Diagnosed with IBS…could it really be that?

@seapen,
Congratulations on finding the cause of your diarrhea. It is always good to take a look at the medications you are taking and see if any could be the culprit. You did some great investigative work, and it helped.

Just wondering if you have started using another medication to replace the PPI?

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.

My next doctor put me on another PPI, rabeprozole. I had a lot of bloating and gas. When I told my doctor, he responded "Everybody has gas. Get a dog". I was stunned. I left him and got another doctor. I stopped the medication and the gas was gone in 2 days. I will never use another PPI.

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

Hi,
If I were in your situation I would ask for a breath test for SIBO, it too can mimic the same symptoms of IBS. The breath test is a simple test that can be done as at outpatient. It would nice to rule out SIB0.

I would also research the symptoms of LPR, it to can mimic IBS.

It is important, treatment wise, to tule out Gerd, LPR, and SIBO before treating IBS….and it will save you lots of money on medications if you can isolate the one you actually have. Believe me, I know.

Good luck,
Randy

I'm sorry for what you are going through. Please get a second opinion! I have Celiac and Microscopic colitis. Unfortunately, I was still suffering. So, I went to a new GI who works with complicated patients. Found out I have a congenital defect in my pancreas and have PSC (Primary Sclerosis Chlogantis). So don't give up

Hi,
I have already done this and do have SIBO regularly because of the ANS. Because of the ANS and IBS I slip into SIBO state often producing methane. I have had all tests known and all medication thought to help with a clean result and no help with medications. You can't medicate for what is unknown and can't be seen other than the findings of an autopsy, and that is a little to late! That what IBS is, unknown, yet to be discovered.
Cheers

Hi,
No matter how many opinions the answer is always the same, IBS is undertermind, unknown and unseen therefore untreatable and uncurable. This is why those with IBS have different symptoms and will struggle to the end. Celiac's, chrons and gluten intolerance are all known diseases and treatable, they are not IBS. I have been poked, proded, metered, and breathalised along with every sample known taken and all I got was IBS and SIBO, methane producing. Unlike a lot of people I didn't seek just help. I actively participated in seeking a treatment and answers to which my gasto team are appreciative. I know exactly what I'm dealing with and all the permiables that go with IBS. I will continue to look for an answer, as one day someone may define what IBS is. Once it is known then what can be done will be a lot clearer as treating a known cause is possible, treating an unknown cause is not possible, it is just guess work with the fingers crossed.
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.