IBS or something else?? Very worried

Digestive health
1

Hi all,

I am hoping someone can provide any insight to the following. Sorry if it is long-winded.

I have had some ongoing issues for the last couple of months or so.

I am 37 have generally had symptoms of IBS since 2008, when I had a bad bout of diarrhoea and some blood (which was an anal fissure at that time) after eating a certain oat*bix cereal.

On and off I have had persistent symptoms, especially with dairy foods, ever since. I had some food intolrance tests done and it was the milk itself I was intolerant to, not just the lactose.

Anyway from November 2014 I had some bouts of my stomach being very tender to touch, upset stomach, and pains in my sides and back (tenderness).

I have been to the Doctor and told everything from Costochondritis, IBS, Kidney infection (which turned out to be negative). Had blood tests done at now ex-GP surgery in December and January, all OK apart from a slightly raised CRP level (an inflammation marker), and a little high potassium from the Kidneys. Heliobacter Pylori and TGT Coeliac were negative.

The pains got worse, especially ribs, and I went back to the GP and they said my lower ribs are short in lengthe and probably digging in to something "come back if it get's worse".

Just before Christmas I got very bloated after a meal out with my Nan (had Fish & Chips) and then on Christmas Day had terrible stomach tenderness and diarrhoea that had alot of undigested mushrooms in it (I had eaten them the day before, not had a problem before that). Also a couple of times a kind of pinching/squeezing sensation just below my left ribs at the side. Like a throbbing pinch someone squeezing then letting go and then repeating it.

Went back to the Doctor and told to take Buscopan for Bowels and given Naproxen for ribs - oh my god the Naproxen nearly ripped my stomach apart! I had advised NSAID's hurt my stomach but he thought they'd be ok.

In January the pains in ribs and sides got so tender it was almost unbearable. Went back to GP and did an upper abdominal ultrasound at Hospital. Everything looked ok (gallbladder, liver, spleen etc). Couldn't see my pancreas on the screen. Left Kidney is ok and normal but my right Kidney is shrunken and scarred looking.

Ended up at out of hours GP who suggested both Gastro and also Urlogy, but local GP said I could only do one at a time. Chose Gastro.

More blood tests showed more slight inflammation somwhere in the body, amd potassium output from the Kidneys higher. Blood pressure was through the roof but not surprised as the GP was driving me mad - didn't know what to do and even asked my Wife what she thought might be wrong sad. At this point we nearly went ballistic.

I ended up back at my old GP in the next town who advised Vitamin D, B12, Folate (Folic Acid), Calprotectin as none of these had been done. I have since gone back under the care of my old GP practice. He was almost bang on too- B12 and a couple of others were OK, but I had low folate and quite low vitamin D (level 25 which is low insuffcient, borderline deficient). I am on prescription for high dose Folic acid and Vitamin D3. Calprotectin was mid range at 26.7 - unlikely to be Crohn's, Colitis or anything else inflammatory in the bowel.

Phew, or so I thought!

For the past few weeks my stools have been getting quite narrow. Sometimes they start thicker and then go thin, other times just thin. I can normally see undigested vegetable etc and some mucous. In the morning they are light brown and if I need to go later in the day tend to be normal brown.

Yesterday I got in from work and had a bout of diarrhoea which seemed to float and was a little frothy/foamy. Then later in the evening I thought I needed to go again but all that was in the toilet was clear mucous with blood. Panicked a bit. This morning it was narrow stool with mucous and blood in it.

I went to the GP and have to do another stool sample to rule out infection or bugs, and await the Gastro appointment in mid-march.

I was convinced at first it was coeliac or one of the IBD's, but tests are showing this is not the case. It isn't my Kidneys as they are functioning well. Apart from trying to increase my fibre intake by a little, and taking the Folic Acid and Vitamin D doses, I haven't done much else.

Can anyone please comment and see if they have experienced anything similar? Many thanks for reading.

2

I am also taking Buscopan. I find them really good.

GP said to me that stools which float and are fatty could mean you have gallstones.

I have gallstones and am waiting to have my gallbladder out.

Had a really bad episode of sickness and diarhoea on Sunday night but it is settling down now.

Hope this all settles down for you soon.

I know quite a few people who have IBS so it is copabable with.

Take care

Sarah

3

Hi.  First of all, I know how worrying and scary IBS can be.  Since I was first diagnosed things have calmed down for me and I am coping reasonably well, but I do remember narrow stools and clear mucus in the days when I was feeling very unwell.  The diarrhoea can happen at any time.  Some days I get pain about 20 minutes after I have eaten and have to go the toilet quickly!  You say you've increased your fibre intake.  Are you eating a lot more than you usually do?  I understand that eating a high fibre diet can make things worse if you have IBS(D).  

The only thing I would comment on is the blood you're passing lately.  Has your GP given any reason for this?  Have you had a colonoscopy?   I'm pleased you're going to see a Gastro.  It's often a good idea to write a diary of symptoms between now and then, which will give your Gastro an idea of how things are from from day to day.  There is a free IBS Tracker app on this site which I used and found it every helpful.  It gave me a picture over a period of time of what was happening.  If you search for Irritable Bowel Syndrome on here, you should see the app on that page.

I sincerely hope that your Gastro is able to sort things out for you and that things improve.

