Had ibs for the last 18 years. Lately been having abdominal pains and been feeling weak/lethargic/dizzy. Definitely not ibs. Went to see doc who, obviously, said it was ibs. I know this isn’t right as I’ve lived with it for long enough. He prescribed some antacids. I’d like further investigations to be done and therefore need to be referred. Can I insist that he does so? Does he have to agree? What do I do if we don’t agree?

Had your ibs been under control until recently?

Yeah, sure – take your kids out of school, tell your doctor he’s wrong and what tests to do. It IS all about you, after all – what the heck do the professionals know?

What’s his children got to do with it? ‘Professionals’ can be wrong you know.

You can ask for a 2nd oppinion from another Dr, not sure you can escalate it beyond that in the NHS though.

You could always see the consultant privately, it’s only about £100, then if he agree’s there’s something wrong get him to refer you back into the NHS system.

Gluten intolerance?

Go with the doc prescribed antacids. Give them a couple of weeks and if no change then go back to the docs.

Doctors always give you something and the “try that and come back in two weeks if no change” routine in my experience.

Go with that and take it from there. Work with them not against them.

Deffo ask for a Coealiac test. My OH has had it all her life (over 30 years) and only diagnosed a year ago.

What allthepies says.

Doctors are wrong most of the time, GP’S diagnose you by process of elimination based on the symptoms you give in 5minutes in a room with them. I’ve been diagnosed with stomach ulcers, Neuro disorders, kidney stones and gallstones in the last year none of which were accurate. See a gastric specialist, ask to be referred.

Surely it’s not unusual for a condition to change? Presumably you’ve gone both gluten and lactose-free? How’s your stomach acid level? What sort of diet?

My daughter has a severe food intolerance to many things and I know how debilitating it can be for her.

Id suggest getting tested/ scanned for Diverticulitis. I had the exact same symptoms as the OP on and off for a few months. About six weeks ago one morning the pain got so bad and I’d started vomiting so I went down to A&E. They did a CT scan, diagnosed Diverticulitis and kept me in over night. After a ten day course of antibiotics the pain flared up again, the vomiting started overnight and I went back down to the hospital. The next afternoon they removed 20cm of infected colon and “installed” a temporary colostomy. I should hopefully be getting the healthy ends of my colon re- attached sometime in the next couple of months. I’m really looking forward to getting the colostomy reversed (the bag fell off when I was mowing the grass in my backyard last week. Poo everywhere.)

Not wishing to worry you but it could be quite serious. Infection can lead to abscess which can lead to blood poisoning.

Always remember that the doctor is a specialist in general medicine.

Your specialist subject, however, is YOU. Therefore your opinions are valid too.

My wife has been putting up with really sore knees for the last 8 months or so.
Doctor and physio been blaming it on poor muscle conditioning leading to knee instability. She was given exercise to do, but can rarely do them as they are too painful; she is almost in tears after doing them and her knees are even sorer for the following day.
Her work insisted she got referred to a specialist as she kept having to put off her fitness test and the specialist has told her she has torn cartilage in at least one of the knees, probably both and will likely need keyhole surgery! She’s got mri scans on both knees in about a fortnight.

So, basically, i’d say that if your gut instinct (pun not intended) is telling you something is wrong, then go back and get it investigated firther.

make an appointment with a different dr at the surgery,for a second opinion.

I’ve just been through a similar episode but I am already coeliac, and taking the PPIs brought on the dizzines following my initial GP visit based on feeling pretty ropey and lot’s of burping.

I ended up being referred for an abdominal ultrasound so that’s one possible course of action the doc has, as would a blood test. My blood test showed up high iron content which is still being investigated.

Doctors are wrong most of the time

I see.

you can ask your GP to refer you to a specialist – the GP can say no but not likely to. I asked for a CT scan* and they said they can’t directly do this. I would have to wait till I see my consultant at the hospital in July but I’m getting referred for a colonoscopy at my request via the GP. The reason I asked for a scan is because the tests they have done have not shown anything up.

If your GP doesn’t agree that its worth you should ask why and get them to explain it in full details. If you are not satisfied with their reasons then go for a second opinion.

*I have an on going medical issue that hasn’t been diagnosed.

If you are not satisfied with their reasons then go for a second opinion.

In my experience they all stick together. 🙄

Keep a log of your symptoms (possibly diet to – to rule out IBS)

I’m currently 6 months in for whatever ongoing problem i have and unless it’s an immediate diagnosis it will take repeat appointments and a referral or two. GP’s generally do diagnose by elimination but unfortunatly a lot of symptoms are vauge and non maledy specific.

