I'm going through a really rough patch mentally at the moment. I've been suffering with constant everyday abdominal pain for the past 6 months, mainly on the right-side and behind my belly button, I am still having loose stools with no blood. I have recently developed a new symptom which is upper and lower back ache and a sore and itchy anus which is starting to concern me.
I have had most of the tests necessary to rule out things I.e colonoscopy, endoscopy, fit test x2 stool samples, ultrasound and an abdominal ct scan last year. Everything has come back clear apart from my calprotectin was high in my two most recent stool samples. I am still awaiting to see a specialist but I don't know when that will be.
My anxiety is starting to get the better of me and my mind is going in all different kind of directions and I'm confused as to why my body is still like this constantly everyday. I cant accept this being ibs. I'm sure my anxiety and stress isn't helping the matter but nevertheless I shouldn't be experiencing these symptoms for this long.
Thank you for reading.
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Macca1utd
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As you know calprotectin is an inflammatory marker for somewhere in the digestive tract.
Anxiety takes on a life of it's own,like an avalanche, but this kind of worry does you no good and doesn't change anything,probably the opposite.
You have to find a way to get a grip on it.Learning relaxation or meditation techniques may help,better to learn something like that than rely on medication but that's another option.
We discussed at an earlier time,of adopting the fodmap diet,how has that gone for you?
Yes anxiety definitely sucks! I've been trying to get myself out if this dark hole I'm in but if in honest I'm really struggling. I'm just in this constant cycle of thinking the worst everyday, it's exhausting.
Yes I have been trying the fodmap diet without any success, I will keep trying though. I'm currently taking alflorex, hopefully that will have some positive effect.
That is really difficult. Of course you are stressed. Are you sleeping? I have chronic pain and fatigue conditions anyway, but my new constant abdominal pain (for 8 days now) is worrying me and I am struggling. I started post menopausal bleeding yesterday too, so now my brain is completely frazzled. Fed up now.
I had post menopausal bleeding. NHS were great into see a Doctor and then referred within 2 weeks. I had a tests, scan etc. I had a polyp removed. He said if left it could have caused pain and discomfort. Get it checked, I was anxious like you but knew it was important to get checked. All the best x
Sorry to hear you are struggling with pain, I hope that passing very soon for you. It's horrible when you are in a constant cycle of thinking the worst isn't it! I truly feel for you.
Strangely enough I don't have any problems getting to sleep of whilst I'm asleep but the moment I open my eyes for the next day it all starts again.... round and round we go! I just want to get off this messed up merry go round and feel normal again.
Sorry to hear you are having just a difficult time. I hope you get some answers soon. Keep pushing with GP’s etc. I’ve been struggling with chronic abdominal distension since August 22. Have loose stools, blood in stools and in the toilet bowl and fatigue. I’ve been off work with this since Aug 22. Have had CT scan of abdomen, chest and pelvis, numerous blood test and 2x normal FIT test however no explanation as to what’s going on. I’m currently waiting for Calprotectin results. I’m so needing answers as I can’t deal with this being my ‘ New Norm’ Good luck to you for getting the answers you need.
Sorry to hear you are still struggling with pain and you're symptoms. It's really positive they havnt found anything sinister but at the same time it's annoying not knowing what's going on with you're body isn't it!
I've actually just got my gastro appointment through yesterday, hopefully they can shed some light on what's going on with my insides. My appointment isn't for another month though, so it's another long wait for me unfortunately.
Thank you Macca. I hope your gasto appointment sheds some light on things for you. I've just started taking Mebeverine and things appear to be improving. I'm really hoping this will continue so that I can return to work and start living again.
Hello, sorry to hear this. You could try berberine to firm up your stools. It is also an antimicrobial (berberine) so if you take it for a long period it will kill any unhelpful bacteria in the gut and allow you to repopulate the gut. Also, when you have loose stools, it leads to malabsorption of vitamins that can lead to anxiety. Thiamine (vitAmin B1) is really important for this. Feel free to message me for more info as I am a certified herbalist in general.
I Will look in to that. It's a big mixture of everything for me with the anxiety, abdominal pain, back pain and loose stools. I just can't seem to cant a break recently.
