I recently had a positive assay for inflammatory bowel disease and was thrilled that something wrong was actually found. This pain HAD to be caused by something.

Friday I had a colonoscopy and was told that I have "very spastic bowels", and several diverticuli that were not currently infected. I was shocked. Don't get me wrong...I'm happy that I don't have something as severe as colitis or a mass but irritable bowel doesn't get the "respect" is should. For the longest time I've been told "Oh, it's probably just irritable bowel.", like it's no huge deal.

Well this pain can be a HUGE deal. I always thought that I had a high pain tolerance but now I'm questioning myself. Can irritable bowel be incapacitating for you too or am I exaggerating?


painterZ

[This Message was Edited on 10/06/2008]

Hi,

You're not exaggerating at all, IBS is horrible and unless someone has it or knows someone with it,they have no clue. It's more than, "just don't drink milk and take extra fiber" which the doctors say. To be honest, sometimes it seems like they don't have a clue either.

check out www.helpforibs.com - I've learned so much from this site and her books and the products are great. She ships them really fast.

Best wishes to you!!

Thanks so much for your response. I totally agree that docs, and a lot of others, simply don't understand. I appreciate the site info...I'll check it out.


Thanks,
painterZ

I just wanted to tell you that I have struggled with IBS most of my life. When I was in 3rd grade the school made me go to the doctor and of course then we had never heard of IBS and the doctor told my mom that I had gastridis.
I can truly say that the pain I have with IBS is as severe as labor pains. Nobody can comprehend the misery that we go through unless they have experienced it. You are definitely not exagerating.
It is a huge deal and I wish doctors understood that.

Hang in there!

I really deeply thank that you've shared that with me. I'm beginning to learn that my severe symptoms are not that abnormal with IBS patients. I will not let anyone make light of this when talking to me or about another with this disorder ever again.

Thanks for the insight!


painterZ

I know you from some of the other boards- I just wanted to write you and tell you I know exactly how you feel. Oh I've cried so many times with tests coming back negative. Actually when my cat was sick recently, I was shocked that the doctors came back and said she was severly ill. I've been trained to believe that it is all in my head or there is never anything the doctors can do. Isn't that sad?

I live in constant pain and right now it is taking all my strength to fight the pain in my stomach and type at the same time. I'm TIRED of all of this. Can they not find a way to treat constant pain?????

I only wanted to write to say that I feel your pain. I've been in pain for the last 20 years of my life and I just want it to go away. My friends who are mothers tell me I'll have no problem giving birth because my pain tollerance is so high.

God that sounds awful for you! I usually get at least a week out of a month that's relatively pain free. Is all of your pain located in your belly? It's possible that you may have several things going on at once. I have a duodenal ulcer and the IBS and when they're both acting up it's just crazy.

If your suffering from intestinal pain and cramping maybe you could ask your doc for some Levsin. It's an anti-colic med that you take as needed every 4-6hrs. I'm telling you...I could kiss whoever invented that stuff! You put it under your tongue and within 15 min the relief starts to come. I'm usually feeling pretty good within an hour.

I hope you find some relief and soon. I guess the only good thing about not having a conclusive diagnosis is that they haven't found anything life threatening.

I'll be thinking of you...


painterZ

As a kid I had stomcah pains every day due to my sickle cell trait ,How unusaul I don't have the full blown sickle cell but I sure was ill from just the trait go figure! but I know how constipation one day or week and then diarrhea the next along wiith stomach pain and cramps could keep you from doing your everyday errands and activity.

I think that very slowly the gut is starting to receive the "respect" it deserves. When you're dealing with stomach and/or intestinal pain it completely throws you off.

I'm sorry you have to deal with the pain of sickle cell trait. I've taken care of several patients that also dealt with pain althought they did not have full sickle cell anemia. It is a very devastating disease. I hope you have found some relief.


painterZ