Diagnosing IBS

Gael23

I have been suffering with fairly persistent constipation for a good few weeks now and I'm thinking I may have some symptoms of IBS.
I was wondering how is this diagnosed? Can a GP spot it or would you need to see a gastroenterologist.
My GP has me on a mix of Movicol and Lactulose which is working, I don't want to take senna because of the risk of dependency.

razor8

ryanf1 wrote: »

I have been suffering with fairly persistent constipation for a good few weeks now and I'm thinking I may have some symptoms of IBS.
I was wondering how is this diagnosed? Can a GP spot it or would you need to see a gastroenterologist.
My GP has me on a mix of Movicol and Lactulose which is working, I don't want to take senna because of the risk of dependency.

Have you blood in stool? He maybe able to do blood test

Gael23

razor8 wrote: »

Have you blood in stool? He maybe able to do blood test

Not that I have noticed. I have already had blood tests done anyway. I just have been having a bit of a prolonged change in bowel habits. I do have a bit of mucus like stuff at times

locum-motion

This is a bit over-simplified, but Irritable Bowel Syndrome is what's left after other, more serious causes of your symptoms have been ruled out. So, that basically means tests. I'd imagine that means a consultant, but perhaps one of the doctors on here would have a more comprehensive answer.

Gael23

I'll be going to see my GP in about 2 weeks anyway. He examined me quite throughout when this started 2 months ago and said I was quite badly constipated from low down. I don't feel sick anymore and I feel somewhat better in other ways but not fully normal yet, I still wouldn't go a day without taking some form of laxative.
I looked up IBS C and I have a few of the symptoms but obviously will discuss with my GP.

locum-motion

ryanf1 wrote: »

...I looked up IBS C and I have a few of the symptoms ...

Yes, but my point was that other things can have the same or similar symptoms, and they need to be ruled out. It takes more than a set of symptoms to diagnose something like IBS.

neelyohara

IBS is the diagnosis they give you when they've ruled out everything else. Even then it's a bit of a non-diagnosis - you've got an upset digestive system and we don't know what caused it, what irritates it or when/if it will go away...and there's no cure. So good luck with that!

Your GP will look at your diet, probably suggest changes or laxatives. If it still doesn't clear up then blood tests. Still nothing... colonoscopy. Still nothing.... IBS.

Personally Fybrogel works. I chowed down on laxatives and high fibre everything without any relief. I tried loads of different brands in different strengths. Nothing. Now I take two sachets of Fybrogel every day and it's working! It's not a laxative it's a bulking agent. Just pour a little sachet into a glass, stir the mixture up, drink it down, more water to rinse the glass of the remaining grains and drink again... And it doesn't taste bad either!

Pick up a packet, you'll know if it's gonna work within 24 hours and failing that I think it might be time to make a GP appointment!

Gael23

I can't stomach Fybogel, I find it tastes horrible but people do say its good.
He did say to eat Linseed which I have not yet done but I could probably do with more Fibre in my diet.
Will be seeing him again before the end of the month anyway.

aaabbbb

I was diagnosed with IBS in 2007 and had to go the consultant route. They needed to rule out crohn's disease among others. I had to have blood tests, leave in stool samples and do a scan of my digestive tract with a barium meal.

Gael23

I've been to a different consultant about what I thought was a separate problem but he thinks there could be a relationship to my bowels. So looks like he is going to suggest my GP send me to a gastroenterologist.
I still have not noticed any blood but I have notices that the shape of my stools is not always the same as it used to be, and I still have some abdominal pain.
Will be seeing GP soon, just want to wait until he has consultants report.

mejulie805

Any news, ryanf1? I'm going back down the private consultant route after being diagnosed with IBS two years ago (after being told it was Crohn's and taking a whole load of meds before the change). The problem is I think it's wrong, but as IBS is so broad I'm worried I'm spending money on nothing. Basically, I am in constant pain, and it's only in my lower left side, between the bottom of my ribs, and my hip. It has bad days and really bad days, and I'm taking painkillers every day. Seem to have a lot of other IBS symptoms, but just wondering if any IBS sufferers have this kind of pain, or should I keep investigating!

Gael23

Doctor thinks it was just bad constipation. Im still taking something for that every day and will do for a while.
I need to go to see him again soon for another reason but will ask him to check me out for that as well. I think some of the pain I have could be just wind moving through that hasn't been able to for weeks