Difficulty Getting a Diagnosis

I was age 52 years old when I started having debilitating pain to my left lower side. I was extremely active and healthy I thought. I would hurt at work and come home and curl up on my bed in pain. Nothing helped. Often I would be okay at bedtime but wake up in pain at 4 - 5 AM. I made multiple trips to my PCP who thought I was a bit case. He gave me pain pills...no help. He gave me Valium.....no help....finally he ran multiple GI tests without result.

FINALLY....he sent me to a GI doctor who looked at my tests and talked to me. He looked at me and said "I know what's wrong with you". My mouth fell open. He then told me I had IBS. He told me I was not crazy. What a relief. That was 15 years ago. The treatment then was Elavil and Metamucil at night. I woke up after the first treatment free of pain. I soon stopped the Elavil but always try to get my fiber down. I still have episodes but I know what it is and how to treat. Heating pads are my friend.

I often take a pain pill for temporary relief. I fluctuate between constipation and diarrhea. The diarrhea comes with dumping syndrome like symptoms. I have a lot of gas. I had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago. For 2 days I was in severe pain that was not relieved by anything. I called the GI doctor and asked for an Antispasmodic. What a relief. The spasms stopped and the gas started coming. Those with IBS truly know how others with IBS feel.