Hi dot,

Unfortunately, IBS can be hard to diagnose. A IBS diagnosis usually comes after other possible GI problems have been ruled out. You say you had a colonoscopy and that there wasn't any cancer present - that's great. I assume they also didn't find either microscopic colitis, which would be diagnosed by looking at biopsies from your colon that were taken during the scope, or ulcerative colitis, which is typically seen during the scope.

Bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, and constipation are all signs of IBS. You may want to discuss this further with your doctor. The unfortunate part of IBS is that there is no quick cure for it. Most people find that changing their diet helps, reducing stress helps, and getting enough sleep is crucial. For more info. on IBS you might try the web site www.ibsgroup.org.

Good luck to you,

Elizabeth