Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | I'm Irish too

Hi Edwina,

F�ilte! I'm Irish too and based in Dublin.

Like the others said, the cramps are a very common symptom and were my main one. Following the diet helped me get my symptoms under control.

My Dr referred me to a gastointestinal specialist (Dr Hugh Mulcahy in Mount Carmel/Blackrock Clinic) He did a colonoscopy, gastroscopy and booked me in for a pelvic scan and only after all that did he diagnose IBS and prescribe Colofac (antispasmodic) After a month it had done nothing so he put me on a low dose antidepressant (Cipramil/Citalopram) which I took for about four months and with ruling out red meat, dairy and very fatty food I was better within about three weeks of starting the Anti-D.

Definitely follow up to rule the other things out. Dr Mulcahy said that he wanted to rule out ovarian cysts, Irritable Bowel Disease and other diseases of the gut. If possible I really recommend trying to get your GP or another GP to refer you to Dr Mulcahy. I saw him three times and he did my scopes and it cost 100eur, everything else was covered by my VHI. He is really nice and while my GP was disbelieving that there was anything other than stress wrong with me, he believed me and really helped me.

If you are looking for any specific tips re foods etc in Ireland post for my attention and I will help out- I got diagnosed August 2004 so I am used to all the Irish answers, if you know what I mean.

Sin�ad

PS If you saw the article by Muiris Houston in the Health Supplement of the Irish Times yesterday don't take it too much to heart, he basically said it's all in our heads and is purely stress related, I was soo mad reading it!

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S.

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