- Joined
- Mar 6, 2012
- Messages
- 1
I'd like to get advice from people here about whether I should push on my doctor about seeing a GI.
About 7 years ago (around the time I turned 25) is when I started to have symptoms. They came on overnight. When I described them to a doctor at the time he said it sounded like classic IBS symptoms and he asked me to come in for more tests. I learned about IBS, modified my diet, lost weight, got more exercise and felt like things were under control although I did continue to have random slip ups where I would have symptoms again despite my best efforts to follow my new habits (which do help overall). I never went back in for the tests to rule out the other possibilities though I should have.
My symptoms include loose green stool (although, the frequency isn't bad at all), gas (rotten egg smelling usually), bloating, fatigue, and stomach aches that are bad enough to keep me from going to work. After an evacuation I might feel better for up to 10 minutes and then the pain usually worsens for about an hour. When I have the loose stools it's really hard for me to keep things clean down there and if I don't it will burn very badly, whether I eat spicy food or not.
The stomach aches come in waves and it's a dull ache of varying intensity.
The foods that are usually safe tend to be high in soluable fiber and low in fat and protein (for example bananas, rice, and bread). Exactly the types of food that you would recommend to someone with IBS.
While I've been too lazy to keep a good food journal, I am convinced that I have periods where I can eat trigger foods without a problem, even things like fish 'n chips. And other times, I can be eating all the right things and none of the wrong but still have a bout of symptoms. I'd say I struggle with this stuff every 6 weeks to 2 months and I'm largely symptom free in between. When I'm having problems it's usually really bad only for a day or two but sometimes mild symptoms linger on for more than a week.
Even when I don't have active symptoms I will often have a bit of a tummy ache in the mornings and especially after a poo.
I went in recently to see my GP and asked him to do some tests. He order a bunch of blood tests and an stool test. I just got the blood test results tonight. Everything came back normal and in very healthy ranges. I went to see him about 2-3 weeks after a flare up when I was feeling normal. I don't notice any blood in my stools and I don't think the stool test (which hasn't come back yet) will find anything.
So, my question is, given the symptoms above would you press on and see a GI with the intent of having a more conclusive test (say, colonoscopy)? Or does this sound like IBS? I think if I have IBD it must be a mild form. The other accounts on these forums sound more extreme than the symptoms I have.
Thank you in advance!
Edit: I forgot to mention, I've been struggling with a cranky SI joint for 4 years and since about December my shoulder has been cranky. I've read that joint issues can be a problem with IBD. I don't have swelling or redness, but my shoulders and SI joint have been bugging me everyday. My shoulder may be the result of using CPAP as I sometimes sleep funny due to the mask and I have only been on CPAP since last May/June. When I started on CPAP a lot of my digestive woes lessened, which is common for sleep apnea.
About 7 years ago (around the time I turned 25) is when I started to have symptoms. They came on overnight. When I described them to a doctor at the time he said it sounded like classic IBS symptoms and he asked me to come in for more tests. I learned about IBS, modified my diet, lost weight, got more exercise and felt like things were under control although I did continue to have random slip ups where I would have symptoms again despite my best efforts to follow my new habits (which do help overall). I never went back in for the tests to rule out the other possibilities though I should have.
My symptoms include loose green stool (although, the frequency isn't bad at all), gas (rotten egg smelling usually), bloating, fatigue, and stomach aches that are bad enough to keep me from going to work. After an evacuation I might feel better for up to 10 minutes and then the pain usually worsens for about an hour. When I have the loose stools it's really hard for me to keep things clean down there and if I don't it will burn very badly, whether I eat spicy food or not.
The stomach aches come in waves and it's a dull ache of varying intensity.
The foods that are usually safe tend to be high in soluable fiber and low in fat and protein (for example bananas, rice, and bread). Exactly the types of food that you would recommend to someone with IBS.
While I've been too lazy to keep a good food journal, I am convinced that I have periods where I can eat trigger foods without a problem, even things like fish 'n chips. And other times, I can be eating all the right things and none of the wrong but still have a bout of symptoms. I'd say I struggle with this stuff every 6 weeks to 2 months and I'm largely symptom free in between. When I'm having problems it's usually really bad only for a day or two but sometimes mild symptoms linger on for more than a week.
Even when I don't have active symptoms I will often have a bit of a tummy ache in the mornings and especially after a poo.
I went in recently to see my GP and asked him to do some tests. He order a bunch of blood tests and an stool test. I just got the blood test results tonight. Everything came back normal and in very healthy ranges. I went to see him about 2-3 weeks after a flare up when I was feeling normal. I don't notice any blood in my stools and I don't think the stool test (which hasn't come back yet) will find anything.
So, my question is, given the symptoms above would you press on and see a GI with the intent of having a more conclusive test (say, colonoscopy)? Or does this sound like IBS? I think if I have IBD it must be a mild form. The other accounts on these forums sound more extreme than the symptoms I have.
Thank you in advance!
Edit: I forgot to mention, I've been struggling with a cranky SI joint for 4 years and since about December my shoulder has been cranky. I've read that joint issues can be a problem with IBD. I don't have swelling or redness, but my shoulders and SI joint have been bugging me everyday. My shoulder may be the result of using CPAP as I sometimes sleep funny due to the mask and I have only been on CPAP since last May/June. When I started on CPAP a lot of my digestive woes lessened, which is common for sleep apnea.
