Is it possible to have IBS without constipation or diarrhea?

I'm a 19 year old male and have had digestive problems for some time now (probably at least three years).

My symptoms are (in no order):

-slight nausea (mainly in the morning till about lunch).

-general fatigue and lack of energy all the time (despite exercise and good eating habits).

-acid reflux (have been taking PPI's and all reflux gone for now, however all other symptoms remain).

-a feeling (pronounced in the morning, but throughout the entire day) that food is not digesting or digesting very slowly; it takes a long time to burp after eating, but when I do it provides relief. 

-difficulty farting, but when I can enough to relief pressure almost all symptoms dissapear (even the fatigue and lack of energy!). However this rarely even happens and most of time I feel crampy and bloated (around and a bit above the belly button area).

-just to clarify, I have NO abnormal looking stools or diarrhea or constipation whatsoever.

-psychological symptoms; depersonalisation, lack of emotion, extreme lack of motivation.

-cold urticaria (hives from exposure to cold). Might not be related.

-pungent smelling gas.

I have had the following tests done (in no chronological order):

1. Gastroscopy

-revealed gastric erosions...took carafate which should have healed them according to the GI. Symptoms still remained.

-gastroscopy also revealed high lactose intolerance. Removed all lactose from diet; occasional morning diarrhea, that I previously thought was normal, never occured again (therefore that was obviously caused by the lactose intolerance). All other symptoms still remained.

-gastroscopy also revealed no gluten intolerance (i.e. negative for coeliac disease).

2. Multiple blood tests done 

-Negative for coeliac disease aswell

-Thyroid function fine

-Normal blood count, except slightly high eosinophil count and slightly low neutrophil count (apparently still within normal parameters).

-No other significant findings

3. Ultrasound of digestive system

-No findings, except "accessory spleen", which was apparently harmless.

4. MRI of my brain.

-Healthy brain, no findings.

What I have had done is a pretty extensive analysis of my digestive system, however the area I have not investigated is the lower small intestine and colon because of apparent lack of lower abdominal symptoms. So my main questions are, is it still possible to have a functional disorder like IBS without having any diarrhea or constipation, and if I do would a colonscopy provide any results anyway? Also is there actually any diagnostic tests to confirm something like IBS?

Thanks so much for your help 

Post Edited (chambershex) : 12/1/2008 10:24:27 PM (GMT-7)

pb4 said...
The only results a colonoscopy would provide is whether or not there is inflammation present, with IBS there is no inflammation, with IBD there is, but since you do not suffer with bowel issues then I don't think either IBS or IBD are the issue for you. I was thinking more along the lines of GERD or something, have you had an endoscopy done to check you esophogus?

There is a possibility of some kind of fungal over-growth possibly causing your symptoms especially the tiredness which may have something to do with your feelings of depersonalisation, lack of emotion, extreme lack of motivation or it could be psycololgical.

Do you eat a healthy diet? Do you exercise regularly (both would provide one with energy) does depression and/or bipolar or any other psycological conditions run in your family (depression)?

Main symptoms of IBS are that of bowel habits, frequency and either D or C or even alternating D and C but since you don't have those issues at all I highly doubt IBS or even IBD (same bowel issues basically as IBS) are what you're suffering from.

:)

Hi thanks for the quick reply. When I'm not on the PPI's I have very frequent reflux (I am not sure why), however I have found the PPI, Pariet, to eliminate all reflux problems. Aren't the only symptoms of GERD pretty much the reflux and the erosion it causes? If so, as I have been on Pariet for over a month now, shouldn't all damage caused by the acid have healed?

I have had a gastroscopy and apparently my esophagus was ok, but my stomach had 'erosions' which should have healed long ago according to my gastroenterologist. 

The fungal overgrowth is a possibility, but I have had my symptoms for three years now with literally not one day going by where I can say I feel well. I would have thought something like increased/decreased microflora wouldn't be so consistant, but I may be woefully wrong! And yes my diet is becoming ridiculously 'healthy' because of my desperation, but to no avail. I also have had prolonged periods of exercise, but I usually stop after a while because of the lack of results and no motivation to continue.

I absolutely, and truly, do not believe my problem to be purely psychological in origin. None of those conditions run in my family. However I do believe my symptoms are exacerbated by stress, but even in situations of minimal stress the symptoms still remain.

I guess you last paragraph is slightly reassuring, but at the same time my options for diagnosis are getting increasingly depressing!

Thanks for your help