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Recent IBS Diagnosis

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 12/30/2006 8:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hi,  This past October, I experienced heavy gas pressure and bloating in my lower intestines along with frequent diarrhea, a low-grade fever, depression, anxity and many sleepless nights. Sometimes, I feel a warm or cool sensation in my upper back, especially at night. My GP thought I had Diverticulitis and started me on antibiotics, but CT Scan showed no diverticulities...possibly slight colitis, so they did a colonoscopy, and it too was clean. My GI said I probably had a bad strain of a virus or IBS. As the weeks went on, the pressure and discomfort started moving to my upper intestines & stomach along with a burning or coolness in my esophagus. My GI did an endoscopy, again found nothing wrong just slight inflamation in my esophagus. (I'm taking Prilosec for burning feeling in the esophagus, seems to be helping a little.) The Diarrhea, fever and depression lasted about 8 weeks and I lost 10 pounds which I have not been able to put back on.  During this 8 weeks I would come in and out of what I called "spells" where I'd feel lousy for hours or days and then all of a sudden, I'd feel pretty good, I'd get some energy back and could function but never at 100% though.  My GI gave me Hyoscyamine which I think helped with the spasms and Diarrhea and I'm also taking acidophilus.  The past 7 days have been really good for me, but again, not 100%.  I have this discomfort when the rib cage "Vs" that goes straight through to my back just under my left shoulder blade.  It is most prominent after eating and at night.  

Would really like to know if there is anyone out there that has had a similar experience, especially with the discomfort I refer to that goes through to my back. It would make me feel better to know I'm not the only one with all these strange symptoms.

Thanks for listening! 

 
   

Posted 1/1/2007 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mari,
Welcome to HealingWell! :-)
Are you still having fevers? I know you mentioned you've had the slew of tests done, but have you had the camera pill? Fevers aren't common with IBS and it makes me wonder if indeed you do have IBD. Everything else, however, does seem to be signs of IBS. Unfortunately, those types of symptoms are common for many digestive ailments.
The pain and uncomfortableness you describe could be caused by gas. Do you take anything besides a probiotic and antispasmodic? You might want to throw in some anti-gas med or even start eating yogurt, like Dannon Activia. Activia has helped many of us keep regular and get the gas down to a minimal.
Also, if you are being kept up at night, you might want to considering having dinner early in the evening. Eating just a few hours before bed can cause problems for those of us with gut troubles.
Hope you have a great New Years!!!
Posted 1/1/2007 6:37 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks 7Lil,  Actually the low-grade fevers stops after a couple of weeks.  I'm pretty sure the Drs thought this was a virus because of the fevers.  And that perhaps the virus did a number on my system setting off the IBS.   And an endoscopy was done mid December showing only minor inflamation.   I did start taking prilosec almost two weeks ago for the minor reflux.

Still wondering if anyone else gets a strange feeling in their upper intestines that goes through to the back.  confused

Thanks for the advice.  Happy New Year.

Posted 1/2/2007 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
That type of feeling could be from a bad gall bladder. Are you having yellowish color stools with some mucus.

Linda
Posted 1/2/2007 2:58 AM (GMT 0)

I agree with lnape; sometimes diseased gallbladders can cause symptoms of pain in the ribcage region, radiating to the back.  The best tests to check your gallbladder are an abdominal ultrasound and/or a HIDA scan. 

Posted 1/5/2007 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both for your observation.  I did have a CT Scan that showed nothing wrong with my gallbladder, however, that was at the very beginning of my sypmtoms, when my Drs thought it was a virus.  I'm wondering if a gallbladder infection could have developed afterward.  I have another appointment with my GI and will revisit this possibility.  Thanks again!    

Posted 1/6/2007 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
How about a fatty liver? Gall bladder problems are over diagnosed and IF people changed their eating habits they may find their gall bladder was happier.

Many people have the same problems after gall bladder ops as they go back to eating fatty foods etc. It's an operation done too often for the wrong reason.

Left shoulder pain can be wind! Yes... truly. I found IBS support tablets from the chemist a terrific help thought they're about $26 for a month's supply.

The IBS diet rules out yoghurt though I'm just starting back on it today after one year of none.

Are you following the IBS diet? I have rice milk instead of cow's milk, a bit watery but eventually you get to like it. Give up tea / coffee / soft drinks they're irritants. Peppermint can be good for IBS though bad for some other intestinal problems. Stick to herbal teas. Make sure any hot drinks are not overly hot.

Eat at or before 6pm and allow four hours before lieing down.

Could be IBS (follow the diet) and / or reflux, hiatius hernia, ulcers etc which are treated with Nexium. With IBS some people are constipated, some the opposite, some alternate, bloating, pain, wind. Start a food diary to sort out what causes pain, wind etc (symptoms) that helped me heaps. Are you fit, do you exercise, are you over weight. The constant visits to the toilet would be robbing your energy, take vitamins too.

We all can have the same problem, though feel it differently. Since my hysterectomy even my wind pain felt different which I really didn't like, until I got used to it.
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