I have wrote on here a few times but am becoming increasingly worried.
Won’t ramble on but quick break down Nov 2021 doctor said 99% IBS with the symptoms and following, bowel sample, blood test and fit test (which all come back clear) no need for referral for colonoscopy. However since then I ve not had a “normal” bowel movement what I mean as I have also got to take something to help me go.
I tried all different laxative and over the last 2 mths say I have been taking Cosmcol twice daily having a daily small bowel movement which is very thin and soft. I have become dependent on it and now to frightened to stop taking it but I really want to just go to the toilet naturally like I used to pre Nov 2021.
Yesterday I have started with lower to mid right abdo pain going round my back and am worried this is something more serious.
Am not convinced any more I have IBS.
Please advice.
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Bassem1979
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I would just suggest to try to see a gastroenterologist and have a colonoscopy. The colonoscopy does, to some extent, depend on your age. If you are quite young perhaps you may not need one, although this decision is best made by a gastroenterologist. Sometimes the UK system makes me angry. The US system also has a lot of problems but at least if you are insured which most are, you can usually see a specialist without too much problem, and without a long wait.
Yes, I can understand that. I think it is legitimate to want to see a specialist and have a reasonable test, including a colonoscopy, to rule things out and to get more peace of mind. x
If you are worried and able to I would recommend seeing a Gastro privately. I paid £180 for 30 mins. He has ordered all sorts of tests, most of them on the NHS, often you can self refer, I rang my local Nuffield hospital. It’s not right that you have to do so but if you are worried do not rely on your GP. My Gastro got on top of my constipation and it has made a great difference, I had no quality of life and my GP washed her hands of me. I wish with my whole heart I had done this with my first husband who we lost to Bowel cancer when his GP told him for two years he didn’t need a referral or any tests.
Thank you for that did you just google hospital or did you know where to go and who to get in touch with ? I will look in to that £180 is not a lot for ur health and reassurance.
I just rang my nearest local private hospital. They may need a GP referral which your GP should give you as to be honest it gets you off their case so to speak. Just Google local Private Gastros. Good luck. Sure you will be fine but peace of mind is everything.
I took a look at your older posts, and saw that you had a number of tests done a couple of years ago (that all seemed fine). Wasn't sure if you had had a colonoscopy or not. If you have not, I recommend getting one. It's sort of that one last thing you can check off your list.
There's plenty of advice on this community for those. I've had a bunch of them. I think the first one is the hardest, mostly because of anticipation.
I'm hoping getting a colonoscopy will put your mind at rest a little. Like I say, it's one last thing that you can check off. IBS is often diagnosed by process of elimination. If you've been through all the tests, you can then breathe a little sigh of relief.
Of course, IBS is no fun. And it certainly sounds like you've got a nasty case of it. Hard to believe sometime, but it could be worse.
One thing I couldn't help noticing in looking at your old posts was that all but one had the word "scared" in the title. Which led me to wonder if you've had or thought about therapy. Stress and emotional issues can play a huge role in IBS. If you haven't already might be worth a go.
Your story sounds a little bit like mine except I have the "d" variety mostly!
My doctor said more or less the same after three stool tests and one blood test came back perfectly fine.
I too, wish my toilet habits weren't a source of constant concern, and would just miraculously go back to what they were like on March 6th 2020. It seemed my IBS crept up a little bit with the odd 'upset tummy' for a couple of years, but rarely. Then on March 7th 2020 it started full scale, and though I've had normal periods since, it has never 100% gone away.
Every time I have a flare up it makes me feel so unwell, and it feels worse than IBS. More like bad food poisoning or something. Also in a flare up I get much worse lower back pain than usual, and just feel awful psychologically too. I end up in tears with it.
Maybe you could speak to your doctor and get him to arrange more regular stool tests. My doctor was on the look out for any red flags on those tests which warranted further investigation, but there were none. He then read out a long list of all the illnesses it couldn't be from the results. It set my mind at rest, sure. But the questions still hit me again every flare up I have.
You could also confide in your doctor and get a referral to a GI consultant maybe, as your symptoms are starting to worry you? You are entitled to that, I think.
Do you know if close relatives, members of your family, have been diagnosed with a (milder) form of mucoviscidosis? Your symptoms sound familiar to me and I have been referred on my request to a CF specialised University hospital just to rule out, or not, if mucoviscidosis could be the underlying genetic cause of all my health problems. I now hope the consultants at the University hospital see enough reasons to invite me for a consult.
I'm similar to you but my symptoms have been going on just over a year. I have seen two private gastro consultants as I didn't want to waste my time with my GP practice who are next to useless.
The first gastro I saw a year ago sent me for a sigmoidoscopy as he didn't think a colonoscopy was necessary, it was clear. Since then I have paid for other tests but not bowel related & all were clear. I recently went to see a pelvic floor physio & she thought my problems were bowel related & advised me to get a diagnosis before she would continue to work with me. That's when I paid to see another private gastro. I saw him a few weeks ago & I told him I wanted a colonoscopy, he refused, even though I was willing to pay for it. Going private doesn't guarantee you anything. He said as my previous sigmoidoscopy was clear it was doubtful there would be any problems & that it's probably IBS.
