IBS - Recently Diagnosed but Unsure

[nh_user_18531]

Hi.

I've actually been quite anxious and have thought it might be a good idea to discuss my recent thoughts/feelings/anxieties amongst those who have got/had similar problems, issues etc.

To be fair, I have bored my wife of this for many months now, which only goes to show I really need to speak to those who are in the same boat.

I'll list as much as I can about myself, symptoms etc, but really looking to see whether others have similar symptoms/worries, or if it really is just me.

I'm a 33 year old male, being diagnosed with IBS around October 2011.

It is quite a long story, so you may need to bare with me whilst I bullet my points down (what I think are significant points).

I gave up smoking in Jan11, with the aid of Champix.

This was succesful (still not smoking 8) ), and came off Champix around June (although I did question with the nurse if I should have come off gradually, but she said no (even though I did about 3 years earlier!)).

Around March11, I noticed an increase in flatulence, and a marked increase in the 'wiff' :oops:

Lets say it wasn't well received, and after some time (I think June) I went to the doctors.

I was told at this point, it was likely to just be a change in my digestion - part and parcel of both the medication and giving up smoking.

Anyway, I continued on my way, and never thought about it too much.

Just to note, in May11, I also changed my job (was quite a change to the last 10 years - nothing stressful, but a big change in the way I worked (both positive and negative)).

This was a move of my choice, so no stress of redundency.

During September I noticed quite a dramatic change.

My 'wiff' disappeared, and was replaced with loose stools (bristol chart 7).

I have been back to the doctors numerous times, and have been essentially diagnosed with IBS.

I was first prescribed peppermint capsules, which had not effect.

I then tried loperamide for a couple of weeks, one after each loose stool, with no effect - by this time I am having bowel movements 4-6 times a day on average.

I have now been on Mebeverine for 1 week and 1 day, and whilst I still have loose stools, I have about once a day more of a bristol chart 6 stool.

However, I am now a little worried that this also is not working.

Since taking this, I also seem to have developed 'dump syndrome' - not all the time, and mostly in the evenings.

Now comes the anxiety.

When I originally went in with my loose stools, the doctor (I guess jokingly) said \"well we will test for caeliac first, and if that comes back negative, there are plenty more things we can try before we have to worry about the big C\".

Well, that panicked me straight away, and thanks to 'google-scaring' myself, I do feel quite anxious at times.

The reason - whilst I do not have blood mixed in with my stools, I do sometimes have, at the end of passing my stools, a little red blood (seperate to the stool itself).

I have now had full blood and stool tests.

Nothing has shown up (iron levels, inflammatory markers, bacterial infections), and a different doctor has said the blood is most likely to be coming from my rectum due to passing (and physically pushing (with no stool)) of stools at the frequency I have.

No haemarroids that he could see.

I also do not feel or look dehydrated.

Anyway, on my last visit to the doctors, I mentioned my anxiety and what the first doctor had said, and she has now booked me in to a gastro-specialist to at least remove my worries.

I now have a follow up appointment with my doctor next week, and a telephone assessment next week also.

Apart form the diarrhea, the only other symptons I have are:

1. Bloated feeling (mainly in the evenings) and in the upper part of my digestive symptons (just below my rib cage).

2. Occasional feeling to empty my bowels after passing stools and dump syndrome.

3. Occasional blood after passing stools - separate to the stool itself, but right at the end of my stools

I also get the 'gurgling' tummy, but would have thought I would with the diarrhea.

I however have no pains at all, vomiting, weight loss or any other symptoms come to think of it.

It may however be worth mentioning that since giving up smoking I have put on over 1 stone in weight, and my diet is poor (I do eat the correct foods, but a lot of what I shouldn't eat).

I also found out I was going away on business for a week not long before my diarrhea started - but I am used to being away from my family (although not for a whole week).

Sorry there is so much information, but at times I feel quite alone, but also anxious it is something else.

I mean, is diarrhea something that can be long lasting, even with medication?

