HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

I'm new...kinda

Support Forums
>
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/2/2013 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I've been bouncing around here on several different HealingWell forums because I have several issues.

I started with the fibromyalgia forum and then went to the anxiety forum, because I recently had my first ever colonoscopy and needed encouragement to go through it. I did go through it and I'm thankful I did. Diverticulosis and hemmys were found but thankfully nothing more serious than that.

I've also struggled with IBS since my teen years, and I'm 58 years old now. I didn't know such a great forum existed for this and it's great to be able to talk about this with others who know what I go through.

In my teen years I was diagnosed through barium enemas as having Spastic Colitis and now I think they just call that IBS, but I'm not sure.

Also, I know IBS is very common in fibromyalgia, so I have a couple of strikes against me, between the fibro and anxiety which also worsens symptoms.

I will go from constipation to diarrhea within a day and it's crazy-making! Does that sound familiar to anyone? Also, I've recently started taking fibre supplements, started very slowly.

And I think I may have food allergies, but am not sure. Is there a way to test for that?

Thanks!
Posted 4/4/2013 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
When you go from D to C, yes that is common for IBS - IBS is irregular contractions of the large intestine and sometimes it seems to have a mind of it's own.

You can try to have food allergy testing but keep in mind that these tests are not reliable. You can get many false positives and false negatives. For instance, I'm allergic to strawberries (I get hives) and hazelnuts (my throat tingles) and I had my blood tested for allergens and I had them include these two things. Both came out negative. Same with my daughter, she was tested for shellfish (which came out negative) but we know 100% for sure she is allergic to it because she gets full body rashes and has to carry an Epi-pen. So I always tell people that think they have a food allergy is to keep a food diary. Record everything you eat and see if you can find a single component that causes you issues.

There is a difference between food intolerances and food allergies. Intolerances are more along the line of digestive upset while allergies are more severe; they can produce rashes/hives to anaphlylactic shock.
Posted 4/4/2013 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for that information!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply