1. < Digestive Health

Diagnosed with IBS…could it really be that?

Posted by Kendra @kendra75, Nov 28, 2024

Hi everyone. I would love your opinion. Very long story short: in June 2022 I had bariatric sleeve surgery. 4 months later my life completely changed. It started with extreme constipation, severe abdominal pain, trapped gas. It’s been over 2 years and my life is so bad. I am in constant chronic severe abdominal pain with several symptoms with it. From the morning I open my eyes until going to sleep. Sleep is the only relief I get. No matter what I eat or whether I go to the bathroom or not…I am in severe pain. Every single day for 2 years. I was diagnosed with IBS but I feel like I’m dying. I can’t stress how bad this is. I barely go out, barely go to the store and miss many events. My quality of life is so bad. I have been to many doctors and have had many tests done. All negative. Could it be something other than IBS and the doctors have missed it?

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tjanet | @tjanet | Dec 26, 2024
In reply to @cheyne "Hi, With the greatest of respect, you don't seem to get it. They are treating your..." + (show)
@cheyne

Hi,
With the greatest of respect, you don't seem to get it. They are treating your symptoms, not IBS as IBS is just a collection of symptoms with an IBS label, to call it something. Don't focus on the term IBS focus on your symptoms.
I'm treated for IBS symptoms while my Gastro specialist agrees they can't treat my ANS, which is the cause of my symptoms, there is no treatment or cure known. But still they try anything they can for my "IBS". Suppressing the symptoms is all they can try to do. I can only assume that is what they are trying to do for you.
Have you discussed this with your Dr, asking what they are doing and why?
I discuss every option with my specialist and have suggestions I add from time to time. We talk them over and agree on a plan forward for each trial. Mostly with failure but we are still trying and understand each other well now. He knows I'm up for most anything as doing nothing isn't working for me.
Cheers

Jump to this post

Wrong. The doctors are not treating my Short gut symptoms. They want to treat my condition like IBS. I have no symptoms of IBS. IBS is a health condition. I don't have any symptoms of IBS. My symptoms are related to Short gut syndrome. My GI doctor doesn't know much about short gut syndrome.
Yes I have asked my GI doctor questions but he doesn't answer them.

REPLY
tjanet | @tjanet | Dec 26, 2024
In reply to @cheyne "Hi, With the greatest of respect, you don't seem to get it. They are treating your..." + (show)
@cheyne

Hi,
With the greatest of respect, you don't seem to get it. They are treating your symptoms, not IBS as IBS is just a collection of symptoms with an IBS label, to call it something. Don't focus on the term IBS focus on your symptoms.
I'm treated for IBS symptoms while my Gastro specialist agrees they can't treat my ANS, which is the cause of my symptoms, there is no treatment or cure known. But still they try anything they can for my "IBS". Suppressing the symptoms is all they can try to do. I can only assume that is what they are trying to do for you.
Have you discussed this with your Dr, asking what they are doing and why?
I discuss every option with my specialist and have suggestions I add from time to time. We talk them over and agree on a plan forward for each trial. Mostly with failure but we are still trying and understand each other well now. He knows I'm up for most anything as doing nothing isn't working for me.
Cheers

Jump to this post

Yes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a recognized medical condition. It is a chronic disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS is not a life-threatening condition, but it can significantly impact a person's quality of life.

You should Google IBS.
I don't have any of the symptoms of IBS.

REPLY
1 reply
tjanet | @tjanet | Dec 26, 2024
In reply to @cheyne "Hi, I have reached the end of my health issues road, so to speak. With ANS..." + (show)
@cheyne

Hi,
I have reached the end of my health issues road, so to speak. With ANS being the major factor in my digestive system there is no cure and no treatment available, currently. I don't like accepting it but that is undesputably the situation I'm faced with. Now that most of the specialists have given me the shaky arms in the air treatment it is down to me to manage with what I have learnt and know of my health issues and I have researched and tried many "answers" over the years, not many have been of any benefit in the end. Mainly one day wonders untill the body figures out they are a joke.
Believe it or not I did initially cure the IBS but with subsequencially requiring massive amounts of antibiotics to stay alive I have ended up back at square one. The cure for a severe dose of IBS is not plesant or easy as some have found. It needs to be followed to the letter or you run the risk of making IBS far worse.
I have not been able to replicate what I did to beat the initial IBS despite trying twice more. The only treatmant left is fecaltransfer which under the circumstances would be a total waste of time, money and resources now being controlled with ANS. Having allowed everyone time to try their remedies it is now my way and self managment, throwing away all the medications and staying with Omeprazole and plenty of laxatives to go as fast and far, no pun intended! as I can no matter the inevitable consequences. Two weeks off meds and feeling a whole lot better, no more T2 and BP testings, just ignoring it all for a comfortable life, as long as it lasts. Yes some symptoms are becoming more obvious but I think feeling better as long as I can is the best medicine for me.
I feel I will see 2025 after all.
Cheers

Jump to this post

The medication that are used for IBS makes my Short gut syndrome worse not better.

