hi I'm at my wits end I feel, for 10 weeks now I've been suffering with really bad stomach cramps and pain in the mid left side of my back and bright yellow diarrhea some days really slimy and smelly some firmer but really soft with water or some days just mucus and blood at first I thought I had caught a bug and was told its probably a viral case of gastroenteritis however 10 weeks later I know its cleary not that at the same time this started the docs said I had a kidney infection so had 2 lots of antibiotics as we both thought that was where the back pain was coming from once again not the case as this cleared and I'm still left with the pain. I've done some reading online (I know bad thing to do) and have come to my own conclusion from my symptoms that it has to be 1 of 2 things either IBS or IBD. I have been to the doctors as I knew something wasn't right however its took them 6 weeks to send me for a blood test and might I add i had to ask for it myself, my bloods came back abnormal there's something raised in my liver but they don't think its serious and won't retest them for another 8 weeks incase it corrects itself (think it may be about 4 or 5 now) I've had stool samples tested the first one I did at the beginning of all this came back normal however I later learned that they only tested for infection and so my doctor said to put another one in this was week 6 the same as the bloods and he said the only thing they didn't test for was colitis so when I got the results it came back abnormal with no explanation or anything from the doctor I just had to ring myself and the receptionist read a note left on by the doctor wich said abnormal as to be expected already been referred ( around week 5 the doctor basically said there was nothing more he could do and was stumped as to what was wrong so referred me to a gastroenterologist) so naturally I'm a bit confused as all I've known is that my last stool sample was normal why is this one different. So the receptionist got one of the doctors to ring me and talk over the result and he said the inflammation marker was raised and that hopefully my app for gastroenterologist comes through soon so once again not really left with any answer. I'm suffering really bad with anxiety because of the pain I dont want to take anti depressants as they can cause diarrhea nausea and anxiety it gets to a point where I can't get settled in the house and have to go out in the car as I find this really helps bring me down . I've been living on toast with the most minute amount of butter and water to drink I've recently been drinking peppermint tea but not sure how much that is helping I've cut out milk as that can set me off, in the last 2-3 weeks I've been trying new pots mashed pots and plain chicken breast and carrots only maybe twice weekly though and only baby portions I've mainly been living off toast however I've come to think that even the toast is still giving me the diarrhea all be it not straight away. I am so afraid to eat anything that I know isn't safe 😔 I'm so emotionally mentally and physically exhausted I'm a mum of 2 and a chef. I have been taking buscapan for the cramps and they do help, I've. been referred for a colonoscopy which is also giving me terrible anxiety I'm just so afraid of pain I'm not sure how I'm still functioning to be honest any advice help experiences absolutely anything would really be greatly appreciated so sorry for the long post I know its a read but if anyone could take the time also greatly appreciated 😊 ❤
IBS OR IBD : hi I'm at my wits end I feel, for... - IBS Network
IBS OR IBD
Hi, it might be worth having a look at Bile Acid Malabsorption, link below.
gutscharity.org.uk/advice-a...
Also, are you taking anything to try to manage the diarrhoea
no I'm not as its not really recommended until you've seen a professional or gotten some kind of answer or diagnosis and I don't want to risk making myself constipated as the pain is just as bad I have had a look at the BAM it dose sound some what similar to how I'm feeling. should I speak to my doctor or should I wait to have the colonoscopy and see the gastroenterologist? thank you for replying
I would speak to your doctor, but be warned that some are not that aware of BAM. Perhaps print it off and take it with you. It's not something that is looked for by a gastroenterologist, well I don't think that is the case. It is diagnosed by a SeHCAT test. But that having been said, some people can get their doctor to let them trial a bile sequestrant, which is what is prescribed for BAM. Also, with COVID there would probably be a long wait for the SeHCAT test. So you might be able to twist your doctor's arm to let you trial it. It if works, there's your answer.
thank you i will definitely enquire about it
Your gastro can recommend testing for BAM. But you need ruling out IBD first. That can be done via Colonoscopy and mri/ct scan. A raised calprotectin or blood inflammation markers don't always result in IBD. Many infections and other issues can cause this as well as coeliac.
