28 years and not much has changed

[Shvuntz]

Since I had my first child I have suffered with urgency issues , (I do have some sphincter damage due to birth,) this manifested itself into me being afraid to go out in case of accidents and when I have been to my gp they have over the years tried to fob me off with anti depressants which I never took. Ten years forward from that I ended up in therapy and my symptoms were a mixture of agoraphobia & pooing tons every time I had to go out. I had mucus and urgency but have never had pain or bleeding.

Now I am 56 and haven’t had a holiday in 15 years and still feel stress when I leave the house, I went to a gastroenterologist two months ago saying I was no different from the last time I saw him 12 years ago and he put me in touch with a dietitian who has put me on the Fodmap diet which has actually improved things.

Thing is I have never had a ‘camera up the bum’ investigation as we all think my problems are mostly anxiety related, I had a blood and poo test which came back ok..

what do you think 🤔

[Maureen1958]

Hi, I was expecting others to reply to you and say yes go for tests, but they haven't so you have got me instead. I've had IBS for over 30 years now getting on for 35 I think (I often wonder why I did not make a note of the particular day it started). Any way I had had it for about 10 years before I was given a colonscopy. I really didn't think I had cancer or anything. I never have thought that. But I was given the impression that if I had the colonoscopy they would be able to tell me what to do. The consultant at the hospital asked me if I was suicidal and I said yes on occasions. Anyway I had the colonoscopy which didn't go very well for me (I won't go into details) and when I went back to see the consultant I was seen by one of his minions who said "You have IBS" so I said "Well I know that, so what now" and I was told they could give me something to slow it down. So I said "well I don't want that, I am already in the loo all morning, I don't want to be in there all day". Since then I have more or less been dealing with it in my own way. I was tested for Bile Acid Malabsorption just over a year ago (my cousin who has had IBS for years was diagnosed with it) so I ran it past my doctor and she referred me to the hospital. But it came back negative. So back to square one.

Anyway, it may be worth having a colonoscopy just so you know it's nothing to worry about, but at the end of the day it's your decision. You have had it so long you could say "well if it was cancer I would be dead by now" or you could say "well I'm not getting any younger it could be worth it to make sure everything it all okay". Perhaps speak to your doctor about it and see what he/she thinks.

[Shvuntz in reply to Maureen1958]

Truth is my symptoms if anything have improved over the years .. but I have just been left with awful anxiety which in itself is crippling .. I honestly don’t think there’s anything sinister neither does my gastrologist , yes partly because I’ve had it so long and also I find if I’m home I’m bloody fine , it’s like as soon as I’m summonsed out I feel panicky and my tummy just gives way to mayhem ..

since I’ve been on the Fodmap diet I have felt much better.. my gastrologist feels quite confident I need some therapy not so much invasive testing although of course if I suddenly take a nosedive with some worsening worrying red flag symptoms I’d be the first one there x

[Maureen1958 in reply to Shvuntz]

Yes, I see where you're coming from. Something like CBT or NLP. Worth a try, my husband keeps suggesting such things to me, he has a friend that does NLP. I tried hypnotherapy many years ago but that didn't help and I have the Michael Mahoney IBS Audio Program 100 cds. Keep telling myself I will give them another try but really don't think they will help either. Keep us informed if you decide to go down that route. We would love to know how you get on.

[Shvuntz in reply to Maureen1958]

I think I’m just a sensitive soul.. luckily I have made a eutopia at home I work from here and am an artist so I have an excuse to be “eccentric “