Symptoms for six months

[thyroid555]

Hello,

I have have had concerning symptoms for six months- severe constipation, some liquid stool. The problem is so bad, I can barely open my bowel at all, unless I take sachets of movicol.

I have recently had some blood in my stools. My tummy is very bloated. Occasionally I feel sick and last week I was very sick, although I have no problems eating or drinking.

I have seen ten doctors and have been in A and E twice. I have tried every single laxative out there including the strongest dose prescribed by A And E. in the last few weeks, I have been experiencing stomach cramps and sometimes sharp pains, I think this is because I just cannot open my bowels.

I am now waiting for a colonscopy under a 2 week wait. I am aged 36 and my Nan had Colon Cancer.

I just wondered if any of you have had similar symptoms/ presentation and what you were diagnosed with? I have always had a good diet, but whatever I eat it makes no difference and I can barely open my bowel at all.

Blood tests have some back normal and blood stool test normal. I don’t think I’ve had the caloprotein test though.

I guess I just have to wait for the colonscopy, but problem is getting me down and never know when the pain will come on.

I just wonder if there is anything else I should be asking for. It’s good the colonscopy will be done next, it’s been frustrating as due to my age doctors keep saying it cannot be an anything to worry about.

Any thoughts- any one with similar experiences, would be very grateful to hear from you to share experiences.

With warm wishes,

Jemma

[Saikumarr]

whats new? if your stool comes normal the most important if they go for colonoscopy its nice to know about your rectum and colon intestine.. But also go for endoscopy for upper gi track ...

if there is anything your doctor will also advice the Ct scan or MRI

[thyroid555]

Thankyou so much for your advice, it’s much appreciated

[Fifi123456]

Hi how did it go ? Currently going through a similar thing

[thyroid555]

Thankyou for your kind message. I still don’t have a definite diagnosis however my consultant thinks o have an internal prolapse of the bowel. The next step is a proctogram year which is an x ray Dye so awaiting appointment for this.

My symptoms have got a lot worse and have intermittent sharp pain in my bottom and at times it hurts to sit down.

How are you doing? And what are your symptoms? Have you had any luck getting any tests or a diagnosis?

It would be lovely to connect more. Best wishes,

Jemma

[Bugsie51]

You sound as though you have similar symptoms to me. I have had a number of tests including colonoscopy and ct scans and have been referred to physio with possible pelvic prolapse. Two weeks ago it got a lot worse and the dragging sensation and pressure almost too much to bear. Obviously

Can't see anyone about it at the moment but physio recommended trying resolor to improve slow transit. However as I am managing better now taking 2 bisocodil at night and movicol in the afternoon. I don't want to try anything new in case it makes things worse again. It's a worry when you can't see a specialist and are trying to manage things on your own.

How is your treatment progressing?

[thyroid555]

Hi there, thanks for your message. I am sorry to hear of the symptoms you are experiencing. It must be quite worrying and difficult not being able to see a specialist. Have you been referred to a specialist.

I think what can help when you see them is writing down all of your symptoms. I developed more symptoms are time went on. I experienced pain in my Central tummy to begin with and severe constipation, I just couldn’t open my bowels- even enemas wouldn’t work which apparently if a sign of a prolapse, but I could not get any answers from doctors. I had a colonscopy and they removed a couple of polps. Now I get pain in my bottom and it hurts to sit on it at times and I feel like my bottom will pop in. I can’t produce a bit of stool, only paste like stuff comes out.

I then had a proctogram which diagnosed an anterior rectocele, the radiologist told me, but awaiting appointment to discuss results.

Apparently it is small and does not completely void. As it is small I think the treatment will be taking stool softeners and a high fibre and. 16 week programme of physio.

Are you finding the physio helping at all?

I am looking at buying a special machine that helps you do the pelvic exercises and monitors your progress, which I think may help encourage me. It costs about £100 and I think it will be worth it if I don’t have to have surgery.

I am not sure they will do surgery until I’ve had physio and that hadn’t helped and because of my age, I am 36, I think they will reluctant to operate as I don’t have children. Would love to have them but haven’t met that special person.

I would be happy to have surgery tomorrow to fix it, as so fed up of the pain and symptoms!

How long have you had your symptoms and do they know it’s definitely a prolapse. Are you under a gynaecologist or anyone else?

It would be lovely to connect more and do keep in touch. Wishing you the very best.

Jemma

[Bugsie51]

Hi Jemma

Thanks for replying to my post. I too would happily have surgery tomorrow as the pain and discomfort can definitely get you down. However as we are all in lock down that's not likely to happen for some time. We probably do both need to try other things first as they could be the answer for a while at least. I haven't seen the physio yet but they have given me some advice on the phone. As they haven't examined me I suppose it's not definite I have a prolapse but very likely as I have all the symptoms. It may have shown up on some of my scans too. I was interested in the machine to help with pelvic floor exercises you mentioned. Is that something your physio recommended?

Not sure exactly when my symptoms started as I have suffered with chronic constipation for years. However I jhavent been able to open my bowels naturally since early January and still couldn't even with 7 Movicol! Immediately got fast tracked for more testsbecause of my age (56) and bowel change I think?

Now on Bisocodil which is working but not recognisable as a stool! All very similar to what you were describing. Have you had a colonoscopy yet.?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

All the best

[thyroid555 in reply to Bugsie51]

Hi there Bugsie, Thankyou for your kind message. Yes I think everything will be delayed in terms of appointments because of lockdown. What types of scans have you had? Do you know how long the waiting list is for physio? My colonscopy didn’t show anything apart from polyps which they removed. What I have learnt is that different tests can pick up different things and not every test shows up certain things, so it’s a case of getting the right test for your symptoms as symptoms can overlap and point to several different conditions.

The machine I have ordered is the kegel 8 ultra 20. Of you google kegel 8 the website comes up and there are different machines you can use which help the pelvic floor. I paid about just over £100, it is a bit more expensive but they had a discount code. The reviews are good.

I just feel I’ve got to do something as keep getting pain and it’s going to take a while to be seen/ hopefully referred to a physio.

I tried moviol and was having the maximum dose about 8 sachets a day and it didn’t do anything. I went to a and e twice in agony and they just said it was constipation/ impaction and they gave the movicol and enemas. The problem started in May last year and since then, I’ve probbably seen 15 doctors, not one of them even mentioned it could be a prolapse until consultant after the colonscopy results came through and then symptoms had got worse and was finding it painful to sit down and then he said he thought it was a prolapse and he arranged the proctogram.

I am glad the biscodyl is helping, I think that helped me a bit when I was on it. Is it a stimulant laxative, think it may be, not sure but that type I think can be bad for the bowel long term, you might want to check it out it.

I take dosuscate sodium a stool softener which is recommended for prolapse x four a day. It comes out as paste, so at least producing something but only at times, but it’s still sore and painful, before I was getting intranadominal pain, but now it’s pain in my bottom.

Do keep in touch and let me know how things are going. All the very best, Jemma