Diagnosed With Ibs But Think Its More Specific

[awaywiththefairies]

Hi

I'm a 27 year old woman currently suffering with constipation which in itself is not unusual for me as I was diagnosed with IBS at 13 after being admitted several times into hospital with chronic constipation. Since this I have been taught to be careful with what I eat, specifically white bread. For the most part, I have not had too many problems with my digestive tract aslong as I followed this dietary warning. However recently my IBS has flared up again, without the influence of bread or stress. The only ingredient in my diet that seems to link in with my flare ups is wheat. Cakes, cereal, pasta specifically leave me feeling irritable, bunged up and tired. I've decided to cut them out of my diet for a few weeks to see what a difference it makes but would like to learn more about celiac disease as I don't trust the doctors will help me much with testing for this. I've got an appointment booked to try but I'm sure they aren't if favour of self diagnosis and will fob me off as a hypercondriact. It may be a wheat allergy or something else entirely but I'm not satisfied its just IBS anymore as it appears to be ingredient specific (as I can tell to date anyway, this is a fairly new revelation). I'm also getting severe itchiness and sneezing lots when I'm constipated, can anyone tell me if this might be linked or just a coincedence? Feeling quite lost and daunted by the prospect of becoming gluten free if this is in fact celiac disease, wheat allergy. But cannot go on feeling the way I do so need some answers so I can help myself and my long suffering digestive system! Appreciate any feedback thank you x

[KristinIrwin]

My very first celiac symptom was chronic constipation. For months that was my only symptom- no pain, just never being able to go! I know it's the worst feeling and I'm sorry you've been dealing with it for so long

I hope if you talk with your doctor he will be willing to do a blood test. I know the IBS diagnosis can be an annoying one to get. But DON'T cut out gluten products until you get testing because you need to be eating gluten for the tests to be accurate.

I can't give any insight to the itching and sneezing, but maybe someone else on the forum can.

Good luck and I hope you start feeling better!

[notme]

doc:  so, what's the problem?

me:  same one as usual...  

(looks at chart, looks up at me) 

doc:  well, it's because you have IBS - see?

(shoves chart in my face where it is written in big letters "IBS")

me:  yeah.  you guys keep saying that.  what exactly *is* IBS?

doc:  it means  'Irritable Bowel Syndrome'

me:  so, how do i get rid of it?

doc (shrugs):  you also have 'colitis'.  here's a pill for your (loss of appetite, vertigo, allergies, joint pain, migraines, night blindness, neck pain, bloating, nausea.....) and a cream for your rash.  

 

i have said it before:  they should call it:  I BS U or at least say "i don't know what's wrong with you" i absolutely hate that catch-all 'diagnosis' - good luck to you - i am 3 yrs into the gluten-free diet and lolz thanking God my family doctor finally tripped and fell onto the celiac guess  his last diagnosis as he was threatening to put me in the hospital for malnutrition.  he referred me to my GI and everything has gone smoothly from there.  since then, i have only been back to his office to get my blood pressure meds refilled - because i used to catch every single cold/virus that came around and this year i went the entire winter without so much as a sniffle.  

 

IBS, indeed.  well, they got the bs part right lolz