I will warn you, diagnosis can take a while and waiting is what you'll sadly have to do a lot of. If it gets bad go to A&E. They can patch up and pack off or admit you to hospital if something is wrong when tested. Being patched up and packed off I've had experience with many patch ups when things are bad, sometimes fluids or anti sickness is required.
thanks for your feedback in going for a colonoscopy next week so hopefully won't have too much more waiting to do hoping I can get answers and past on to the right people im on week 10 of whatever this is it might not be a long time for some but it is for me who is generally healthy
Good luck and let us know how you get on
thank you I will
Hello. I really feel for you, am a fellow sufferer!
It’s a positive that you are booked for a colonoscopy, I’ve had one and trust me it’s really nothing to stress about, the bowel prep the day before is far worse! ( you will be on the loo a lot!) ask them for a relaxant, you will need someone to collect you after the procedure as not safe to drive, but it would help with your anxiety massively and you are awake but sensation free during the colonoscopy.
Pain in the lower left with yellow mucous type loose bowel could be an indicator of diverticulitis which is why the inflammation markers were raised, my mum had this and it runs down the female line of her family,. The colonoscopy though will give you answers.
Maybe eating toast isn’t the best idea? You say dairy is an issue, possibly gluten is too. One thing that helped me determine safe foods was trying the fodmap diet, ideally you need a dietician to advise you on this, with the current situation though that might be a way off. Try looking up online I’m sure there’s info out there.
In the meantime try rice based dishes or soups as these are light but filling.
The anxiety is a viscous circle as it causes more issues with your digestive system, so try and find ways to relax, you could try something like propranolol which lowers the blood pressure but is also helpful in relaxing tension. It is prescribed only though so talk with your GP.
Best of luck
thank you for your feed back the colonoscopy prep is what I'm most afraid of because I'm worried I'm going to get the cramping pain with going to the loo now as it feels like I'm back in labour without the pain relief I've been looking at the low fodmap diet and have been trying mashed potatoes new potatoes plain chicken breast and rice however I don't really have an appetite either I'm finding that I'm only eating when my body feels its physically necessary wich is why its toast most of the time also I'm not on the loo straight away with toast however I do find that even with toast I'm still going to the loo a couple days later with the same kind of symptoms so whether gluten is maybe just a slow acting irritant for me I dont know I really appreciate your feed back
I have also suffered all your symptoms. However, I’m quasi ok now. Please do read about this condition. I had to do all the research myself because the medics knew next to nothing about it. In fact, they said I was bringing it on myself!
A must is dr Michael Mosley’s Excellent book The Clever Guts Diet. He’ll put you on the right path.
Try this. Set your alarm for four in the morning and have some squares of undiluted jelly. Then go back to sleep. This will slow down the peristalsis and thicken the stool. You adjust the dose yourself as you go along.
I know it can be upsetting reading about other people’s experiences and I’ve been in tears sometimes but knowledge is the key. Don’t shy away from it.
Be as upbeat as you can. Don’t let this drown you.
You have called yourself green tea. You are aware that green tea is a powerful purgative and is probably not ideal for you. My very best wishes and please get in touch if you need further help.
thank you so much for your feed back my name is just a name of the top of my head 😉 I'm only drinking water and pepper mint tea I thought it was working at the beginning but I'm not quit sure now also what about the artificial sweetners and things in the jelly I've read that these can also set it off? I also have done most of the research myself on IBS and IBD and waiting for a colonoscopy
Don’t accept sugar free jelly. The sweetener is far far worse than the actual sugar. In the U.K. we can get jelly which is not in crystal form. I don’t know where you live. I know that people with colostomies are told to eat jelly babies to thicken their stool. See a nutritionist You do need supplements because you are not getting a balanced diet. Thinking of you.
thank you I live in the UK I'm waiting to go for my colonoscopy next week hopefully will get answers and past on to someone
To put your mind at rest I had highly elevated inflammation markers last year, had a colonoscopy and still came back with an IBS diagnosis. Statistically far more people will come back with IBS than anything else. You are really well supported by nurses etc. during the colonoscopy and it is over with soon enough. The best thing to do at the moment is to focus on what you need to do each day and try not to think ahead or discuss it with anyone since it will just get your mind whirring.
