Quick question...

Just a quick question...With IBS, do you ever see blood in the stool?  Or does the blood typically indicate that an inflammatory process is going on?  I got some of my medical records today, and I noticed that all of the fecal tests were positive for occult blood.  Does anyone have any insight into this?

Thanks so much in advance.

Take good care,

Ali

Thanks so much for replying, pb4.

No, I haven't been scoped or had any cultures done.  For three years, I was involved in a clinical trial at the NIH for endometriosis, and during one of my scheduled visits to see my doctor at NIH last year, I started to get massively sick.  As my doctor was doing an ultrasound of my ovaries, I could feel my GI organs starting to churn.  In one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, I threw up all over my doctor and the ultrasound equipment!  Then, the bad D arrived.  My doctor had to admit me to their hospital for fluids, and stool samples were taken at that time.  That's when the occult blood was noticed.  They wanted to do a full GI work-up, but they wanted to admit me to their hospital for five to six days to do all of the tests.  I deal with horrible hospital anxiety, and I never followed through with the tests.  Now, the trial has ended, and because I do not have health insurance, it is impossible to schedule these tests.  (My local hospital will not schedule anything for me unless I give them cash up front, which I don't have right now.)

Whenever I get sick, I always deal with horrible bouts of nausea and vomiting as well, as my doctor at the NIH can attest to!  I'm not sure if that is seen with IBS too?  I deal with chronic D 24/7, but it flares up really bad about every four to five weeks.  I have to take Lomotil every day in order to function.  I'm now desparate because my symptoms are getting progressively worse and worse.  I don't think that I have hemmies..

Again, thanks for your reply.  I'm stumped about what's causing all of these problems in me.  I'm open for any suggestions or ideas.  I'm going to try the Calcium suggestion...I'm going to the store after I post this to get a bottle of it.  Anyway, take care, and thanks again.

Ali 

Thanks so much for everyone's replies.  I can't tell you how much your replies mean to me.  It's been a tough weekend with all of my medical problems.  For the most part, I try to take everything in stride and be thankful for what I do have.  For example, at least I have a family doctor that tries his best to help me.  But when I have flare-ups of my symptoms, I start to get so frustrated with my insurance situation.  I often get mad at myself for letting my policy lapse five years ago, but I couldn't keep up with the rising premiums.  I was a college student and did not have a job, so I really didn't have any other option at that time.

I'm going to ask my doctor if he knows of any hospitals in our state that work with uninsured patients.  My local hospital does not.  In addition to the bowel problems, I also have a ureter that has some aggressive endometriosis lesions growing into the lumen.  That needs to be worked up too, so I hope that I can find somewhere that will work with me.  As so many of you understand, I just want an answer to all of this now.  Now, all of my symptoms control my life.

Thanks again so much.  Have a safe week,

Ali

And don't forget guys, that IBD and IBS can go hand in hand as well, I have CD and IBS and lactose intolerance, as I always say, same crap, different pile!

:)

_{Hugs, Des}

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_{Dx: IBS 1989, Diverticulosis 2004, UC 2005, Sjogren's 2006}

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