I had to go to my GP 5 times in 6 weeks to get a referral to a specialist (who was dismissive) you do ahve the right to a second opinon there (seen my second specilaist and had an MRI which is inconclusive at the moment (i need another flare up of whatever it is to do more damage to my nerves to show up on another MRI or a lumbar puncture)

Be persistant and dont be fobbed off or think one trip to the GP will sort it. Most diagnosis take 12 – 18 months if you ahve anything that isnt immdiatly diagnosable or done by blood test. My OH spent 2 months in this back and forth to the GP before bing taken to casualty and finally diagnosed(huge abdominal swelling the GP’s thought was intollerance to Ibuprofen and i though was IBS but turned out to be Perritoneral cancer – you wont have that dont worry!)

This thread has more flags that the world cup opening ceremony.

do what he suggests for a couple of weeks then if nothing changes go back and ask for extra tests. if you upset him now then next time you go in for a bit of a cough he’ll organise a rectal purge for you.

IBS is generic for an upset stomach.. went to my GP with upset stomach said ah.. consultant.. off i goes a couple of weeks later..

i walked into the guys office sat down and he said yes you ve got IBS .. what you can tell without asking any questions or examining me.. yes im an expert..

went back to GP.. thats not good enough no laying on of hands no remedy no advice.. sent to see another consultant..

ah yes you ve got IBS.. what you can tell by the way i walk through the door?.. no because it says so here in your notes..

Doctors are wrong most of the time

I resemble that remark!!

Im really not an expert but surely a second opinion here will result in something that would make Anne Summers blush being shoved up your jacksie follwed by a lethal dose of radiation with dye that kills off your kidneys

Is that what you want?
Cos thats what will happen

Heads off to find the picolax thread again………………………..

iamsporticus – Member

Im really not an expert but surely a second opinion here will result in something that would make Anne Summers blush being shoved up your jacksie follwed by a lethal dose of radiation with dye that kills off your kidneys

that’s the idea, after the colonoscopy and the CT scan you get your protons flipped in an MRI scanner lol. At least these are pain free, try having a cystoscopy done 🙁

for someone that suffers from an unknown issue getting these procedures done are important as you want to know what is going on.

totalshell – Member

ah yes you ve got IBS.. what you can tell by the way i walk through the door?.. no because it says so here in your notes.

TBH you are lucky they read your notes

TBH you are lucky they read your notes

I get called in for medication reviews every year and the GP always starts off with ‘So what is the problem?’, to which I reply ‘Nothing, you asked to see me….’.

Let me put it into perspective here.

My dad died late last year because no one believed that his hot flushes were anything much. By the time they got round to considering a problem with his liver, and then when they stopped considering something like Hepatitus, it was just about too late for them to do anything about the six inch tumour in his liver.

I’m not saying that you have cancer, or that this is even a possibility, but I am saying that you will have to push for anyone to give a shit (no pun intended) and investigate further.

Is Private an option for you? At least if you are paying them money directly you may get better/more effective diagnosis.

a major problem is people don’t question their doctor. Doctors are not infallible and they can only work with what you tell them.

It took 4 years for the NHS to diagnose me correctly. I knew what was wrong with me.

Just sayin’ like.

cinnamon_girl – Member

It took 4 years for the NHS to diagnose me correctly. I knew what was wrong with me.

You should have told them, would have saved loads of time.

Doctors always give you something and the “try that and come back in two weeks if no change” routine in my experience.

Regression to mean.

Do you have health insurance at work? Private is the shit.

Unfortunately, if it’s IBS, they’ll stick some cameras in unpleasant places but won’t be able to do anything.

Unfortunately, if it’s IBS, they’ll stick some cameras in unpleasant places but won’t be able to do anything.

I’m not suprised if they put all the cameras in scunthorpe.

sbob – Member

cinnamon_girl – Member

It took 4 years for the NHS to diagnose me correctly. I knew what was wrong with me.

You should have told them, would have saved loads of time.

LOl have you ever tried that. I did and it’s not a great way of doing things (even if you are right!) i’m having to back and forth with my GP while the wheels turn slowly. Foolishly i attributted alot of my inistail low level symptoms as being 35 now and not as young as i used to be ands my body not quite being up to coping with and compensationg for a few old RTA injuries.

Too the OP keep at it basically. Sadly the symptoms are vauge and non condition specific (had most of those myself- knumbness/tingling in both arms and both legs short term memory problems and clumsyness as well as a few others too boot) keep alog and keep on at the GP. I appreciate its difficult if you rarely present any obvious physical symptoms for them to go “Ah ha! broken leg!” too ¬_¬