I understand exactly what your going through, I have had similar symtons a while back. I had all the tests which came back clear. So then you get almost ignored and left no knowing who to see next. My brain was working overtime trying to avoid thoughts of something serious. I am going to see the specialist again this Thursday. And I've had no symtoms for six weeks so what do I say to her? I am worried I will be turned away and next week it all starts again.I hope your symtoms stop like mine did
IBS can behave like this. If your specialist has any knowledge of IBS they should know that. Mine sometimes goes away for weeks at a time. It always kids me into thinking I'm better. But no not really because it does come back, then go, then come back again etc. That doesn't happen with everyone with IBS, but with some it does.
That is correct, I'm sure my doctors think I'm making stuff up, I went to see the doctor last week and he was looking through my medical record and obviously seen that I've had a lot of tests done so he just kind of shrugged it off and prescribed me some more codeine and colofac.
Yes that's exactly how my brain is working at the moment, I'm constantly thinking the worst all day everyday, it's really exhausting.
I've literally had to chase this gastro appointment up for months, the hospital have been horrendous if I'm honest. I managed to speak to a really nice women at the outpatient clinic a couple of days ago and she chased it all up for me and within a couple of days I got my referral through.
I read here every day. I too am an IBS sufferer, I also quit a very high paying job in my fifties due to anxiety. I had to get disability for anxiety and panic disorder. Here’s the kicker, my anxiety will not allow me to take meds, period, no MRI (tried twice, cannot get in that tunnel, period). Have had stool, blood, scans, X-rays, ultra sounds etc…. Tested 98 percent positive for IBS. That’s all I need to know!
Now, here’s my take: everyone’s opinions are uniquely theirs, this is mine.
After all the testing, reading everyone’s stories, symptoms of sufferers, all their testing and final conclusions I have solidified my decision.
Until we can retrain our brain the pattern will absolutely continue. When we were children we did not open our eyes and immediately concern ourselves with how we felt! It did not cross our mind, we just got up and looked forward to that day! If you wake up and your first thought is health related you set yourself up for worry all day. Your body is on full alert all day, your gut reacts to what your brain is delivering. If it’s always negative so is your gut.
No amount of tests can change that!
No more tests for me!!! It’s been 4 years, since any tests. I HAVE IBS! If I’m in a month long flare I know what it is ITS IBS! Does it suck, absolutely. Does it interfere with quality of my days, absolutely. Hurt, pain, bloating, urgent loose stools, absolutely! It’s IBS! No tests and I’m still alive, ITS IBS!
We have to stop feeding the doctors and paying off their equipment because we are freaking out over what we already know!!!!! Be positive, de-stress, eat better, avoid triggers, excercise! The obvious does not need a diagnosis!
Do I follow those rules? No, I smoke, drink soda daily, eat what I want and of course I pay for it but I know one thing ITS IBS AND NOTHING MORE!!!
Just a note to say that I totally agree with you post . I have very similar experience .
Sometimes i get a bit concerned and get drawn into worrying if something more is going on when in a bad spell. I think IBS somehow does this to you when it gets you down.
Like you I had to give up a senior job in Accountancy when 50 through stress . Had IBS since age 21 , now 76 so worrying about it is really pointless and just makes things worse . Like you , no more tests either -it is what it is !
I have also come round to that conclusion. I now believe what the doctor said was right and am not so scared it could be "something else" ! I do watch out for any horrible or scary changes, or unusual pains that don't pass off, but otherwise just manage it. IBS has a way of making us scared. One reason is it gets the gut-brain thingy and our moods can be attached to what's going on in the gut, which makes the IBS worse. etc. I get super creepy feelings when my gut is upset, almost like there's an evil spirit doing things to me at its whim and fancy!!
But I reckon I would either be dead or at least a heck of a lot worse by now if it was "more than IBS". So I just carry on, adapting my diet day by day and noticing that there are at least some times with me when I can be quite normal.
I get it! I have great, normal days and then out of nowhere! That’s the pattern, I can be in a flare for weeks and it sucks but I know what it is so I deal. I whine and complain, I know it’s not anything life threatening but it stinks and I get feeling sorry for myself. It’s a stress to always say I can’t leave until an hour after eating, I won’t eat out during flare ups, won’t wander far from home. So the embarrassment and the ”what if’s” stress us, make anxiety high and feed the IBS problem that we got from the stress and anxiety, go figure! I foresee a huge surge of IBS in our future due to all of the stress, Covid, shootings, social media…….
We can see the obvious causes so testing, testing, exams etc…. Just make you even more anxious and stressed. I don’t need it, refuse to cave in to endoscopies, colonoscopies and all of the medical jargon. I have IBS!
