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My first appointment with gastro is today.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 12/13/2006 5:27 AM (GMT -7)
I am feeling a little overwhelmed. I've made a list of the symptoms I've been suffering from, some seem minor, others are more pressing. I feel awful going in and dumping all of this on the doctors plate - while I know it's his job, does anyone really care that I'm pooping a million times a day? lol

 

 

I am so nervous, I hope he's understanding. I need some relief!

Posted 12/13/2006 9:00 AM (GMT -7)
{{{{JustK}}}}
That is so great that you're going to see the GI today. I think most of us feel, or have felt, the same way you do. My feeling came when I was sent home after the 1st visit with an IBS pamphlet and "add fiber to your diet." It's like Ya, thanks a lot! Don't be discouraged though, you are right, it is their job. If your first doc doesn't treat you the way you should be treated, then find another. It took me 3 docs before I got one that seemed to care I had constant D and dropped 15% of my body weight. She ran every test imaginable. Only then did I settle for a "just IBS" diagnosis.
That's wonderful that you wrote down your symptoms and are prepared. That is so important because we forget all too easy our plethora of woes when we get nervous and put on the spot. Take your time and make sure the doc addresses all your symptoms and concerns. Ask questions about the tests you will go through; make sure everything gets explained so you don't end up confused.
Good luck!!!!!
Please give us an update afterwards.
Posted 12/13/2006 2:05 PM (GMT -7)
I'm back from the doctors and super stressed. He was so kind and the appointment lasted about an hour and a half. He wanted to know everything in detail, which I appreciated. He said the IBS diagnosis that my PCP made was a good diagnosis, but with the other symptoms I am having, he's going to do some more testing for Colitis, Crohn's and Celiac disease. He's also questioning whether the abdominal pain is being caused by adhesions from 5 previous abdominal surgeries.

They are going to do a colonocopy and EGD on January 30th. The first available believe it or not!

I really wanted to learn more about IBS, but all they did was give me an internet handout. Increase fiber and watch what you eat pretty much. My person favorite is if you have C, they tell you to increase your fiber, then you have D, then they tell you take immodium so you don't poo.

Of course I don't want any wrong with me, or a bad diagnosis, but eeek, where the heck are my symptoms coming from? Thanks for the advice 7Lil.
Posted 12/13/2006 2:21 PM (GMT -7)
That's good that you doc spent so much time with you and is going to do some test. I've had the celiac test, it is just blood work. I also have crohn's disease and have had three colonoscopies so far. I hope you get some answers as to what is going on soon. I have D and Imodium makes me cramp if I take a whole one so I only take a half tablet when I need it.
Posted 12/13/2006 10:44 PM (GMT -7)
There really are no pat answers for IBS and why some people have it cause it affects everyone differently. It is a functional disorder therefore causing the differences since all our intestines function differently than each other. It souns as if you Dr. did a good job. It is seldom that a Dr. will spend half that time. In many people fiber will balance out the system after a while so that you don't have the D or the C. That would be the ultimate fix but for most of us it is not that simple so we have to try different things, Probiotics, diet, keeping stress down, fiber, etc. There just isn't any one answer for everyone. My first thought is to do an elimanation diet. Start with rice and chicken and add to that gradually or keep a food diary. I know I cannot tolerate milk products any longer for some reason and red meat does a number on me Sometimes even a vitamin with iron it it can cause diahrea. It is trial and error and a slow process. Hopefully you will find the answer but it does sound as if you dr. is on the ball so work with him. He sounds like a keeper.
Posted 12/14/2006 10:36 AM (GMT -7)
I once, to everyone's great amusement, likened IBS to erectile dysfunction.

Why doesn't it work? I want it to work. I feel like it should work. I haven't done anything to keep it from working. My wife's not doing anything to keep it from not working. Why doesn't it work?

Now, doesn't that feel like you, only in regards to your guts? It's my understanding that doctors still don't know why some men get erctile dysfunction. They have some theories--stress, age, hormones, etc.--but those theories don't apply to everyone. And doctors have some theories about the causes of IBS--stress, being a woman, poor diet, lack of fiber, food intolerance, etc.--but not all of those apply to everyone with IBS either.

