Dismissed, confused, don’t wanna live like this. What should i do?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello,
I am a 24, soon 25 year old male. I've recently moved to a new city to study computer science, but my symptoms makes it quite unbearable and hard to study.
My symptoms seems to be going in cycles including the following symptoms, nausea, poor appetite, pain under left shoulder blade. Tenesmus - the feeling of constantly having to poop. Loose stools - varies between brown / yellow in color and often floats.
Sometimes i only have a few of these symptoms, and sometimes i only have the back pain, but that's rare. I've had this for 7 months now and it's not getting better, or worse. It started in the summer of 2020 with rectal bleeding at 2 occasions - late july, and late sep. Haven't had it since. Don't know if it's linked to the rest.
I've had blood tests, fecal test, upper and lower endoscopy and a CT scan with contrast and none of these tests showed any abnormalities. I also went to a physiotherapist with my back pain, but without results.
I'm now left seen as a hypochondriacs by my GP and family. GP gave me the diagnosis IBS and said there is nothing more he can do.
I do have a history of anxiety and maybe my anxiety is having some sort of impact but i'm really not conviced it could cause all of this.
I need your advice! In what direction should i go? Feels hopeless.
Family members think it is all anxiety and that i should go speak to someone.
Could be nice to talk to someone since i am worried but i am not sure it will resolve all of these s****y symptoms.
/Andy
1 like, 8 replies
darrell60456 anden71751
Edited
Hello
you seem to have similar symptoms to myself, i worked myself up thinking i had Pancreatic Cancer, however all my tests are clear.
im currently looking at 2 things now to discuss with my GP after being diagnosed with ibs,
SIBO which has similar symptoms to pancreas issues as well as ibs like back pain, nausea, loss of appetite and loose stools that can be yellow.
another thing is a low functioning gallbladder, out if all my tests the only thing they found were a few tiny gallstones however they wont remove it as it is not inflamed, my understanding is you dont even need to have gallstones to have a low functioning gallbladder.
im not saying you have these things but just wanted to give you some indication on other conditions that cause similar issues and doctors just say ibs
i was like you worrying they had missed something and i still do but i remind myself if something was seriously wrong it would of shown up on one of the tests ive had.
my gp has said it is ibs and stress and anxiety do make ibs worse. and anxiety can cause yellowish stools, my gp also said yellow stools are normal.
i have another gp appointment on friday so hopefully can get some more answers
anden71751 darrell60456
Edited
Hey, thanks for answering.
What symptoms are you battling?
I'll keep those causes in mind that you noted. I have a appointment the 24th in my new city, back to square one..
Yeah i was super worried aswell it was due to PC but it feels like it would only get worse in that case? I had this tenesmus during oct and nausea/poor appetite during dec and they both lasted roughly for 1-2 weeks and then disappeared until 2 weeks ago. So i've been feeling fine for 3 months except from the loose stools and back pain. but back pain is only when i sit / lean forward.
right now i'm either feeling a constant feeling that i havent emptied my bowels or a mild nauseous feeling. not both at the same time, they are shifting during the day.
I know anxiety can make you feel crazy s**t. For example i've felt the feeling of constantly having to pee, tingling under feet/hands and ache/twitches. Maybe anxiety is playing a roll in this aswell.
Feel free to update this thread after your appointment, and gl with your "journey".
darrell60456 anden71751
Edited
My symptoms started with intense pain on my right side that used to wake me up at night (this is now confirmed as gallstones)
i started getting pain on my left side under my ribs, loose yellow stools, back pain, thats worse when sitting and eased slightly by lying down. The pain in my back is strange to describe it isnt intense just uncomfortable and moves around different locations in my back such as my left shoulder my right shoulder middle right side and left side. The left side pain under my ribs has gone now however i get a few pains that only last a few minutes instead of constantly.
i also started feeling nauseous every morning and went off food completely however the nausea has stopped and my appetite has returned ive put that down to the anxiety. i still keep getting looser stools and normal but they have gone back to a brown colour and only occasionally yellowish. Ive always had tenesmus i always feel like i need to go to the toilet (even when i dont)
Anxiety and stress can cause physical symptoms and can trick your brain in thinking there is pain and does make ibs or anything in your digestive track worse.
