Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Do I have IBS, do I really have to see a GI specialist to figure this out? Here are my symptoms!

Hi everyone. As you see by my username I have been through 4 years of hell. Upper GI, Lower GI, Gastroscopy, Barium-Enima, Ultrasounds tests have been performed but concluded I had nothing wrong with me. I just spent 5 HRS in the ER waiting room trying to figure out why I had such abdominal discomfort and the feeling of trapped gas in the intestines on my right side of stomach recently. The doctor said, you're 22 years old, nothing seems wrong, I'm not a specialist, here's a referral for a GI. (This would be my 3rd time through the ringer). This 4 years of inconclusive tests have cause my a lot of anxiety and general fear. So, I have been doing a lot of reading about what my problem might be, and so far, IBS relates the most. So I tried to make some diet changes, quit drinking and quit smoking on day 19 now of this trial.

Miraculously by increasing fiber and drinking a lot of water, and avoiding sugar, lactose, and red meat (which seems to move slowly in my intenstines), I've felt a lot better, until this recent attack this morning that made me go to the emergency room.

For the last 2 weeks I ate only salad, carrots, apples, bran muffins, bran cereal (100% Bran), and breaded chicken, with the occasional turkey breast sandwhich on multigrain bread (which sometimes gave me pain). So I felt like I refortified myself and was ready to re-introduce my favorite foods. We are Wednesday now, last friday I ate a burger at Burger King, everything seemed bearable, so I went for my usual Steak and Cheese Sub. (The Sub gave me a bit of trapped gas, but no pain, plus I felt okay the next day). So Sunday comes around, and I ate a Shish-Taouk (chiken, salad, garlic sauce, onions, rapped in pita bread), followed by 2 chocolate bars, AND BAM! All the symptoms came back. I had burning feelin in stomach, kept burping up garlic gas, and my intentines felt swollen. But the next day was bearable, until I got into a huge family crisis, then the symptoms flared up again, which leads us to tuesday (where I went to the ER) cause I woke up with sharp pains to lower abdomen right under naval, and the bloated swollen feelings. So I freaked out. (Not thiking I might have IBS).

So guys, here I am, 3 AM on an empty stomach, was afraid to eat all day (had 3 apples, 3 bran muffins, and a bit of beef boringnon stew), wondering if I have IBS because no MD can conclude this for me until 2 months from now when I have my appointment.

To describe my stools, basically, they haven't been hard in a long time, they are soft and bulky and float to the top, and always the same color, light brown, and sometimes diarrhea like. One day a few months ago, I had diarrhea all day for no reason.

My question to you all is, Does it sound like I have IBS? IF so, what can I eat for breakfast that is considered safe? Oatmeal is good I find, but recently it gives me problems, (unless its organic), bran muffins and apples are getting old, what should I eat to start the day? I need somthing with substance here?

Please someone reply, this is a desperate cry for help!

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Work Hard, Study Hard, Relax Harder

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