 

4

Hi you are certainly having a rough ride.  Personally, I think you need a colonoscopy. It will give both you and your doctor a better picture of what's going on. When I was having problems a little similar to yours I had a colonoscopy and it turned out that all my problems were actually being caused by a combination of IBS and a Hiatus Hernia. Luckily the IBS cleared up and I take medication for the hernia. Best of Luck and keep us posted.

5

Hello, thanks for your replies.

Honestly it is driving me mad. I hate to feel sorry for myself but I am so fed up with it.

Had a terrible time last year, my Mum died in August after getting cancer again for the second time in 2 years, and she was only 57. Then about a month after her funeral my Nan's husband (he was my Mum's Stepdad/My Stepgrandad as my Mum's biological Dad died many years ago) went into hospital and didn't come out again, passed away 10 days before christmas.

I just wish this bowel trouble could get diagnosed and i could get on with it. The GP I was at was a nightmare experience which is why I went back to my old GP.

It is me that has done all the chasing around though. You seem to have to follow up and chase everything yourself.

Got to do another Stool test to check for bacteria and infection and return it to the horrified receptionist.

I have no idea what the Gastroenterologist will say to be honest. I did explain to the GP that as far as I am aware it only an initial appointment (old GP referred it through NHS choose and book) - they haven't asked me to do anything, take anything, or such but the GP said that the Gastroenterologist would do their investigations.

6

Have u had colonoscopy ? If not I think would be wise to rule out for sure coeliac or chrohns ... Can't be done just by blood test x

7

Hi Jane, hope you are well.

I haven't had a colonoscopy yet. I don't know what the Gastroenterlogist will make of me to be honest.

I was pleased obviously that the calprotectin level wasn't too bad -about average from what I can see so didn't immediately point to an IBD where it is normally quite a bit higher.

Funny you should say that about the Coeliac - a family friend was diagnosed with this about 5 or 6 years ago. Her daughter has the same symptoms but has been tested twice and found negative both times, yet when she has no gluten her symptoms clear up and disappear.

8

I've had ibs since teenage years and I'm now 54 !! Has been thoroughly investigated and at times looked liked coeliac ...crp levels raised at times which is not typical of ibs ..just had upper endoscopy that showed gastritis but bowels all over the place and I get upper abdo pain (( diet seems to play a huge part ...boring but true I find I'm much better if I cut out wheat ..drink more water and avoid chocolate and coffee ...just think it's best to insist on thorough examination .....upper endoscopy and colonoscopy ...good luck and keep me updated ..buscopan helped me and immodium if I need it xxx 

9

Sorry to hear you have been so unwell. Don't worry the gastrologist will arrange for all the necessary tests. Mine decided on both a colonoscopy and a CT scan which covers all possibilities well. Hope you get sorted soon x

10

Hi

Im not a doctor but can only tell my experiences that may help. In my 20 I had terrible runny stools then bouts of constipation went to a GI doc whom diagnosised me with IBS gave me bentyl for it but couldn't takeit cause made me too sleepy so I just suffered with it. In my late 30 runny stools seem to get worse went to an allergic doctor that diagnosised me with some food allergies. Avoided the food and things seem to get better. In my late forties still was having problems with runny stools and pain went back to the doctors which diagnosed celiac so ok now I stay away from gluten things appear to be getting better when at 50 out of the blue I ended up with a acute attack of pancreaitis now they think all these years of the diagnosis of IBS it wasn't that at all it was chronic Pancreaitis I have an insufficient pancreas which has been my up diagnosised problem all along and now my pancreas is scarred from all the misdiagnosis and will probable live with pain and stomach issues the rest of my life. My diet is so restrive because of the food allergies now with all that said have your pancreas looked at and your lipase and amylase blood work done. I was told if my problem was caught early I wouldn't be having as much problems that I now have to live a life time with pain is one and not being able to digest food properly is the other. This is a miserable problem which could have been taken care of in my 20 s if I was diagnosised properly.

11

Hi Janet,

Sorry to hear about all the grief you went through here. Honestly I think so highly of Doctor's but you seem to go round and round and round before you actually get anywhere. I honestly am not sure if I would have got to the stage I am at now without keeping on.

When I had the symptoms of the bad indigestion with stomach tenderness and then a few weeks later the severe bloating, pancreatitis was one of the first things that came up when I searched. I have had alot of blood tests in the last couple of months but not Amylase or Lipase. I asked the Doctor who did my ultrasound scan if he could see anything wrong and he said no but on the ultrasound report it says that the pancreas was inaccessible on the screen. I will certainly ask at my Gastroenterology appointment. I very rarely drink alcohol (last time was at my Mum's funeral at the end of August) so at least that's a plus.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me, it is very kind and much appreciated.

12

HELLO THIS IS DANIELLE, I HAD THE SAME EXACT STUFF PRETTY MUCH AND WAS IN AND OUT OF DRS FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. I WENT TO SEE A GASTRO. HAVE THEM DO A COLONOSCOPY. THEY HAVE TO GO IN AND DO EXPLORATORY BIOPSIES. THIS IS THE ONLY WAS YOU CAN DETECT COLLAGENOUS COLITIS. IT IS A RARE DISEASE.NOT LIFE THREATENING JUST PAIN AND SYMPTOMS LIKE KROHNS AND IBS. ASK YOUR DR ON THIS. LET ME KNOW HOW THIS WORKS OUT FOR YOU.LOOK IT UP AND DUE SOME RESEARCH

13

BLOOD IS NOT CAUSES OF IBS