Hello @kendra75,

As I'm sure you are aware, Mayo Connect is comprised of patients, like yourself, who are not medical professionals. Therefore, we cannot guess at a diagnosis for your abdominal pain.

The pain and discomfort you are experiencing must be very difficult. When you said that you have "had many tests done." I'm assuming that has included a CT scan and abdominal ultrasound as well as an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Could you list any other tests that have been done?

There are lots of diagnoses that are relatively rare and not always looked for. These include mesenteric panniculitis (see discussion listed below:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mesenteric-panniculitis-or-schlerosing-mesentertis-auto-immune-around-small-intestine/
And,
--MALS (median arcuate ligament syndrome (see discussion listed below)
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/median-arcuate-ligament-syndrome-mals/
On Connect, there is a discussion of members who have had (or are considering) bariatric surgery. You might find their posts of interest to you. Here is a link
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-to-mayo-bariatric-group/
As these symptoms began shortly after the bariatric sleeve surgery, have you talked with the surgeon who performed the procedure? Also, have you considered getting a second opinion with a well-known GI specialist?

Hi,
A diagnosis of IBS is given because they have no other idea of what you have. IBS is not a disease it is a convienient label given when they have no idea what is wrong with you. I have put up with it for 13 years and only recently did Dr's start making real diagnoses for me after my continual protestations. I had to point out this is not a life I wish to have, with no help I'm left with the alternative of suicide to stop the discomfort, cure or kill their choice. For the last 18 months I have been under a Gastrologist who has risen to the challenge and we have made some minor advances. Thirteen years of hell with a conveinient label of IBS has turned into Autonomic polyneuropahy this year and yesterday CSVD, cerebral small vessel disease. I'm guessing treatment is going to take 10 years to happen at the lacksadaisical way health "proffesionals"conduct themselves. I have lost track of the times I have been told it is psychologial. After MRI imaging they are now facing a dose of humble pie when we meet again! Yes there are tell tale signs of health issues which greatly enhances my assertion I'm not crazy, there is something wrong physically.
All you can do is keep asking difficult questions and put them on the spot, question their diagnosis and don't settle for less. Just remember you are your best advocate and the old addage of the squeeky wheel gets the oil, does work.
Cheers

I’m so sorry for all that you’re going through. Both my younger son and daughter have ibs. While they do have pain gas and sometimes pain in chest it’s not constant or every day. Have you had gi testing? Colonoscopy? Had a Cta of your abdomen? These are all tests I and my kids have had for similar type issues. I actually was diagnosed with two things. Something called mals( look it up) and dis motility in my esophageal muscles.

Hi,
I don't accept what is wrong with me, I can't change it but if I accept it then the urge to fight for something better is gone. Because IBS is a catch all term we are mostly unique in our particular symptoms. By definition a cure is unlikely without knowing the disease.
I have struggled for what feels like a lifetime with IBS and have had every symptom and variation of symptoms from not being able to eat anything to some halfway decent days. My worst period was having the stomach so expanded there was no more give in the skin, unable to sit, having to lay down through not being able to bend at the waist. Abdominal pain off the scale at times, mostly uncomfortable all the time. For me going into SIBO bouts is now the worst affect I get. As the digestive system is complete out of control I'm limited in the amount of food/ fluid I can take per day. Go over it and into SIBO yet again. I have now been living on wholewheat bread and cups of tea for 14 months. Limited to a max of 6 slices per day and 7 cups of tea, usually 4 slices with a slice of shaved ham and 6 cups of tea. I will have a small amount of vegitables once a week with grilled chicken or fish. I'm constantly hungery and have to remind myself how difficult life gets eating more than my limit. My Gastrologist agrees with me if I can tolerate it, eat it, which is why the bread. It has little effect on my stomach in moderation. I have been through the Fodmap several times without success. I stick to what I prepare and never eat anything someone else has prepared for fear of eating something that I react to. I am salt free, sugar free, no herbs or spices. The worst part of it all is the simple fixes I'm constantly given that are well ment but useless to me. In 13 years I believe I have tried it all. Had every proceedure going and still nothing to show for it all. Now with Autonomic polyneuropathy controlling the digestive system and the new diagnosis of CSVD there is nothing but just managing each day as best I can. There isn't going to be a fix and certainly few options for treatment, just fumble my way through each day I manage to wake up.
Sadly I can only empathise with you, I can't offer a solution. Surprisingly I do best and come alive when I'm going through a starvation period, no food just cups of tea to keep the kidneys flushed and happy. I'm CKD, T2 diabetic and stumped for diet with each health issue compromising the other health issues.
Cheers

