Hi everyone, me again!
OK so I know that the general consensus is that if in doubt, see your GP. But I just don't know if it's worth it anymore.
It's really difficult for me to make an appointment - partly because the surgery is so busy and partly because of my own commitments (childcare/work etc). But I feel fairly certain I'd be fobbed off anyway.
I have seen a GP quite a few times already. One felt my stomach, asked a few questions and diagnosed IBS on that back of that alone. I went back and saw another one when I started experiencing rare bouts of bleeding after difficult bowel movements. She did a digital examination and diagnosed external piles (which I already knew about because...well, they're fairly obvious). My symptoms are not constant and are definitely exacerbated (if not caused entirely) by stress and anxiety. I do often have loose motions (sometimes urgent when stressed) and/or periods of constipation but I rarely suffer from any pain which is a blessing. I had a colonoscopy about 7 years ago for something else and that all came back ok at the time although I'm aware it was a while ago. I am now 29 and although I know it all points to IBS, I just continually worry that I could have something more serious like bowel cancer (I suffer from major health anxiety as well as generalised anxiety disorder). I don't know if my anxiety makes this into a bigger deal in my mind (given that I've seen a doctor at least 3 times already and had an IBS diagnosis) or if I do have genuine reason to worry. I guess the symptoms of IBS are so similar to other conditions it's hard to say.
I really don't want to have another colonoscopy. The first was a really bad experience and I think my anxiety (which has got much worse over the years) would make it a rather big ordeal for me. I don't want to put myself through that for nothing if that makes sense. I'm also not even sure if they'd give me one based on my symptoms which are (although distressing for me) not as severe as some of the other stories I've read on here. Basically I guess I need some reassurance! Given my age and symptoms is it worth another trip to the GP or do I just try to manage my symptoms and believe the IBS diagnosis??