A list of things commonly diagnosed as IBS

I thought it might be helpful to try to put together a list of things that might be (correctly or incorrectly) diagnosed as IBS. I hope that others will add to this (or correct any errors)....

Imbalance in intestinal microflora – bad diet, antibiotics, etc can result in this. Treated with probiotics, fiber supplements, diet modifications.

Oxalate intolerance –Apparently Oxalobacter formigene, the intestinal bacterium that breaks down oxalate for us, can be killed off by antibiotics. Without this, oxalate can cause a variety of problems including IBS-like symptoms. Treatment might include avoiding foods high in oxalate – spinach, strawberries, wheat, oats, tea, chocolate, etc. Possibly helped by taking calcium supplements with meals?

Candida Albicans – Some claim that too much candida albicans in the intestine is the cause of a long list of medical problems including IBS-like problems. The treatment can include a very low-carb diet, probiotics (including saccharomyces boulardii) and antifungal supplements.

Mild IBD – Some think that many cases of IBS are mild cases of IBD where (possibly) the body’s immune system mounts an inappropriate response to intestinal microbes (bacteria, etc). Treated by diet, supplements, probiotics, drugs, etc

Anxiety – some believe that this is enough to cause functional GI disorders like IBS. Even if it’s not the sole cause, it is likely to exacerbate symptoms or enable the problems to occur in the first place.

Celiac disease or gluten intolerance –Celiac is a well-characterized intolerance to gluten/wheat.  It is treated by life-long abstinence from wheat and gluten-containing food. Other gluten intolerances are not as well-defined, but may be treated similarly

Lactose intolerance – inability to break down lactose in dairy products can cause GI problems. Treated by avoiding dairy products and/or taking supplemental enzymes

Dairy intolerance – Sometimes, it’s not the lactose but casein or other components of milk that cause GI issues. Treat it by avoiding dairy.

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) – can cause the bloating, discomfort, diarrhea associated with IBS. Treated with antibiotics, probiotics, fiber, low-carb diets.

Salicylate intolerance  - salicylate is in some foods, particularly blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, dates, raisins, kiwi fruits, guavas, apricots, green pepper, olives, tomatoes, radish and chicory; peanuts almonds, mushrooms. I don't know too much else about this one...

Intolerance of glutamate and/or other excitatory amino acids – MSG appears in prepared foods under different names (hydrolyzed vegetable protein, “natural flavoring” etc). Aspartate comes from the breakdown of aspartame. Some believe that too much of these amino acids can cause a variety of problems including GI troubles. Avoiding MSG and aspartame might help.

Bile acid malabsorption – intestinal trouble can arise from a reaction to bile salts secreted by the liver (through the gall bladder). Can be treated by drugs to bind up the bile salts and maybe calcium supplements?

Excessive consumption of alcohol

Parasites – giardia, worms, etc – can be treated by drugs

Viral or bacterial infection –

Cancer or other diseases -

Post Edited (SJN888) : 6/3/2013 2:23:48 PM (GMT-6)

A couple more based on things I've read here:

Fructose intolerance - I don't know too much about this. Seems like the obvious treatment is to avoid high fructose corn syrup, etc.

C. Diff. - Clostridium Difficile in the intestine can cause serious (even life-threatening) trouble - usually severe diarrhea. It can occur after taking antibiotics. Should be treated immediately.

This is a good list and a good thread.

Lil Gabby - sorry to hear that you are not well.

It took me years to figure out all the things that make me feel bad - wheat, dairy, aspartame, sucralose, oats, fruit, raw vegetables, anything with too much fiber, MSG (hydrolyzed veg prot, autolyzed yeast extract, etc), vitamin C, any multivitamin with too much magnesium...and basically starch and sugar. I need to be on a diet similar to SCD or the candida diet...plus I take daily saccharmyces bouldardii (very important for me) and bacterial probiotics. I probably have IBS and IBD (based on blood tests and symptoms, etc).

One of the things that makes it hard is that testing for an intolerance can takes weeks of avoiding the suspected food before reintroducing it into your diet. The cause and effect relationship is not always very simple to observe.

Post Edited (SJN888) : 6/17/2013 11:20:06 AM (GMT-6)

I suffered with stomach cramps . running to the toilet loose bowls sore back these attacks lasted for a week or so at a time and put me in hospital on 3 occasions on iv antibotics but no real cause . was told prob ibs this went on for a couple of yrs till another attack run to the toilet and had a loose movent and filled the bowl with blood and im not talking a few drops it was running out .

I was doubled up in pain on the toilet unable to move and bleeding I sat there for a couple of hours till my wife come home from work and called a ambulance . I was fearing the worse bowl cancer or the like when in er I started bleeding again from the rear I was rushed into surgery for explority surgery where it was found I had a bad case of diverticulitis I had never heard of it before but I woke up after the operation with 4 ft of bowel removed it was perforated and infected the DR reckons another couple of hrs the infection would have spread right thru and I would have been in serious trouble . I had too live with a bag for 6 months as they had to re route the bowel till it had all healed .

why wasent it picked up b4 when I had been in hosp on the other occasions heck they run a lot of different test in the times I had been there .. I was relived that it was not cancer but I have to watch what I eat now as some things don't get processed like they used nuts been one of them and I love almonds lol.

I think ibs gets thrown around a lot when the dr's have no idea whats wrong with you that was 10 yrs ago . I still get attacks when I have the urge to go to the toilet in a hurry and my movements can go from constipation to the runs in a matter of days I still get stomach cramps but no where like I used too but I can say ive had a lot of surgery over the yrs and it has been the most painfull one ive had to endure .

cheers dean

thanks for the reply tummywoes
we cant help the cards we are dealt with in life ive accepted that fact a long time ago . the back pain I had when I had the diverticulitis was more around the kidney area and was more like a constant ache that would not go away made sleeping and any turning movement in the upper torso was aslo very painfull . the back pain I have now from my accident is very different and more around the lower spine area.

hope you all have a less painfull day than the day before

cheers dean

IBS is a broad blanket term used by the GP when they cannot pinpoint the cause... if you can find a good naturopath/dietition they can usually help. Keep a food diary of what you eat and how you feel for a few weeks before you go. Fructose Intolerance can be improved by a low FODMAP diet. I have been doing this for six months. Now that my gut is a bit happier than it was I have had the IGG blood test to pinpoint the exact foods that are troubling my tum... hopefully it is accurate!

Well, the patch was not successful.  ;(

It just smelled and made me nauseated. Left it on for 3 hours, and finally removed it. 

I have spent the morning on line trying to find a naturopathic doctor who can help me gain some weight back.  My doctor doesn't really have too many ideas, so I just keep getting thinner by the week!.....why am I more concerned than he is????

I hope the scan doesn't find anything like a huge tumor or something?

really don't know why I couldn't just have a ultra sound for this????

 

My gastroenterologist, who is very respected by both patients and the medical fraternity, thinks that IBS is not a diagnosable illness, but a "cop-out" !!  I was told by a few gastro spls that I had IBS, until I saw the current guy, who found that I had an after-surgery problem which I control with special dietary requirements.