IBS Diagnosis and Self Diagnosis

WARNING: Self diagnosis can be deadly.

Doctor in a white lab coat holding a sign that says "NO SELF DIAGNOSIS!" — Self diagnosis can be VERY DANGEROUS.

Usually I try to keep my posts on the positive/bright side… BUT… This one is about IBS self diagnosis and self diagnosis in general, so, I’m going to have to rant a bit. I’ve recently read posts from people trying to figure out if they have IBS or some other disease by posting questions on Yahoo Answers or IBS sites. The illnesses these people describe sound very dangerous and don’t sound like IBS to me (I’m not a doctor, but passing a lot of bloody stool is NOT typical of IBS). Sorry in advance, I don’t mean to sound hysterical or “over the top,” but I’m trying to prevent someone’s untimely demise and/or needless suffering here.

Don’t try this at home!

Did you ever notice that before a lot of TV shows, where someone is about to do something crazy, someone says “Don’t try this at home!” Well the world wide web should have a great big sign on it like that , (though where would you hang it?). I look on the web every day while researching for this site, and every day I find bad information, rumors, guess work, or people trying to sell some bogus product. Now don’t get me wrong, there are good sites and good products out there, but SHEESH! At least have the decency to put some useful and ACCURATE information before promising to fix everyone’s health problems for a fee. Also, don’t get me wrong about products, or information. Putting together quality information is hard, time consuming work, and a person has a right to get paid for that work. And there ARE helpful products for IBS.

Sorry, back to IBS self diagnosis…

IBS is not something you can read about on the web and then start trying to treat yourself. Many of the symptoms of IBS are also symptoms of other conditions or diseases. Some of those diseases are treatable, (so why suffer if you don’t have to). Others like cancer, can kill you! So those things need to be ruled out… By a medical professional! What we call IBS, is a group of symptoms with no known cause. Assuming you have a good doctor, you will only get a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome after lots of tests (and embarrassment, aggravation and inconvenience). If your doctor or medical professional didn’t do much testing or doesn’t know much about IBS (it happens), then FIND ANOTHER ONE!

A lot of diseases can act like IBS or cause IBS like symptoms.

IBD or inflammatory bowel disease
Colon cancer
Gall bladder problems
Fibromyalgia
CFS or chronic fatigue syndrome
Celiac sprue disease
Crohn’s disease

The list goes on and on. And then of course there are possible food allergies or food sensitivities.

So please, work with your doctor for a proper diagnosis!

Doctor talking to a man about an IBS diagnosis. — You really need to get a proper diagnosis to rule out any of the baddies listed above. Talk to your Doc!

Self diagnosis for IBS or any other medical condition is just too dangerous.

Okay, rant mode is off.

If you have an IBS diagnosis from a doctor or qualified medical professional, I hope you’ll look around the site. I believe there is a lot of good information here and in the sites I link to. If it’s a useful, quality site please let others know.