All tests are neg yet still have symptoms, could it be IBS?

[Famil]

Hi there

I'm very new to all this, symptoms too. I'm hoping to find answers if possible.. I had surgery for 3 epigastric hernias, 5 weeks later I started with the bloody mucus. I was a perfectly healthy 49 year old up to that point. I had a colonoscopy that initially showed inflammation, 3 weeks later at my follow appointment I was told the test had come bk not showing inflammation! Even tho my bowel specialist had seen it and he actually thought it was colitis, he was flummoxed and still is. More tests followed, ct, mri, then a sigmoidoscopy which showed small white, grain like things attached where the inflammation was in my rectum! My specialist had never seen this before but all tests, blood, stool and numerous other tests have all come back as normal. It's good that it's nothing nasty but it still leaves me trying to second guess all the time!! My symptoms are.. (sorry for the graphic details) 🙈 for the past 4 months I have between 4-8 bm every day with either dark or reddy coloured mucus on the stool. No d or c, they are always the same consistency. I don't bloat at all, but I do get stomach aches/pains more so through the night than day. The gasterentologist I saw after the bowel specialist has just said he thinks it's IBS... can anyone relate to this, my own gp says I'm out of the perimeter to start with it at my age. I would really appreciate any advice at all. Thank u very kindly 🤗

[FRreedman]

Firstly, who would you rather trust, a specialist or a Jack of all trades? I prefer the consultant, because he has dealt with a lot more unusual cases than a GP,(that's why he is a consultant). The thing with IBS/IBD is we are all different, no two of us are the same, therefore the fact that you are outside the normal age spectrum (which is a dubious fact, anyway) is your uniqueness in this case. The important thing is to get some relief, and, I believe, the best way forward is to follow your gastro, and assume you have IBS. You don't say whether or not you have a sense of urgency before a bm, but, even then, you must surely realise it ain't normal to go for 4 + bms per day. Keep a good diary, and a note of pain/bm, and consistency/contents (red/dark mucus/clear), which will help you, going forward.

[Famil in reply to FRreedman]

Thank u for your reply..

That's really why I decided to join a group like this, I've got it in my head that it could only be down to IBS, albeit a very mild case thankfully. I do feel for all of you that suffer a lot more than me.

Initially when I first started with the symptoms I had an urgency to go but as times gone by I don't feel that need. Maybe the operation unsettled my system and it will pass in time, I'm hoping anyway. I've had a few other things at the same time, that's why I felt it was something far worse.. virtigo, irregular periods even tho I'd not had a bleed for over 2 years (I'm on hrt), and a pain when I slept on either side. I've recently had an investigitave laparoscopy, because I was convinced the mesh was playing a part in my pain but fortunately all was ok. So I'm now recovering and hoping that things start to calm down, but in the meantime, I'll start the food diary, I've already got a 4 months blog of my other symptoms. Thank u for your advice I really appreciate it 😁

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear this.

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