internal examination??? HELP!!!

Hi AA,

I too have diarrhea everyday for 4 months straight now and I have had MANY tests to confirm IBS with diarrhea. 

Most likely, you will have a colonoscopy where they look at your colon (large intestine) and an EGD, where they look at your stomach.  You are not awake through these tests.  I also had a small bowel series x-ray, upper GI, hida scan (to check the gall bladder), CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, ultrasound of pelvis and gall bladder, number of stool cultures, blood tests, etc.  This is how a person gets diagnosed with IBS. If the tests show nothing signifigant, then most likely, you will be Dx with IBS.

The colonoscopy and EGD wasn't bad.  I don't remember a thing about it.  The worst part was drinking the prep the night before and the bathroom time that went with it.  I hope this helps you!

Hi AA - I just want to reinforce what Keriamon said, that Panic attacks & anxiety can certainly contribute to IBS.  I didn't "get" IBS until after I started having anxiety & panic.  I am taking an anti-anxiety medicine and it helps the diarrhea tremendously.  Yes, you will probably have a colonoscopy.  Let us know what you find out at the doctor.

Sami

The day before the test you have to go on a liquid-only diet and take some sort of laxative (what kind you get depends on the dr) that will get you all cleaned out so they can see in there. When you go in for your test, they will give you medicine that will make you unconscious. They call it "sleeping consciousness" or something to that effect, because they can tell you to do things, like "roll over", but you won't remember any of it (although some people who seem to get less sedation can remember hearing voices or seeing things every once in a while, but it's like a dream and doens't seem real). I was WAY out when they did mine; I thought I was never going to get woken up afterwards! But it will eventually wear off after a few hours and you will be fine again.

I can't stand for anyone to touch me down there either and I've always been a bit of a prude, but I was knocked out long before they started doing anything to me, so I never knew it. It's worse having to go to the gyno.