Self-diagnosis, IBS, and Bloating
Published by tummyblogger April 25th, 2007 in Medical, general, IBS, Irritable Bowel SyndromeIf you are female and have declared yourself to have IBS, perhaps because of family ties to someone with IBS, please read this.
If bloating is a major symptom, and non-specific abdominal discomfort is another symptom, please read about the symptom picture for ovarian cancer. The following helpful information about symptoms is from the Mayo Clinic site:
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific and mimic those of many other more common conditions, including digestive and bladder disorders. It isn’t unusual for a woman with ovarian cancer to be diagnosed with another condition before finally learning she has cancer. The key seems to be persistent or worsening signs and symptoms. With most digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go, or they occur in certain situations or after eating certain foods. With ovarian cancer, there’s typically little fluctuation — symptoms are constant and gradually worsen.
Recent studies have shown that women with ovarian cancer are more likely than are other women to consistently experience the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating
- Urinary urgency
- Pelvic discomfort or pain
Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:
- Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation
- Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
- Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
- A persistent lack of energy
- Low back pain
Doctors can usually diagnose ovarian cancer within three months of women first noticing symptoms, but sometimes it may take six months or longer before a diagnosis can be made.
Again, this is quoted from the Mayo Clinic site on Ovarian Cancer, accessed April 25, 2007.
I emphasized this line “With most digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go, or they occur in certain situations or after eating certain foods.” A basic diet for IBS that avoids trigger foods (see list of trigger foods in sidebar) will generally reduce bloating.
Nevertheless, discuss the two possible diagnoses with your doctor, and get ob-gyn checkups on time.
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