Do I have IBS, or another issue going on? I'm copying the questions off of a standard IBS questionnaire one can find floating around the internet, plus adding any additional information I think is relevant at the end. I've been diagnosed, but the doctor also attributed it to anxiety, which is something I've never had and multiple healthcare providers can attest to. My flares do not occur in relation to stress either (I've monitored). Sorry for the following wall, I've tried to keep it as organized and simple as possible.
In the last 3 months, how often did you have discomfort or pain anywhere in your abdomen?
This flare started Thursday, so very little, but the pain is 7-10 depending, and located on my lower right side. I've broken the pain scale once this week and just prayed for God to kill me then. I literally fell off of the stool.
Have you had this discomfort or pain 6 months or longer?
This flare, no. Previously yes. They've lasted up to 8 months before.
Did this discomfort or pain occur only during your menstrual bleeding and not at other times?
No.
How often did this discomfort or pain get better or stop after you had a bowel movement?
Never. Typically it worsens (feels like a ripping up my left and right sides) during a BM, but never drops below baseline pain after. Oftentimes it is worse for hours after a BM.
When this discomfort or pain started, did you have more frequent bowel movements?
Yes.
When this discomfort or pain started, did you have less frequent bowel movements?
No.
When this discomfort or pain started, were your stools (bowel movements) looser?
Yes. They're yellow, range in structure from a 6-7 on the Bristol stool scale, and often have chunks of undigested food present. (I've never googled poop so much before in my life)
When this discomfort or pain started, how often did you have harder stools?
Never
In the last 3 months, how often did you have hard or lumpy stools?
Once? I was constipated a while back, but no symptoms besides the not pooping bit.
In the last 3 months, how often did you have loose, mushy or watery stools?
Whenever I had the pain.
In the last 3 months, how often did you have difficulty having a bowel movement (straining, feeling that you have not finished)?
Occasionally? It's rare, but I call it the constipated diarrhea. I generally assume a natural position (i.e. squat) until it is ready to pass and and am always surprised when a single 'solid' stool will pass, followed by significant diarrhea.
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel that you had to rush to the bathroom as soon as you got the urge to have a bowel movement?
Again, any time the pain is present. Otherwise not at all.
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel bloated?
Not at all
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel that your abdomen/belly was actually distended?
Occasionally
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel that you had a problem with passing too much gas/wind?
Never.
What is your age? 19
No known history of celiacs, IBDs, etc. There is a family history of unidentified digestive problems.
Were you recently treated with antibiotics? No
Have you –unintentionally- lost weight? Yes. 8-10 ibs depending on the scale. 3 pant sizes and many bra sizes.
Did you lose blood with your stools? Yes. Occasionally. I do suffer from hemorrhoids so I don't count the typical hemorrhoid bleeding in this statement. Only darker blood that appears to be contained within the stool.
Did your symptoms wake you up at night? Yes.
I've been able to associate the most severe pains with: red meat, eggs, and very fatty foods. Some correlation to gluten. (I'm gluten free now as my SO has celiac disease).
I get mouth ulcers frequently, as well as a rash about my trunk. My fine joints (toes, fingers, etc.) are typically very inflamed and sore in the AM during a flare. I typically sleep 7-8 hours a night, but during a flare, I can get an iffy (sometimes my sleep is disrupted) 12 hours or more and still be exhausted.
My baseline temperature is typically 97.0-97.6 degrees, and tends to hover around 99.1-99.9 (never breaks 100) during a flare as well.
I also have Raynaud's phenomenon and ADHD.
If IBS is likely to blame, what are treatment options? My pain levels aren't livable, and the treatments that have been proposed to me in the past have not worked (increased fiber, omeprazole, coping mechanisms for stress)
In the last 3 months, how often did you have discomfort or pain anywhere in your abdomen?
This flare started Thursday, so very little, but the pain is 7-10 depending, and located on my lower right side. I've broken the pain scale once this week and just prayed for God to kill me then. I literally fell off of the stool.
Have you had this discomfort or pain 6 months or longer?
This flare, no. Previously yes. They've lasted up to 8 months before.
Did this discomfort or pain occur only during your menstrual bleeding and not at other times?
No.
How often did this discomfort or pain get better or stop after you had a bowel movement?
Never. Typically it worsens (feels like a ripping up my left and right sides) during a BM, but never drops below baseline pain after. Oftentimes it is worse for hours after a BM.
When this discomfort or pain started, did you have more frequent bowel movements?
Yes.
When this discomfort or pain started, did you have less frequent bowel movements?
No.
When this discomfort or pain started, were your stools (bowel movements) looser?
Yes. They're yellow, range in structure from a 6-7 on the Bristol stool scale, and often have chunks of undigested food present. (I've never googled poop so much before in my life)
When this discomfort or pain started, how often did you have harder stools?
Never
In the last 3 months, how often did you have hard or lumpy stools?
Once? I was constipated a while back, but no symptoms besides the not pooping bit.
In the last 3 months, how often did you have loose, mushy or watery stools?
Whenever I had the pain.
In the last 3 months, how often did you have difficulty having a bowel movement (straining, feeling that you have not finished)?
Occasionally? It's rare, but I call it the constipated diarrhea. I generally assume a natural position (i.e. squat) until it is ready to pass and and am always surprised when a single 'solid' stool will pass, followed by significant diarrhea.
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel that you had to rush to the bathroom as soon as you got the urge to have a bowel movement?
Again, any time the pain is present. Otherwise not at all.
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel bloated?
Not at all
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel that your abdomen/belly was actually distended?
Occasionally
In the last 3 months, how often did you feel that you had a problem with passing too much gas/wind?
Never.
What is your age? 19
No known history of celiacs, IBDs, etc. There is a family history of unidentified digestive problems.
Were you recently treated with antibiotics? No
Have you –unintentionally- lost weight? Yes. 8-10 ibs depending on the scale. 3 pant sizes and many bra sizes.
Did you lose blood with your stools? Yes. Occasionally. I do suffer from hemorrhoids so I don't count the typical hemorrhoid bleeding in this statement. Only darker blood that appears to be contained within the stool.
Did your symptoms wake you up at night? Yes.
I've been able to associate the most severe pains with: red meat, eggs, and very fatty foods. Some correlation to gluten. (I'm gluten free now as my SO has celiac disease).
I get mouth ulcers frequently, as well as a rash about my trunk. My fine joints (toes, fingers, etc.) are typically very inflamed and sore in the AM during a flare. I typically sleep 7-8 hours a night, but during a flare, I can get an iffy (sometimes my sleep is disrupted) 12 hours or more and still be exhausted.
My baseline temperature is typically 97.0-97.6 degrees, and tends to hover around 99.1-99.9 (never breaks 100) during a flare as well.
I also have Raynaud's phenomenon and ADHD.
If IBS is likely to blame, what are treatment options? My pain levels aren't livable, and the treatments that have been proposed to me in the past have not worked (increased fiber, omeprazole, coping mechanisms for stress)
