did go to a PCP a year ago and he believed that's what my symptoms were pointing towards. My symptoms are not severe, but enough to feel uncomfortable a lot. I have been wanting to get several tests done to rule anything else out. But after reading these comments I am reluctant.
Do you suggest I still look into it? I just want to be sure it isn't just a food allergy, or something else that might be serious. Many have said it is very important to get everything else ruled out.
Any advice??? thanks!!
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"Love isn't love, until you give it away!" 
Edited by Bethany (03/10/04 08:28 AM)
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DO NOT let your doctor get away with that. I had to go to 4 different doctors before one would even begin to test me for anything. It is 100% within your rights to request specific test. Heather mentions them on this site, I'll have to look up exactly where, but they include being tested for celiac disease, for starters. I printed out the entire list and brought it to the doc who finally diagnosed me with gastroparesis, with IBS symptoms, after doing a gastric emptying test as well as a sitz-marker test. I pretty much told the specialist that I refused to even HEAR the word IBS until everything else had been ruled out. Mind you, my symptoms started 3/02 and it took until 2/04 to finally get the correct diagnosis. The first doctor I went to told me the same thing yours did - "Eat more bran". He ran NO tests, didn't even take my height/weight/blood pressure...GRRRR that makes me so mad when docs do that.
Please, for your health, do not let this go. Your doctor might be willing to pay more attention if he was slapped with a medical malpractice lawsuit down the road for not taking the time to diagnose you correctly - I'm in the middle of such a lawsuit as we speak.
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I had doctors tell me that too - eat more fiber! I only found out about soluble fiber from this website. Thank goodness. This site has helped me more than a lifetime of doctors.
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Heather
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I've been avoiding a specialist for years just to avoid the tests, but this year when things got worse, I decided it was time. I had several people recommend a doctor to me so I went. I described how many years (20) I had battled the symptoms on and off, and how it had recently acted up again. He put me back on the medication I had taken years ago that actually helped at that time. Other gen. pract. were hesitant b/c it contains a small amount of a sedative. He said he hadn't known too many "Librax" addicts and wasn't worried. I had to laugh b/c that really is the truth. It treats the stress issue as well as the bowel problem. He said if it worked, he wanted me to be on something that helped. Recently, I came down with stomach flu which was a major setback. I called him and went in. He took blood, ran a stool test, and sent me for an upper GI of the small bowel. He said if all of that checked out ok but I was still having the D, he would set up a colonoscopy right away. He did not want to miss anything that might be brewing. I feel almost the opposite of many who have replied. I really feel like he cares about what is happening, and he wants to eliminate everything else if it is IBS. We discussed diet, and yes, I will agree doctors are not as knowledgeable as they should be, but he only recommended fiber if I got constipated. I'm very happy with my doctor so far, and feel like I might be on the mend (I hope). Good luck.
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