IBS and Health Anxiety
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi all
I've been reading the forums on and off for a while since my symptoms started up and I've seen how supportive a place they can be. I must admit I'm struggling at the moment.
Back in May, I was getting some pelvic pain and went off to the GP with it. She didn't think much of it and said it was probably normal female pains. Then in June I had a bit of an episode one night where I felt suddenly very nauseous and dizzy and ended up having explosive D. I spent the next week feeling awful. I went back to the doc and she did a pelvic exam and said all she could feel was a normal follicular cyst on my right ovary. But from that moment she pressed on that right side I've had discomfort there. I'm convinced that side of my abdomen is harder but the GP (and I've seen several since can feel nothing untoward). Sometimes the area hurts when I pass a harder BM of if I bend or lift my leg. It's by no means excruciating but I am aware of it.
Since June my bowel movements have been consistently looser and I've had a couple of instances where I've had urgent and watery diarrhea for up to a week. Combined with feeling horrendously nauseous and unable to eat and having aches and pains all over and awful fatigue. I've obviously lost weight at those times. I'm only 7st 7 as it is and lost over half a stone. I have been eating to gain and have almost gained it all back.
I've had a battery of blood tests, an ultrasound, stool tests and a flex sig (normal biopsies), and nothing has shown anything unusual except for visible inflammation during the flex sig. I've seen a GI specialist who explained that this was likely due to the bowel prep. I'm due another ultrasound this week to specifically look at this right side area but the Dr's all seem convinced it's IBS brought on by stress and a potential GI infection in June.
I however cannot seem to convince myself that it's nothing more serious. The diagnostic process has been so slow and I've felt so unheard at times that I've gotten myself so worked up about it. I've gotten myself onto a CBT course for the anxiety, but was wondering does this sound like IBS to you all?
I switched up my diet hugely (not that it was at all bad before but i did eat quite a lot of grains etc as a veggie) and i hope this has helped. I now wake quite gassy, I pass one loose-ish stool a day sometimes with a little mucus. I occasionally get tummy pains and bloating and gas if I eat something that doesn't agree but that is rare. The most persistent issues seems to be the loose-ish stool, right sided discomfort and occasional and horrendous nausea.
Sorry for the long post. Just new to this all and needing any support, reassurance or advice you can give me. Thanks in advance. Xx
1 like, 13 replies
kelly1014 michellelvj
Posted
Coming here has made me feel lie I am not crazy and get alot of great advice.I wish I could help you but I am in the same boat.I so understand how you feel!!I hope you/we get answers.
michellelvj kelly1014
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It's awful isn't it?! I'm sorry you're going through worry too. You're doing the right thing booking the appointment just to check it out. Honestly, I was totally convinced at first that my issue was gynae related. It felt just like period pain only a bit milder. I also have tons of gynae issues in my immediate family, but my ultrasound can back totally unremarkable. So please don't worry over much. The stress will certainly not help anything. I hope we get answers too. If you need to talk feel free to send me a message. Sometimes it just helps to have someone to talk too. I too have felt crazy at times. It's tough not to feel that way sometimes. You're certainly not alone though hun. Hopefully some of the more established members can help us out too. Xxx
kelly1014 michellelvj
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LaurieEyeBee michellelvj
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james13344 michellelvj
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1. Does it hurt when you push down
or
2. When you let up?
If it's appendix, it typically will hurt when you let up. Also, the pain can occasionally travel to the left side.
How's the temperature and while blood cell count. Is it enlarged.
Other than that I would look into crohn's or some other disease.
k89994 michellelvj
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bronwyn97278 michellelvj
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michellelvj
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LaurieEyeBee - thank you. I'll ask about the SIBO test. I'm seeing my GP today.
james13344 - not sure it is appendix. I don't get much pain just a bit of discomfort. No fevers either. WBC normal.
k89994 - thank you, your comment was very reassuring. With the weight loss, I do worry about cancers (bowel, ovarian etc) thanks to this health anxiety. The GI and every Dr has assured me it's not that. Since I'm qble to gain when feeling well the GI says she'said not concerned. Also in addition to the US is had a CA-125 blood test to rule out any chance of ovarian cancer. Smears all up to date and normal. I can deal with everything but just break down when the nausea hits. It's so bad that I'm convinced there's something awful wrong.
bronwyn97278 - the discomfort is always really quite mild. Only feels sharper if passing a slightly dehydrated stool or when bending. By no means is it agonising. Annoyingly my next US is Friday but I'm due my period tomorrow. I was going to ask for a TV US too but nature might get in the way.
michellelvj
Posted
Any good advice for nausea?
james13344 michellelvj
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michellelvj james13344
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LaurieEyeBee michellelvj
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michellelvj LaurieEyeBee
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