Help me to determine if it's IBS-D or what?

By shoaibkhalil

1 min read

Hi everyone, I've been suffering from severe pain under/inside my right rib and diarrhea for more than 3 years, sometimes a lot of mucus in the stool (dark red liquid jelly like or solid dark yellow substance). Let me share my story and help me to determine if it's IBS or something serious?

Severe pain

When the pain started it's mild and I've had almost every recommended blood test, X-rays, LFTs and even endoscopy. Every test result came up normal. I've had severe conditions on and off through these three years span and pain got worse over time on the same spot (under right rib) and increased diarrhea. Usually feel severe pain after I wake up in the morning and after a trip to the bathroom, pain intensity decreases but doesn't go away completely. Two doctors said it's IBS, one said it's a liver condition and another one said it's stomach ulcers. Everyone is guessing their own perspective and never got the right diagnosis. Tried different medicines from different doctors but all in vain.

Looking for answers

Nowadays I'm unable to eat anything due to nausea. I can feel a lot of weakness in my body due to diarrhea. All I'm worried about is PAIN on this specific spot under the right rib if it's stomach pain or liver pain. Don't know what to do next to get well, totally frustrated looking for someone with the same condition for help and guide me to the right path.

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barbaraegd Member
<inline-mention username="shoaibkhalil" user-id="4256350"/> : First: a liver issue should never be a maybe. That should either be ruled out or followed up on via lab work, scans or biopsy. If there are no diagnoses at all, there are meds that may help. Two of the newer ones are Linzess (for IBSC) and Viberzi (for IBSD). Of course, you would discuss this with your doctor. I have also been taking probiotics for years and I think that helps as well. When I do have an episode I take Immodium (for multisymptoms as that helps with pain). It's not a cure but it allows me to live normally. Also dietary restrictions help; primary villains are dairy, and vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower. I'm not making medical recommendations but encouraging to keep asking and searching until you find the right combination for yourself. 
1. barbaraegd Member
 <inline-mention username="shoaibkhalil" user-id="4256350"/> Diet is trial and error. I have found myself feeling bad after eating specific foods so I avoid them. I try to stick with lactose free dairy products when feasible; small amounts of cheese are tolerable (preferrably white, lighter cheeses); cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts are no-nos. The FODMAP diet is generally acceptable. Some people swear by no carb approach, but that's not me. I do avoid high fructose corn syrup. Just start keeping track of what foods make your symptoms worse. I also swear by probiotics and Viberzi; you can discuss that with your doctor.
2. Michaela Contributor
 These are great tips! You sound like you've done a lot of work in this. Thank you for sharing! Best wishes, Michaela (irritablebowelsyndrome.net Team Member)
hateibs Member
Has the doctor checked you for gall bladder problems? Or gallstones? It might be helpful to have an ultrasound or some other scan.
1. shoaibkhalil Member
 <inline-mention username="hateibs" user-id="4146293"/> I've done ultrasounds many times and all(Gallstone, liver, kidney etc) came normal. Kindly share your story and diet plans. May be it can help a bit
corgimom Member
Because you are a paraplegic, your body can easily go South. Go back to the doctor. Ask for a colonoscopy too. What you are experiencing is not normal. Anytime you see something that looks like blood in your stool, that should be checked out immediately. I found out in March that I had cysts in my liver. I never even knew that people could get cysts in your liver, but they can cause pain. 
1. shoaibkhalil Member
 <inline-mention username="corgimom" user-id="2305768"/> is that normal in IBS or not?
2. shoaibkhalil Member
 <inline-mention username="corgimom" user-id="2305768"/> and what type of lab test i can perform to get the clear results regarding liver?
corgimom Member
I have no idea if it's normal or not, I had never heard of them. Most of the time they don't cause problems, but they can rupture and become quite painful and some even need to be removed surgically. I found mine when I had a CT scan to look for aortic aneurysms (found that too!)
veramire Member
I have been diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis but at first the doctors called it IBS because they couldn’t figure it out. I had been having issues since 2009 and finally on 2018 they did a 4th colonoscopy and finally they seen the inflammation and the biopsy came out to be pancolitis. My mother was diagnosed on 2017 with microscopic colitis so that is why I was able to have doctors check me again. My son was having same issues so doctors performed a colonoscopy which they didn’t want to because he was to young at the time he was 22. But doctors went ahead and did it since my mom had it. My son was diagnosed with pancolitis which he had it so bad that last year they removed his colon. Having my son go through a hard time makes me so sad that I wish I could have been diagnosed sooner for my son not to go through all this…🥲. 
1. veramire Member
 <inline-mention username="Michaela Pace" user-id="4167468"/> Hi, we are doing good, thanks for asking. The diagnosis was good because it makes it easier for the doctors to know what to prescribe. On October 4 I actually went to urgent care and all I said I had ulcerative colitis and might be going through a flare up and doctor prescribed me steroids for 7 days and it worked which my symptoms went away. Doctor said my intestine might have been inflamed causing my flare up. 
2. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="veramire" user-id="4502958"/> I'm so glad to hear that you're all doing better. I imagine it's definitely easier to treat an illness after it's been correctly diagnosed! Wishing you all the best, Karina (team member)
Elizabeth Alvarez Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="shoaibkhalil" user-id="4256350"/> How have you been since sharing your story? Wondering how you are doing and if you ever got answers? Sending hugs your way, Elizabeth (team member)