iVillage logo
Search iVillage
Health
Diet & Fitness
Food & Drink
Pregnancy
Parenting
Beauty & Fashion
Home & Garden
Relationships
Work & Money
Entertainment
Horoscopes
Travel
Top of the frocks
Dresses for every occasion
Summer sizzlers
Check out the top 20 hunks
Get the look
Try a virtual makeover today
Health  
  |  General Health  |  Diseases and conditions  |  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - is that what I have?
Advertisement
Topics
Women's Health
General Health
Diseases and conditions
Mental Health
Bones and Joints
First Aid & Minor Ailments
Dental & Opthalmic
Nutrition
Vitamins & Minerals
Natural Health
Healthy Living
Community
Conditions
Diet & Fitness
iVillage shopping

Hot stuff
Vote for a good cause
Kitchen skills for kids
Kelly Holmes interview
Olympics 2008
Kelly Holmes interview
Competitions
Baby development tracker
Embarrassing ailments
Best diet foods
Special offers
First aid solutions
Snack swapper
Diets A-Z
Healthy vision
Newsletters
sign up for FREE!




 
Promotions
Is there a link?
Deodorants and breast cancer investigated
Lose weight today
Get a personal diet plan

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - is that what I have?

by Dr Sarah Brewer

question
I am 17 years old and have had agonising tummy pains for about three months. I have repeatedly seen my GP and he has given me various medicines, which have had no effect. He thinks it may be a form of irritable bowel syndrome, even though I don't have all of the symptoms that come with IBS. It is really disturbing my lifestyle: I can’t eat properly because the pain is at its worst after meals, I can’t sleep on my stomach and I worry all the time. If you have any advice I would be so grateful.

answer
In order to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, other conditions such as bowel obstruction, peptic ulcers, endometriosis and ovarian cysts need to be ruled out. As you don't have all the symptoms of IBS, you might benefit from seeing a gastroenterologist (or even a gynaecologist if recommended) assuming your GP is willing to refer you. As you are still suffering so much it is important to go back to see your doctor - take someone else with you for moral support if you think that might help you be more assertive about your problems.

Join live discussions on the Your Health message board

iVillage TV - Health zone

View video in larger player
Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon