(No Subject)

Hi,

I am new to the forum and was wondering if anyone could help me.
My symptoms began 6 years ago with extreme stomach cramps, burning in my lower stomach and upset stomachs up to ten times a day.
My doctor told me at the time it sounded exactly like crohns but didn't find inflammation in blood test so told me it was probably a virus.
I accepted this and put up with bouts of the symptoms for 4 years.
I went back again as the burning is more intense than ever, and was told again it sounds like crohns. But again, no inflammation.
They then told me it's probably ibs and to learn to live with it. I have tried eating gluten free, ibs medication and dairy free. Nothing helps.
I am also extremely aneamic which I was given tablets for.
Should I press for more tests? Could I have ibd without inflammation in blood? Has anyone else had issues with getting a diagnosis?
I feel the doctors are beginning to think it's in my head since they can't pinpoint the issue.

Bee - Have you had a colonoscopy? Is there an option to have one??? I also have "IBS" and my doctor was worried about Crohn's, but ruled it out with colonoscopy. They didn't depend on any type of blood test in my case.

I have had a lot of the same symptoms as you and my doctor prescribed me antibiotics on a whim "in case it is SIBO" and I cannot even explain to you how much better I am. It took about 2 weeks after the end of the antibiotics for me to see a difference, but wow, it has helped so much.

I also was given a false positive blood test diagnosis of wheat allergy but I actually found out today from the allergist that I am not allergic to wheat. So blood tests are very iffy, in my opinion.

Have you tried aloe vera? I take tablets and they help. Do you drink coffee? Do you know specific foods that trigger you? At first, I had no idea which foods it was because it was literally every day, but through dedication, I've been able to narrow it down to a few foods - coffee, beans, tomato sauce, etc. and I avoid those foods like the plague, except for coffee, which I switched to a low acid version of.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. They usually do a test where you blow into something, but my doctor knows that my insurance is kind of difficult to deal with over that test and they usually prescribe Xifaxin for it but, again, my insurance will only pay for that if I have a documented SIBO test and diagnosis.

So, he didn't do the test, which I didn't mind because I felt like the antibiotics were worth a shot, regardless of the test. I had Flagyl, 500mg 3x per day. During the 10 days, my diarrhea was worse, I had terrible stomach cramps and I could not exercise (which I do 5-6 times a week) so I hated life for those 10 days. But they seem to have cleared up a lot of my issues.

I do still have loose stool, a reaction to coffee and some pain and blood sometimes, but no where near what it used to be.

He also gave me information on something called the low FODMAPS diet which some people swear by. Maybe you could google that. It basically steers you away from foods that will help the bacteria grow and make your symptoms worse. I have cut out quite a few things on there, including apples, which I was eating everyday. I have also cut down on beans, which are one of my favorite foods because it is forbidden on that diet. But I don't follow it strictly, just keep it in mind most days.