IBS consultation

‘Man is like a breath, his days are like a passing shadow.’ (Psalm 144:4)

 

A recent medical consultation for my irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) led me to pay closer attention to my IBS condition as well as a clearer understanding of what might have happened in my inner body. In this sense, I must be thankful to a good friend of mine for her perseverance in pestering me to go for treatment. On hindsight I should not bear with it and let it deteriorates over time. The specialist ordered full panel of liver, kidney and thyroid investigations on top of six blood tests and three stool samples. My condition must be complex and critical. The total cost came up to quite a sizeable amount despite most of the tests were half subsidised by the government. Two of which were expensive and not under subsidy. I can understand why high medical cost here is a concern especially if one has a chronic condition.

 

Thanks to Goggle that I was able to get more information about these various tests. The stool samples were taken to see whether bacteria such as E coli, Salmonella, and parasites such as Amoeba residing in the intestines. The faecal fat is to estimate the percentage of dietary fat the body has not absorbed. From there doctor can assess how well the liver, gall bladder, pancreas and intestines are working.

 

Anti Endomy Sial lgA is the most expensive test and does not qualified for subsidy. It is used to determine Coeliac disease, an autoimmune disorder of small intestine , which when it is exposed to dietary gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, the immune responses by mistakenly attacks and destroy healthy body tissue. This could lead to inflammation of the small intestine, making its inner wall less capable of absorbing nutrients. This blood test detects auto-antibodies in the blood system. Sedimentation Rate Erythrocyte (ESR) tests how much inflammation is in the body. Higher rate often associates with autoimmune disorder. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is to test the protein produced by liver. Higher reading means that there is inflammation throughout the body, which may indicate inflammatory diseases and even cancers.

 

In conclusion, the source of my problem, according to the doctor’s diagnosis at this moment, can be due to: -

 

(1) Parasites and bacteria in the intestines;

(2) Inflammation in any part of the body;

(3) Gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidney or thyroid not functioning well.

 

Come December I hope the tests will throw some lights into my conditions, failing which, I may have to go for more tests.