If you need to control diarrhea, just temporarily, you can try cutting out the bread and eat white jasmine rice as your main carb, with plain, non fatty protein, carrots and any other veg that you think that you are OK with. For breakfast you can try rice crispies. Maybe also temporarily take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.
Perhaps initially you did have a bug of some sort, then went on the antibiotics which can mess up your digestive system even more, so it might be a bit all over the place at the moment.
If you get diagnosed with IBS, please check back in here since there is much that can be done to help your symptoms. Good luck.
thank you for your feed back any information is appreciated with the colonoscopy I think I'm more afraid of the prep than the actual procedure I'm afraid I will get the cramping pain I get now wich is unbearable to the point it brings on an anxiety attack every time nausea sweats and shakes it doesn't help that I don't have a high pain threshold either i suppose but we can't really control that I have tried rice and I've actually just gotten rice crispies to start with lactose and dairy free milk and I'm worried about taking anything e.g multi vitamins incase it makes me worse or anything but at the same time I probably should do something as I'm not getting any vitamins atm and think I'm starting to feel it I also have a problem with drinking I can't drink alot even if I do only just sip I'm only managing less than 500ml of water a day with maybe 1 or 2 cups of peppermint tea a full 500ml on a good day dont know if anyone else has this problem
Yeah I had a colonoscopy done not even a month ago, and the only bad part about it is the prep. The prep is hell and you will pee from your butt. However, this is a step in the right direction because it finally got me my diagnosis! They found abnormalities in my esophagus and stomach, however I don’t think I’ll know more until my follow up thursday. I use miracle essential oils digest to help with my ibs along with Imodium and librax, but librax is a prescription. But yeah, I had an incredible about of anxiety before my colonoscopy, and I actually had to reschedule it at one point because of it. The prep is hell, there’s no escaping it, however once it’s over everything for the most part is fine. I’ll let you know everything just to prepare you. So I got plenvu, three separate doses, dose 1, dose 2 part A, and dose 2 part B. Dose 1 is mixed with 16oz of water and then you need to drink 8oz (you don’t need to chug it or anything so take your time) MIX IT 6 HOURS BEFORE AND PUT IT IN THE FRIDGE it is MUCH better cold and you can even add ice to it. After you drink that first half, wait 15 minutes then drink the other. It has a horrible fruity taste and is extremely salty, but I just held my nose. The second dose I had to mix super early in the morning, and I only drank the first half and not the second because I threw most of it up lol, but even though I didn’t finish the bowel prep my colonoscopy went fine and everything was okay! I know how bad anxiety + stomach is, but if you do end up getting prescribed librax as well, it’s also an anti-anxiety medicine!
its moviprep i have to take and its in 2 doses i have to mix 1st one with 1litre of water and drink over a couple hours and then make the second one with another 1litre of water and drink that I've been told to refrigerate it and that I can use some orange squash in it to make it taste abit better i know your saying the prep is hell but how so did you get alot of pain with cramps and things or just the fact that you where going to the toilet all the time its the pain I am afraid of 😰😰
I have had six or seven colonoscopies and only one of them hurt.
was it the procedure itself that hurt or the prep?
It was the procedure but when I yelled they gave me an injection And I felt nothing more
I am not afraid of them at all.
.
did you have any pain with the prep e.g painful cramps and things ?
Not at all. Only constant voiding, which was unpleasant but I don’t remember any pain. The first time I cried after the procedure because it was so embarrassing but all subsequent times I just took it in my stride. Come on. You can do it. You’re made of the right stuff!
