Question about IBS and stools

Digestive health
1

Hello, I'm kevin borjas, I'm 21 years old. a few years ago my father had a colonoscopy and he was told he has IBS. so for awhile know I had been scared about having IBS.

A few months ago I started having symptoms, including bloating, abdominal pain, and excessive gas

This was most scary when I had rectal bleeding, I freaked out,and I started thinking my symptoms were from something else more dangerous like colon cancer .I had rectal bleeding when going to the bathroom for 2 days and then it stop. I had lift a lot of weight that week in work, so I assumed it was hemorrhoids. 

I still took a fecal test and it said negative for blood. 

So the bleeding stop and everything else kept going, I'd like to point out that at this point my stools were perfectly fine. 

but then 2 months later I started having weird looking stools. The day before I had a normal and fine stools, but this one day I had a really thin stool, and I got scared again. 

Since then my stool was never fine again, it's really inconsistent, some days its thin, and some days its normal size, some days its watery and some days its loose and some days its narrow. its been a months since the first time I had a thin stool. My stool color is the only thing that has been consistent, its brown, and sometimes pale brown, but no other color. 

Is this normal in IBS or could this mean something worse?

My stool changes worry me.  

 

2

Your symptoms could be IBS.  Bowel habit change is normal with IBS.  Symptoms tend to come and go.  Sometimes stress or a stomach infection can trigger it.  Anxiety makes it worse.

Does your pain move about and do you have temporary relief of pain after a bowel movement?  If the blood was bright red it could be from a haemorrhoid or fissure. Did your doctor examine you for these things? Have you noticed if any food sets your symptoms off? Have you had any other tests and what has your doctor suggested? Keep going back to your doctor until you get a firm diagnosis.  When other causes are ruled out, IBS can be diagnosed..  

3

Hi Kevin

Before you panic (I can understand how you are feeling about now), check with your doctor, and perhaps a colonoscopy would be the next step.

Your symptoms sound like IBS, but could be something much simpler (and nicer)!

 

4

Yes, some days there's almost no pain at all, but other days when I eat heavier stuff my abdomen feels bloated and painful until I have a bowel movement. Sometimes I have an urgency to go right after I eat. I have gone trough 2 simple test, ultrasound (which showed that I had excess of air in the abdomen and also moderate fatty liver, which I'm dieting for too) Fecal test (at the time it said negative for blood, but I never retook the test) 

My doctor says it would be recommendable to perform a colonoscopy but I don't have the money for it and my insurance doesn't cover it. 

My symptoms are mostly triggered by wheat, flour, and acids (like lime for example)

 

5

I would try and save up for colonoscopy or change your insurance provider to one that covers this procedure.  You could also ask your doctor if he could make a diagnosis without a colonoscopy. If he thinks you have no red flags, you may not need it.

6

Kevin

Variations in stool can be quite normal, your health seems fine and you are not bleeding. They have checked and tested for blood traces an all again is ok

Because your father has a problem does not mean you have problems however I feel you have the need to be fully checked over that may mean an inspection of your Colon. To put your mind at rest discuss that with your GP.

BOB