Is this IBS?

[SrStanislaus]

Im really not sure what this is except its very annoying to say the least.

I have a recurring painful abdomen -spasms with duller constant pain. This is accompanied with Diarrhoea after the onset of the pain.Usually the painful episodes last for 1 day only ,although a couple of times it has gone to 2/3 days. My appetite is normal and I could eat through the pain but normally choose not to. Eating doesnt seem to affect the pain or duration. I never vomit although tend towards nausea.

There isnt a pattern to the painful episodes and they can be anything from a few days to several months apart.

The only other thing I can add is that I have had breast cancer which involved surgery ,chemo and radiotherapy but not tamoxifen .

Any ideas ?

I have IBS and at first it was very like this I had crippling pain, diarrhoea and nausea but it went on for days I don't suffer very often now and the episodes only last a day or 2, DR gave me antispasmodics to take 20 minutes before eating and that works really well for the bad episodes.Get yourself to your GP to be sure.

Please see your GP for a gastroenterologist referral. Although your symptoms might fit IBS, it is very very important to get everything else ruled out before an IBS diagnosis is given, so you really need the blood tests, colonsocopy, etc done before getting a diagnosis.

Don't assume it's IBS.

Oh thank you both for replying.
I do tend to self diagnose and am normally in the right area but Im stumped with this .Just thought it seemed right for what work colleagues had reported.

I will actually take your advice and make an appointment next week. Its flaming painful when it sets in.

This is how my IBS manifests itself - very painful cramping, usually followed by diarrhoea.

I find that a hot water bottle really helps to relieve the cramping.

But - as others have said - please go to your GP to have a proper diagnosis, especially after your cancer treatment.

Hi

As others have said, off to the GP with you!

I posted on here a while back with similar symptoms to you, it turned out I had a really nasty case of campylobacter but they tested me for all sorts before diagnosing this (coeliac disease, etc)

The best advice i was given on here was to not be fobbed off and to make sure all other avenues were explored before accepting a diagnosis of IBS.

While your waiting for results etc your GP can prescribe you medication specifically for this type of pain.

Hope you get better soon.

Poor you- my DH has ulcerative colitis- the symptoms are similar to what you are describing. He was told for years it was IBS but had proper tests and is now on the right combo of meds and diet. Go to your GP and ask to be referred to a hospital specialist who will do the right tests. Don't assume/be fobbed off with "eat more fibre" as he was initially told (!) You don't have to live with this. Good luck and stay strong - it must be miserable but make sure you get it sorted.

as others have said, definitely get referred to a specialist for proper testing - it could be many things as well as IBS, including diverticular issues, UC, Crohn's, infections, coeliacs, inflammatory bowel disease (cover-all term for Crohn's, UC and other inflammatory conditions).

Even if it is IBS, "eat more fibre" can be desperately counterproductive in some people - wheat intolerance is a common factor in IBS. So if everything else is ruled out, and you are still having problems, you could try cutting wheat out for 2 weeks to see if you get any improvement (it fixed mine). You can still go high fibre, but just not wheat fibre, use oats, rice bran, other grains, psyllium husks, etc., etc. Plenty of alternatives to wheat.