i don't know if i have ibs or if my problems are caused by my other health factors (cfs/fm). i didn't start having diarrhea REALLY bad until after i was diagnosed w/the other illnesses and i told the specialist i saw (a cfs/fm specialist) about my diarrhea--one time i was so weak after having it for a week that when i saw my doc that day i could barely walk and the nurse said i was "too sick to be at the doctor's office and should be in the e.r."?!--and he hasn't seemed concerned just says to take pepto bismol. i'm just kind of over having diarrhea at least 1-2 days a week. can anyone help me? what kind of tests are done...i DON'T want a colonoscopy...are there meds to take, what are the exact symptoms??? b/c i've read about it and it seems pain comes with it but i don't have a lot of pain just usually the diarrhea and weakness. i've also read a change in diet would be good.

i'm sorry to ask so many q's i'm just wondering.
thanks!

Truthfully, I don't know how doctors can diagnose anyone with IBS without testing, but I also was diagnosed with IBS without testing or examination--just by listening to my symptoms. But my symptoms don't fit the classic profile for IBS.

There is another disease called Habba Syndrome that not all doctors are aware of and I think some doctors can mistake it for IBS. I am insisting on being tested for it at my yearly physical in a few weeks--I do not get constipation, but severe diahrea.

Habba Syndrome is a disease characterized by chronic diarrhea and caused by a dsyfunctional but still intact gall bladder, characterized by three or more watery bowel movements per day. Anyone interested should check out http://www.encyclocentral.com/14919-Habba_Syndrome_Gall_Bladd

Also Celiac Disease is another one that should be looked at. Here is the Mayo Clinic's site on Celiac Disease http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/DS00319

[This Message was Edited on 10/17/2008]

I was also "diagnosed" with IBS when I was about 18 or 19. It's a term used when doctors don't know what the heck is wrong with you. Ask yourself how many times you have been to the doctors complaining about your numerous symptoms? How many years? How many tests? I think I lost count after 100. The traditional medical industry forced me through lower GIs and upper GIs, colonoscopies, Xrays, blood tests, stool samples, even CT scans. So many antibiotics were given that were all unnecessary and caused even more problems. One doctor even told me I had FM and pretty much prescribed a bunch of high dose pain killers and antidepressants. Good grief!! The chronic diarrhea alone is horrible. It is so life altering and debilitating. I'm 36 now and I finally said ENOUGH! I chucked traditional medicine (It was obviously not successful) and went in search of a naturopath who specialized in woman's health issues. My dear friend, I cannot stress enough how this changed my life! The problem with traditional medicine, is that it wants soooo badly to label everything and fit everyone into all these little boxes. If you have "this symptom" you must have "this disease". They are NOT concerned about healing the issue, just covering up the problem. By the way...I do not nor have I ever had FM. What my naturopath DID discover, is Low HCL production, Candida, Celiac, and intestinal pathogens (not ones typically tested for by regular doctors). The combination of these has caused extreme intestinal upset, which in itself has caused numerous other symptoms: migraines, extreme fatigue, night sweats but day chills, hormonal imbalance, acne, hair loss, joint and muscle pain, and oh yes diarrhea (with burping, flatulance and bloating). I don't believe that diseases like Fibromyalgia exist in themselves. Instead, what I now believe is that our digestive systems are so vital to our overall health and when they are not functioning correctly, the consequences can be painful, often leading to severe syndromes that may end up life threatening. I'm sorry to say there is no magic pill to make this go away. The first thing I suggest is to find a new doctor. I left mine after he told me that the symptoms I had were just a simple case of heartburn and to take some tums...What...An.....Idiot!
And so you know, I am in my 4th month of treatment for the problems listed above. It's been a very challenging adventure at times, but I am looking and feeling so much better. I have my energy back (it sometimes brings me to tears when I realize what I am able to do again), I have lost 18 lbs (not intentially), my migraines are GONE (I was taking imitrex 2-4 times a month), my periods have normalized (PMS is much more tolerable), my skin is almost totally clear, my muscle aches are much better (I was so stiff and achy I lived on my heating pad), and oh yeah, my diarrhea is better (I am eating a lot of fiber so my stools are naturally loose, but not watery like before).
Gosh I hope this helps you atleast start thinking about the possibilities you have of getting healthy again. You're obviously sick and tired of being sick and tired. Best of luck....and you have the strength get better..I promise.

You really should consider seeing a gastro doc. With kind of problem you need the right doc.

Take care,
kbak

I'm on an HMO because it is all I can afford and I see a reluctance to send patients on to specialists and they won't send to a gastro doc until they find something. I need to see a rheumatologist because years ago I was diagnosed with lupus and now this HMO general practitioner (G.P.) said he doesn't send to a rheumy until there is involvement with internal organs. The lupus board here said WRONG--you see a rheumy RIGHT NOW to avoid involvement with internal organs. Actually G.P.s really don't have the advanced knowledge to handle the diseases that rheumatologists do, and even then the lupus board said you may have to go through several lupus doctors before you find one that will really continuously work with you. So at my yearly physical, I am going to ask for a referral to a rheumy to start dealing with this.

I'm getting my first colonoscopy in November plus the other tests mentioned above and with those results I'm hoping to get some more actual information instead of a blind diagnosis of IBS.

Also, a naturopath is not covered under an HMO, which I also think is another problem with our health system. I have heard of many people saying that nauturopaths have tested and uncovered ailments that our regular doctors overlooked. To me that should be a wake up call to all the doctors that they are missing diagnoses in their patients and misdiagnosing their patients.

People on boards have been told that their ailments are "in their head" and referred to psychiatrists when later it is discovered they had real ailments that were eventually found and proven. This "all in the head" seems to be the answer when a doctor doesn't know what a diagnosis is.

Also, there is a set panel of blood work for testing that is done at yearly physicals and it isn't anywhere near enough or what is needed. That panel doesn't cover my lupus or my B-12 deficiency and they end up calling me back for those blood tests---this year I am insisting they all be done at the same time so I don't have two separate blood draws visits, after all we know I have the ailments so let's get it done all at once as I'm hard to get blood out of.

But I just can't see how anyone can say a patient has IBS without an examination and testing. That to me is ridiculous and its like when I was told I had a sinus infection and they never examined me for it. Gee, I could be my own doctor.

I was diagnosed with IBS about 8 years ago. I had a colonoscopy. I started taking a pill everyday. As I got older more things started going wrong. I talked to a friend who uses nutritional supplement called Reliv. You can ask me or go to the www.reliv.com website. My depression lifted, I no longer deal with the IBS, my migraines are gone and I lost 50 lbs.

I went to a nutritionists and she said it was good and she made it part of my daily meal plan.

Mary29 which reliv products did you use to resovle your ibs?