Scared I might die again :(

Digestive health
1

So I posted a while ago that I had bad abdominal pain (mostly my left lower side) and nausea. Went to the doctors and she gave me something for constipation as I was constipated at that time (almost two weeks ago). I’ve also had a burning sensation in my stomach. The pain and nausea have been gone for a week now but I’ve still had burning sensation in my belly and sometimes in my chest especially when lying down.

Yesterday I had something really unhealthy and fatty (idiot...as soon as I felt better I went to eat something from McDonald’s) and I’ve had diarrhoea ever since then. I’ve already went to the toilet three times today. What worries me is that I noticed a tiny red spot on the toilet paper and also some kind of sticky mucus (probably from my stool) that seemed to be dark brown with red shades. I looked in the toilet and my stool was light brown with really dark patches here and there which made me really worried. The smell was beyond terrible as well.

I’m really scared because I might have bleeding in my stomach.

I think my stool was the same yesterday....

What I had was a wrap with barbecue sauce, fried chicken, mayo and tomato and lettuce. I also had fries and I have to mention my diet hasn’t been exactly healthy and low fat since I started feeling better.

I’ve also had some pain in my right lower abdominal side as well as left (more in my right side though) and a sharp pain in the right side of my rib cage after dinner (I had salmon and potatoes but the salmon was a tiny bit spicy). The pain didn’t last long though.

I had a stool test about a week and a half ago and I got my results on Monday and it was fine. I got tested for h. pylori but I don’t know if they actually checked it there was blood hidden in my stool.

I have an appointment with my doctor on the 8th but I’m really scared it might be too late if I wait until then and I might die sad I have Lansoprazole and Gaviscon at home so I can take those for my reflux.

I also said at some point I was feeling suffocated, like I had a hard time taking a deep breath. That was gone for a few days and now it’s back. Must be related to my stomach problems...

2

Now Maria,

I understand all your concerns.

Fresh blood signs do not come from stomach, stomach blood turns black, you know that as you mentioned 'black spots'. 

What I would advise you, as I find it always by far more comforting to know about something, than being talked 'down' and brushed off:

to buy a human blood stool test, that you can run yourself very very easily at home.

Be aware so, that it goes positive also if you have the smallest hemorrhoid bleed or menstruation or any little tiny wound in that area not being bowel related.

Also if it was positive, you just make a pic and tell your doc.

From there you get usually a colonoscopy, gastroscopy and a check of your red blood values.

The human blood stool test is usually immunologically so well made, that it does not react often to food, that contains blood proteins. Yet still, you need a certain diet, all described in the test instructions.

You can get them from ebay  even if your local pharmacist plays shoulder shrugging about it. If you can afford somehow, please do one, two or three. 

And go from there.

My daughter is on off positive,

for years, and she has no stomach or bowel cancer. !!!  So even positive, you don't die here and now.

Any little upset inflammation can cause bleeding too.

So be please as relaxed as possible about it, but why not checking.

Also if anything was found, that's halleluja, good, as you can start tackling an issue! Nothing to be afraid of.

Your symptoms described sound very stomach digestive related.

Have you tried digestive enzymes (Digest Gold for example), teas and probiotics?

Food diary and soups (base soups, blend) and especially (yucky tasting) celery stalk juice on a daily basis?

Maybe you can get your easily irritated intestine calmed down that way already and all would be good.

It does sound like IBS, but you need to be sure nothing else was up. I agree.

Best of luck and all should calm down. No more Maccas! ;-)

3

It sounds like food is a trigger for your symptoms, particularly processed foods.  Exclude them from your diet permanently! Stick to home cooked meals and keep a food diary to pinpoint other culprits. If you have been straining for a bowel movement, this could cause fissures or haemorrhoids which can produce bright red blood on the toilet paper.  Ask your doctor to examine you for these things and mention the red spot on the toilet paper.  Ask if your stool was tested for hidden blood.  The more questions you ask, the more you will be reassured.

Tomatoes, potatoes, fried and spicy foods can be bad for conditions like gastritis and IBS.  I feared that my symptoms had been picked up too late, but it turned out I had IBS.  When you have no diagnosis, anxiety moves in and convinces you of the worst case scenario.  Try distraction techniques such as a hobby or light exercise like walking to push these thoughts away.  This will help to calm your gut.