Hi there,
I'm a long term anxiety sufferer which over the years has switched between general and health anxiety.
It's for this reason i'm trying to be logical and not immediately panic, but cutting out googling symptoms has left me unsure. Apologies now for the detail but as an IBS forum i'm sure you've heard it all.
It has been suggested by doctors that i could have IBS triggered by my anxiety but not, to my knowledge, advised by the doctor as an official diagnosis. I've been prescribed to take fibre gel in the past. I had a barrium enema years ago for anal pain which didn't show anything of concern, so i was advised it to be proctalgia fugax. The pain i get feels like its right in the center of my anus, sharp sometimes radiating to my lower tummy/groin and usually lasts a few seconds and goes just as quick.
I use to get it maybe once every other month with no clear triggers. I seem to get it more often now (maybe once or twice a month) and when i do i get a sudden urge to go, sometimes hard painful stools, sometimes soft/pebble like (though i've never had what i'd class as consistent bowel habbits), sometimes a bloated feeling and in the last several months mucus passed a little while after a bowel movement...this isn't always but feels like i've had this more recently than i can recall. I seem to get alot of flatuence when this happens too.
It's the mucus that worries me most. Tried keeping a food diary but haven't really been able to identify a trigger yet.
I guess what i'm wanting here is advice on whether these symptoms sound normal in line with IBS and based on experience what foods may be causing the flare ups (if any). My stress levels in terms of anxiety tend to be hit/miss but with todays 'mucus-ee' episode i've been ok.
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read and reply.