For those with severe D-predominant IBS

If any of you have experienced severe, watery, chronic D, abdominal cramping, and weight loss; have had bacterial and/or viral infections and IBD ruled out; and have been told you have IBS, you may want to consider asking your doctor about getting a 5-HIAA test.  This is especially necessary if you have "flushing" symptoms, such as severe reddening of the face for minutes or hours at a time or facial swelling.  The 5-HIAA test is very simple - you collect all of your urine for 24 hours in one container - and can tell you if you may have a carcinoid tumor.  Carcinoid tumors are relatively rare, slow-growing neuroendocrine tumors that cause symptoms such as those I listed above. 

I am doing the 24-hour urine test tomorrow.  I'm kind of freaked out, of course - but I'd rather know than not know!

The biggest problem for me is the 'D'!.  Every morning it comes like clockwork and Im really fed up with it.

How long have you been suffering?

Anns