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Comment by deorder | Hacker News Reader

3 years ago I got diagnosed with IBS after I landed in the hospital with a stabbing pain just right next to my belly button (sometimes I still feel it lightly) what they first thought was caused by kidney stones. Nothing turned up on the xrays or echoes. Since then things have only gotten worse as if it has spread upwards first causing constipation, then silent reflux (causing a constant burning sensation in my throat, mouth and nose), pain in my neck, foggy brain (which started recently) and so on. The GP, which in my country decides if I have to be forwarded to a specialist to relieve the medical system, keeps attributing everything to my IBS. Once I got the diagnosis IBS it is as if they stopped taking me seriously and act as if I am just being a hypochondriac so I decided to just let it be.

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[IANAD] what you describe might as well be SIBO (as far as i understand in my limited non-professional understanding the bacterial overgrowth can cause the IBS symptoms too though fortunately i was spared that). It took some years in my case to stumble upon definitive test - the lactose based breath test - with all these years doctors dismissing it as "just take the antacid" (which is actually no-no for SIBO), and even with the definitive diagnosis confirmed by the test it is still a struggle to get a right doctor to correctly treat it.

Yes, they gave me different antacids and so far nothing has helped. I wish it was just like a regular acid reflux, but best way to describe it is as if there is a cloud of aerosolized acid being released from my esophagus 24/7 that is spreading and causing an non-stop burning sensation everywhere it gets inside my throat, mouth, nose, eyes and I think it is damaging my larynx. None of the usual advice seems to help. Days that I am feeling better I can eat an entire chocolatebar, mint tea, lay / sleep flat, everything I should not do and it does not get worse. Something I noticed though is that it disappears everytime I go on vacation and actually eat worse than usual (McDonald's etc.)

Never had any test done for SIBO I think. They did a stool test, sigmoidoscopy and found nothing. That is how I ended up being diagnosed with IBS.

You might have success in managing symptoms by modulating diet and lifestyle. I personally find that a limited diet, no caffeine, and ample sleep help me a lot (I have Chrons), but every body is different.

Dealing with the medical system and outside advice in general can be very frustrating. Hope you can find a way forward! Good luck!

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