Newly diagnosed. Gp didn't take me seriously!

Sally we are all just in that exclusive club where you end up ill yet nothing seems to be the course of it they thought i had a grumbling appendix but refused to take it out I had been ill for years before that on and off from about the age of 23 but it had cost me jobs as I would be rushing to toilet boss would say you've just been and had no idea or compassion I used to fall asleep at my desk as after each toilet break I felt drained then I got diagnosed with ibs which was docs way of saying I don't have a clue and taking easy option thankfully I moved and got a different doc and he started investigating properly he realised I was becoming depressed with it too and dealt with that think i was 28 when i finally collapsed again with a suspected appendix then finally day of the op a specialist said he didnt think it was that so i had a ultrasound to check then the fun started with in a week i had a colonoscopy and all sorts of tests found a swelling in the lower bowel I still have arguments now as I feel ill so regularly yet I'm told I'm in remission so I give them hell each time plus joining this site I realised most sufferers are not pain free and still have good and bad days that put my mind at rest more and I have it under control at the minute

I'm glad you're feeling better after your operation. I've had Crohns for nearly 40 years. Before it was diagnosed I was taken to hospital many times only to be told it was constipation. The last time I had collapsed and they decided it was my appendix, only when they'd opened me up did they realise it was Crohns. I had a bad couple of years then remission for nearly 30 years but it came back with a vengeance. 2 years ago I had most of my intestines removed and part of my bowel. My surgeon was excellent and I dont have a stoma so am very relieved. Early or late, Crohns catches up with you eventually but hopefully now you've had your operation you'll go into remission again. It's 2 years since my op and I feel great, I'm tired most of the time but I can live with that, it's just nice to be pain free. I wish you well for the future x

Hi everyone I've been reading all your posts and can't believe how much it sounds like me. I've been suffering with bad stomachs as long as I can remember my whole teen years have been full of doctors visits I got diagnosed with ibs when I was about 15 but I'm not better. I've just been discharged from hospital after a 4 day stay where abomial pain seen me in a&e and the doctors just say we don't know. I'm battling with consent water infections and contact pain, my work don't like me having so much time off which gives me more stress to deal with

Hi Sally, sorry to hear that you were ignored for so long. I'm in a similar situation. I'm 20 years old. When I was 8 I had extremely painful anal fissures. They came back a few times but I can't remember it that well. I've had excruciating pain through my teens but always put it down to menstrual or growing pains. I went to the doctor when I got on and off diarrhoea and constipation. They told me I had IBS. When I was 17 it became extremely painful to eat and I lost weight. I was refered for a colonoscopy and endoscopy which showed that I had a stomach ulcer. I was given omeprazole, the doctors didn't really talk with me about it but on my medical records it says that it was NSAID induced. Which is rubbish because I only ever take paracetamol and that's a rarity. I don't drink and I don't smoke or eat spicy or irritating foods. A year later the pain returned I had another colonoscopy and endoscopy. I had yet another ulcer, inflammation and bleeding around my lower stomach and start of my small intestine which they said was duodenitis. I was given lanzoprazole this time. I was tested for celiac disease (negative) and told to try loads of different diets. I tried everything and nothing worked. The pain returned when I was pregnant in mid 2014 I had another colonoscopy which showed inflammation in my rectum. The surgeon told me he thought it could be IBD. I had never heard of it before so he told me a few websites and gave me a leaflet. I was refered to a gastroenterologist. In the meantime I did research and I seem to have nearly every symptom of crohns. It made sense to me. IBS has left a lot of symptoms unexplained. I'm extremely tired, I cannot stay awake for more than 5ish hours at a time. I have on and off anaemia. I am losing blood in my stools and that's to make a few unpleasant symptoms. A few weeks ago I was admitted to A&E because the pain was so extreme. I was told the hospital was understaffed because of the strikes and that they didnt feel i needed emergency surgery so i was sent home with codiene. They also found out I had a UTI and told me they would hurry up my gastro appointment because they did think I needed urgent attention. I went to see the gastroenterologist last week hoping to get some answers. The gastro doctor said I was just experiencing bad IBS and that I should try a low fodmap diet and peppermint tea (I have already tried both and neither helped) I felt very angry, but stayed composed and I told her that I was told it could be IBD and that I agreed with that suggestion. I've given a stool sample for faecal calprotectin tests and she said she can get me an MRI but after that she doesn't think I need further tests. I'm really upset because I am in so much pain and I'm exhausted. I'm also losing blood every time I pass stool. She just seems to be brushing this aside. I passed watery diarrhoea earlier and i lost a lot of blood. Around a cup full. Does anyone have any advice? I'm in the UK by the way.

Sally I'm glad you finally got treatment I really hope things get better for you and I'm sorry it took so long for you to get diagnosed.