Do I have IBS? please help

Hello, So I have been having issues for about two weeks now. I am 22 years old, male. I have had no previous GI issues or anything and I consider myself in good shape and healthy.

My main symptom is abdominal pain about 1-2 hours after eating. I initially thought I was really constipated and may have had an impaction or something. After laxatives not helping I had really bad cramping/abdominal pain that seems to be in the center. I went to an Urgent care center where they took an abdominal xray and told me I just had gas and to take gas X for the next week before meals and I should be fine. There was no sign of constipation.

This did not help so I went to my normal physician after straining and bleeding bright red blood the night before. The doctor told me this was probably a tear from straining, and this is what it felt like for a few days and the tear seemed to have healed. He then prescribed me a medicine to help the pain... this ended up being a stomach medicine for ulcers(forgot the name atm).

After a total week and a half I have stopped eating pretty much, realizing that this is what is causing my pain. I lost ten pounds because of it. I decided to go to the ER and they took blood and urine. Both they said look fine. They decided to do a CT scan, this revealed that my lower intestine was inflamed. They gave me a a ton of antibiotics there and I was in the bathroom all night (diarrhea). They sent me home with a stool softner, meds for abdominal pain(didnt seem to work so stopped taking), and ciprofloxacin (500mg twice a day).

I took the Cipro and stool softener as prescribed for almost a week. I believe I have noticed I am able to eat a bit more, which all I have really had has been oatmeal,grits,and chicken noodle soup. When I do eat I tend to get really bloated. Also I have noticed some nights when I lay down I get super quesey and my stomach gargles and makes alot of sound. I have this on and off during the day but not so noticeable until I lay down.

I decided yesterday to see a Gastroenterologist the ER referred me to. He immediately wants me to get a colonoscopy. To me it seems like this is what they do as a first step. I did not agree with him that this should be the first thing I do. I am young, with no prior issues. And have also felt like I may be doing better with eating etc (less pain after eating and doesn't last as long). I told him this and asked if there was another medicine I can take. He said yes and prescribed me Flagyl on top of my Cipro. But said this would be more so for treating for Diverticulitis of which I am a little too young to have.

Please share your thoughts and experience if you have or have had something similar going on. I really appreciate it. Thanks

-Patrick

I agree with everything that kazbern wrote. It is imperative for you to get a colonoscopy.

Everyone is different. There are plenty of stories on the UC board about sudden onset of really terrible disease.

I agree that a scope is a good idea.

I am wondering how you came up with grits, oatmeal and chicken noodle soup for food. It sounds like you are still having symptoms eating those things. Maybe it could help for you to get onto a diet that eliminates dairy and gluten. A little research should yield a list of foods that can cause digestive problems. That has helped me a lot.

We are all different, but I discovered I am gluten intolerant, and eliminating that has helped alleviate my symptoms which are similar to yours. Chicken noodle soup and oatmeal both contain gluten. It might be worth a try.