I REALLY NEED SOME HELP HERE!! GO TO ANOTHER DOC?
#108917 - 09/28/04 06:26 PM
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Hey, I had a doctor appointment today (I go to a free clinic that takes donations because I don't have medical insurance). This was the THIRD doctor I've seen at this place. The first one prescribed Bentyl, but I am IBS-C so although it helped my pain some, it made my bloat and constipation much worse. I called the clinic back and made an appointment to see another doctor, who told me she couldn't help me and referred me to a GI specialist. Well, turned out I first had to be approved by the Medical Director since this clinic pays for all other doctor visits and the medications prescribed. So I had to make an appointment to see him first, which I had waited over a month for! In the meantime, I have not been able to move my bowels without stimulant laxatives (dulcolax), although I have always had a healthy vegetarian diet of lots of fresh fruits, veggies, wheat, bran, and insoluble fiber. I drink lots of water and herbal tea. Also, I recently started taking enteric coated Peppermint Gelcaps which have helped my pain and fatigue a little. Well, my appointment with this doctor was this evening. He did not approve my GI appointment because he said at my young age (I'm 24) he doesn't think I need lots of tests done. He told me to stop taking the Peppermint Caps because they stimulate the bowels and can cause damage over time. He also told me to drink more water (I drink 1 to 2 gallons/day!) and eat more fiber (that's not possible!) and take Metamucil (even though it makes my bloat worse) and that drinking milk would help! He suggested I call back if things don't improve. AAAGGGGHHHH!!!! He is the third doctor I've seen at this place who told me to do what I've BEEN doing! They don't seem to understand or even have listened to me! Oh yeah, when I mentioned that for the past ten years I've had excessive thirst and very frequent urination he gave me a glucose test for diabetes, which came out negative. He also looked at me in disbelief when I told him I DO get lots of fiber, fruit, veggies, and water daily; he didn't believe that someone as young and healthy as I would have bowel problems- like I'm lying! Well, sorry about all the venting. My question is: Should I go to a doctor at my local health department instead? I would have to pay but it will be cheaper than a hospital. Do you think it would be worth seeing ANOTHER doctor about? Could this last doctor just be a total quack?! I think, maybe, he just doesn't want to pay out a bunch of money for IBS testing and prescription meds. But shouldn't a doctor want to help, not shun? What if it was something more serious?!
Sorry about the long post, but thanks for listening!
Steph 
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Hi Stephanie,
I'm no doctor, but I have worked for a lot of them. I understand your frustration. Unfortunately, doctors use certain meds and give the same advice based on what symptoms their patients present with. Having said this, I would say find a doctor that you feel will actually listen to you and work with you on this. Not all physicians graduate at the top of their class and I would look for a GI doc with the title of Diplomate to the Board of Gastroenterology along with the MD. They've had a little extra training. I'm sorry that this is all I have to offer, but I'm a newbie, plus I have IBS-D. Hopefully, someone else can give you some more information. Keep looking. I wish you well. Teresa
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I think you should see another dr. Your mind isn't going to be at ease till you do and that stress will only make things worse.
There are so many young people on these boards. Drs. need to clue in to the fact that this is not a middle age problem.
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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Thank you both for listening. Makes me feel better that maybe there is hope to getting better treatment.
Steph
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I understand as well. I am 28 and have been having problems since I was your age. Each doctor just tells me "eat more fiber, your constipated.." really? no s**&t!!! They think it's like all in our heads or something and we're crazy. I also take fiber, eat veggies, grains, drink a gallon or so of water, you name it....
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Hmm
#108952 - 09/29/04 12:44 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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...total quack! Age has nothing to do with IBS. You need to see another doc.
What other SFSs have you tried? They're worth the trial and error.
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Please please PLEASE read about the IBS diet on this site. Eating loads of insoluble fiber will not help with IBS-C! You must get both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, and soluble fiber must be your priority.
I speak from experience: in my 20s, I tried real hard to deal with my constipation by eating bran cereal and raw carrots. It really didn't help for more than a week, and I would still suffer a lot from cramping and bloating. I occasionally get D from stress, and believe me, that diet was a real misery then!
Now that I max out on a soluble fiber supplement (acacia most of the time) and make sure I eat bread or rice before my fruits and veggies, I am much happier. The cramping is managable, and I'm truly regular for the first time I can ever recall.
I highly recommend Heather's books. You do have to make a mental note to yourself to emphasize insoluble stuff a bit more than she does, since us C-predominant folks need it more than D-predominant ones. But insoluble fiber has to play second fiddle to soluble fiber.
Take a look around the site - you can start learning a lot here!
--AC
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Jessica, are you still having these problems after years and nothing has helped you? Or did you find something that worked? I am just at my wits ends with this. I have not yet tried probiotics but will soon. Over the past couple of years I have tried Metamucil in the powder and wafer forms, Benefiber powder, Fiberchoice chewables (even at max doses these never helped), and am currantly taking Fibercon pills. Only stimulant laxatives work but I'm afraid of taking them; they really mess up my stomach and give me D and pain. The pain is not a problem for me, enteric coated peppermint gelcaps and herbal teas work wonders for it. Bloating and chronic C are terrible, though.
Thank you for the tips on Heather's diet, but I have read all about it and have worked in solubles (sourdough bread, rice, oatmeal,rice cereals, cornmeal, and applesauce). In the beginning I messed up and went on all solubles for two weeks and got worse, but since then I worked in all my insolubles. That was over a month ago. I drink only water and teas. I have found by cutting out all dairy that it does not bother me, but I still only take scant amounts of milk and cheese. I'm afraid this could be something worse but the doctors I've seen so far didn't think I should be tested for anything.
Thank you all for listening to me and responding. The support system here is wonderful!
Steph
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I completey understand your frustration! I started struggling with IBS when I was 15!! I'm now 34. Over the years I bet I have seen at least 15 different GI Specialist and none of them were real helpful! I got all the same answers you did and sent home with a pat on the back-Gee, thanks!! My regular internest now treats my IBS, at least she is kind and sympathetic and willing do try different meds!
I got to the same point as you, taking stimulate laxatives just to have a BM once a week! I am now on Miralax. It is a prescription osmotic laxative. Your bowels can become dependant on it and the dr told me I may need to take it for life. No, I'm not overly pleased by that but its the best solution I have been able to come up with! I do take Heathers Acacia along with the Miralax daily. I also use Donnatal for the cramps and Vicodin when needed for pain. I still struggle with bloating and pain on occasion.
I have had every probe, scope, scan and x-ray known to man done and every test comes back normal! Well, I'll tell you what, there isn't ANYTHING normal about my body!!  Luckily, I have good insurance and was able to afford all these tests but they still haven't been able to help me much! The Miralax keeps things moving, I very rarely get C anymore so at least thats one problem helped!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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