Ibs ?
Hi all, about 3 months ago I had a health scare where I thought I had a stroke only to be told it wasn't after tests but took stroke medication for about 6 weeks whilst tests were undertaken. I have suffered mild gastritis for about 1 year. Since this non stroke episode about a week later I started getting stomach pain and it started with discomfort in my left upper abdomen 3months ago with diarrhea around 3 times a day. The past 6 weeks I am have stomach cramps and also gassy. Its a routine with normal stool after breakfast, quickly usually within 30mins followed by mild diarrhea. I'll then eat once more around 4 or 5 pm and get loose stool sometime and other times I won't go at all till next morning. Anyway the pain is all across the stomach. I have seen my doctor and I will be having a sigmoidoscopy to see what's happening. Anyone had similar experiences to myself ? Many thanks all
Hi
and welcome to our community. I'm sorry you've been dealing with these issues. It's good that you're getting tests done. I personally would also ask for stool tests and blood work just in case, to see if you might have an infection of some sort.
Is your sigmoidoscopy already scheduled?
I'm just going to suggest some ideas, however please remember that I'm not a doctor.
- Do they know what might have caused the episode? Could it have been an illness, an allergic reaction or something else that is still affecting your body now?
- Could the stroke medication cause side effects like these, since you were taking it for 6 weeks?
- Could you have developed a reaction to a certain food or other trigger after the episode? I know this is completely different, but I personally was no longer able to eat any gluten after having my first baby.
I personally would try adjusting your diet while you're experiencing these symptoms to see if that helps a little, even if the symptoms might not be directly caused by food.
You could try the Low FODMAP diet (https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet) or keeping a food diary to figure out if anything specific is triggering you (https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/food-journal-download). It's also interesting to know that it's often food we ate for a previous meal that causes symptoms: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/fodmaps-trigger-ibs-symptoms.
I really hope that you'll get some answers soon. Please keep us updated!
Karina (team member)they just said could be some inflammation but they can't tell what it is as the scans aren't really showing anything maybe small chance of sigmoid colitis but they said unlikely but can't be certain until a sigmoidoscopy is done. I do have mild gastritis since a year ago. Not sure if it's that but one doctor said could be ibs and another said they want to rule ibd first. Just have to wait I guess. I hope you'll have more answers soon! This situation when you're waiting for tests and don't know what's going on is so hard. 🙁
Karina (team member)
It's affecting my mental health big time as its been months without improvement. I take omeprazole for acid reflux anyway other than that I can't be given medication as they don't know what it is. Thanks for your help
That's so understandable. I've been in similar situations and it can truly feel like it'll never get better. But it does.
Do you have supportive people in your life who are helping you cope?
Karina (team member)