You have a very positive way at looking at, I wish I could be more like that. I was sort of ok before I found out my calprotectin levels where kind of high and that just set my anxiety off wondering what could be going on inside me.
I should be more calm because I've had a colonoscopy, fit test, ultrasound, endoscopy and all have came back clear, my worries are my symptoms and the pain I'm in, thats what leaves me to believe that there is something more definitely going on.
Definitely a sore and itchy anus can be caused by loose stools especially if you have to 'go' more than twice a day, and especially if the bouts are in fairly quick succession. Wiping causes it. Even a wipe plus mainly warm water on pads of loo paper don't prevent it, because the anus isn't designed to be washed umpteen times a day. It's quite delicate skin there.
Every time I get a flare up I get the same problem which resolves itself when the flare up settles down. My bum doesn't mind the treatment once a day but even twice can make it feel a bit irritated.
And unfortunately my favourite loo paper has been discontinued which was infused with aloe vera and strong! The cheaper version isn't the same.
So if you get loose stool or have to go more than once, then minimal wiping (just enough) followed by a couple of washes with just warm water, followed by something like sudocrem or aloe vera cream might help that. Yes it's fiddly and a bit messy but worth it.
My hands got all parched and dried up too because I was constantly washing them! So disposable surgical gloves are really useful and will protect your hands quite a bit. I got a box of 100 for about £5 on Amazon.
I am suffering with a sore and itchy anus as we speak 😖 thank you for the advice, I will try that out and see how it goes. I am literally only passing stool once a day, I dont suffer with diarrhea, my stools are just really sloppy ( sorry tmi) it's more the pain behind my belly button that worries me.
forgive me if I’ve missed something within replies or your post.
Have you had surgery anywhere near you belly button or abdominal area?
Something to consider (and only my personal experience!), do you have an intestinal adhesive causing the pain, causing a blockage or again potential twisting of the intestine?
You symptoms are exactly what I have experienced in the past, lower back pain, loose stools and these were caused by ‘adhesion’ (best to read up for yourself:))- but as a side note I had had major surgery when in my 20’s causing the adhesion.
Regardless hope you find some light at the end of your tunnel!
I havnt had any surgery, but I will bring this to my specialists attention in a month's time. I just hope I can find a solution amd fix this issue as its driving me mad!
I am seeing the specialist today. And have had normal stools for six weeks . Use I could cancell the appointment.But I have developed a new symtom now in the fact that if I am going to be driven a long distance in a friend's car my IBS starts about half an hour before I go and then I'm always late because I can't keep off the loo. Worried that they may not be tolerant enough to stop on the way or maybe we are going somewhere for the day where I know there are no toilets.
If I drive myself I'm fine. But I still have to stop on the way somewhere.
I hate to say this but still go to your specialist. I also get weeks sometimes when everything is normal, and I feel more or less fine. But my IBS comes back...then goes again....then comes back again (not diet related either.)
Got to see the specialist on Thursday she said a scan revealed a slight thickning in an area where I have a know hiatus hernia so I have got to have another endoscopy and a colonoscopy on the same day. This is going to set my IBS of for sure.
My question is,let's just imagine it's IBS in the meantime,then what are you doing to try and alleviate the symptoms?Too much sugar can make your bum itch,so can pin worms,for example.
Think you could do with some third party help with the anxiety.
I don't feel a thing at night, it's literally as soon as I open my eyes in the morning, I go right back to where I left off... stomach cramps, stomach gurgle, itchy anus and back pain. It's a nightmare honestly.
Don't take this for gospel but I think one of the diagnostic clues for IBS (apart from all the tests of course) is that it doesn't cause problems while actually sleeping, as some other different illnesses can do.
But that said, IBS is horrible in itself. And many people with IBS can have broken sleep, early waking, and mad dashes to the loo as soon as they open their eyes. I have also had late night flare ups, but I guess that doesn't count as they started before I went to sleep. I also usually sleep through then it all takes up where it left off. Waking up can be just a miserable experience of facing another day of it all...
Yes I do need to tackle this anxiety for sure, it really can't be helping me at all. It just seems like sleep is the only way I can get rid of all my symptoms, I don't feel a thing when I'm asleep.I think maybe I do need to try a little harder with what I eat and drink. I'm just really fed up.
I'll suggest this again...As an experiment which will be well worth doing....
