like my tummy is Mad

and gets Mad a lot

and has for years now that I think of it

  • Feinsteins_Ghost [he/him]
    ·
    9 months ago

    US based?

    See your primary doctor. Grt a referral to a GI doctor. Do a stool test at GI.

    Thats how i dig diagnosed with it, anyway.

    • CantaloupeAss [comrade/them]
      hexagon
      ·
      9 months ago

      ok so I need to get a doctor first lol

      sorry for such an ignorant question but is there any treatment for it? or is it just managing symptoms?

      thanks for dying by the way

      • Feinsteins_Ghost [he/him]
        ·
        9 months ago

        Managing symptoms via medication and diet mostly. No treating yet.

        I have IBS-D. Diarrhea. I also get diverticulitis flare ups a couple times a year. Theres a couple classifications of IBS. There is no set test that determines you have it. It isnt really pass/fail type thing. Theres certain criteria you have to meet. Sometimes you have to get an endoscopy, sometimes a colonoscopy, always have to give a stool sample. Ive had two colonoscopies , a half dozen endoscopies to check for and monitor various stomach and gut related problems in addition to IBS. Lot of monitoring of types of food, quantities of food, frequency of eating, times you sat, etc. spend lots of time eliminating various things from your diet to see if things get better or worse.

        I take anti spasmodics for my gut, lots of immodium, fiber supplements, antibiotics a couple times a year, and in a the next two months will start using Humira (injection arthritis meds with a well known off label use for Crohn’s Disease) to help manage whats slowly getting worse. I also take antidepressants prescribed by my GI doctor.

        It sucks sometimes. Sometimes its not too bad.

        • CantaloupeAss [comrade/them]
          hexagon
          ·
          9 months ago

          Thanks comrade this is very helpful. Pepto and a high-fiber diet are already the things I do to manage it so I'm glad to hear that I'm somewhat on the right track. But ya it sounds like I should find a doctor and make sure there ain't anything else going on in there

          rat-salute

      • Spike [none/use name]
        ·
        9 months ago

        thanks for dying by the way

        Woah

        Anyway, IBS is mostly a rule out diagnosis. First things to investigate are common intolerances, like lactose/gluten. I dunno how things work in the US though. If you can't afford to do the investigations, try ruling out these things from your diet one at a time and see if they make a difference, eg go without lactose for a few weeks and see.

        • CantaloupeAss [comrade/them]
          hexagon
          ·
          9 months ago

          Feinstein = anti-cracker-aktion

          Good to know, thank u comrade. I suppose I should go make sure the more serious things are not in play before I resign myself to a lifetime of toilets and Pepto

          Yo honestly Pepto is delicious tho

  • ElGosso [he/him]
    ·
    9 months ago

    Your doctor will likely put you on what's called an elimination diet to see if it's a response to a certain food instead of just general badness, but that's all I know about the process