does this sound like IBS or crohn's?

Question

just a little worried......i'm 20 and i've always had a 'sensitive' stomach but in the past year or so it's got worse. I never have pain, just sometimes discomfort/gripes that are relieved by going to the toilet or passing gas. my symptoms are mostly diarrohea but i read that crohn's is symptomised by going to the toilet up to 20 times a day - mine is mostly in the morning, i get the urge to go twice or three times in the morning then i'm usually fine all day. sometimes there is a little mucus there but this has only happened two different times, each lasting for a few days (must be a flare up). there's never been any blood there. i can get awful gas and my stomach always seems to be rumbling! i am an incredibly anxious person and it gets worse when i am anxious - when i was on hol for a week in july i haven't been happier for years and my stomach was great! only thing that concerns me - i have lost a stone in the past 18 months but think it is cos of my anxiety putting me off my food

Answer 1

It sounds more like you have a case of IBS that needs to be diagnosised and treated by a Gastroenterologist.

Everyone has a 'normal' regular pattern for moving their bowels. Some go every single morning straight after a hot drink. Some go at tea time. Some only go every 2 days. So going 2 or 3 times in the morning is a little unsual but not extreme.

IBS causes a mixture of dirrehoea and constipation. Faeces can or usually is covered in mucous covering. It is made a lot worse by stress. Stress 'irritates' the bowel.
The runmbling would actually be audible perstelisis (muscle contractions) of the bowel. We all get them at some time. Usually at the most embarrassing time with strangers around.
Gas is a real issue also with IBS.

You will need to see your Doctor to get a referal to a Gastroenterolgist to do history and very possibly a Colonscopy. Which can confirm the problem.

Answer 2

Sounds like the use of antibiotics in the past put your gut in a bad way... killed off the beneficial flora and fauna and put Candida Albicans in dominance. That will result in feeling really bad, going to the bathroom a lot, bloating, gas and all that other stuff.

The answer: go to the health food store and get on a heavy duty prebiotic and probiotic (enteric coated) and start sucking down a quart of "green smoothie" every day. You will also have to stay away from bread, pasta and crackers because that feeds the candida.

The medical establishment will run lots and lots of tests and then "try" out lots of drugs on you... to no avail.

The "green smoothie" approach will clean out your system over about 2 months... you will notice improvement and better energy in just over a week. To make one, start with organic green spinach, a couple of cups of clean water in a blender and blend that down, add 2 bananas, blend that down, then add about 1-1/2 to 2 cups of your favorite frozen fruits (I like strawberries and mixed blue/black berries) and blend that down.
Having "been there" I can tell you that this will work.

Answer 3

crohns is so awful, i dont think you have that, there is a lot of blood and mucus, and ulcerations around the anus and colon.
its probably your anxious type of personality causing you to have excess acid, this puts your whole system out of whack