New to IBS at 65 years old

By sandyee

2 min read

I had my gallbladder removed last year in December and within 2 months lost 8kg and as I am small build only weighed 48kg anyway. To cut a long story short I had masses of tests to rule out anything like cancer. MRI scans, CT Scans with dye injected, endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, 24 hr urine test. I was also suffering daily with terrible dizzy spells which would make me confused and sometimes affect my eye sight and balance. Driving or going out alone was a big no no. No nausea though. But i couldn't even walk straight when i had an attack.

IBS and epilepsy

My weight did not improve and I was bloating and having terrible nights of pain in my stomach, upper and lower and in my back with soft stools every morning. My mother died of pancreatic cancer and I was worried I may have the same. However, after 5 months of tests with a gastroenterologist and neurologist i was diagnosed with IBS C and also IBS D, and a mild form of epilepsy without the fits. I am slowly learning what food and drinks trigger the IBS. Its stressful and a long process.

What I would like to know is this, is the IBS and mild epilepsy connected? I am on a low dose of pills for the epilepsy and can go a few weeks without a dizzy spell but if I have an attack of IBS C i seem to get a day of dizzy spells, confusion and lightheadedness. My question is do I really have mild epilepsy or are the attacks of IBS causing the symptoms? I would be really interested to know if anyone else has the same as me.

Learning how to cope

Also, i am not yet putting on weight. Will I ever regain my weight with IBS or just accept I have to go and buy a whole new load of smaller clothes? Discovering this site has been a godsend to me and I thank everyone for their stories and experiences. I feel more confident I can cope with this new change in my life. I was terribly despondent about it all at first as I have never ever been ill or had surgery in my life before!

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annabelle Member
After reading Sandyee's post today, part of me was relieved and part of me wondering if I need to have some kind of tests........... you see I've had IBS for about 10 years, that I know of (I've actually had it most of my life, I just didn't know it had a name or could be helped). Over about the last year or two, I have been having short dizzy spells off and on, some confusion with sorting out my thoughts, and some days I have a hard time remembering where I put things.......... I honestly do not know what mild epilepsy without the "fits" actually means...but it would maybe explain some of the symptoms I am experiencing. Also, I have not paid enough attention to know if these experiences are worse or better depending on the type of IBS symptoms I'm having on that day. Today is honestly the first time I have heard of IBS and your state of mind being connected in any way. Is there a site that is trustworthy that I can go to and begin to investigate this connection on my own?
Elizabeth Alvarez Moderator & Contributor
Hi <inline-mention user-id="2298838" username="sandyee"/> , Thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry you are going through this. To answer your question about weight gain. I too lost a ton of weight. I am slowly gaining it back as I worked with a Registered Dietician that helped me with my diet. Almond butter has been a life saver for me. It is a great dose of healthy fat and it tastes delicious. If you can tolerate it, try having some at least three times a day. I pair it with fresh fruit and it is delicious. As far as the dizzy spells and epilepsy I really can't speak on that as I have no experience with it. I think it would be a great question to discuss with your doctor. And it wouldn't hurt to reach out and get a second or third opinion. Sometimes having a new set of eyes on your situation can lead to better investigations. How have you been feeling lately? I hope you have seen some improvement since this post. Sending big hugs your way, Elizabeth (team member)

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