But, as I'm sure you know, there are drugs out now to reverse erctile dysfunction, regardless of what causes it. We can only hope that a similar drug will come out for IBS that will treat it, even if we still don't know what causes it.

As Sir Matt quoted his doctor, "We understand the workings of 40% of the body; we pretend to understand the other 60%." Unfortunately the digestive tract falls almost entirely into that 60% that's not understood.
Posted 1/3/2007 7:44 PM (GMT -7)

Hey, I feel your pain, literally!  I decided that after the holidays I would, for sure, finally, after much humilation, embarassment and social isolation, make an appointment with a GI doc.  I have mixed D & C with tons of bad gas.  To my surprise, they got me in the next day (yikes...I was hoping it would take longer!).  I was really relieved and comforted that I went.  The doc was kind, understanding and told me many things I didn't know.  If this makes anyone feel any better (LOL), he told me that if you are in a line of 10 people at the store, 4 have IBS or likely symptoms.  I gave him a long list of what I have tried over the years, the diets I have tried, the Activa, the Citricil, the Digesterol routine, etc....I had written down all the symptoms, all thr vitamins & medications I was taking, all the research I had found on this site as to treatment and possible tests.  He complimented me on doing my homework...thanks to this site!  In fact, he said I had a list of my own treatment plan.  He said he would recommend all the tests I had researched for all the possible problems.  He said I may have to live with IBS for a lifetime (yuk) but he can help me keep the symptoms at bay or lessen the problem.  Of course, the first thing on our list was colonoscopy/endoscopy.  The lab drew tons of blood to test for celiacs, gall bladder, H-Pylori, etc. (research this site!).  I have to cut back on the Citricil.  No Omega 3.  No salads.  Add 1-2 stool softeners per day (Peri-Colace), keep a calendar of what I am eating, how much I am going and what it is like, what triggers the bad stuff.  Also a perscrip. for Zantax for the panic attacks I have developed as a result of this.  On Jan. 17 I have to have the horrible colonoscopy thing but he assured me I'd be out for the procedure (thank you!).  We are going to meet after that but he also said a lot of this is due to stress and we are going to work on learning to manage it better (don't know if that's going to happen).  Anyway...I really was happy I found a great, concerned doc right away.  I feel he will help with at least getting to the bottom of it and maybe getting it under control. Good luck to all of you.

Posted 1/3/2007 8:36 PM (GMT -7)
Wow, twrtwn, congrats!!! :-) It sounds like you have a terrific doc. Even better that you did your homework and was prepared. That is so important because it saves so much time. Don't worry about the scope, the worst part is the prep. Has he prescribed a prep method yet (Golytely, Phosphosoda, etc.)?
You are so very lucky to have found a caring doc that doesn't have a several month wait list. Keep us posted!
Posted 1/4/2007 10:42 AM (GMT -7)
I second Lil; it sounds like you lucked out and hit the jackpot with your doctor.
Posted 1/10/2007 6:19 PM (GMT -7)

Thank you all for your support.  I also feel I really learned so much on this site thanks to all your stories and support.  It is very hard to explain what life is like to people who have no problem...especially to co-workers.

I have to do the Phosphosoda thing.  I am not looking forward to any of it but am hoping I can get some relief in the end (that's not a pun)!

Thank you again to all of you and hopes to all they hit on good doctors.  It is reassuring.  Maybe the younger ones are more infomed??

Posted 1/10/2007 6:25 PM (GMT -7)

Don'tever feel like you are telling the doctor too much.  If he gives you the impression you are or rushes you...see someone else.  I recently went to a new doctor.  I have been out of control for a long time now.  I wrote down all the vitamins I am on, medications, symptoms, what I know bothers me, what tests could be done that I researched on this site, what diets and programs I have tried....and more.  He was in fact impressed and stated so.  He said I really did my homework and that I actually had my own order of treatment written down.  He planned to do all the tests that i had researched and scheduled blood work and a colonoscopy/endoscopy for next week.  I am glad I researched and had it all there WITH ALL MY QUESTIONS.  In fact, I think it cut to the chase and saved time.

Good luck and good research!

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