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IBS-C that never lets up?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 6/14/2013 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
I read about people having "flare ups", alternating D&C,etc. In other words, their condition changes over time. This makes me wonder how rare is it for someone to have IBS-C symptoms that never change. I've taken miralax almost every single day for the last few years. I never have diarrhea, except once when taking antibiotics and once when I took 1-Androsterone. Never do I feel like I need to back off the miralax because my symptoms are subsiding.

Background:
I'm male, late 20's.
about 3.5 years ago I had an upper endoscopy (I have EE). The recovery was really rough - vomiting, terrible pain. I probably should have went to the ER. Anyway, after I was able to start eating again I noticed a sucking/gushing sound in my abdomen and a few days later I became constipated and had pain and bloating. I lost about 30 lbs over the next month(I was already thin). My GI diagnosed me as having IBS and put me on Miralax. That helped and I started gaining weight. My GI didn't do any tests to rule out other causes. I never had IBS symptoms before that procedure. It's like I came out of that procedure with a different person's digestive system. I don't think I can even put into words the night and day difference in my digestive system before and after that procedure.

My main question is, is it possible to have IBS that is 100% constipation and 100% of the time for years?

My secondary question is, does the IBS-C diagnosis fit my story? I mean do people with no symptoms really have surgery one day then have never ending IBS-C afterwards?
Posted 6/14/2013 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
In my opinion, any time there is weight loss, big change in digestive symptoms, blood in stool, or vomiting, the follow tests should be done, regardless of what your doctor says:

- blood CBC (check for anemia and Celiac disease)
- endoscopy
- colonoscopy
- Xray or other scan to check for large obstructions in the bowel

Those tests look for serious problems like inflammatory bowel, diverculitis, Celiac disease, ulcers, or tumors (both benign and cancerous). When nothing obvious is found then an IBS diagnosis is made. My primary physician says that technically one should not make an IBS diagnosis without doing a colonoscopy.

You can even go the extra mile and do a capsule endoscopy to examine the small intestine, looking for obvious problems like tumors, inflammation, obstruction or other damage.

Regarding your questions, it seems like digestive problems run the whole gamut. Some people have functional problems for years without any obvious causes. Others end up finding out they have disease, ulcers or cancer. The tricky thing is that the symptoms are the same, regardless of the cause. So, probably a good idea to do as thorough an examination of your whole digestive system.
Posted 6/15/2013 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks commtr for taking the time to respond. I'm going to a rheumatologist in a few days and hopefully can get some answers.

I've also noticed since I started cutting out grains and legumes a week ago most of the bloating is gone but pain and sensitivity has increased.
Posted 6/16/2013 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
Biloxi,

I am in the same boat as you.  Started having stomach issues this last December, went to Dr., he did nothing, changed doctors, had End, Colonoscopy , everything was ok., had several blood tests, all ok, no Hpylori......was prescribed zantac, no help,,,,,no appetite, constant constipation,  constant stomach and lower back pain., I wake up like this and go to bed the same way.....now on Bentyl for the cramping,which helps but does nothing for the other symptoms ........

 

I have lost way too much weight and look horrible.  How can you eat when your stomach is killing you??.......I take Tylenol for the pain, but don't like taking it so much either.   For the constipation, try getting some really good olive oil, I get mine from The Temecula Olive oil company in Temecula, CA.  You can find them on line.  Get a bottle of the Blood Orange olive oil, it tastes like oranges.  Mix 1 Tbl oil and 1 Tbl orange juice and shoot it down, drink a swig or two of water to chase it down.  Do this in the morning and again before bed. It really helps soften the stool and helps you have more normal stools and it also good for your whole body, including your hair and skin.  The oil is pricey, but so worth it.   Better than laxatives everyday of your life!

Dr. wants me to have a CT scan next, so am dreading that.  I don't like the idea of actually looking for something wrong.......he says mine is due to stress, well hello, this disorder would stress out anyone!.....no way to live your life in misery everyday!.........the weight loss alone is stressful.

I am trying Fennel this week for the cramping, so maybe I can ditch the RX.       As miserable as it is, I would get a colonoscopy done, just to rle out blockage, etc.    

TW 

Posted 7/25/2013 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Commtr is right. You need to rule out more serious conditions like like colon cancer. Get those tests done before labeling it IBS. Finally took a nasty episode and a CT scan to find my main problem of diverticulitis in the sigmoid colon.

I have been fighting chronic constipation like you.

Don't dread the CT scan, tummywoes. I had one done and it really should be the first test run on person with GI issues. Everything showed up...everything.

Post Edited (U_Hydrae) : 7/25/2013 5:24:58 PM (GMT-6)

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