IBS or IBS

[Gutproblems]

Hi

I’ve had a bit of a sore stomach for a long time . For the past 6 months or so I’ve had pain in my stomach area , radiating to back . I also have pain in my general abdomen area at times .

I’ve had some loose stools and urgency on and off . No blood .

My dad has ulcerative colitis and used to have symptoms very badly . I am awaiting the results for a fecal calprotecin . Doc thinks IBS or IBD.

Can anyone tell me their experiences going down this diagnosis pathway with similar symptoms ?

My pain is very bad lately and I really want answers.

Thanks

I have had IBS for the last 26 years, half my life.

Unfortunately both IBS and IBS can have similar symptoms (although passing blood with IBS is not a symptom). You are doing the right thing in having a calprotecin test especially as there is IBD in your family. My gastro always tells me that the gold standard for any suspected serious bowel issue is obviously a colonscopy (I have had two).

Sorry should have asked if you have changed your diet at all? The first thing I did when I had gut issues was to give up diary, that gave me almost immediate relief from the regular loose stools, I then went on the low fomap diet and gave up wheat too.

IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion so given your history they certainly should pursue diagnosis and explanation of IBD and other bowel related issues first don’t accept a diagnosis of IBS at this stage. there is far more testing that can be done to figure out what’s going on, hope you feel better soon

I went through all this recently, faecal calprotectin was over 600, so colonoscopy was booked, they thought crohns, but it came back normal, they removed a 4mm poylp and that was also normal, they then did an mri of the small bowel which came back normal and then they did a sehcat scan to check for bile acid malabsorption, I don't have the results back yet. If negative then my symptoms are most likely down to IBS.

Been through very similar to you - push for a gastroscopy too so they can look into your stomach. Pain on the left like that can be a bunch of stuff of which one is gastritis. I also ended up having an ultrasound which picked up the fact my gallbladder is full of small stones (right side pain) - they can be painless for some (NOT ME 😭) but cause issues with both the pancreas & the stomach (left side pain). Previous to finding those I was told 'probably just IBS' after clear colonoscopy, FIT & calprotectin.

IBS is, as already said, a diagnosis by exclusion - it's symptoms are virtually identical to many other things all over your abdominal area, so don't let them fob you off! Colonoscopy, gastroscopy & US ideally. Good luck 🙏