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Is this IBS or am I crazy???

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 6/18/2010 6:01 PM (GMT 0)

I hope, no, pray someone can help me because I beleive the docs are frustrated with me and think it is in my head.

about a year ago, I started having bowel problems.....some days go without a problem, other days, it takes a lot of effort to get the stool out even though it is soft.  I eat the same foods everyday, oatmeal, fiber one cereal, fruits, pinto beans, baked potato and a nutra grain bar. I will have 2-3 bm's everyday, but I have develped a pattern of one easy day 2-3 difficult days. My transit time seems to be good because a lot of days I noticed foods that are unchanged in the digestive track such as corn, I will have those for lunch or supper and see them in my bm the next morning. I do take metamucil each day along with miralx( doctors orders)  i had a hemroidectomy last July so I am afraid of getting constipated.  I always go, but some mornings I feel more more into the rectum and it is soft but won't come out and I will have to use a suppositorie to get the last bit out. This is more frustrating depressing....my doctor wants me to see a head doctor cuase I am so depressed over this... I am 52 had a good colosocopy 2 years ago....they say IBS but I am not so sure.  I do have bloating, gas in the afternoon, evening....... I get up very early so I will have enough time to complete my routine. I drink lots of water.....

any thoughts would be appreciated

Posted 6/18/2010 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
scarlett1958

Do you have pain or discomfort?

Of course only a doctor can diagnose you. There are a specific cluster of symptoms minus red flags to diagnose IBS and IBS is pretty common.

Modern IBS research understand IBS as a brain gut axis disorder. So its not "in your head" but the communication between your digestive system and brain. Being depressed from the symptoms can cause more symptoms.

Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and gut directed hypnotherpay have been shown to help the majority of IBSers. Along with standard medical care.

Ask the Expert

Stephan R. Weinland, PhD

Question Why see a psychologist when the diagnosis is IBS?

Many people experience distress and anxiety when their doctor makes a recommendation that they see a psychologist. This reaction often comes from the belief that a referral to a psychologist carries with it assumptions about symptoms being “all in your head” or the result of “mental illness”. These are two of the biggest misconceptions about thepractice of psychology in a medical setting, and they can often stand in the way of patients achieving a meaningful reduction in symptoms. In this column, I hope to dispel some of these misconceptions around psychology in a medical setting, and in doing so communicate a few of the benefits you might be able to achieve in working with a psychologist to address your symptoms of IBS.

First things first, your physical problems are real! If your doctor gives you a ecommendation to meet with a psychologist it does not mean that the symptoms are “all in your head” or the result of “mental illness.” Your experience of IBS is likely to be debilitating to you, and it can have wide ranging effects on your loved ones, yourself and activities that you want to engage in. Psychologists and physicians work together, with the understanding that the mind and body are connected. If you are feeling ill and having many symptoms of IBS, you may also experience an increased level of stress and discomfort. This stress and discomfort contribute to a cycle of worsening symptoms that can spiral into more severe IBS. Psychologists and physicians work together with you to interrupt that cycle and help you learn to decrease the number and severity of your symptoms.

http://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/fgidc/psychandIBS.pdf

You might also want to look at these.

https://uncfunctionalgi.net/xmedia/player.php

http://www.aboutibs.org/site/learning-center/video-corner/

 

Posted 6/18/2010 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
By the way your not crazy.

In the old days they use to say IBS was "in the head" a lot. Then they have found problems both in the brain's responce and in the gut, so its more now a condition of both, which is slightly a problem since they started with "its in the head" to the gut to both now.

You should also read this

Gut Feelings: The Mind-Body Connection

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/mindbodygut

a major IBS expert said this

"psychophysiological arousal is the core of treating functional gi disorders. There is so much distress, anxiety, antisipatory anxiety, and negative reaction to symptoms, that calming the mind and body often makes a significant difference to symptoms."
Posted 6/19/2010 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the encouraging words.  I am to see a psycologist Monday and my GI July 7th. But what I can't understand is, why I eat the very same foods and some days it takes a lot of effort to empty my soft bowel movents and the next day I can sit and empty pretty easy.  I don't have pain other than a feeling of bloating and pressure in lower abdomen and a feeling of intense fullness and pressure in my rectum before evacuation. I do have two protruding disc between L1 and L2 disc in my back....the docs says that shouldn't be causing it but I am not so sure.  Another new symptom was I actually had diarrhea Wed with cramping and urgency( unusual for me) the past 2 days a lot of effort to pass my bms.  I am very depressed over this because it affects my life, because if I don't feel as if I had complete bms I am miserable the rest of the day. I can't plan anything because it is a day to day thing. smhair
Posted 6/19/2010 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
My wife has IBS and her symptoms and feelings are similar to yours. The thing to do is treat it right now as if it's IBS and see if it responds.

This part of it is important to know and I will go over some other important aspects.

Stay strong and try somethings and I bet you feel better.

Gut Feelings: The Mind-Body Connection

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/mindbodygut
Posted 6/20/2010 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
It is a strange thing and most doctors if they are honest will admit it is "poorly understood". You are also not able to talk about it because it is not proper to mention these types of things.

You should talk to a psychologist who may be able to help you handle the isolation and other problems associated with the syndrome. Above all, continue to take good care of yourself.
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