REPLY
1 reply
babswel1 | @babswel1 | Dec 30, 2024
In reply to @sb4ca "My first thought here is adhesions. Abdominal pain is a key symptom, but bowel obstructions are..." + (show)
@sb4ca

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.

Jump to this post

Your thoughts helped. I had lap band removal and have suffered since due to adhesions. I was diagnosed with IBS and a crooked lower esophogas. The specials has given me meds to relax that area. I work at staying free of constipation and have a no red meat diet with mainly veggies and low gluten. I still have spasms which cause shortage of breath. After a while the spasms subside. I went to Mayo cardio in Phoenix and do not have heart trouble. They referred me to their GI dept. but could not get in. The wait was a year. I think spasms will never go away or be diagnosed. Surgery is not possible at my age.

REPLY
adlttl123 | @adlttl123 | 6 days ago

Obviously I’m no doctor but if I were you I would make an appointment with another doctor because I think that doctor messed you up. I’m so sorry that you’re suffering like this. Hyoscyamine is a medication that helps my symptoms that are similar to yours but mine are no where as severe. God bless and many prayers.

REPLY
cheyne | @cheyne | 16 hours ago
In reply to @tjanet "Yes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a recognized medical condition. It is a chronic disorder that..." + (show)
@tjanet

Yes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a recognized medical condition. It is a chronic disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS is not a life-threatening condition, but it can significantly impact a person's quality of life.

You should Google IBS.
I don't have any of the symptoms of IBS.

Jump to this post

Hi,
You are confirming what I have been saying!!~
Cheers

REPLY
1 reply
tjanet | @tjanet | 15 hours ago
In reply to @cheyne "Hi, You are confirming what I have been saying!!~ Cheers" + (show)
@cheyne

Hi,
You are confirming what I have been saying!!~
Cheers

Jump to this post

Wrong. You said that IBS wasn't a medical condition which it is a medical condition.

REPLY
tjanet | @tjanet | 15 hours ago
In reply to @cheyne "Hi, With the greatest of respect, you don't seem to get it. They are treating your..." + (show)
@cheyne

Hi,
With the greatest of respect, you don't seem to get it. They are treating your symptoms, not IBS as IBS is just a collection of symptoms with an IBS label, to call it something. Don't focus on the term IBS focus on your symptoms.
I'm treated for IBS symptoms while my Gastro specialist agrees they can't treat my ANS, which is the cause of my symptoms, there is no treatment or cure known. But still they try anything they can for my "IBS". Suppressing the symptoms is all they can try to do. I can only assume that is what they are trying to do for you.
Have you discussed this with your Dr, asking what they are doing and why?
I discuss every option with my specialist and have suggestions I add from time to time. We talk them over and agree on a plan forward for each trial. Mostly with failure but we are still trying and understand each other well now. He knows I'm up for most anything as doing nothing isn't working for me.
Cheers

Jump to this post

I don't have any symptoms of IBS. My symptoms are because of short gut syndrome. There's no cure for short gut syndrome just ways to deal with it but the IBS way makes it worse not better.

REPLY
cheyne | @cheyne | 15 hours ago
In reply to @tjanet "The medication that are used for IBS makes my Short gut syndrome worse not better." + (show)
@tjanet

The medication that are used for IBS makes my Short gut syndrome worse not better.

Jump to this post

Hi
I think you really need to thrash this out with your Doctors.
From your opening thread you are expressing some typical IBS symptoms.
I'm taking "IBS" medication for a totally different disease, dysautonomia, which happens to be incurable and untreatable at this time. Any medications that have been more of a problem than a help have been eliminated through tough consultation with my Gastro specialists. I have had to learn to advocate for my health, Dr's are not the holy grail of medicine my generation grew up believing. We now understand each other and work together for my benefit.
Cheers

REPLY
1 reply
tjanet | @tjanet | 14 hours ago
In reply to @cheyne "Hi I think you really need to thrash this out with your Doctors. From your opening..." + (show)
@cheyne

Hi
I think you really need to thrash this out with your Doctors.
From your opening thread you are expressing some typical IBS symptoms.
I'm taking "IBS" medication for a totally different disease, dysautonomia, which happens to be incurable and untreatable at this time. Any medications that have been more of a problem than a help have been eliminated through tough consultation with my Gastro specialists. I have had to learn to advocate for my health, Dr's are not the holy grail of medicine my generation grew up believing. We now understand each other and work together for my benefit.
Cheers

Jump to this post

I have talked to my doctors and they finally realizes that my symptoms are from my Short gut syndrome not IBS symptoms. Diarrhea is a very common symptom for Short gut syndrome. I don't have bloating, it's not related to what I eat,I don't have IBS symptoms my symptoms are Short gut syndrome symptoms. My GI doctor is finally helping me with my Short gut syndrome and not IBS.
Medications for IBS makes Short gut syndrome worse not better and that's why my doctors are no longer giving me IBS Medications.

REPLY
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