Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Hi, I'm new...Do I really have IBS?

Hi Everyone! I have been reading posts on this website for quite some time now. I find the questions and answers so interesting. I thought it was time that I join in! My story is long; I hope I don't ramble or bore anyone! My name is Lisa and I am 35. I have been suffering off and on for about 3 years. It started around January 2003. I was sitting at my desk at work and was doubled over with sharp, stabbing pains in my left side right at my waist. I thought for some reason it might be a gynecological issue so I had it checked out. They couldn't find anything except follicular cysts that they say occur when a woman ovulates. I wasn't having any diarrhea or constipation except diarrhea when I ate fried or greasy foods. The pain on my left side also occurred more frequently while I was driving. It still bothered me when I was walking around too, not just sitting down. I went to my first gastroenterologist and had blood work, physical exam, and colonoscopy done. All were negative except a small part of my Celiac Disease (gluten-intolerance) blood work came back slightly elevated. I am not sure which portion of the test was slightly elevated. I have the results on file at home. My current doctor said that the portion was not elevated enough to cause any concern. I was told that I have Celiac Disease and was sent home with no reading material on the disease. I didn't know what to eat and what not to eat. I cried a LOT! He was the worst doctor I have ever been to. I was down to 98 pounds after my colonoscopy and that is very thin for 5'3". I have always been thin. Even now I barely weigh about 110. People comment about my weight still and it really upsets and offends me. I ate the gluten-free diet for 9 months and it was absolutely horrible. I lost even more weight on it which made me think I did not have Celiac Disease. I went to my second gastroenterologist who was no better than the first. I had to tell him what tests I wanted, etc. Isn't that ridiculous? I had an upper GI series, cat scans, ultrasounds, more blood tests, etc. The only thing I have never had was an endoscopy. I read about a Celiac gene test in a magazine for food allergies called "Living Without" and asked the doctor if I could have it done. Prometheus Labs in California do the test. It cost me $440.00 which is outrageous but for me was worth it. It tests you for the genes HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. I was not a carrier for either gene so I was told there was no possible way I could have or could develop Celiac. That was such a relief! I didn't get much out of the doctor. He just told me it was IBS and that I just had to live with it. That was it! On to doctor number three. I really like him and his physician's assistant. I have gotten the most out of them than the other two. They put me on Bentyl as needed, Prevacid for acid reflux, and Celexa (low dose of anti-depressant because they said most of the body's seratonin is in the "gut"). My symptoms have been bloating, pain (especially the side pain), flatulence, belching, vomiting at night (once in a while), diarrhea once in a while, but more episodes of "4-6 or so semi-formed bowel movements a day" some days maybe once a week or so, never constipation but severe fatigue sometimes. I have missed out on a lot of activities because I feel lousy a lot of the time. I am also on FMLA at work to protect my full-time job. I am not sure where my IBS came from. I do not have a lot of stress at all. I am also in a "no-stress" job. I have also been diagnosed with ovarian cysts which are controlled by Mircette (Kariva) birth control pill, osteopenia (the precursor of osteoporosis), hypermobility ("loose joints"), and cervical dysplasia ("precancerous cells that need to be checked every 3 months"). I forgot to mention that I went to a rheumatologist to be checked for auto-immune disorders and to a hematologist/oncologist to be checked for mastocytosis (disease of the mast cells in the body). I have also been to an allergist and had scratch tests done on my back for different foods, trees, etc. Thankfully those 3 doctors said I was fine. I also forgot to mention that I had a gastric emptying study done where you eat radioactive scrambled eggs to see how fast or slow you digest. That also was normal. I have been to a nutritionist who told me to avoid red meat, drink Lactaid milk, eat low-fat yogurt, have healthier snacks such as low-fat cheese and crackers, fruit, etc. , avoid nuts and seeds, have frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, etc. I have bought Heather's 2 books and have read both of them. I am so afraid to try the diet because I don't want to lose any more weight. I can't afford to, I am too thin as it is. I also don't take a multivitamin or calcium pills. Should I take them? I have so many questions I want to ask. If I don't have diarrhea (or are frequent stools diarrhea???) or constipation, do I still have what is called IBS? My current doctor said yes because I have other symptoms of IBS. I am sorry if my post kind of rambles. I tried to think of everything I wanted to say but if I forget anything I will add it later! I hope someone can help me out. Thank you so much in advance! Lisa

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