New Doctor says IBD + IBS? Possible...

[Kittee]

New doctor who specializes in Crohn's and UC says that from my symptoms it's possible that not only may I have Crohn's but IBS accompanying it.





I will know more tomorrow after the "longer tube" Endoscopy but seriously....:ybatty:


Anyone have any experience with this? Tips?

 

[Jeff D.]

I have heard about people with both. It must suck. I wish the best for you and your treatments. I guess the good thing is that most of the meds that work for IBD will also work for IBS unless I am mistaken.

I hope your procedure goes well.

 

[vickyoddsocks]

I found out about 2 months ago that ive most probably got IBS too!
This i sbecause everytime i get nervous or stressed about something, the next day its like im having a full blown flare up!! But it only lasts a dayu or 2 which is weird!
The first time i noticed it was in November when i entered a horse riding competiton (my first ever) and wasd REALLY REALLY nervous.....the next day i had to go to A&E the pain was SOOOO bad! I get INCREDABLE stomach cramps thats last a few seconds (about 10, but are the worst pain ive ever felt, 9/10 or 10/10!) and i get explosive D! Also get a really bad fever which once was 40! And then i start feeling REALLY REALLY weak!
Its really annoying because i cant go through life avoiding stressfull situations (well obvious ones i can try) But for e.g 2 weeks ago i met my boyfriends mum for the first time, was nervous bout that, so the next day, had to miss uni and got behind on work! Grrrrrr! I dont know what i can do about it.
I think maybe getting stressed and/or IBS aggrivates my crohns.
How did you realise you may have IBS too?

 

[Jeff D.]

This is really hard to do for everone it seems but it really works for stress.

Go to the comfiest place you get to and either sit or lie down. Close your eyes and sit for a few minutes. Now start to breathe in deeply and very slowly and when you breathe out breathe out slowly. Breathe using yours stomach and you can tell by placing your hand on your stomach. Do that for a minute and get up. You should feel better, it helps me out and a bunch of my friends. It's like a super version of counting to 10 that actually works.

I wish both of you te best of luck

 

[Kev]

I would definitely think that the combo is possible... similar to pairing either with any other illness. Asthma, diabetes, arthritis, well, the list could go on and on. It's a nasty combination in one sense, but.. aside from the inflamation aspect, both have similar symptomology... so if one adapts/aclimates to one, pretty much covers the other. AND, altho it's probably little comfort to you right now, there are other, 'worse' illnesses, etc., that it could be paired with.. so in that light, maybe in time the combo won't seem so bad. And, it's possible that, given further investigation, your GI will rule it out, or bring one or both under control. If you haven't already, start a daily journal/diary.. track your foods, your meds (dose/time/anything accompanying them).. track your moods AND physical activities.. pains/fevers/chills.. Investigate everything that goes into your body.. foodstuff (check nutritional info), meds (check contents, fillers, any interactions or advisories).. beverages.. supplements, vitamins, you name it.
you could be dealing with emotional triggers, or you could be exposed to some environmental triggers... but you could be making things worse unwittingly by some of the by-products, add-ins, natural or OTC remedies, or even in some of the content of your meds. Like, (and this is a stretch, it happened to me, but it might be totally different for you).. I'm sensitive to lactose. Thought I had it in the bag, right? Just avoid dairy products, switch to non lactose ones. But the darned stuff is hidden in all kinds of things... margarine, vitamins, prescription meds.. orange juice... Welllll, once I really got a handle on it, and avoided it like the plague, my 'mystery' flares literally dropped off the scope. You really need to play detective, track N examine everything ... and come up with the 'safe' Vs 'bad' list of things that hopefully will help you bring it under control. If it is an IBS side issue, my understanding that emotional upheaval plays a part, but food items do too... but it (I could be wrong) is more immediate than in the case of IBD. Whether that's psychological or physiological, I really don't know.

 

[soupdragon69]

Yep possible to have both. I take mebevrine to ease the cramps of IBS that gastro prescribed when they diagnosed me with IBS on top of my Crohns during my admission last June.

Like vicky I can generally tell which is which and what triggers what now. My crohns pain is more lower right side and central above my belly button, its deep seated pain and constant. My IBS is down my left side of my abdo and lots of gas and "bubbling" pre running to the loo, and is colicky and comes and goes.

 

[Kittee]

A lot of your stories echo's mine, but my main trigger for the IBS feeling is stress apparently. The doctor had me schedule an appointment with a special psychologist that is currently running a side study on IBS/IBD stress disorders.


I hope I can see her though, my insurance called me and informed me that they do cover her but it was the same as a "in house" stay so the copay is higher. I need to figure that out. :eek2: