Know It's Been Awhile, But Need Some Advice... (TMI, maybe)
#316499 - 10/12/07 01:30 AM
|
|
|
Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
|
|
|
... and couldn't think of any place better to ask! I have been away for a while and am having some real trouble with my stomach that I am not sure what to do about. In the last 6 months, my stomach has been a big roller coaster and my life has been really stressful. Without going into all the details, it got to be too much for me and my touchy tummy to handle and I ended up taking a leave from work. Now I have been off since July and have been getting a lot of pressure to go back, so I am supposed to return this coming Sunday. A week ago, we got back from a 7 day trip to Mexico. While I was there, I was pretty sick nearly every day. When we got home, I was terribly ill for about two days but then it seemed to pass. Also since back, my boyfriend and I had a conversation about my weight gain over the last year that was really upsetting and my mom then called me two days ago to also tell me she thinks I am terribly overweight. I have gained about 20 lbs since my profile pic.
So, that brings us to now.... For the past 48 hours, I have been more sick than I have been in at least a year. The pains and cramps in my upper and lower abdomen are so intense that I can't breathe. If I even drink water, I am running to the bathroom and having pure liquid D. It's worse than when I did the colonoscopy prep. I haven't eaten anything and spent today taking it easy, sipping on water with a bit of sugar and salt and luke warm peppermint tea. The cramps seemed to be fading, but then suddenly about an hour and a half ago it started again and I've been to the bathroom six times!! My question is... what is this? IBS and I should wait it out? A reaction to the stress of going back to work and the tension with my mom and boyfriend? I keep wanting to doubt it because even when I get D attacks, it's not like this.. Is it something I brought home from Mexico? I thought so, but then when it cleared up and I had normal BMs and ate normally for a few days, I can't figure out why it would suddenly return and so much worse. I don't know what to do. I would normally try to get in and see a doctor, but the D is so bad that I can't make it to the clinic or chance having to wait for a toilet because I literally have to run to the bathroom. Then there is the question of work. Do I try to go back still and take a chance? Do I stay off longer until I have been stable for at least a few weeks? I am so worried about going back and then having to take more sick time. Oy.
Any advice is very much appreciated!!! PS - Does anyone else find it really hard to differentiate between IBS and when something else may be going on, tummy wise? I find it really, really frustrating!
Steph
-------------------- ~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
I'd see a doctor as soon as you can. I wouldn't take chances. I lived in Mexico for 5 months and ended up with an intestinal infection (probably the first step on my way to IBS). I got very sick. I needed to be on meds. Please don't take any chances assuming this is IBS if you're feeling so badly. And if you were sick there, too...chances are even greater that it's not.
Wishing you the best. Hugs.
-------------------- Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Stephie, I'm so sorry to hear that you're having this happen to you. To think that I start to panic when I feel an insignificant flutter in my tummy (I'm IBS-C).
I hope this can help you. I think this is a website for doctors that can visit you at home when you can't make it out of your's. There was a commercial a couple of months ago here in NY about visiting doctors and I don't think this website is it. For what it's worth, give it a look:
AAHCP HOUSE CALL NETWORK
Hope you feel better and I'm sending lots of love and hugs your way!
-------------------- Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
I'm sorry you are feeling so bad. I agree that you should talk to a doctor. It may very well be something you brought home from Mexico. And the stress of going back to work isn't helping things. Here's some hugs and wishing you get well soon. {{{{hugs}}}}
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Oh Steph!! You poor dear - you're supposed to enjoy holidays, not be ill!! That sucks!! But yes, like Lauren said, get checked out!! I brought home a bug after 3 months in Italy and it was likely the last straw on my digestive track sending me to the ibs diagnosis.
Stock up on immodium and get to the drs on Monday!!!
HUGS!!!
And yes, I know the difference from and IBS attack and the flu / a bug, etc. My ibs attacks pass quickly - a couple hours. My bugs last for days!
-------------------- Cassandra
Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.
IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Hi all,
Thanks for the advice, you guys are so great! I did take the advice to go to the doctor and went to the clinic on Saturday. The doctor (who I have seen a few times before) said I should get tested for parasites and something else that I can't remember. She also said it could be something like E.Coli or something, OR that it could just that I was nervous about going back to work and my IBS made my bowels go crazy. So now I have to go for stool samples (oh joy). The last couple of days I have felt a lot better, no liquid D.. no BMs at all, actually. Yesterday I started eating again, just bland easy stuff but then last night I had really bad cramps and stuff that kept me up. Still no D, though, so I dunno what's going on.
Have to go off to the lab to get collection bottles, what a fun day.
Steph
-------------------- ~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|