Ok, all you IBS sufferers who aren't sure of your diagnosis. One of my neurologists has become a Sjogren's expert because of a family member and he told of what Sjogren's does to the gut. Sound's like IBS. Something to consider.

HI I had IBS diagnosed when I was 28 years old after a really bad bout of food poisoning, it took me two weeks to get over the food poisoning, but after that my gut was never the same. Fast forward to 38 years old and still was told it was IBS, with lots of gas, bloating and frequent trips to the toilet, in fact my husband says I should have share in Andrex the toilet paper company. I started to have problems at 38 years with my arm, went to the Dr's, gave me medication and said it would go, I had at that time 2 small daughters, it was so painful in my arm I could not lift them, cook, or drive my car, or even wash myself, I did a bit of research myself, this is before we could ask Google, and suggested to my GP I had a type of Neurology. He thought that was rubbish and dismissed me, until I wanted to see someone privately. Which I did and as soon as I saw the consultant she agreed with my diagnosis. I had scans of my neck and arm, but nothing could be found, I had Physiotherapy, this helped a bit. So my Consultant asked about my IBS and said why didn't I keep a food diary, and suggested I try this Allergy company who exposed your blood to 40 different types of food. So I send off for a test, sent a blood sample and it came back I was having a reaction to dairy products. I gave up dairy products, within 6 weeks the pain went away in my arm, and also cured my IBS syndrome. I have tested this theory on several times over the years, and if I consume any dairy products in my diet my IBS comes back the next day. So we are what we eat. Sorry for the long winded story.

Hi,
Just back from my Gastro specialist apointment and finaly the words I already knew. We can't treat what we don't know or can't see. The definition of IBS it's self. The expectation is that I will be steadily getting worse and will be kept on the books for that eventuality. They stressed how reluctant they are to medicate what the don't know in preferance to keep it in the medicine chest for the day I really need the help!. Kind of makes sence as the body does have a habit of getting used to long term medications and they tend to become ineffective. Anyway the first time I have heard a Dr admit they have know clues about IBS once everything else has been rejected or tried.
I was told to keep up the self managment as I'm doing well with it, nice to know I'm getting something right.
My conclusion is if you have your IBS cured you didn't have IBS!
That leaves me with 3 ailments that are incurable and untreatable, which dosen't much matter once you accept the first one. It is unlikely to change what I do but may require a different aproach to the way I do what I do. I'm not too pleased with a future of living on bread and water but as that is the best way forward getting used to it is all I can do. I can still walk 10 kilometers when I need to so essentially bread and water it is.
Cheers

My first thought here is adhesions. Abdominal pain is a key symptom, but bowel obstructions are the most serious side effects. So trapped gas and serious constipation wouldn't be surprising. Medical papers reference difficulty with adhesions to the band itself when they try and reverse the surgery. IDT there's any treatment with this kind of thing outside surgery, but any abdominal surgery runs the risk of creating adhesions itself. I would make sure your motility is not severely compromised. Slow motility can cause these symptoms too. If constipation is a major issue for you, I would start there. If it's not manageable by yourself, you should talk to your GI about some meds like Liness and Motegrity.

I have IBS-C had a twisted colon found in colonoscopy plus scar tissue build up after hernia surgery. They’ve put me on everything to help constipation and nothing works. I’m down to having to take a stimulant once a week now. It’s miserable 24/7. I have no clue what’s next.

My doctors have been treating me for IBS for a couple years. I don't have IBS. My symptoms are not related to IBS but doctors still want to treat it as IBS.
My symptoms are not related to food. Doesn't change with bowel movements. I am not stress. My symptoms are related to my health condition which is Short gut syndrome. I only have 2ft of my small intestines left but I still have my large intestines.