Please help! Do I have IBS?

Hello everyone. I'm so happy that I found this website and would be most grateful for a reply.

I've always been high strung and suffered diarrhea from time to time during stressful times. My diet wasn't the healthiest, I love to drink coffee, eat lots of nuts and enjoy 3 to 4 glasses of wine per week. That changed when my annual bloodiest showed that my cholesterol went up (but my HDL - good cholesterol- is high, which is good). Everything else on the panel was fine. My doc suggested laying off red meats and cheese. I immediately went on a health kick and removed all meat, except fish and started eating a high fiber diet and taking Metamucil. To be honest, my bowel movements were fine but I wasn't feeling so well.

Four weeks into this new diet, I had one day of non- stop gas. The next day brought a new symptom of 'twinges' in my left colon in two places. The day after that, I had a little intermittent pain in my right colon and groin area. I was bloated and continued to eat even though I wasn't hungry and after I ate, I didn't feel full.

Went back to the doc. He took another blood test and urine test which were both negative. My blood test was fine-- no anemia, no infection. I also had a abdominal CT scan which was negative for masses or diverticulitis. My lymph nodes were also clear.

I was on a liquid diet for a couple of days and when I started eating again ( bland foods-- bananas, rice chicken soup), I started experiencing heartburn! I still don't feel like eating much although the colon twinges subsided a little and now I have intermittent left groin area twinges. My stools are peanut butter colored, but are small and flatter (an improvement from loose fluffy stools).
Never passed any blood or had black or red stools.
I'm scheduled for a colonscopy this week and am so worried that I have cancer. I'm crying all the time and am so nervous.

I have a lot of stress in my life and just want to know what's wrong with me and feel better. I appreciate your responses!

Thank you so much, Cloudhaven

Please help. I'm worrying and crying all the time thinking that I have cancer

Everyone should have a colonoscopy at age 50. This is a recommendation to prevent the rise in undetected colon cancer. Millions have colonoscopies every year and do NOT have cancer. Please stop worrying yourself over this.

In my opinion, your drastic dietary changes through your body for a loop. It is trying to adapt to all the changes you made. Suddenly increasing fiber intake can cause gas, bloating, etc.

Try modifying what you originally were eatiing slowly after the colonoscopy. Your body adapts to what we put in it but drastic changes make for new problems.

I would say that if you had an abdominal CT scan and blood work, and it didnt show anything, its unlikely that you have cancer. Probably just IBS. Colonoscopy should give you some peace of mind.

Hi everyone and thanks for your valuable input.

Had my colonoscopy today--- no cancer, no polyps but the exam did show that I have diverticulosis. The doctor also felt that I shocked my system with the immediate diet change and urged moderation as well as taking it easy on nuts and seeds.

I'm so relieved! Thanks to all of you for putting my mind to rest.

Take care! :)