GI question

[RN@34]

Only been at 1st job as new graduate 2 months and already looking at having to take some unpaid medical leave.

I hope what they think I have is not what I have-GALLSTONES! I only have some of the textbook symptoms, need to know what you all think! Here are symptoms: nausea, upr. gastric pain (almost feels like severe indigestion at times), sudden severe case of diarrhea-about 30 min.-pc, bloating. Was diagnosed about 5 yrs. ago with IBS and I hope that this is all it is, but above symptoms have become more frequent within last 6 months or so.

I know there are plenty of you out there that have far more GI experience than I do. Please tell me that doc may be thinking the worst. Scheduled to have U/S on Monday.

Thanks a bunch!!

[suzanne4, RN]

I would much rather have gallstones than IBS. Gallstones can be removed, you recover from a laparoscopic procedure and that is it most of the time.

With IBS, it is chronic and can have acute flare-ups and it is yours for life.

As far as an actual diagnosis, you are going to need to follow up with your physician. His diagnosis right now is the better one to have.

[RN@34]

]Yeah, I guess I did not think of it that way!

I would much rather have gallstones than IBS. Gallstones can be removed, you recover from a laparoscopic procedure and that is it most of the time.

With IBS, it is chronic and can have acute flare-ups and it is yours for life.

As far as an actual diagnosis, you are going to need to follow up with your physician. His diagnosis right now is the better one to have.

[fusster]

My mom had gallstones for three years before they made the proper diagnosis. Every time she went to the doctor for her pain, they told her she had indigestion or constipation. She had upper abd pain and nausea. The pain kept her awake many nights and she had major trouble sleeping At the end of these three years, her pain got so bad that her doc finally sent her to the hospital to run tests. Turned out it was gallstones. I'm not saying that I think you have gallstones or that you have been misdiagnosed, I'm just sharing my little experience and letting you know it's possible and does happen. Doctors make mistakes all the time, as we all know very well.

Whatever it turns out to be, I hope your suffering ends soon.