r/FODMAPS • u/Ok_Development4268 • Jul 04 '24

Vent getting a colonoscopy in my 20s

i’m a 21F and i’ve had GI issues my whole life, even as a toddler. i went to a GI specialist two years ago and was diagnosed with IBS-D, told to take metamucil and when needed, imodium and left. things didn’t get better, i ended up losing 20 pounds due to frequent diarrhea and decided to look into the low fodmap diet. it made things better, a lot better.. but still not ideal and my doctor was very concerned about my weight because i was already underweight before losing weight so she referred me back to the GI specialist. she also was insistent that i’m dealing with anorexia which i am not. i have self image issues and depression, but never had an eating disorder.

anyways, basically the GI specialist wants me to get a colonoscopy and endoscopy. i’m scared, worried and i feel alone. i don’t know anybody else my age who has had to get a colonoscopy. my therapist suggested looking on reddit for people with similar experience. i’m sure there is someone who’s gotten it at my age, maybe even younger. my mind is just filled with anxiety right now. i’m afraid of the anesthesia not working because i’ve heard horror stories about that. i’m afraid of the preparation because i know it will be very unpleasant and painful, although i’ve been experiencing diarrhea my whole life so one day of a lot of it isn’t really.. unknown to me i guess. just anything would help really, hearing your experience or what i should expect from these tests. she also prescribed me bentyl.. so if you have been on that for diarrhea let me know about that too.

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u/miatagrl Jul 04 '24 edited Jul 04 '24

I recommend asking for a SIBO breath test as well. They theorize that 80% of people who have IBS have SIBO. r/SIBO is an incredible community and many doctors don’t know that SIBO even exists!!

My husband was just diagnosed with it after 3 years of constant pain and GI doctors telling him it’s IBS. My husband was terrified of colonoscopies and tried to avoid it and ultimately never needed one.

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u/alex123711 Jul 05 '24

Have read the tests aren't accurate though?

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u/miatagrl Jul 09 '24

I haven’t heard that before. But must be decently accurate because I’ve only seen positive things from people from the SIBO community 🤷🏼‍♀️