Hello, All. I am finally posting after reading threads for about a month. You are a great group and I actually hope this is where I stay, as opposed to moving onto to something a little more devastating. You see, I have been having really strange things going on and I fear they are awful, however, my husband believes it to be IBS and I am hoping to get some insight from those who know they actually do have IBS.
I have been having on and off bloating all day long for about 2 months ago. I feel full almost all the time and also have intermittment nausea, but very mild. I have no vomiting or diahrreah and I have just finished GNC Triple Cleanse with little to no result.
The bloating is entirely random and not readily linked to any particular food or drink. In addition to this, I have what I call a lump in my URQ. My husband thinks it is just a fatty deposit in a pocket of loose skin that has formed over two pregnancies carrying baby bottoms in that particular spot. This lump, if you will, comes and goes and is not really like a formed ball or rock. It is not painful, but every now and then I do have mild pulses of pain sort of next to my belly button on that same side. When the lump is there, my stomach feels more bloated than ever and I actually feel somewhat like I did when there was in fact a baby bottom right there (no, I absolutely have ruled out pregnancy).
On top of this, I started having difficulty swallowing in September, but that too comes and goes and sometimes it is fine. My mom also said that this can be stress related, which I have an awful lot of and also related to elevated voice levels for extended periods (okay, I admit it, I don't spank my tots, but they know a thing or two about mom yelling!) I also am usually eating quickly and doing at least one other thing, but even on the rare chance I am calm, it happens as well. I have a friend who believes I have a hiatial hernia (hope it is spelled right) but I thought that had to be at your stomach - when I look at diagrams, your stomach is on your left...so it couldn't be that could it?
Anyhow, when I start grouping all of these symptoms together, I am scared to death, but IBS also fits a lot of this and I have, in the past, also had mucous stools and severe constipation on and off, which seem to be hallmarks of IBS. These have not been as prevalent recently.
It seems it could be a number of things, and I know a doctor's visit is best, but I wanted to get some ideas from people that have been down this road and also some pointers about what to "accept" and not accept when I do venture to the docs. I don't want to be scooted out the door as a stressed out mom and given some quick fix.
If anyone can shed some light and tell me a little how this might relate to you as well, I would be so grateful.
Thanks Much and take care, all.