I’ve done several colonoscopies in the past. It’s fine. I don’t think the prep is “hell”. It just makes you go to the bathroom over a period of time (a few hours). It’s not painful. It’s just that the liquid you have to drink you get fed up of it fairly soon. It helps when it’s very cold. And you drink it very little by little (this is important otherwise you might feel nauseous). I have learned that if I go every few minutes and drink a sip of it, I tolerate it much better.
After a couple of hours you start going to the toilet. And eventually you start “pooing” clear water. Then you know that the prep worked and you are ready for the colonoscopy,
Instead of feeling super anxious about it, feel thankful that you are having one soon! It will answer many questions and you will be one step closer to finding a diagnosis.
thank you for your feedback i really appreciate it i have anxiety because of pain so naturally I'm scared incase I get pain with the prep
Hi Greentea77 ..I have had IBS for many years and get the odd flare up ..On normal days it's fine and I know any little niggles are my IBS, however in April I started having the same pains as yourself, in left side of my back and abdomen ..I was also given antibiotics for a kidney infection (though no water sample tested! ) The medication made me so ill and I stopped taking them ..It got worse and I was sent for ultra sound scan, which was clear.. I decided to try cutting out certain foods, as even with my IBS foods never really bothered it -mines stress related- Finally for the past 3 weeks the pain has gone and I'm going to loo regular every day - The culprit has been bread and pasta and other wheat based food! ..I now try small amounts and if I do I have lots of aching in left side -which seems to be the descending side if my colon ..Try cutting out the same and see if it helps . I had a colonoscopy a year ago - it's was clear except a small amount of diverticula pockets on the lower left- which are normal age related - the Moviprep was the worst part about it -Drink a quarter of the jug full every 15 mins -through a straw, as this helps to bypass your taste buds! Also after drinking each quarter I followed it down with half a glass of Orange lucosade or Sports drink..It really helps get rid of the taste .. A while after drinking your first jug ..You'll get a sudden urge to go the toilet and will need to run ..its worth staying upstairs a while, as once you starts - you be running the loo loads ..I recommend soft baby wipes to dab and vaseline, as it leaves you so sore ...The Procedure itself is fine ..I had sedative, but was still wide awake and even watched it on the TV screen which was amazing ...The staff are very kind and it's lovely to have t high end results there and then ..I was so relieved and enjoyed a lovely cup of tea and biscuits before going home ..Hope it goes well for you - Please try not to worry as it has such a massive effect on our digestive system and can make us really ill ...Please keep us updated how you get on and take care x
thank you so much for your feed back did you have any pain with the moviprep e.g the painful cramps and things?
No, I don't remember having any pains or cramps ...The soreness was the worst thing!
is it worth getting something like the andrex wet wipes then?
Hi. It sounds like something similar to what i had and still have, but no so bad now. I was eventually diagnosed after 2 yrs of suffering the syptoms with lymphocytic colitis. Ive had the syptoms (lesse severe now) 4yrs. Im prescribed esomeperazole 20mg. After i had ecolonoscopy i was prescribed a steroid called Budenofalk 9mg. Which stopped the diarrhea. Still get stomach cramps and take buscopan when it flares up. As for food , you have to experiment to find what works for you (i lived on toast and multivitamin tabs for 2 yrs). If you can, write down the foods that upset your stomach. If you get any burning in your stomach id suggest (you can) raise the head end of your bed by 6 inches.( i have a couple of blocks of wood under the feet) its more comfy than a cushion. I cant think of anything else to tell you atm. All the best.
thank you for your feedback really appreciate it
hi all thank you all for your feedback and personal experiences im all done i did find it OK I had the sedation and gas and air the prep was nothing like I thought it would be however I've been told there is inflammation and spotty rectal mucosa and had biopsies done but from there point of view there's nothing serious there or any indication as to whatvit could actually be so feel like I'm going back to square one and waiting for my gp to get in touch dont get me wrong im happy there's nothing serious there but at the same time still feel at a loss as I was hoping to have some kind of answer.
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