Help - IBS or IBD??

[worriedhorse]

So, I would appreciate some advice from people who know more than me. I will try to include all info.

I have sort of a history of stomach issues. I would always describe them as constipation and hemmoroids - I have always managed them myself and only went to the doctor once, around 4 years ago. He did a physical exam, said he couldnt touch internal hemmoroids but said he suspected IBS so gave me medication. I got better.

I am extremely anxious, always been very stressed out about everything. When I get ill I always think it's something terrible, etc.

Anyway, I am now 33 and about 3 months ago I started having constipation or going to the toilet but hardly anything came out and lots and lots of gas. Also bright red blood.

It's transitioned now and I went through some urgency and now that sort of seems to have gone but I do go around 2-3 times a day.

When I go it feels like water trickles down first and then I get small smooth balls of stool. Sometimes they seem longer and normal, other times they are just around 2-3 smooth small balls. It's all very wet and also smells.

I also have like this pressure on my lower belly. It;s not pain, just an annoying pressure. When I press down on my belly I sometimes hear gurgling so it might be gas. I can pass gas but if I force it out sometimes I get some liquid come out like mucus.

As you can imagine this is really getting on my nerves and I am now obssessed. Its putting a strain on everything in my life.

I went to the doctor and he said he didn't think it was IBD and most likely IBS but that he would need to do both an edoscopy and a colonoscpy to know for sure.

I am booked in for end of next month but I am so nervouse about everything. The procedure, being sedated....I have this fear of being sedated and something going wrong. Also of what they might find. It's difficult to cope.

I have also asked for a blood test and a fecal occult blood test before the colonoscopy. Will this tell me anything? Doctor seems to think that the blood is from hemmoroids but I have been putting medicine and haven't noticed anything better.

From your experience what do you think? Is it more likely to be IBS or IBD? To my knowledge I still have a healthy apetite and I have not lost weight. I am losing a little now but think it might be due to eating healthier and more exercise. When I go there is a lot of gas and liquid but it feels more like water and mucus then I pass stool.

What do you think? Thank you for reading.

[b1b1b1]

It is not possible for anyone here to give you an opinion as to what the problem is. Only your doctor can do that. It is good that you are having the tests, as I think that will give you an answer and relieve your anxiety. The sedation is mild and safe; it is nothing like general anesthesia. Also, these tests give answers right away, so you don't have to stress waiting for results.

[ShaunieIBSLan]

Seems you may have IBS-C (IBS with constipation). I am totally opposite to you and although the pain would be worse I would swap in a heartbeat from my IBS-D lol 😂

I would try bimuno as it has a high fibre content, I can't take it as it would make my IBS-D alot worse lol but would almost certainly be a good help for yourself