Hello there
I have never posted here before but been on the site and read posts over the years. I realise what I am about to list will have been seen a million times before, but I need to write it for my own clarity. I'll try to keep it short...but I would be SO grateful for any advice!
I am now 36 but in my late 20's after a bout of general unwellness (all digestive related e.g. frequency to the loo, often loose, spells that I termed "poison attacks with intense acid reflux and spreading pain in the upper stomach area etc) my GP diagnosed IBS. He did a number of blood tests but that was all as said I didn't require invasive testing given my age and blood results. It was managed over a period with things like buscopan, lanzoprazole, movicol etc etc. At the time I had a stressful and unhappy job, had just planned my wedding, was renovating a house and we were trying (without success for a baby). It went on in a moderate state for a couple of years then I got made redundant and fairly quickly after fell pregnant after 2 and half years trying and suddenly my health just improved and all was forgotten (this was 2011). Preoccupied with my young baby and not working I felt good for a year or so after having him, then in early 2014 it all started again - just fairly mildly again, as in infrequent bouts but the "poison attacks" started lasting longer, 3 /4 days rather than 24 hours or so. We were moving house and renovating our new one plus other tiring and stressful stuff going on in my life, with poor sleep thanks to a flighty toddler and so 2014 has progressed and all the while the symptoms of 7+ years ago are back and THEN SOME!! Just coming on gradually but more each time to the point where in September just gone it came on and has never really gone. Since then I have been back to my GP 4 times, tomorrow makes 5. I am booked in for a liver / gallbladder scan in January. She has done some bloods (sugar, thyroids, blood count, inflammation calcium, liver function maybe more) and all came back fine. I returned to work part time in July (but not a stressed role) and co-incidentally we have been trying for baby #2 for the last year and no success again. In a nutshell my symptoms are as follows (and many of them I've had for years and years to varying degrees):
+upper stomach bloating and discomfort ranging into "poison attacks" where I get intense acid reflux / uncomfortable pain spreading under my ribs
+ noisy stomach - gurgling and grumbling like mad
+flatulence
+lower stomach problems - diahorrea (or looseness), and more recently alternate bouts of constipation, always had frequency passes but recently getting the urge to bear down and go even if nothing passes which in turn is causing rear end itching and irritation and occasional bleeding from the anus (not in stools so far as I can tell), and now recently a sensation of pressure like a broom handle is up my backend!
+ very heavy fatigue and headaches during my "poison attacks"
+ in last 3 / 4 months had constant lower backache
+ split second tiny shooting stabbing pains around rectal / gynae area
+ tender front stomach - pulling sensations in my groin areas (had this for years) and just a general mild queasiness (like I could be pregnant but am definitely not)
+no weight loss, infact if anything weight gain despite trying to cut down
I am an active woman, we enjoy long regular walks with the dog, I work, look after my son, keep the house etc, so am always on the go. Despite this I am overweight and have been for several years. I don't even know my weight but would guess I am at least 2 stone over (my dress size is 16-18). I had 2 bouts of H. pylori in my mid-20s before IBS diagnosis, been tested again for that now but came back clear.
Other random symptoms I have had for many years include high colouration in my face, my hands and feet frequently swell up and go down and I sometimes get spells of a random rash (like hives) on my arms and legs for no obvious reason.
Much of all this I have just put up with for years, but the frequency of discomfort and the changes in my bowel habits recently have got me unnnerved and fearing the worst. I am seeing the GP tomorrow and want to insist on some bowel investigations and will go privately if needs be. I know from past experience that anxiety only exacerbates things so I am trying (and failing!) my best to keep the sensible head....no really I am totally panicking!
Any advice, or people experiencing the same or similar I would love to hear from!!
(oh yes, and today for the first time ever I passed the oddest long fibrous strands, like corn cob silks, which freaked me out!! Only relavent thing I've eaten is green beans and they have never done that before. Though I do always struggle to digest salad leaves).
Sorry for the long post despite my initial promise - I appreciate anyone's help who made it to the end. Thanks
...when you work hard and are always on the go you feel you deserve a little treat!!