New and currently undiagnosed

[Hanl]

Hi as title says im new here and currently undiagnosed. Looking for some advice please.

I visited doctor last Thursday with what I thought were symptoms of IBS bloating, wind and really bad diarrhoea with some blood/mucus. I’ve been suffering with this for a while and had been taking Buscopan an Imodium but the last few months it’s become more regular and worse and is now affecting my work life so I decided to get checked out.

Doctor ordered bloods and a stool sample and prescribed mebeverine and omeprazole.

She called me on Wednesday to say blood results were back and seemed fine but stool sample showed lots of inflammation so she has said it’s pointing more towards IBD and referred me to gastroenterology team.

I haven’t been able to eat since last Thursday when my latest flare up has occurred, still suffering now and always seems to be worse of a night, I’ve been awake 2hrs now with 4 trips to the toilet and I have work in a couple of hours so I’ll be exhausted.

Does anyone have any advice on what’s best to take to sort of stop the flare up or anything I can eat that might be more gentle on the gut whilst I’m still suffering with this chronic diarrhoea at the moment, thanks!

[newmum87]

Maybe a slice of white toast with a little butter? I have a flare up with my Crohns I try and eat this when my appetite is low. Also peppermint tea can be soothing?

[willow24 Administrator]

Try low residue foods. White rice and bread, boiled potatoes, steamed white fish and chicken. Its bland and boring but its easy for guts to process x

[SORRELHIPPO]

The low residue diet very good, also as you are having the runs, do take re-hydration drinks I have to take them (Dioralyte is the one I use). Just taking a lot of water does not replenish the body salts you are loosing and this is needed to reduce the exhaustion. I had advice from my pharmacist on this.

[afs7000]

At this point it seems you need a course of steroids to provide some immediate relief (though to be clear steroids are not an answer to your problems), as the referral to the gastro ward could take weeks, could you ask your gp if they can provide such. Other option is to go private, I did this when my problems started, you will get answers quicker.

[Hanl in reply to afs7000]

Thank you, I will see gp about it Tuesday if I’m still no better, bank holiday weekend now so won’t be able to do anything before then unfortunately. I didn’t even realise steroids would be an option for treatment. I could look at going private depending on how long it takes, I think my employer offer a private medical scheme so I’ll look into it! Thanks.

[afs7000 in reply to Hanl]

I also used my employee scheme with AXA, I was able to access an appointment with the gastro consultant within a few days (who is also a key consultant at the hospital - this is important I realised as you will have to be transferred back to the NHS soon after the diagnosis stage).

I was also able to get a colonoscopy done within a week, though getting the insurer to pay for this was a battle.

I would certainly make your GP aware that you may be able to access the private system through your employer scheme.

[afs7000 in reply to afs7000]

Just to be clear don’t confuse steroids which may be used by bodybuilders etc, for that used in this instance, which is medication such as prednisolone.

[jakelayla]

If you feel sick try Pepto Bismol, it may help slow down on trips to the loo. I lived on rice and chicken. If you can face eating tinned fish, you could try having it on toast, I was advised to try to eat a couple of portions weekly as it may ease inflammation, don't know whether it does, but it's tasty and full of goodness. You could try drinking Lucozade, it helped me with nausea and gave me a bit of energy. Hope you feel better soon, and get a speedy diagnosis.

[NL88]

Check SCD diet. It is a strict one but it cures you