HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

what is wrong with me?!

Support Forums
>
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/15/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
This post may be a little long and I am looking for some ~serious~ answers.

Okay, so. Last year, in March I had a severe stomach virus. Ever since then, up until July this year, I'd have a bout of diarrhea every month, as if I were suffering with IBS. After that, I had one last bout in August, this year. But ever since that last bout, my stomach has been acting so, so odd.

In August, when I had my last bout, I remember having a lot of acid and bad back pain also, it was terrible. I also remembering my stomach sounding as if it was FULL of liquid. This still has not gone away. My stomach is awfully rumbly and I get an unusual amount of gas. Most days this gas is awfully hot. Very foul smelling, burning gas. Sometimes my stools are hot too and my stools vary from soft to normal, but nothing else is different apart from the strong smell.

However, this does not happen every single day. I will get my rare, good days where my stomach appears normal. Although, usually in the mornings I get my burning farts. But after eating something it can usually help and will disappear for the day, if I'm lucky. Oh, I also need to mention that it becomes very severe if I worry or stress. I sometimes even get a sulphur smell, when I worry or stress.

I have tried to narrow down different foods but I cannot think of anything! Usually it is worse with Ice Cream and Tea/Coffee.
And before some of you ask, no, I do not eat many spicy/hot/rich foods. And yes, I have been to the doctors, several times, he just seems to think it is IBS, but I am not convinced.

Thanks.

Post Edited (kayt_) : 12/16/2011 11:44:01 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/15/2011 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
bump
Posted 12/15/2011 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Have you taken any antacids like Tums or Maalox to see if that helps? Have you tried to eliminate dairy to see if that helps?

Lactose intolerance is very common in adults, and can vary day-to-day. It can cause everything from upper GI discomfort and gas to lower GI gas and diarrhea + vomiting. Lactose is the sugar in milk, and can be found in soft cheeses as well. Hard cheeses like cheddar have less lactose. Yogurt has very little lactose. You can test if you are lactose intolerant at your DR's office (they will measure how much hydrogen you exhale after drinking milk) or you can drink a glass of milk on an empty stomach and see how you feel 15 minutes later. If you are lactose intolerant you can buy lactase enzyme at any drug store and use it as directed before you eat a dairy meal, or you can use lactose-free dairy products like Lactaid milk.

Gastric esophageal reflux is pretty common, too, and would account for the belching and burning stomach, but probably not the lower GI stuff.
Posted 12/15/2011 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
antacids do help with the acid but dont usually help with other symptoms. i will definitely try eliminating lactose from my diet and see how i go. thanks for the help.
Posted 12/17/2011 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Bump
Posted 12/19/2011 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
Once again, I woke up this morning feeling very nauseous, I thought it may be because I was hungry so I had my usual breakfast, however now I am getting my usual, sulphur, burning gas, for no reason!! I'm pretty sure a D attack is going to follow. I just cannot pin point what is wrong with me :(
Posted 12/19/2011 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Start a food diary. What you had for dinner last night is what possibly affects you in the morning,
see if a pattern develops. It may take several weeks to pin it down but it helped me significantly.

Carlie
Posted 12/20/2011 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
I will definitely try that! Although, I was maybe thinking it could be a stomach ulcer? I rarely get pain, but if i do its usually underneath my left rib cage and its usually a shooting pain. I also get random pulsations in my stomach area. My mother keeps pointing out that I'm really pale too, maybe it's because of the dull winter weather, but I am definitely going back to the doctors in the new year.
Posted 12/25/2011 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
This is terrible! It's Christmas and my stomach is horrible. Infact I was quite constipated the other day, however my stomach is the complete opposite now! Ugh, I feel so sick and ill, looks like I wont be eating Christmas dinner :( I definitely dont want to socialize today.
Posted 12/25/2011 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
Dear kayt,

I am sorry for your suffering.

