Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Help, I'm a new member with questions & problems!

Hi there everyone!

I'm a new member here but I have not been officially diagnosed with IBS-C yet. I have many symptoms that seem to be getting worse so I know I need to see a GI doctor soon. I would like to explain everything to you guys and see if hopefully anyone can give me some ideas or advice.

I would like to try the diet you all are talking about even before I'm able to see a dr., so could someone point me in the direction of it? Here are some of my problems: I am constipated but it's never been longer than 4 days. Sometimes I use the fleet enemas. I go through phases where I get stomach aches and only once in awhile do I vomit from them but I haven't been able to establish what it is that bothers me. I have chronic pain in my lower right quadrant...it is just below my belly button, to the right, closer to my hip bone, diagonally. I have had quite a few diagnostic tests done for that area, like an abdominal cat scan, IVP, pelvic u/s, MRI (lumbar) and barium enema's about 3 years ago...the things that have shown up seem to be not that big of a deal to be causing this chronic pain for the past years. I was told I have a duplicated right renal collecting system, Interstitial Cystitis, minor bulging discs @ L5-S1, small cysts on ovaries and pelvic adhesions between my sigmoid & fallopian tube and the sigmoid colon was attached to my pelvic sidewall (they were found on my left side though). A couple years back I had a severe episode of D for a few months and lost 12 lbs. in a month but I don't normally get that anymore.

There have been 2 times that during a bowel movement, I thought I would pass out...I guess it was too big and/or too hard but I definately needed the enema. Sometimes my stools are shaped real curvy, like an "S" or in a candy cane shape...like they had been sitting inside my curving
intestines for too long and were perfectly shaped like them.
Also lately, I have been having this white colored, torn up kleenex stuff come out in the toilet during a gas explosion...sorry for being gross!

I get low back pain but only on the right and my tailbone has been bothering me; it hurts like it's been bruised. Can constipation or IBS really cause such severe pain? Do any of you have to take prescription pain medication? I drink a TON of water (always have) and I eat some fruit & veggies during the day. My description of the side pain is like a tearing, burning & stabbing feeling. Just constantly gnawing at me. If I push my stomach out really far, I can feel something get real sore in that area. Sitting can make my pain worse after 30-45 min's.

And that's another thing I have...a really bloated stomach; only below my belly button. If I was to let it out which is uncomfortable on my back, I seriously look around 4-5 mos. pregnant. I try my best to hold it in for obvious reasons and when doing that it just looks mildly bloated.

I have days when it seems that I have urine retention; it feels like I have to go a lot but when I do there's not that much or I get a weak urine stream, like something is blocking it from coming out full force. Also, it seems like after having or struggling to have a bm, my insides feel like they are falling out, vagina area as well as further back. Makes me feel like doing a kegel exercise and holding it all day!!

Are you guys saying psyllium is not good? Besides telling me what foods I should start out with & what to eliminate, can you tell me what products to try? Should I request an anti-spasmodic from the dr. & if so which one? Should I try peppermint capsules, fennel tea, digestive enzymes? And if so which brand of those?

I already know that taking pain medication only makes constipation worse but if I could do any of your things and have some of the pain alleviated, I'd stop taking them.

Thank you for reading and sorry I went on & on. I just want to find an answer, I'm so sick of it all. Please, please if anyone can help, I'm open to all suggestions. Does anyone think this sounds like it could be IBS? Do any of you have a specific pain or does it just hurt all over the lower tummy like gas? Take care and thanks again!

Edited by ndalife (02/24/03 04:45 PM)

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