Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Ibs - Or Are Doctors Missing Other Problems?

cmbajb

By cmbajb
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

cmbajb Rookie
cmbajb
Posted

i'm wondering if anyone else has a gut (haha) feeling that doctors often diagnose someone with IBS in order to take the easy way out. in other words, rather than really working with the patient to see what is really wrong (i.e. celiac, food allergies, etc.), they use IBS as a catchall diagnosis. i was diagnosed with IBS many many years ago, and now gluten-free and working on food allergy diagnoses, my IBS symptoms are gone.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lizard00 Enthusiast
lizard00
Posted

I definitely agree with you. I think that something has to initially cause the irritation, and like you said, most don't want to have to figure it out. Just throw pills at you and send you on your way. My GI told me that I probably messed up my intestines doing the Atkins diet and prescribed me a pill that eased cramping, but constipated you, and then prescribed me a laxative. Seems as though if I took one, I had to take the other. So, I took neither and continued with my gluten-free diet and the problem was solved. WOW! His reasoning was that I had a touch of IBS. Couldn't be Celiac... you have to have the genes for that.

BTW... I haven't had a genetic test.

Nancym Enthusiast
Nancym
Posted

Yeah, I think you'll find most of us are skeptics of the IBS label. Dr. Lewey does a lot of work on IBS patients and finds they're usually reacting to foods. His web site is at Open Original Shared Link

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted
Yeah, I think you'll find most of us are skeptics of the IBS label. Dr. Lewey does a lot of work on IBS patients and finds they're usually reacting to foods. His web site is at Open Original Shared Link

Not only are most of us skeptics, most of us have worn the label at some point in our sagas. You will probably find that most of us have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Check for me on both. I did initially believe in fibromyalgia at one point (not any more) but never IBS. It is a very lazy diagnosis. It's almost as bad as saying, "You have a rash." Duh! :rolleyes:

nutralady2001 Newbie
nutralady2001
Posted

Absolutely!! A diagnosis of "IBS" kept me sick for 47 years (yes you read right) until last September when I had to have an endoscopy/colonoscopy after a bowel screening showed blood in both upper and lower GI tracts ........

In all those years I was NEVER offered any testing of any kind just told I had "IBS", problems from the age of 12, "eczema" at age 16 which I am sure was dermatitis herpetiformis now I know more and have seen photos of DH

I doubt a condition even exists actually it's the doctor's lazy way out

Glutina Rookie
Glutina
Posted

Hi!

Yup---IBS was thrown my way on a few occasions, and those were the doctors who barely asked any questions (and I now know not the right ones) and gave me anti-spasmatic drugs. Oh gee, thanks. No looking into the causes, or th link between my rash flare-ups, horrrrible stomach/abdominal pains that would make me feel like I was dying, washroom episodes...you know how the story goes. Thank goodness I was finally referred to a GI specialist when I was in the ER in december. The specialist took the time to really look at my symptoms and told me about celiac disease and gluten/wheat issues. I have been gluten free ever since with a HUGE improvement in my symptoms and overall quality of life. I know that IBS does really exist for some people, but it should be the LAST diagnosis a doc makes, in my opinion. They need to really rule out other possible conditions first.

We can send people to the moon, but we can't properly diagnose people with gluten issues...yeesh!

:)

Glutina

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,713
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Andra
    Newest Member
    Andra
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.4k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • RMJ
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By RMJ · Posted

      I’d say celiac is likely.  Please continue to eat plenty of gluten until your endoscopy to be sure that any gluten-related damage can be seen.  Plus it gives you one last chance to enjoy your favorite gluten-containing foods. I hope the endoscopy/biopsies give you a definitive answer. 
    • TexasCeliacNewbie
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By TexasCeliacNewbie · Posted

      I do also have the bloating, gas, constipation, hair loss, an auto-splenectomy that no one can see any reason for and some elevated liver enzymes that don't seem to have a cause, I also have joint pain and some spinal compression fractures that have no explanation.  I am only 42 so haven't had a bone density test yet.  My calcium was normal, but my D was a little low.  They haven't checked for any other vitamin deficiencies yet.  My blood test for an autoimmue disorder was quite high but my Thyroid was all normal.
    • TexasCeliacNewbie
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By TexasCeliacNewbie · Posted

      Hi, I have been having a lot of back pain and gut issues for 8 weeks or so.  I saw the GI on Monday and my results just came in from the lab.  Some of these number are high and off the little chart from the lab.  I am reading this correctly that I most likely have Celiac, right???  It would explain a lot of things for me.  She does have me scheduled for a colonoscopy and endoscopy in  2 weeks to do the biopsy.  I posted this prior, but forgot to put the range assuming they were all the same.  Someone advised me to repost with the ranges for some insight in the meantime. Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum 140 (normal) - Normal is 87-352 Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgA 256 (High) - Moderate to strong positive at or above 30 Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgG 65 (High) - Moderate to strong positive at or above 30 t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA 31 (High) - Moderate to strong positive above 10 t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgG 10 (High) - Positive is at or above 10
    • trents
      Colonoscopy with large area of inflammation

      By trents · Posted

      Usually, the blood testing is done first and the endoscopy/biopsy follows for confirmation if there are positive antibody test scores. Historically, the endoscopy with biopsy has been considered to be the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease. If the tTG-IGA scores are very high (5x-10x normal), some doctors will forego the endoscpoy/biopsy and grant a celiac disease diagnosis without it. So, if you are starting with the endoscopy/biopsy that may be all you need to arrive at a diagnosis. Another possibility would be for the GI doc to do a blood draw for antibody testing on the same day you come in for the endoscopy/biopsy.
    • AuntieAutoimmune
      Royal Caribbean Only, Please

      By AuntieAutoimmune · Posted

      Thanks,Scott. Yes, I had already seen those 
×
×
  • Create New...