i had my appointment today my GP assured me if it was anything sinister it would of gave some indication on the blood tests aswell as the showing on the scans. She is confident now my Gallbladder isnt functioning properly which js causing the pain, she wont refer me for the test as it is quite invasive but I have been sent to be referred to have my gallbladder removed.
hoping this resolves my issues but the waiting time is up to a year. Good luck in your "journey" too. Just keep remembering if it was something nasty it would show on your tests. I know it is easier said than done but don't google your symptoms it will always come back with the worst case scenario. Keep me updated after your appointment.
anden71751 darrell60456
Posted
Hey again,
Nice to hear that your appointment went well and that your doctor is confident in that your symtoms isn't pointing towards something serious. Usually it feels better to not having to deal with the anxiety, only the symptoms.
Yesterday i didn't feel nauseous or tenesmus but then i started to feel pain in my upper back. It's like when one of the symptoms stops, another starts. And they usually occurs only one at a time. Super weird..
Did you ever consider having CP?
May i ask your age and what tests you have done?
As i wrote earlier i've had a abdominal ct scan with contrast which didn't show anything. I'm pretty sure it didn't show the are around my upper back? Do you think it would be wise to try to push for a MRI/scan for the upper back?
Take care!
darrell60456 anden71751
Posted
Hello
yes i'm glad my appointment went well, your symptoms sound so similar to mine, when i was very anxious i would have yellow stools they have recently returned to a normal colour but they have started being loose again. IBS or any digestive issues cause havoc and can appear at any time you could of eaten something that triggers your ibs. have you tried the Low FODMAP diet at all?
i had considered CP but the pain is quite intense from what ive read, and would usually show or give an indication on blood tests or a CT scan.
im 28, so far i have had 4 blood tests all in normal range apart from slightly low Vitamin D (probably due to lockdowns and not really leaving the house over the year haha) my GGT was elevated as well but has returned to normal, i had alcohol over christmas which can apparently increase this and takes a few weeks to return to normal.
i have also had 2 stool samples, one to check for blood the other for infections, both came back clear.
ultrasound which confirmed gallstones.
abdominal CT with contrast again normal apart from a thickened colon but GP thinks that could be gas.
upper endoscopy - normal
chest xray - normal
ECG - normal
i have a sigmoidoscopy on Friday to rule out Colitis or Diverticulitis.
From what my GP has said about my back ache the upper back pain would be from referred pain a number of things could be causing it, even IBS.
have you had an ultrasound to rule out Gallstones? a CT scan would not normally pick these up especially if they are small like mine are.
As i said i was super anxious i spent hours a day asking Google "what was wrong with me?" and it always will come back with the worst results, It took me a while to accept that if it was serious it would show up on a CT scan.
Are you based in the UK? I would possibly push for an ultrasound to rule out gallstones first perhaps?
keep me updated. 😃
lilthompkins anden71751
Posted
hello , i have hereditary chronic pancreatitis which causes diarrhea and ive had the same issues with bleeding near my rectum. i am pretty sure the blood is a result from wiping so many times a day and not actually coming out of me. and as for pancreatitis pain i feel it in the middle of my upper abdomen radiating to the back-like a flaming sword is sticking right through me! i would recommend seeing a gastrointestinal doctor(GI) if this sounds like you it might be an issue with your pancreas function.
ken70028 anden71751
Edited
Did they do a fecal fat test? All my tests, scans, blood work, stool etc. all were negative. Finally my GI specialist ordered a fecal fat test. That came back positive, showing a large amount of undigested fat in my poop.
That gave me a diagnosis of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, or EPI. To treat it I take Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy, or PERT, in the form of Zenpep, pancreatic enzymes in a capsule. Without enzymes my body is unable to digest food and absorb its nutrients.
Good luck, I hope you get a diagnosis soon.
maryanng12 anden71751
Posted
Hi Andy,
Did you get checked for malabsorption, celiac disease? H-pylori, Crohns disease?
If a GP is not aggressive in working you up, and thinks you are a hypochondriac, I'd find a new GP.
I was sick most of my life and never got diagnosed till I went to a Univ GI and Biliary Clinic.
Be persistent. Good luck!