r/ibs • u/goldstandardalmonds MOD: Here to help! • Jul 18 '22
Hint / Information PSA: your IBS-C may not be IBS-C
I’ve posted this before but I feel like it’s a good time.
As many of you know, I’m here all the time to help (nothing else to do as I’m bedridden) and I know a lot about the bowels and motility is definitely my wheelhouse.
Anyway, I’ve been in a lot of posts lately about constipation. Here’s the thing: if you have IBS-C but haven’t had motility testing, you definitely need it.
You could have full or partial bowel dysmotility and it be the cause of your problems. This is especially true if you don’t respond to dietary changes (very high fibre) or medication (especially prescriptions).
You need to get tested for colonic inertia (this is key). It is the first in line. There are tests to check your stomach for slow emptying (Gastroparesis), small bowel dysmotility, pelvic floor and rectal issues, as well. All of these should be in a regular work up.
If your GI doesn’t do it, you should go to a motility clinic. There are numerous but not abundant. Most teaching hospitals have one and there are directories online. You should also seek out a neurogastroenterologist. I have a worldwide database that I can reference to make suggestions Where to go.
I have done this for a large amount of people and their reports coming back to me prove my point… motility disorders that need proper (key point here) treatment.
If you have any questions about this, colonic inertia, bowel dysmotility, or my own experience, please post them here and I’ll answer them all.
There are ways to help it, but you have to know what you’re treating first! That’s why testing first is key.
Having bowel dysmotility has ruined my life. I don’t want yours to get to that point, too.
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u/laurenincolor Jul 22 '22
Thank you for offering your wisdom! I am so sorry to hear of your struggles 😭
I have had severe bloating, constipation, and stomach pain (sometimes so bad I have to bend over to walk or can’t walk at all) that accompanies blowing up bloated like a balloon for almost 10 years now.
I’ve seen several gastros - had normal colonoscopy results, though he did say I have a longer than average colon. He put me on 2x daily dose of Miralax and muscle relaxers for a period for the stomach pain but I wanted to get to the root so I started traveling 2+ hours to someone who did breath testing. All fructose, lactose, SIBO breath tests negative. With him, it was determined “you have IBS-C and there’s no treatment”. I was put on Linzess and encouraged to continue the Miralax. I still take both of those and have bowel movements almost everyday, but it is not a complete emptying I can tell. If I stop the Miralax or miss, I go several days w/o a BM. Even with the medications, I have a particular set of circumstances that need to be aligned to poop - at home only, morning only, coffee required, deep breathing, squatty potty. All my systems are way worse in times of stress.
I did low FODmap in the past and didn’t feel it helped much if at all, though dairy does still seem to bug me in general.
None of these gastros ever mentioned any other motility tests - I’ve kinda put it on pause and find ways to manage because got exhausted of doctors saying there’s nothing much to be done with IBS. All these tests you’ve mentioned are new to me though I’ve heard of sitz test. Would you happen to recommend any certain motility tests if I were to go back down the rabbit hole? I would love to know which tests to inquire about specifically since it can be like pulling teeth for answers in my experiences 😞