Assume you have IBS and get on with modifying your diet and see what happens.Fodmap,monash and it requires some focus and discipline. But do something you have power over...what you eat.A primary cause of stress a d anxiety is feeling powerless...
It doesn't mean you have to give up on trying to eliminate other possible conditions.
You take a bit of magnesium and thiamine .Magnesium in particular is helpful as is a bit of vit d.
Vit D is a widespread deficiency across the UK particularly in winter and is an essential vitamin.
I will look it to magnesium and thiamine and I will try and be more disciplined with my diet. That's one thing I do struggle with is with the whole fodmap diet I don't know where to start.Thank you very much for you're reply and input.
The Monash site gives good guidelines.Read it and apply.
It's not hard but requires some discipline and focus.
I'm sure you have, as most of us do,a familiar and habitual diet.This creates a new set of habits ,avoiding the foods that commonly cause problems.
You've had all sorts of other tests,this is one you do yourself. Instead of worrying yourself to death apply your mind to this.At least a couple of months required.
In general remove onion,garlic,most fruit,all dairy products,common gluten containing stuff,and brassicas.
Where to start?
At the beginning, read and understand the fodmap guidelines,make a new shopping list and get on with it.
I know and I'm sorry to hear this.I wake up thinking its all gone away, then as soon as my day begins it starts all over. The doctor has told me it must be me then, not not my stomach. I am now going to have a colonoscopy and a endoscopy sometime and it's made me worse Just thinking about it.
I know how you feel, that's exactly how my life is at the moment. I know worrying and having anxiety won't be doing me any favours but it's hard to get a grip of.
Good luck with you procedures, I hope everything works out and I'm wishing you all the best.
I have been on anxiety tablets before which didn't do a lot for me if I'm honest but come to think of it, I didn't really give them enough of a chance and yes I've tried therapy but I had a bad experience with that as the therapist I had didn't seem to interested in my opinion. I have just been caught in this massive cycle of health anxiety literally to the point where I am trembling because my nerves are shot and I've got constant muscles tension in my neck and shoulders. I'm just in a really bad place at the moment.
Macca1utd, check out anxiety and IBS with thiamine deficiency. Thiamine requires adequate magnesium to become activated so if one is low on magnesium little or no benefit results. Anti-thiamine factors diminish or destroy thiamine. There are lists of them to look over. Additional thiamine should be used in conjunction with a B-Complex. Always consult your health care professional before using ant supplement.
Hi Macca1utd.. the itchy anus in my opinion is Hemorrhoids . Everytime I get it, I am convinced I have worms. But recently I have read that Hemorrhoids can definitely cause an itchy anus. You can get suppositiries and cream to help with that. I've always thought you can only get them with constipation, but then i think abut how much I am straining with loose stools, because it's so hard to feel like you're 'all done'.
For your anxiety, have you tried the Nerva app? It's a hypnotherapy app specifically for IBS problems. I can see you have tried a therapist already, but I was just going to say you can refer yourself for NHS CBT (unless this is where you found your therapist before). I was on Citalopram for a while, but don't think that helped my IBS so came off. Have a look into CBD as well.. I have a vape that I use on the way to work and I feel like it does relax me a little.
I think I do suffer with hemorrhoids, the worry thing for me is every symptom I have is just constant, there's no let up!
I will look in to this app you speak of, thanks for the mention. I havnt tried cbt yet, so maybe worth a look.
I have tried cbd vape but I got one of the cheaper ones and it didn't do much for me to be honest. I was looking at buying one of the more expensive liquids to put in to my own vape mod rather than buying a disposable one.
I get highly stressed and anxious by factors in my life over which I have little or no control,this is probably true for most.My upper body gets very wound up like yours.
Anxiety is primarily a mental state and manifested in the body.
You could say "you're in you head"
and "not grounded "
Let's say you were a tight rope walker,or a rock climber for example...if you were "in your head" you would fall.
If your mind and body were "one"
you most likely wouldn't,assuming you had the primary coping skills for those types of activities.
I have always favoured modifying habits over medications where possible.
There's a bit too much symptomatic relief going on in general practice without unraveling the causes.That takes way too much time and effort.
Many people would rather take a pill than change a habit.
Learning relaxation techniques would probably help you.
Hemorrhoids cause rectal bleeding exacerbated by too frequent use of the apparatus,as in IBS d.
They and the apparatus can be irritated by diet.
There are little folds and fissures which can retain fecal matter.This causes irritation and discomfort.
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