Guest guest Posted September 26, 2001 Report Share Posted September 26, 2001 In a message dated 9/25/01 11:12:57 PM, duodenalswitch writes: << Hate to burst your bubble, but IBS is not at all like fibromyalgia.. there are specific tests for diagnosis, and specific meds that work to ease the symptoms. >> I've always heard that IBS was rather 'vague' to diagnose in many cases as well. It is often diagnosed after other things are totally ruled out. I'm sure there are tests which can help the diagnosis -- my spastic colon happened to occur during the colonoscopy. However, I think that if a colonoscopy turns up negative, the diagnosis of IBS is mainly based on the negative presence of other diseases, not necessarily a positive confirmation of the presence of IBS through testing. Can you tell me what other tests there are? I was told that IBS was a general term used when nothing else could be found by my gastroenterologist. I'm sure there are meds that work (they have even found that some anti-anxiety/anti-depressant drugs can work, perhaps by 'calming' an overactive nervous system). I was given an anti-spasmodic in particular for my colon. But, I know that others can have really vague symptoms that are not as easy to diagnose except as a process of elimination. Now, IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) is a collection of ailments that ARE specifically easier to detect. I've read and heard that with IBS there *may not* be a specific anatomical fact that points to the IBS and therefore it is more difficult to pinpoint. This is especially true if it is primarily neurological in nature as opposed to an abdominal defect or condition that can be readily seen via testing. I think this may have been what was mentioning in his response. There may be a lot more research done on IBS that I am unaware of even though I have this condition but from what I have researched there isn't a whole lot known about the causes and the symptoms are wide and can be rather 'vague' and difficult to diagnose/pinpoint. I believe that fibromalygia shares these qualities. all the best, lap ds with gallbladder removal January 25, 2001 Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC eight months post-op and still feelin' fabu! preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45 now: 215 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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