Frustrated?

[puma77ram]

Does anybody know of a IBS Specialist I can get refered to as the hospital I've been under have discharged me saying they can't do anymore to help. Only found out when I turned up to an appointment to be told it has been cancelled as I'd been discharged. It was nice of them to inform me.

[whiteladder42]

St Marks hospital in Harrow is the national centre for intestinal diseases or some such title-I was told it was the best place to go (assuming you are able to get to London). I have been seen there several times. Your GP needs to apply to your local Clinical Commisioning Group for funding for this however, and this can be turned down. Even if you are lucky as I was, it can take 6 months or more from being referred to actually seeing someone (they lost my referral twice!). So worth a try, since it's the national gut hospital...

[abcd12345 in reply to whiteladder42]

Were they able to help you with the illness you had?

[puma77ram in reply to abcd12345]

Unfortunately no but luckily symptoms arnt too bad at the moment

[abcd12345 in reply to puma77ram]

That was very rude of them. I'm really sorry to hear that, especially because they're not the ones struggling in the first place. Good luck though!

[fenbadger]

Sorry to hear that. I cant help with suggestions but would be inclined to make a complaint. Unless there's a really good reason that's appalling.

[Hidden]

You don't say what your symptoms are or what diagnosis you were given - these will help people to give you advice

[Hidden]

You also don't say where you live, Manchester Universty Hospital has one of the leading Proffesors in IBS in the country.

[puma77ram]

Ok symptoms are weight loss diareah with mucus upto 20 times a day extreme pain on the left hand side of the abdomen radiating to the right. Extreme discomfort during and after a bowel motion. Night swets The diagnosis I have been given is just IBS.

I have been told I also have adhesions and a minor prolapse. And have had a positive biopsy for colitis I have had scans that show inflammation as well as visible inflammation on a colonoscopy.

After all that they have told me it's IBS and not to worry

[puma77ram]

I'm in Buckinghamshire and Harrow is about 30 mins away I think 5 stops on the tube. I'm surprised non of the doctors haven't heard about St marks.

But if it's down to funding I won't hold out much hope.

[whiteladder42]

stmarkshospital.org.uk/welc...

Here is the link. The consultant I saw was Dr Arebi and she was very thorough and shocked at the lack of tests I had had before going there. I had the lactose and fructose breath tests on her recommendation plus a CT scan and capsule endoscopy (these were done more locally to me to save me 5 hour round trips!). It can't hurt to take a look at their website and bring it up with your GP/local consultant. Mine were only too glad to get rid of me since they had absolutely no idea how to help.

[Sandra2468]

Ladies,

I came across this posting and albeit rather late thought I should respond.

One year ago my Gp sent me to St. Marks NHS.

I had a consultation with Mr. Phillips one of the top guys there.

After lengthy questions, how often do you go etc etc he discharged me and told me that I had a functional bowel disorder and nobody would be able to help me.

He was presented with proctograms scan discs etc.

His response was to go to see a bowel physiatrist, via my GP.

I have prolapse ladies in all 3 departments proven with proctogram.

Mr. Phillips DID NOT EXAMINE ME.

I came out of that consultation in tears.

I will never forget that day.

How can a specialist make any judgement without an examination.

For those of you thinking that a leading bowel hospital will be able to help with prolapse this is not necessarily the case.

There are some very good experts there however Mr. Phillips failed to understand that I had a prolapse problem.

I have since had to go down the private route for opinions.

And I have received a mixed acknowledgement, as uterine or colorectal surgery either one may help me, and so I struggle to make a decision.

I have listened to women's symptoms some similar to mine but not exactly the same as we all appear to have different problems.

Some of us a second corrective surgery, some of us just asking for advice first time around. Some women with PN pain before their op and others with PN after their op.

There appear to be no concrete answers here.

At some stage I will go ahead with a surgery out of sheer necessity, and the hope that I will be in a better state.

However I am under no false illusion that all this will definitely right itself with a surgery, and the worry and concern still remains.

Unfortunately women with successful operations fail to post and so we don't get a clear proper analysis.

Sandra