Hi there
I want to go to my doctors about this but I want to have some sort of idea before I do.
I'm in my early 20s and for as long as I can remember I've had a weak stomach. From when I was in primary school, probably 8 or 9 I remember walking to school one morning and all of a sudden I needed the toilet. Within a minute or two from thinking I needed to go it was too late and I had messed myself. I was so ashamed that I said a big dog was chasing me and I was scared.
I often stay home because I find it easier than having to spend 40 minutes in the toilet making sure I won't need to go when I'm out. It's ruining my social life.
A typical day for me starts with 10 minutes on the toilet. Once I'm sure I am done I get up and go do something for 10 minutes then go back to the toilet for another 10 minutes. I do this probably 3 times before I am confident enough to leave the house.
I do believe that I suffer from some sort of anxiety. By worrying I might need to go I end up having to. If I am not going out I don't need to go. If I know I am going out that day I seem to go toilet more frequently.
My stool is almost-always loose.
For the first time, I took some Imodium when I went abroad and I felt so good. I was so confident having only gone to the toilet once in the morning and even then I didn't really need to go. If only I could have something that I could take that would have this affect on me every day?
I'm not sure what I should say to my doctor as you'll have read, I don't quite know what to say or how to say it.
Can anyone comment on my situation? What do you think I should go to the doctors for? Maybe I need some anxiety tablets and that'll fix the toilet trouble itself?
Christian, you're right, you need to go to the doctors and simply tell him what you've just put on the forum. Spend some time before you go writing everything down on paper in note form and if necessary give it to your doctor. Doctors in general don't mind how you tell them just as long as you get all the main facts across.
good luck
Hi please you must urgently go to see a Doctor and also a Bowel Specialist and get this sorted.
I have IBS for a long time and I have had all the test,, most time I am sort of okay my is more stomach pain which will stop me from eating fot several days, but also my bowel habits have changed, not as bad as yours. So please get it all checked out, I would have thought that your parents would have done that, but go back again.
All the best Alexander.
Where most people go wrong with ibs etc is that they think the doctor or consultant will fix it. He can diagnose it, no more. Then it is up to you. Because it is all about DIET. Most doctors and consultants do not even study diet and know nothing at all about a connection, so why ask them for help>? Read a book about acid versus alkaline diet and you will learn far more than you would from meeting a consultant a thousand times. The remedy is in your own hands. Same as it is with many illnesses. Yes it would be lovely to just turn to someone in a white coat and leave it all to them. But surely you know by now this does not work? It just wastes time and gives false hope and pays them a wage, but it does not improve YOUR life. The go through the motions. A bit like a so called witch promising to do a spell.
The internet is a wonderful thing. Unless the doctor is going to do an endoscopy and put a camera down there to see what is there, if he is simplyh working it out on case history and facts you can do this yourself. It is all online. And very often more up to date here too.
Thanks everyone for the comments. My next step really is to see the Doctor I just wanted to know I was not going to say too much in an uncomfortable position.