Do you just wake up one day with IBS?

[kbel]

I am a nurse and work in a skilled nursing facility. One day, I woke up with Flu like symptoms, developed diarrhea and vomitting, and have been using Cipro and Flagyl for 3 months, when I finally tested positive for C-diff (on the 3rd lab study). No other absolute diagnosis, only possibility of Ulcerative colitis. But wouldn't I have some kind of clue something was wrong before that one fateful morning?

(Now I am on Flagyl, only, and am living almost normally- just nothing is quite solid.)

 

[ronroush7]

I am sorry for all the trouble you are having. I know with me I had already been diagnosed with Crohns Disease. Two years later, I came down with the flu. It brought on a flare with the Crohns Disease. I hope you get some definite diagnosis soon.

 

[Lizzie]

Presumably you're asking about IBD rather than IBS? I definitely didn't suddenly wake up with IBD - my occasional bouts of diarrhoea got more frequent and long-lasting, occasional incontinence gradually became more common too, etc, and then I sought help when blood started appearing in my stools, but it wasn't out of the blue. I don't know whether it's possible to suddenly get IBD, though.

 

[AnnieYa]

Gradual onset for me too, over about two months I lost my appetite/diarrhoea. Third month was more significant problems eating, nausea, abdominal pain and blood, which is when I went to the doctors.

I have another family member with IBD and didn't think anything was wrong till the blood.

 

[kbel]

Thanks for your input folks. Would you believe.. I value this as much as a doctors opinion!

 

[Lizzie]

Thanks for your input folks. Would you believe.. I value this as much as a doctors opinion!

Very wise - my GI consultant has told me a load of garbage so often and I've gained a much clearer understanding of my illness from reading this forum and asking questions here.

 

[Beach]

I suspect for my type of colitis I was born with it. As a child I can remember experiencing a good number of upset stomachs. When I was 15 the problem became more serious, to that point that i began seeing doctors for stomach issues. They didn't know what was going on.

When I was either 18 or 19 I began to become ill to the stomach everyday. I still remember the day when that happened. I was just sick one morning, ache to the stomach, and as the months went on the problem became worse and worse.

 

[likeleaves]

Very wise - my GI consultant has told me a load of garbage so often and I've gained a much clearer understanding of my illness from reading this forum and asking questions here.

Lizzie, i am new to this forum and dont want to speak out of turn etc. but i would love to hear more about your experience- being told 'garbage' by your dr?!

 

[Nancye50]

I didn't have GI symptoms other than a string cramp once or twice a day. Looking back, I was extremely fatigued and run down for a long time before serious onset.