Have you tried taking any of the suggestions people have offered? Maalox or Mylanta? Pepto?

Why are you waiting until January to go see your doctor when you are suffering now?

Intestinal issues can be very hard to pinpoint and it is best to get in and see your primary care doc, or better yet get a referral from your doc to a good gastroenterologist.

I can clearly see you are worried and upset, and probably frightened and the best thing to do is seek out a professional who can help shed some light on your situation. Knowledge is the best opponent to fear.

Be brave and make that appointment tomorrow (since today is a holiday).

Hugs!
Posted 12/25/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I understand your suffering, I had similar symptoms when I was pregnant for a long time and now three months on nearlyy I'm still suffering with these problems! I swing from having severe constipation to going too much, but in pregnancy I had severe diarrhea and was sure it was a lactose intolerance, though now I'm not so sure. Had a stool test done, had blood tests for colitis, found nothing. They put it down to IBS. I don't have any solid advice because I'm still suffering from problems and have no idea how to help myself, but I found that with the upper GI nausea stuff I had acid reflux which could have been the cause of the upper abdomen pain etc. I have to take medication daily for that, but I haven't found anything that works for the problems with my bowels etc.
Posted 12/27/2011 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I have always had stomach issues, even as a child. I had always been told that my mother and grandmother were lactose intolerant, but then I started having problems with IBS and they made each other worse. My gastro put me on dicyclomine (anti-spasmodic) for the IBS, and my pharmacist told me about a product her daughter uses--she cannot even stand a sip of milk, or anything like that. She--and now I--uses a thing called Digestive Advantage. It is sold at Walmart, and comes in a green box. It will be by all of the other gastrointestinal products. You take two pills on day one, and one every day thereafter. I tell you, it has helped me tons! I still get the gas and bloating, and the diarrhea, but only if I consume more milk/dairy than strictly necessary. I can have a few things during the day, but if I overdo it, I still get some symptoms, but nowhere near what I was suffering before. And unlike Lactaid, you only have to take it once a day instead of with every meal.

I hope this is helpful to you!
Posted 1/1/2012 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
I've suffered with IBS symptoms & anxiety my whole adult life. I found Gluten Free diet in the last few years has helped tremendously & I have loads of energy, no constipation, pain, wind, mucus in stools (sorry grose I know) 20 years later I've been diagnosed with Helicobacter (why the Doctors didn't check for that when I first started getting chronic diarrhoea, cramps, weight loss etc I don't know).

My Dad's always had stomach problems, we thought it was a genetic bad stomach. He recently had a breath test & confirmed he had Helicobacter, people living together catch it off each other & I had a blood test to confirm I have it. I've had a course of antibiotics but don't feel they have worked as I don't feel any different. I feel a lot better from eating a gluten free (regular painless BM's, not anaemic etc) , low dairy diet and avoiding Vinegar & tomatoes have stopped the diarrhoea. I need to fast & do a breath test to see if it the bacteria is still present. But I recommend anyone who is having tummy troubles, constipation, diarrhoea, anaemia, infertility, miscarriage, anxiety, depression, low energy get tested for Helicobacter Pylori ASAP. Its bacterial & so easily contracted, I wouldn't be surprised if 50-80% of the population have it. Good luck! Let me know how you go?
Posted 1/4/2012 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this, I am almost 21 years old, i have always had stomach problems but in the past 3 weeks, i have missed alot of work and been seen in the ER 3 times for stomach issues. Yesterday morning, i woke up as i was going to go to work, get ready and everything. As soon as i woke up, i felt nauseated, had diarrhea and couldnt control my stomach issues. I have also been diagnosed with Anxiety. From the tests they ran at the ER, i have been told i have IBS. I feel like i have aged in these past 3 weeks just due to the toll this has taken on my body. I hate feeling nauseated, i hate the stomach issues and the diarrhea. This is honestly beginning to ruin my life, my work ethic, and i came here searching for help. I know most of you have dealt with same or similar issues, i just need help getting a handle on it, tips to calm my stress so i dont get anxious and cause a horrible day with Ibs and worrysome thoughts that i cannot control. I am a medical assistant and i work an 8-5 job. I love my job, and my coworkers- I am anxious to get better and go back to work. I just need advice on trying to calm my anxiety and my ibs, into something that is more manageable on a daily basis. So i have anxiety and IBS, and i will be honest, my eating habits are not that great. I have a hard time gaining an appetite, and when i eat, im afraid my stomach will react badly. PLEASE, if anyone has any advice on how to wake up and try to feel somewhat normal on a daily basis that would be awesome. Like i said, this is new to me, so im feeling confused and lost on what steps to take to ensure i will feel better. I dont like loading my body with medications, but at this point i have no choice but to take my anti-nausea pills when im feeling ill, and Lisic (IBS meds) that the ER prescribed to me. I have various other medications i am supposed to take but Im really leaning towards trying to find something more natural rather than all those chemicals into my system.

