Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Do I have it? How do they test for it?

I am a 28 yr old female. I have stomach aches daily, which usually follows diarhhea, and then after I go to the bathroom, I feel better. Now I have set up an appoitment to see a Dr. but do you think he will prescribe a colonscopy...because frankly, I can't afford that, the hospital said it costs $3500. Are there other ways they can test for IBS? Or must there be a colonscopy. I just want to know what I am up for when I go to the Dr. Thanks

In all honesty a diagnosis of IBS means they can find no known cause for your symptoms. Seriously.
A much more common explanation is Celiac Disease which is a bit easier to test for. YOu can ask for a blood test for the Celiac antibodies (go to www.csaceliacs.org to find out EXACTLY what to ask for so they get it right!) An endoscopy with biopsy is the gold standard in diagnosing CD (not IBS) but it is your body and your choice so u do not have to do it.
Genetic testing is helpful in dx Celiac also bc u can do it without a docs care and if u have the genes for CD, it doesnt tell u if u have an active case of CD but it can certainly help bc you'll see you are very LIKELY to have CD triggered.
Try these sites for more scientific help and feel free to email me for further help.
www.csaceliacs.org
www.celiac.com
www.celiac.org

If money is a real problem u can do the elimination gluten free diet and see how uf eel but that is not recommended bc if u DO feel better but u still want a real diagnosis then you'd need to eat gluten again for a period of time and that lapse in eating gluten could mess with teh test resutls if u are tested while not eating gluten. BUt again, your body, if u cant afford the testing, the gluten free diet is a good way tos ee.
If u have CD u will need to stay on the GF diet forever. But its not that hard and there are PLENTY of yummy GF foods available.

SOUNDS LIKE A REAL PAIN IN THE ***.
YOUR DOCTOR IS THE ONLY PERSON QUALIFIED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND A DIAGNOSTICIAN ON YAHOO! ANSWERS. GOOD LUCK.

The diagnosis of IBS is usually thru process of elimination.

They might do colonoscopy, upper and lower gi xrays, etc. When they are satisfied that it is NOT something they can test for (cancer, ulcers, etc)....then you have IBS or colitis.

Not that i know of. you might have to have a colonscopy to determain whether you have ibs or not, it also could be dierticulitis as well the 2 are linked together. It means you can't digest certain foods, symptoms are usually upset stomach, cronic diarerra, gas.

Diagnosing IBS is a rule out, a differential diagnosis. There are no specific tests for it but there are tests for other conditions to help make this differential diagnosis. There are a number of GI conditions that share the symptoms you have.

There's a specific criteria used to identify those with IBS. For you, as you are under 40, if blood tests and temperature are normal, the symptoms are typical of IBS, no more tests may be needed. However, if, for your age, your symptoms are atypical, a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be needed. Ask about a sigmoidoscopy instead of a colonoscopy. It's done in the office and doesn't require conscious sedation. It's less expensive.