IBD??

[PickledP1nk]

Hi.

Looking for some advice really.

I've been suffering from stomach and bowel problems for a few years now. My symptoms consist of horrible diarrhoea which some days could be semi-formed poo or a mixture of both. I can't say I've seen blood in my stools but I do believe there is mucus. I seem to lose control of my bowels with every bowel movement. I get no warning when I need to go until the last second. I try to hold it in but its like my body is forcing it out (like the pushing stage in labour) sometimes when I try to hold it in, the pushing sensation affects my bladder and I wet myself. It is so embarrassing as I don't know when it will happen so don't really like going out now as it can happen at any time. I am always tired and seem to have no energy at all. I'm bloated a lot of the time which means I eat less now as I just feel full all the time. I have horrible cramps in my tummy asp when I need a poo. Even after I've been I get cramps and sometimes I get the feeling like I haven't finished but nothing will come out. The bottom of my back hurts so much esp on my right hand side, feels like I'm being punched in my kidney. I often feel sick but not actually sick. My knees hurt and sometimes feel like my legs are heavy and going to give way. Every year I develop a rash on my hands which does disappear eventually but it's so itchy. (Coeliac test came back negative)

I couldn't take it anymore and went to see my Dr who sent me for a scope up the bottom. Which came back fine so carried on my daily life but nothing improved so went back to my Drs and pretty much cried my eyes out saying I cannot live like this anymore. So she sent me for blood tests and stool samples. Bloods came back fine although my eosinophils came back as borderline high (0.4 10*9/L) and my basophil came back borderline (0.1 10*9/L)

I had 2 stool samples. 1 came back clear for infections but the faecal calprotectin test came back as 276.9 which my Dr said was high so has referred back to gastro.

Do you think this could be IBD or IBS considering my scope up the bottom came back fine?

I just can't take anymore of not knowing.

[FRreedman]

Your calprotectin level indicates some degree of inflammation, which would tend towards IBD rather than IBS. The scopes are not as effective as they only have a limited range.

[Valbaty54]

Do you know whether you had a full colonoscopy checking the whole of the large bowel, or the shorter sigmoidoscopy? Did they do any biopsies? There's clearly some inflammation somewhere - maybe it's even higher up and out of reach. I do hope you get some kind of meds soon to help with the symptoms which are such a problem.

[PickledP1nk in reply to Valbaty54]

Hi there. I'm not sure. All I know was it was a scope where she pumped air which felt uncomfortable. Yes she took loads of biopsies.

[Valbaty54 in reply to PickledP1nk]

In the meantime, you could try a low residue diet which is gentle on the bowels - basically white/beige foods like chicken, white fish, rice, mash, eggs, soft cooked veg. Avoid high fibre foods, thick skins, pulses, nuts, etc. Try it for a week or so and see.

[hhl18]

Have you considered food intolerances? Whether you have IBD or IBS or neither, making some dietary changes can have a big impact on these kind of symptoms & may be worth a try whilst you wait for further tests. I find the biggest culprits are wheat & dairy.

[PickledP1nk in reply to hhl18]

Yes I've tried changing my diet but I'm yet to find what makes it worse. Sometimes I think I'm better as the pains ease and I'm not needing the toilet as often but then out of nowhere they come back

[jackdup]

Crohns disease is often in the Ileum which is essentially the end of the small intestine and most of the time will not be reached with a colonoscopy.

[PickledP1nk in reply to jackdup]

Thank you Jack. I have my gastro appointment on The 16th so will mention this. I just want to get to the bottom(no pun intended) of this. It is driving me mad. Does it sound like my symptoms could be some sort of IBD?

[jackdup in reply to PickledP1nk]

It would certainly seem that Crohns could cause at least some of the symptoms. I am not sure about the rash or leg pains, but everyone is different and different people will often have differs symptoms. Good luck with your appointment.

[eslteacher100]

could be microscopic colitis which is only diagnosed by biopsy.