What’s wrong with me?

[Luvslim]

I’ve never had GI issues before in my life. 3 months ago, almost overnight, I started having issues with bowel movements. I constantly feel like I have to poop, like my rectum is full. I strain and nothing usually comes out. What does is pretty soft, so it’s not constipation.

My stool is… weird. It’s mostly normal brown but there’s orange mucus all over it and these strange hard white pieces that look just like rice. I’m a healthy eater, no fast food, not much alcohol. I eat yogurt with chia seeds every morning for fiber. No rice.

My anus has an almost constant stinging, burning feeling. Witch hazel wipes and sitz baths help, but it’s been about 2 months of that with no change.

No vomiting, no stomach pain (everything is very low in my abdomen), no fever.

I’ve tried Colase, started taking a probiotic, have been drinking more water, and have been eating less generally, but no change. I’ve also had a blood test and ultrasound, and both came back normal. I’m not sure what else to do.

Any ideas of what could be wrong with me?

[Hephzi]

Did your doctor discuss referring to a gastroenterologist? I would think that would be the next step if they can’t suggest anything else for you.

[Luvslim in reply to Hephzi]

She did, but the gastroenterologist has a 45-day wait so I’m just hoping to get some ideas of what could be wrong.

[poppystorey in reply to Luvslim]

Maybe a colonoscopy will reveal the problem ,I had similar it was polyps Poppy Storey 🤔

[Luvslim in reply to poppystorey]

I’m hoping to get one when I’m finally able to see a GI. What did they do for your polyps?

[Skeptix]

Gastro seems the obvious step. Proctitis came up on me out of nowhere in my late 30's. Had a bulletproof system up to then. Then went 16 years or so until next flare which I'm came from earing loads of pears (I got really hooked on them and they turned my I sides to a gas-fest)

Best act rather than leave it be

[bresbo]

While waiting for a consultant, you could ask your GP to do a faecal cal protectin stool test which would show up inflammation. Are the white pieces in your stools undigested chia seeds?

It sounds like you might have proctitis and tenesmus, that's the constant feeling of there being something to poo. You could ask your GP for mesalazine suppositories or even a steroid rectal foam like Budenofalk short term to see if either of them calms things down.

Best wishes.

[Luvslim in reply to bresbo]

I’ll definitely ask for that! They don’t seem like chia seeds - they’re larger, the same size as rice, hard and white. The strangest thing to me is it came out of nowhere. I didn’t make any changes to my diet or lifestyle (except turn 35) and woke up one morning feeling constipated. I keep waiting for it to subside but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Thanks for the advice!

[Skeptix]

Frutose allergy? Now that might indeed be it. The last flare was about 4 years ago (the "pear flare"). I've got kidney disease and recently embarked on a vegan diet to aid that management. I'd have a big mixed bowl of chopped fresh fruit .. with fruit yogurt for lunch most days. About a month in, I got a flare which wasn't responding much to meds.

I've quit the fruit and of late coffee, alcohol and onions and it seems to be settling down now.

If you go on line you get everything under the sun as excluded. You any idea what might be the big hitters for a fructose allergy/intolerance?

Cheers for the tip in any event - something to direct my investigations this fructose allergy thing.

[Skeptix]

Hmm. Had a brief look and looks like I'll have to dig more. I'm more or less forced into a vegan diet yet fruit and veg are hi/highish fructose. Wunderbar..not.

Hopefully the flare is due to going overboard on the fruit and when it calms down I'll be able to ease thing in, perhaps trimming the very high fructose stuff.

So much for an apple a day ...

[Luvslim in reply to Skeptix]

I’ll definitely look into fructose intolerance! I’ve never been one to go overboard on fruit - I love blueberries, strawberries, and oranges. I’ll eat apples and pears but not very regularly. I don’t drink soda or sugary drinks and don’t have too much of a sweet tooth. But there has to be something I did or ate or developed that’s causing this change. As much as I love certain foods I’ll gladly cut them out to feel better!

[Luvslim]

I definitely don’t eat that much fruit. Some blueberries with yogurt in the morning, maybe a banana and orange twice a week or something.

[Skeptix]

I'm on a very low protein diet. That means no meat or animal products. But it also means limited high protein plant such as whole grain and soy, else I'd blow my protein budget.

To be restricted in veg (when I've already got to keep an eye on potassium) would be hard. Cooking is tricky enough without having to tip thru through fruit and veg.

But needs must I suppose. Like I say I'm hoping once the flare is past, I can relax things a bit but thanks for the tips, I'll clamp down on things throwing petrol on the fire.

[Hidden]

Hi luvslim l wonder if you need a colonoscopy, to look inside your rectum , bowel, etc. Hope this helps. Janex