I explained to him that my symptoms are much worse than they were last year, my stomach pain is constant, lower left, centre & upper right. He was extremely patronising & said too many people were watching TV & googling symptoms. The only thing he suggested was a FIT test via my GP. I have only just done the test so don't have the results yet. If it's clear they will treat as IBS. I currently have no life. I went out yesterday & I felt so I'll when I got home, I was dizzy & tired & full of stomach pain, I felt quite frightened. I'm expecting a call from my GP next week but I know they won't do anything & has the gastro flat refused a colonoscopy I don't know what else to do. I don't know whether the pay to see another gastro until I find one willing to do the colonoscopy, any suggestions anyone?
Hi That’s the issue I have been having cause my fit test came back clear the diagnosis is IBS no more test just Amitriptyline which helped at first but now does not do much.
I have constant stomach rumbling, popping noises, trapped wind but I have also started again with an internal pressure in my lady area.
I don’t know if this is because am constipated and it’s pressure but as am on Cosmcol I have some kind of bowel movement every day. Not a good bowel movement but something is better than nothing.
The feeling in my lady area is awful feels like I have something stuck and pressure.
I know I worry earlier and want reassurance but at the same time we know our own bodies the best and when something different you know.
I do have health issues with my womb which am awaiting surgery which could all be related as it’s so close together in the body, so why can’t someone just tell you that.
Hope you get the follow ups u need and answers you need.
I had exactly the same symptoms as you beginning early January last year. Over a period of 6 months I had various internal investigations, full colonoscopy, CT scan and an ultrasound to check my ovaries because I also like you had a pressure feeling just above my pubic bone. All my tests came back clear. I’ve suffered from chronic constipation for years and like you I have a small bowel movement every morning and it’s soft, but in no way clears my bowel. I’m constantly bloated and gassy. I do believe much of our problems are due to diet, but although I eat plenty of what I consider is healthy, it might be that as I’ve aged, my body doesn’t tolerate some of those things. Ive not tried low FODMAP but that might be my next option. I’ve recently done a FIT test offered to me as I’ve just reached 60, but awaiting the results. It’s a frustrating illness that seems more common these days, maybe because of all the additives and chemicals that are in our foods that were unaware of!
Please go back to your GP. There comes a point where self treatment is not enough.
When I was diagnosed with IBS it was private not NHS, you will find with IBS that it changes from day to day week or week ect ect as you know I have had IBS for 30 years, you will find that you have to look hard at your diet, I get pains in my front at the top at the bottom left and right back pain upper and lower, not all at the same time tho, are you drinking lots of water? And do you drink tap water?
I’ve been dealing with IBS-D for 20+ years, until recently, it’s flipped and I’ve been dealing with more bouts of “C”, with some “D” flare ups here and there. Tons of stomach pain, gas, lower/mid-back pain, mostly when laying in bed… I’ve had tests as well and all come back normal. I also deal with fibromyalgia and my GP has referred me to a Urology/Gynaecologist to see if any of my lower abdominal pain could be bladder related. I’ve also been told peri-menopause can cause many of these symptoms as well. I saw you mentioned you’re 43, me too! And I’ve been dealing with peri-menopause for the last few years with a pretty big ramp up within the last 6 months I’d say. It seems like so many of our issues can be interrelated, it can make it so hard to know what’s coming from where. And I know the anxiety of not “really” knowing what’s wrong, just supposedly what’s not wrong, is not very helpful. I hope you can find your answers, but know that even though it seems scary, you’re doing all the rights things. You could try adding fiber, maybe a probiotic to your diet too.
I’ve been dealing with IBS-D for 20+ years, until recently, it’s flipped and I’ve been dealing with more bouts of “C”, with some “D” flare ups here and there. Tons of stomach pain, gas, lower/mid-back pain, mostly when laying in bed… I’ve had tests as well and all come back normal. Change this to 40+ years and this is me right now-the club we didnt want to be in! Your sentence about the anxiety of it all is so true and is very often overlooked.
Have you gone on low fodmap diet? Often, IBSC is caused by lactose, fructan, or glutein intolerance. You need to investigate this for yourself by elimination diet.
I have done everything and nothing helps, I tried all different diets cut out loads of different foods which resulted in my becoming worse and losing loads of weight.
I reread your comments -- you do know that Amitryptiline causes constipation? I was on it years ago for Fibromyalgia but still healthy otherwise. I could not have bowel movement without daily stool softener.
Bassem1979, there is a possibility a thiamine deficiency may have a role in your IBS and abdominal pain. Thiamine is critical for the brain, vagus nerve and gut connection. Thiamine and vitamin D need magnesium to become bioactive and in turn activated thiamine with vitamin B2 are needed to activate B6. The B vitamins work better together. Pain, stress and medications can result in magnesium loss in addition to others listed in the krispin link. Thiamine is subject to being diminished or destroyed by anti thiamine factors. The stuttersence link presents a comprehensive list. I hope this information offers a direction leading to relief. Talk with your doctor before starting any supplements
Your symptoms sound very similar to mine I was told IBS taking Cosmocol etc but severe bloating burping etc food intolerances I’ve never had before I paid to see private gastroenterologist and long story short I have methane SIBO and on antibiotics see if your GP will refer you or if you can manage pay to go private you have to pay for the SIBO test but my GP has prescribed the antibiotics
Did the physician also found the root cause of the intestinal methane overgrowth (IMO) ? Otherwise your gut problems and other health issues might reappear after you're taken of the antibiotic.
Maybe instead of taking Symprove, you could try taking butyrate, a short chain fatty acid (SCFA). Alone or in combination with propionate, also a SCFA. Just an idea to consider / discuss with the gastroenterologist.
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