Thank you all for reading.
--Kbug
Posted 3/25/2012 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
K, I wonder if you need a hydrogen breath test or other tests for overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in your intestines. See if you can find an Internal Medicine doctor who can order these tests for you.
Posted 3/28/2012 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
MY HUSBAND HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND IS NOW TAKING NEXIUM AND THINGS ARE GOOD. ASK A DOCTOR about THAT DRUG. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT IT DID WORK FOR HIM. I HAVE IBS AND I GO TO THE SITE OF "HEATHER FOR IBS" YOU CAN GOOGLE THIS. THERE ARE MANY FORUMS WITH CASES LIKE THIS AND MANY OTHERS SUCH AS CROHNS AND OTHER DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS.
Posted 3/15/2013 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
hi. you all are having the symptoms similar to mine. my ibs got triggered after a severe gastrointestinal infection.i had diarrhea after every few days.i lost 8 kg of my weight due to my onset of diarrhea every month and doctor advised me to go on a gluten free diet but that didn't help.all my tests including endoscopy were negative.i got immigrated to Canada and here one of my relatives told me about a homeopathic doctor.she gave me some natural medicines and now my situation has changed altogether. i have regained my weight and confidence too.i thought that i should share my experience with u all as i have experienced that regular medicines do not treat IBS. if u want to contact her i can give u her email i.d. and she can parcel u the medicines. i m sure it will do wonders as my life has changed in the past month. best of luck to u all
Posted 3/15/2013 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Sofia - great to hear you are doing so much better.
If you on't mind me asking, what natural cures did she give you and how long did it take you to get better?
Posted 3/15/2013 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
it took me only one and a half to two weeks to get better. she gave me 2,3 homeopathic medicines.one of them was aloe socotrina that worked best for me. but they vary alot from person to person. she asks many questions about the symptoms and then prescribes the medicine. sometimes she needs to change that after 2 to 3 days if it doesn't works and give another one.
Posted 3/16/2013 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I too am new to this forum, but not new to IBS, have been suffering for years, and have done a lot of research. I have gotten relief recently, but what I discovered is amazing. Your body produces enzymes for the breakdown of certain foods such as dairy, carbohydrates, sugar etc. If foods are not breaking down properly, they get kind of stuck in your small intestines and ferment, which cause gas, bloating and you'd, be surprised other health and skin problems. I have found a Digestive enzyme supplement at my local walgreens called natures bounty digest 13, It has all the enzymes in it for breaking down everything. I take one Pepcid AC in the mornings and a Digest 13 pill after every meal, add a multivitamin in after eating a meal. That's It. Hope it works for you , it has helped me a lot.
Posted 7/17/2013 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
@ Sofia91

So glad you found help...i was wondering if you could please give me this lady's email, i'm suffering from the same thing and i'm frustrated with doctors telling me there's nothing wrong with me.

Thank You! :-)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply