Struggling with 'Diagnosis'
(I made this post already but it either got moderated or deleted so I'll phrase it more softly this time)
I am 20 years old, living in a single parent household and I am a partial care-giver to a sibling. Last week I was 'tentatively diagnosed' with IBS-C after 7 unbroken weeks of constipation, nausea, low appetite, muscle weakness and fatigue that ultimately resulted in a day in A+E. These symptoms aren't especially new to me but to have them this intensely and for this long has wiped me out completely. My GP is refusing to test for any other potential condition until new year claiming that one singular blood test has ruled out all other possibilities except IBS-C including ones that have been passed down generationally for years in the women of my family. I just feel like my symptoms are not being taken seriously. My sibling has IBS and he has told me frequently the things I've been experiencing are nothing at all like his. My family and I are talking about getting a second opinion due to the dismissive and overly relaxed nature of my GP who told me I wasn't 'unwell enough' to warrant further testing at this stage and to come back 'when you are bleeding'. Has anyone been through something similar? Would seeking a second opinion be foolish in this situation?
I feel you should get a second opinion.
I also feel you might be being discriminated against because of your age. Some doctors dismiss the idea of digging further into a patient's symptoms because they are young. I think that's very unprofessional indeed, but it can happen."Come back when you're bleeding" is a very unprofessional, dangerous and stupid thing to say to a patient. I am shocked.
A single blood test can tell quite a lot of things, as there are markers for certain things in the blood (celiac disease, and systemic inflammation, immune conditions etc)
But a blood test has its limitations and I do NOT believe IBS can be diagnosed from a blood test alone, and just listening to an account of your symptoms. It can be "greatly suspected" by a doctor who knows what he/she is doing, but it can't be definitely diagnosed.At the very least you should have had stool tests, for hidden blood, calprotectin and lactoferrin.
There are markers in stool samples that can't be picked up via blood tests.IF there are no red flags in stool tests, PLUS your blood testing is clean as a whistle, PLUS you fulfil the Rome Criteria for diagnosis, then all put together, a doctor could say they were pretty certain you have IBS.
Also if you have stress history, that can lean the diagnosis a bit more in the IBS direction.
But IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, and proper testing has to be done to exclude all other possibilities.
The absolute best test of course, is colonoscopy. Some doctors don't refer for colonoscopy if everything else is fine with no "red flags" (which was the case with me, and I was happy with that, and nothing has got worse since then.)
But you may need more investigation.
I wish you all the best and hope things will start to improve for you.Meanwhile is there anything you can take to ease the constipation a bit? Diet....exercise....increasing water intake...magnesium before bed?
thank you for responding! I have to agree I think there is an element of ageism to this. I did a stool staple right at this start but now I come to think on it I was never actually told if anything was found or not? I'm assuming there was nothing otherwise they would've said by now I'm sure? I also doubt the validity of that certain blood test because I have been anemic and had a weak immune system my entire life and those were both all clear on this blood test somehow. This is the first I'm hearing of 'Rome Criteria' so I will have to look into that. I do have a history of mental health issues that I think my GP is aware of but have been in counselling before and have very good grounding and calming techniques that haven't let me down yet. He did mention a colonoscopy but said we were probably months off anything like that. Currently for the next 3 weeks he's got me on a total restriction no gluten, no lactose, no meat, no added salt, low fruit diet, I've upped my water intake and I'm just about to finish another round of Movicol so I can get by. It just all felt like a very strange diagnosis process considering last week was the first time this GP had seen me face to face.
So sorry about your other post being deleted, that happened automatically and there wasn't anything wrong with what you wrote. I re-activated it and replied to that first post before seeing that you made another one here. Please let me know if you can access it now?
I completely agree with everything said in the comment above. I'll link some info about the Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria here: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/clinical/new-rome-iv-diagnostic-criteria. In my case, I had stool tests and blood tests done but no colonoscopy, since everything came back normal, just like.
Mental health can definitely play a huge role for IBS. For me, anxiety is by far my biggest trigger. But I personally don't think that this should be an argument for not doing further tests, as there are many illnesses that are associated with mental health issues.
Seeking a second opinion would not be foolish at all. In my personal opinion, I would not trust a doctor who tells you to "come back when you're bleeding". I can't believe that they even said something like that!
I hope you'll get to see another doctor soon. Sending big hugs, Karina (team member)Sorry you're having so much trouble with IBC-C. I have had it since my 20's, now in my 70's. I have had many GI visits and I did not experience relief until I experimented with foods on my own. I am vegan for 11 years and about 10 years ago, started eating oatmeal with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and cherries with walnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, chopped apple with skin and vanilla soy milk. With that breakfast, I alternate with green and black tea with a capful of Miralax (you can get cheaper under different names. } With this breakfast daily and a lot of water, IBS-C is under very good oontrol. Of course I have to be careful with foods that I like but don't like me like broccoli and beans. Exercise in the form of walking and working out at a local gym help too. I don't know if my regimen will work for all IBS-C sufferers but might be worth a try. Forgot to mention, I use Beano,, a natural digestive enzyme and rarely, Dicyclomine which is a drug that has been on the market for many years. It calms the intestines and mostly used for diarrhea but if I have a lot of abdominal pain, I take it, probably every few months. I hope this provides help to some of you in the group.
Thank you so much for sharing what has worked for you, that's very helpful indeed! I'm so glad that this breakfast and Miralax help you keep your IBS under control.
I hope you continue feeling well.
All the best, Karina (team member)
Thank you. Hope you find what works for you.
