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5 months of stomach problems - need advice

Posted , 4 users are following.

lucy23638
lucy23638

Up until 5 months ago I had never had any stomach problems , have always been regular and never thought too much about it, i’ve always eaten healthily and and otherwise have no other health issues (23 years old - female)

5 months ago I was at work one day when I suddenly started having stomach pains, nausea and felt an urgent need to use the bathroom. I went home ill and had bad diarrhoea that day which i assumed to be a 24 hour bug or food poisoning or similar as by that evening I felt better. I took the

next day off work just to be sure I was better but had no further problems. I then went on holiday for two weeks and was completely fine the whole trip, didn’t give another thought to having been sick. About two weeks after I returned from my holiday I started feeling urgency in needing the bathroom, although I was having formed stools I started experiencing an increase in frequency - ie needing to use the bathroom a couple of times during the day at work (previously not happened) and the feeling of urgency. At this time I was unsure if I was just overthinking things and started taking immodium  at work for about a week to help with what I thought was loose stools (although looking back it was just increase and frequency that was unusual).  

I became I think constipated although I had the feeling of constantly needing to pass stools, sometimes small pieces would come out sometimes nothing but having the feeling constantly. I was signed off work by my doctor and lost some weight, I was really struggling to eat and couldn’t sit down to a meal with my partner or family as with every bite I felt the strong urge to use the bathroom (but often I couldn’t pass anything). My diet is really healthy, I was drinking lots of water and tried various tips from the doctors but nothing seemed to get better - this was 4 months ago and I have not had a complete bowel movement since. 

Since then every day is miserable for me and I have been unable to return to work. Most days i will need to use the bathroom between 5-8 times, I normally have to use the bathroom first thing or after breakfast where I will pass quite a lot of stool but never fully formed (not diarrhoea and not pebbles but almost like broken pieces of a normal stool). However, I never feel properly evacuated even though I can’t pass anymore. From then on every hour or so I will pass small pieces of stool at a time. I have the constant feeling of needing to pass stool which is extremely uncomfortable and means I avoid social situations, I cannot eat out in a restaurant and have been unable to even sit still with my family for periods of time. Walking seems to help a little but I still have that feeling all day long. Some days my stomach is a little upset and i often feel very nauseous, this comes and goes, can be really bad one day and not as bad the next. but the feeling of incomplete evacuation is always there. about once a week i feel really constipated where i cant pass any stool that day but still get the urges. Some days I am extremely gassy as well, i get minor stomach pains very occasionally but not really a main symptom.

My doctor has suggested IBS but I am just not sure as I feel I was completely fine until 5 months ago, and all my symptoms now seem to have followed on from the one upset stomach I experienced out of nowhere in July. I also do not know what I am experiencing, as it doesn’t seem to be diarrhoea or constipation, just passing very small stools constantly and being uncomfortable the whole time which leaves me unable to go to work, socialise and makes me extremely anxious and unhappy. I have had blood work done which has all come back normal and am currently seeing a nutritionist but i already eat no gluten or dairy she says my diet is very healthy. I am very concerned as you know your own body and I just know something is very wrong. I also hear that IBS is meant to be flare ups where as I have felt like this for almost half a year now and I also have not heard of anyone having my specific symptoms. I am so miserable and feel like i no longer have a life, will be able to have a job etc. Is it possible that i have developed severe constipation from overuse of immodium several months ago and in this case would colonic irrigation perhaps be helpful? or is a parasite or infection possible? any advice would be appreciated, im at a loss as to what to do

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • lilian05079
    lilian05079 lucy23638

    Posted

    Hi lucy23638

    I do feel for you i have the same symptoms but mine is regarding the bladder.....i have seen a urologist and gynaecologist with no satisfactory answer but having further tests in new year. I know what you mean by 'not having a life' and constantly day after day dealing with symptoms and pain.

    Have you asked your doc for a colonoscopy or perhaps a stool test ? You could also request CT scan that can see the stomach/colon area and see what is going on there....you may have some kind of an obstruction ..I would certainly ask for a second opinion. You are very young to have to be going through this. Under the Patients Charter for England and Wales you are entitled to a second opinion ..assuming you live in the UK.......hope this has helped a little..best wishes for a speedy diagnosis....

  • derek58875
    derek58875 lucy23638

    Posted

    Hi

    Because I have long experience of Gastric issues, this site notifies me when a letter is posted seeking advice.

    I have little knowledge of Colon problems but I read your letter with increasing concern.

    Whilst reading your letter it struck me that yours was a classic case of IBS, so I was not at all surprised when I got to point when you said your Doctor had suggested the same.

    Nor is it unusual for such a sufferer to be pain free on holiday because of the IBS association with stress. (You weren't going through a stressful period five months ago were you)

    Certainly over use of Immodium is not going to help - but of course you know that now.

    But the point of my letter is this.

    You have been suffering far too long for you to carry on without proper investigation.

    You must ask your GP for a referral to a Gastroenterologist with a view to expert advice and probably a Colonoscopy to ascertain whether they can actually see a problem.

    I would not advise irrigation until you find out what is actually going on.

    Best wishes and difficult I know - but do try to relax and not worry.

    But action at least may start to put your mind at rest.

     

  • Bee33
    Bee33 lucy23638

    Posted

    Hi Lucy,

    Have you tried adding linseeds to your diet? They are meant to help all manner of bowel problems and always used to help me with my previous standard constipation. I recent had a big flare up of something, constipated for 3 months and quite aggressive upper GI pains, I was told IBS bit it was like nothing I ever had before. I eventually cured it with loads of water and lots of grated carrot salads, and a 90 minute walk! Not sure if it was coincidental she would've run it's course anyway but that certainly seemed to do the trick for me. I could feel the burning sensation moving through my colon and was them expelled in a bowel movement. Never to return. Well, so far anyway - that's been about 5 weeks.

    Good luck, keep us posted.

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