Has anyone else had passing of blood?

Does it take time for the medication to work?

Am I just being paranoid?

Anything anybody can advise would be appreciated and comforting.

Thank you.

CJ78

[nh_user_16971]

Hello, can I ask, have you noticed a change in colour of your stools?

[nh_user_18531]

Hi mr9000.

Both yes and no to be fair. I have changes in colour, but in line with regular changes (so from a milk chocolate to a dark chocolate). I had green the about a week ago, but then realised I had eaten quite a bit of lettuce, pesto and something else with high chlorophyl content - needless to say it passed within 24 hours.

But in terms of anything suspect, no. No changes here.

I suppose a good place to update of where things are at the moment.

1. Had a telephone interview for a gastro-specialist - never spoke to a consultant and went straight to an appointment (early march, so no obvious need to panic).

2. I have had a revisit with a doctor, and discussed things further

3. I have now nearly completed 3 weeks on mebeverine

Over the last week, I have appeared to have moved from bristol stool 7 to bristol stool 6 (touch wood) - bar one day early in the week where I had 24 hours of type 7 again.

So perhaps the mebeverine is working, so need to give it more time.

I haven't started any diet diaries yet, but maybe I will soon to see if there are any triggers.

I have however started exercising this week, so hopefully this will help as well.

Any blood that I was having does link in with the frequency (which now is typically 3-4 times a day, rather than 6-8 times), and this has now subsided.

Fingers crossed!

[nh_user_20085]

just read your blog and recognise many of your symptoms. I think can put mine down to stress but I am also trying wheat/gluten free diet as I think I may have had a slight problem with this prior to my stress levels starting. I have had my symptoms since mid January this year after undergoing major surgery in September of last year, I returned to work in January and two weeks later, wham it hit me and I am aware that I feel stressed everyday so its not really having any time to settle. Just started happy pills for anxiety, which I am told may take up to 6 weeks to kick in.

I too have had blood at the end of my very loose stools, almost like water. I have bloating, and what I call a brick lying across my middle, just under my rib cage. Get occasional pain, more like little stabbing pains but I put this down to stress, and my tummy feels nervous, if you know what I mean. I take Imodium approx 3 times a day as my consultant also feels that some of this may be down to medication and assures me that taking Imodium on a regular basis is okay. I have seen the gastro team and had endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, biopsies taken but come back normal. I have yet to see him regarding all the results, but blood tests were also normal. It does get very tiring and I have lost about a stone in weight. Whilst I feel like eating, as soon as I start I feel full so not eating very much at all. Hope some of this helps, your not alone and I do recognise your symptoms.

[Jammy_Ash]

February this year I was having repeated episodes of loose stools once a day post meals or even if I drank water sometimes. Didn’t bother it much and later on started to see some mucus and thin streaks of blood on it. Had to do QFit test and also stool routine and culture which was all negative and then had blood tests and except for my ferritin level others were all normal. Did a ct abdomen with oral contrast in the month of June and that was normal. Started taking herbal medicines and I felt better for three months then again had a flare up in the month of September and saw some blood and mucus on it and I started to panic. Again did a blood test stool test routine culture QFit and celiac test and those were negative. Prescribed on mebverine 135 mg thrice before meals. But loose stools are once daily in the morning and taking iron supplements too. I actually stopped eating properly when I had all these symptoms at the start and lost so much weight. Now I don’t lose but I am trying to gain. Irrespective of whatever I eat I get this loose stools once in the morning daily

[Resurrection]

I.B.S. is a fake disease. Doctors can’t diagnose it because it’s fake and not real. The I.B.S. “symptoms” are symptoms because you’re consuming things that are not suited for your body. Think of it as an allergic reaction.

[Emily_Ala]

Sounds like you’re moving in the right direction. Going from type 7 to mostly 6 and fewer trips a day is still progress, even if it’s not perfect yet. Mebeverine often takes a bit of time to really settle things.