Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi there,
You're not alone in this, don't worry. It seems like a lot of doctors are hearing tummy ache (or whatever) and saying, "IBS!" and that's the end of it. I've had IBS for years and years and still haven't had a colonoscopy, which isn't a good thing. As much as I don't want to have one, I should have to be sure this what I am suffering from. There are a lot of more serious problems that IBS mimicks and until you have those tests there is no way to be 100% sure that you don't have something else.
I'd say you should see another doctor, and mention to him that you are aware of all the other scary things (Chrons, colitis, etc) that have similar syptoms to IBS and you will not be satisfied until you can be sure that you don't have any of those things - which cannot be proved through a blood test.
It is not acceptable for Doctors to diagnose IBS as a fall-back because they are 'pretty sure' that's what it is and don't want to have to go through all the tests with you. You have to be assertive! I know I am a bad person to give this advice to since I haven't had one done, but I have been dealing with it since 1992 when I did go through all those tests and just didn't have them re-done when it popped up again these past couple years.
Good luck!
--Steph

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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.

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