Does this sound like IBS?

[blissa]

Posting here as I'm driving myself mad worrying this is something sinister, I do suffer from anxiety so prone to thinking the worst.

I've been backwards and forwards to dr with discomfort in my lower left abdomen/ pelvic area since October. It's an almost constant feeling, which sometimes radiates down my leg and around my left flank. The Dr says my tummy feels normal on examination.

I've had blood tests which came back normal. The dr sent me for a scan after feeling a "fullness" during an internal examination, this came back clear.

I went back to the dr (different dr) last week and she prescribed Mebeverine for IBS to try. I'm taking it 3 times a day before meals. I know it's early days, but the constant feeling is still there.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Bad guts do run in my family (IBS, Diverticulitis). I am worried and trying to stay away from Google.

Are you on the Pill?

I was amazed when I stopped it, lost a couple of pounds of water retention and gained my abdomen back. IBS symptoms got better too.

No I can't take it any more due to clotting issues

Try not to worry. Have you done a foodstuff elimination diet (e.g. cutting out wheat/diary for a few days) to see if it's a food intolerance?

No, the dr suggested keeping a note of anything that seemed to make it worse, but there's been nothing significant. I know of a couple of things that can kick my stomach off- beans, ice cream and branflakes- so I avoid those.

I was prescribed mebeverine for "atypical stress induced IBS". I found that my tummy felt/behaved better fairly quickly, but the underlying knot in my stomach from the stress/anxiety (ie the cause of the IBS) didn't go away.

Definitely stay away from google. Sorry I can't offer any proper advice.

I've had IBS for a long time now but the thing I know about it is that it varies dramatically from one person to another. For me, trapped wind gives me pain in my pelvic area and flank quite often but not down my leg. I get constipation and when I go it's very loose - do you have any bowel symptoms? Sorry if TMI.

The best way to treat it for me I've found is not via medication or diet but relaxation and avoiding stress. I try not to fit in too much in a day and don't do things that I know will make me anxious.

Try not to worry. It's good news that the blood tests and scan were clear. I would try the Meberverine for a reasonable amount of time and go back if you have no improvement with it. Often with these things it's a process of elimination - trying different things to see if they work.

My IBS was diagnosed after various other tests showed nothing was wrong. There isn't really a definitive test for it that I know of.

Thank you.

I occasionally get loose bowel movements and cramping but not on a regular basis. ATM it is pretty normal.

I think I am most anxious and confused by the dr feeling a fullness when she examined me internally, although nothing showed up on the scan. Last night I kept myself awake worrying that there's a tumour somewhere putting pressure on areas and that's what I can feel

I'm sorry I don't know enough to put your mind at rest. Hoping someone else will come along who knows a bit more.