Anyone in the same sinking boat as me?

Digestive health
1

Hi,

I have been part of this forum for a while and haven't come across anyone who shares my condition and was hoping if I wrote about what is going on, I would find someone who is similar to me.

My problems started 18 months ago, when I decided to quit smoking. I got chronic constipation, I was lucky if I went once a week. this caused severe bloating and pain. I was prescribed various different laxatives, tried different alterations to my diet to little effect. The higher dosages of laxatives just gave me diarrhoea. I am a very healthy person, smoking was my only bad habit, I gym 6-7 times a week, I lost 6 stone so my diet was very healthy and I rarely drank.

I have been to see a couple of specialists, I have had a transit study which came back normal, a proctogram which revealed a large enterocele, and rectocele. I have had a sigmoidoscopy which revealed hemmorrhoids which have gotten a lot worse. I have had an anal manometry which came back normal, and a vaginal scan which was also clear. the specialists are saying its a 'phase'

I still have the constipation, it feels like my rectum is closed and the stool is getting stuck, I also struggle to pass wind regularly. I bloat and get cramps daily. If i fail to go for a couple of days, I then get severe diarrhoea. I currently take suppositories daily which have little effect. I struggle to eat anything now because it either bungs me up or goes straight through me. I daily have to digitally clear out my rectum, and have to press on the vaginal wall to clear the bare minimum and to release gas. I regularly pass lots of mucus and blood from my back passage.

I am currently awaiting an appointment to see another specialist at St Marks hospital, but like anything on the NHS it is taking a long time and I am deteriorating quicker than anything is being done.

I was wondering if anyone else had this? do you have a diagnosis? What treatment has been suggested/received? has anyone else been to St Marks and how long did you have to wait to be seen?

I am at my wits end, I am 26 and have no quality of life anymore. If it had been dealt with properly at the beginning I wouldn't have gotten this bad but the doctors don't seem to be in any hurry to help me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Becki

 

2

Hi Becki,

I really feel for you! If you feel like things are getting worse - I'd be booking another appointment at your doctors. If they are not aware of what's happening - they can't speed things along. I would also write down the things you want to say before you go - so you don't forget anything. You shouldn't be suffering like this at your age. I hope you get things sorted fast!

3

Dear Becki, I hope life has got better for you.  Can you leave a message?  I was in a distressing similar situation last year and very nearly the same these past few day.

Babyele

4

Hi Becki,

You do seem very young to be having these problems, but you should get a second opinion at a different hospital. You are entitled to. We as tax payers  pay the doctors and nurses salaries, so must not allow ourselves to be fobbed off. The NHS is trying and failing to look after too many people so the wait for diagnosis and treatment is intolerable. Because of that you have to shout loudly and make a lot of phone calls.

Also its possible you could be suffering from IBS as well as the other problems.

My IBS has been controlled now by A low FODMAP food plan. You can get it from the internet. The doctors are not helping with IBS. I had to do all my own research. It may not solve all your issues, but it cant hurt and could be a start.

5

I wrote to my MP who wrote to the hospital.  I then got an appointment.  It was not plain sailing as the first gynaecologist would not answer my questions but made out I had constipation because the radiologist said so.  They also said my problem did not exist, then after I said can I see her superior and waiting for ages this woman says she didn't know of the condition and came out with some more rubbish like physiotherapy. I walked out. They did in fact refer me to the wrong specialist. Not very good is it.