Help! New here! Was diagnosed with IBS and don't believe it!

Hello all,

I have been having pain now for 4-5 weeks. The pain is on my upper rib area in the front and is very sensitive to touch. Every now and then, I get sharp pains when I eat or drink every now and then and it is very uncomfortable. My whole upper and middle back is in pain all of the time and everything radiates like a circle around my ribs, back and upper abdomen. Sometimes it is really sharp stabbing pain. I went to the doctor and the first one said that I had constipation. So, I took all of the remedies for constipation and the pains never went away. I went to the doctor a second time and she said that I had pelvic problems. So, I went to a an obgyn and he did an ultrasound, blood work and urine. Everything was fine and perfect. I finally couldn't take the pain anymore and thought if I went the emergency room I would get an answer. After having a CT of my abdomen and going through excruciating pain drinking that dye stuff before a CT, blood work, and urine again, everything was fine. Although they wanted to admit me to the hospital to find out what was wrong. So I was admitted and they did an upper GI and found nothing wrong. They also did one more CT of my abdomen and found all of my organs "functioning" properly. The diagnosis they gave was that I have IBS. I have been reading about this and really don't feel that my symptoms match any of this. I went to the doctor again today and he said I am totally fine and have IBS. He also didn't even give me any kind of information to help prevent it. The hospital put me on Elavil to help manage the pain and percocet for the pain. I am really not beleiving that what I have is IBS. I almost feel as if the doctors are saying that I am lying about this constant pain I am having. Please help if anyone has any info on what I should do or what I might take to help manage the pain. Thanks in advance for al of your help.

FYI Had Gallbladder out because of polyps and diseased in 2003!

Post Edited (amypolak) : 4/13/2006 5:58:47 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks a bunch! Just so everyone knows, I am 32 and have had my Gallbladder alreay removed because of polyps and it was very diseased! I will continue going to the doctor until i feel better about the prognosis. Thanks again for any help or info!

If this had been a one or two day thing, then I would have blamed it on phantom gall bladder; a lady I worked with would have a 1 day gall bladder attack about once a year--even though she had had her gall bladder out for many years. But it shouldn't last 4-5 weeks.

Have you had a change in stool? I noticed they told you that you are constipated, but are you really? Your stools now, are they the same as you usually have when you are well, or are they different? Stink more than usual? Different in color? Different in shape or frequency?

Does laying a certain way or moving relieve the pain? That can indicate gas pains. Have you tried gas relief pills or tablets? Ask your doctor, but if you have a lot of gas, you may need more than the usual recommended dosage to get rid of it. Also, have they checked you for any bad bacteria? I think they almost always are accompanied by diarrhea, but you never can tell; everyone seems to react differently to different things. Has anyone suggested you refrain from dairy and/or get tested for food allergies? Lactose intolerance can cause either diarrhea or constipation and can give you very bad gas.