Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I am definitely not a doctor, but I think at least some of those symptoms could be related to gas. I experience "burning" pain in my ribs, back, and between my shoulder blades often as a result of the gas, and oftentimes it will make me nauseous too. Sometimes it's dull and aching and constant, and other times it will be a very very sharp pain. I even had this as a child before I was diagnosed with IBS. My mom dubbed it "heartattack gas" because the first time I had it in my chest I thought something must've been wrong with my heart!

For this pain, I find that doing stretches, light exercise, simethicone, and fennel tea to be extremely helpful. Eating lots of veggies can cause gas so many try cutting back on them just for a while to "break the cycle" of sickness. Obviously we all need them for good health, but if you do have IBS, you need to adapt a very very careful diet for a little while just to get things back on track.

I do also suffer from the lightheadedness and fatigue, but in my case it is due to low blood pressure. I've noticed that many people with IBS have a general feeling of "blah" a lot of the time; achiness, fatigue, just generally not well. I have read studies that show that people with IBS are more likely to have Fibromyalgia, and vice versa, and I've always wondered if that can explain some of the blah feelings IBSers have. This is all just my very non-scientific hypothesis though!

Still, if you really really doubt that you have IBS, keep requesting tests! In the end, you're the one who has your own best interests at heart. Don't let anybody tell you everything is "just fine" if all the possibilities have not been ruled out and you truly feel like there is something else wrong.

Good luck!

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator