Desperate for advice

[Bassem1979]

Firstly I am going to call my GP on Monday for medical advice but I just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced the same as I am panicking.

So for about 2 days now when I ve been to the toilet I have noticed some black specks in my poo. I know should not google but it’s a very bad habit of mine. It says could be undigested food but could be something serious like a bleed.

I started some probiotics recently which I feel is when the black specks started but am just panicking.

I also think am taking too many different tablets and laxatives at the same time which is not helping me. Instead of taking one at a time and seeing which one works best am taking the whole lot.

Sorry for posting again

[Maureen1958]

The black specks are probably nothing to worry about (although mention them to your doctor when you speak to them).

I think, like you say, you would be better off trying one thing at a time. That's what I do.

[winfong]

Definitely set up an appointment. That said, black specks can be a number of things, especially related to food. I do know that stool that looks like coffee grounds is a definite concern. I think that needs to be more than just specks though. How many specks are we talking about? What size?

[Bassem1979 in reply to winfong]

Hi It’s definitely not coffee ground, I would say very small specks along the poo (if you get what I mean) different sizes but nothing really big. It’s really hard to explain like a normal poo with black bits a long it in different areas, but more normal colour poo than black bits

Sorry for the detail

[BlackIsleGirl]

Please don't apologise for posting again, that's what this page is for!

Please try not to refer to Dr google. If you have any form of medical anxiety you'll just make it worse. I refer to it as feeding the troll! I do it too so I'm definitely not judging.

Like others have said there are lots of reasons why you have black or dark specks in your poo so while it is important to speak to your gp it's worth mentioning to you gp.

I would also mention to you gp exactly what over the counter medications you are taking, how much and how often. These things can interact with each other so it might be a good idea to discuss with your gp what to take and when and maybe get some advice about what to take and how/when.

[Bassem1979 in reply to BlackIsleGirl]

I do suffer with health anxiety really bad due to past life experiences. I ve been trying so hard not to google but things have just got on top of me and then seeing black pieces in ur poo is scaring thinking bleeding from some where = the big C We on my y get diagnosed with IBS from symptoms and stool samples well I did any way. I was asked to do a fit test but am struggling to get the samples can only do between Monday and Thursday has to be 2 separate poos . The poo not to touch the toilet bowl but am so unpredictable with my toilet habits it’s hard to get the samples. I ve had no colonoscopy which to be honest I don’t want but it would give me a lot of reassurance. However now with Covid am not going to be a priority.

Am so fed up of this life being in pain every day is not normal ☹️

[winfong in reply to Bassem1979]

Nothing fun about a colonoscopy, but I highly recommend them. Like you said, they can be very reassuring. BTW, are you taking anything for anxiety?

[Bassem1979 in reply to winfong]

I was taking something for anxiety but stopped because of all other meds taking. Also doctor won’t refer me for a colonoscopy, I don’t know how to get the GP to refer me for one.

[XDjames in reply to Bassem1979]

I've had three colonoscopies, all for Crohn's. First in Singapore where they gave me nice drugs, over here different type of anaesthetic but both times not at all unpleasant. First of those a lady waltzed in unfazed, had hers and off she went to work. The day before with no food could be a drag but might even be a welcome cleanout. So if you never had one before -you didn't say- don't worry, these folk know what they're doing and look after you.

[Bassem1979 in reply to XDjames]

So do you have crohn’s Mr google makes me think I have that sometimes along side other things.

[XDjames in reply to Bassem1979]

We’ll I certainly had it, but two consultants ten years apart found no physical evidence -which doesn’t mean it isn’t lurking somewhere- and unlike IBS, Crohn’s should have that. But it’s supposed to be something you can’t be cured off so it’s a bit odd.

[Poorlypatient]

Please don’t apologise for posting on here.It helps to let off steam and like others have said I wouldn’t think these specks are anything to worry about and just not properly digested food.I am like you and Google everything but it is not good for us.Hope all goes well with your doctor Monday.

[Hidden]

Could be the coating on the caps not breaking down

[edwangy]

What foods and tablets/ laxatives have you been taking over the past couple of days?

[Bassem1979 in reply to edwangy]

I been taking Buscopan, mebeverine 135mg both 3 times a day, Biocare probiotics twice a day. Senna, lactulose, bisacodyl and micro lax enema.

Food wise

Rice crispys and banana for breakfast

Omelette and Tin tomato for dinner

Fish and salad for tea.

Been shaking on rice cakes with peanut butter and banana

Drinking hot water with slice lemon

And a mouth ful of coke to take tablets

I also take lanzaprozole which is prescribed

Also had a couple of yoghurts with cereal but Activia for gut health.

Trying hard with my diet.

[edwangy in reply to Bassem1979]

You don't seem to be eating hardly any fibre and taking mebeverine and buscopan together can cause constipation. Then you're taking laxatives to help you go. If it were me, I would stop mebev and buscopan, start eating more fruit and vegetables, ditch the rice crispies which have no fibre and replace with Weetabix or bran flakes. Eggs also can cause constipation, especially if not eaten with vegetables or other fibre. I'd do all this gradually, but I'd definitely ditch the buscopan and mebeverine and some of the laxatives that's if you have IBS C. Try milk of magnesia if you need laxative, eat more fruit and vegetables.

[Bassem1979 in reply to edwangy]

God really I didn’t know that buscopan and mebeverine caused constipation that’s prob why I was so bad yesterday not been that constipated in a while. I was having rice crispy because I thought rice was good.

I love bran flakes so I will start eating them, also when I read some stuff on FODMAP there was a lot of fruit on there that was not good for IBS so stopped having certain fruits just banana. I love oranges too but was not sure if they were IBS sufferes.

Would you advise to carry on with the probiotic tablets ? What would you advice to take for cramps ? Also I thought eggs where easy to digest that’s why started eating them.

I will try the milk of mag, do I have that instead of Lactulose, senna etc ?

[edwangy in reply to Bassem1979]

Do you have IBS C or D?

I have C so I can only tell you what works for me. I assumed you had C because you are taking so many laxatives. What are your actual symptoms? How long have you had them?

[Bassem1979 in reply to edwangy]

My symptoms are stomach cramps, bloating trapped wind. Sore back passage with constant pressure feeling. I feel like my bowel is sore

My stomach feels like cramping, I do also feel like I need to go to the toilet and I can’t go.

I have also had episodes of Diarrhoea but recently it’s constipation, I now also feel I have cause some of the constipation my self with the medication I have been taken as I have now found out both of them cause constipation.

[Evonne02 in reply to Bassem1979]

Hi Bassen1979,

I just cannot believe what you are doing to yourself. To me it isn't even logical at all. You have anxiety issues as well as bowel issues. You take medication like 3-4 types for the same thing instead of increasing the laxatives & getting medical advice. You eat a meagre poor diet yet you expect after all this to be well. Additionally it's fuelling your anxiety into overdrive.

What you need to do is tell your GP everything and ask him or her to help you. S/he will sort out your medication and prescribe anti-anxiety medication if that's what you want.

Until then you need to take serious control of your health and wellness. Eat a balanced diet. Research what is good and bad for your type of Ibs. Do some exercise.... for your body & for your mind. Ask your GP to give you the relevant places to access this information. If you don't take control of your anxiety it will create problems in other areas if your life and affect your relationship with family and friends. To me at present I think your anxiety is making you obsess over your diet, bowels and possibly your weight. Reminds me of me when I was younger. I hope you get some help on Monday. Please let us know how you get on. All the best 😍

[Edgar77]

If you are afraid to cut them all out and try one at time. Try the other way around and just cut out one at a time. Just a suggestion.

[Bassem1979]

Yes my blood and stool sample came back normal not had a fit test yet though have you ? I just think reassurance is the best medicine wish I could afford to go private

[Bassem1979]

I have the kit to do the fit test but been struggling to do it. Been told to do 2 separate Bowel movements and so between Monday to Thursday and with how constipated I ve been it’s not feel on the right days I need to try and get it done.

[Kazzacrazy]

Take photos if you can.... when I found blood in my poo trying to explain it to the gp was hard work. When I was referred to gastro I was ready with my poo portfolio 😌 he took one look and said that's nothing to worry about (phew) I hope you get the same answer.

[Kaspinallsgr8]

Hi. I feel bad for you as I’ve had many of these issues and symptoms over the years. I’ve been diagnosed IBS D/C which basically means my system switched back and forth between diarrhoea and constipation. Due to the array of symptoms you state, I can understand why you’re trying everything all at once but beware, as you have found, you’re causing yourself more problems. First if your GP hasn’t seen fit to refer you for a colonoscopy after you provide the two samples or find you are unable to provide them in a reasonable time frame ask for a second opinion. Or possibly see if you can self refer. Next pull back off all those meds as they are conflicting with each other.

Personal aside, I had problems using Senna, Lactulose, Buscopan, Mebeverine, and Biscodyl. What I did have success with was Docusate Sodium capsules which adds water to your intestines to help loosen the faeces and get it moving along, and the other is Movicol sachets ( which is what is given at hospitals to help people with impacted bowels.

I used the lower amounts suggested by the package insert. If you choose this it’s very effective in getting things moving so be sure to be near a toilet. Also one caveat on these is that it’s available in plain or flavoured but the flavoured version uses artificial sweeteners but that didn’t agree with me)

Onwards-

It is possible you might have a wheat intolerance so if you’re looking to using whole bran that could add to the confusion. You might query your GP about this as maybe some of your symptoms could be explained from that possibility. Plus what you have been eating Rice and Banana, are often given as part of the BRAT diet which is prescribed to counter diarrhoea, meaning they are foods which bind you or otherwise may cause constipation. At this point I would suggest not eating foods that are known to cause irritation in many people and that includes peanut butter and other nuts, tomatoes / tomato sauce and other night shade vegetables like aubergine, bell peppers, red spices, citrus fruits including oranges and lemons.

To add fibre to your diet to help remedy the current constipation issue try adding peas, sweet potato, carrots, black beans, courgettes, green beans, quinoa, blueberries, pears, figs, guava, kiwi fruit, flax seeds, and oats to name a few.

Oatmeal porridge is a great addition but try to find the whole oat type and not pre-sweetened. Avoid artificial sugars and try maple syrup or honey if you know it doesn’t bother you, or regular old fashioned sugar in low quantity. Also avoid fried foods and highly spiced foods. Use olive oil or safflower oils when oil is needed for sauté or stir fry or for salad dressing add to apple cider vinegar along with a few simple non-irritating herbs like basil, coriander, ginger, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary or thyme.

About beverages: Stay away from carbonated drinks especially coke or similar. The carbonation irritates your gut and coke is known to cause issues as does coffee and other highly caffeinated drinks. Avoiding high alcoholic beverages and ones with fructose or high-fructose corn syrup added will help too. Plus limit or avoid dairy products. Read further on the FODMAP diet and follow comments from users that follow it. They often have good suggestions based on their experience with the diet. The best comment I saw was that the diet is based on experience and not everyone has the same ones. It’s a guideline so altering your use of it is ok.

I feel I’ve probably gone on far too long but I know how awful this can be to resolve. Note that yes colonoscopies are in no way pleasant but on the other hand if it’s able to give you an answer to all this then that’s less worrying than try this and that and waiting on test after test of your poop.

In the meantime I hope some of my suggestions can assist in helping you to get things moving along ( pun intended for your amusement - got to give yourself a laugh at this sometimes ) Good luck.