Oily smelly poo and lots of other very weird stuff going on

Sorry for the waffle but bear with me…this is a long one!

I do suffer from health anxiety ever since I was a kid.  I am 44 yr old male. Normally in good health.

I had been noticing a film of oil in the toilet after a BM.  When I pass wind and my poo smells of rotting vegetables/camembert. My poo was varying from hard, to mushy, more often mushy, and floating in the bowl.

I reckon this has been going on for 3 to 6 months

That’s just the start of it however….

I started seeking Docs advice in January this year, scared about something sinister – I recently lost a friend to pancreatic cancer, and a relative to stomach cancer.  I was worried…!

I have been prescribed Trazadone, 100mg, which helps me sleep, but does not stop the worry.

I was having reflux and stomach pain - I am on Omeprazole, which seems to have done the job (I had Gastritis a few years ago)

Since then I have had an intermittent blotchy red rash on arms, hands and abdomen and neck (non itchy, not raised) – doc says Urticaria, I showed him some photos….  Took cetirizine, it didn’t go away

My legs have started itching like hell when sitting at desk.  I have several small red patches with whiteheads on.  When wearing shorts, they don’t itch. It comes and goes.

An intermittent niggling cough which has been going on for 6 to 8 weeks – I bring up occasional clear/very light green salty mucus, especially after exercise and mainly in morning. 

Found some lumps around my nipples – which scared me – doc pressed them – “don’t worry”

More recently and more worrying (past 2 weeks) I have been having incredibly randomly growling guts (upper and lower).  Especially when get up in morning, and after eating generally. I can literally feel them shake and vibrate through my body in a way that they never used to.

Haven’t done a “normal” poo in 2 weeks, has been very loose not watery, but not substantial, intermittent, sometimes want to go but just wind.  It terrifies me that I have a blockage somewhere.

Intermittent low back pain, which feels like something pressing, has woken me up in middle of night - again is there a lower bowel issue?

Worst of all, I am sure I can feel something rubbing around inside my rib cage when moving or breathing in front and back, mainly on right.  Sometimes is an audible “crack”, but sometimes like a rubbing/grinding inside.  Horrible sensation.

My back and ribcage generally are very cracky/clicky recently all day long

Today – I have had what I can only describe a sphincter pain (stabbing) when I wanted to go to the toilet, but nothing happened.  It eased off after 10 minutes.  I think this is what is known as Proctalgia?  I have had it before a few times in the past.

Generally I feel washed out, and incredibly scared.  Sometimes feel a bit confused/spaced out, a little low on energy perhaps.

At night I am generally fine – no pain (apart from recent lower back)

Appetite, pretty good, although not in the morning (I think that’s the Trazadone fog).  Not major weight lost (lost a few pounds after Xmas). Stable at present.

My thoughts (I am a chronic symptom checker) – Lymphoma, bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer, or something else horrible.

I have been to the doctors about 10 times this year, and I think he is now totally fed up with me.  He says – “you are fine”.  He asked “what do you want to do?”.  I didn’t know (he’s the expert!).  “Do you want to see a Gastroenterologist?” – I have decided I do.  I got the impression he doesn’t think it is necessary. I am now scared to go back for fear of wasting his time with new symptoms.

I am doing some CBT for health anxiety, but it isnt working.

I have been tested for

Blood tests

Enzymes of some sort which relate to liver, and something to do with pancreas - normal

Various blood /white cell counts – normal range

Coeliac – negative

Vitamin D – low (quite common at this time of year apparently)– now taking supplement

Poo tests

H Pylori – negative (normal)

Calprotectin – negative (normal)

Gardia – negative (normal)

Sputum – bacteria test – negative (normal)

Chest X Ray – normal

Upper GI ultrasound – normal (pancreas difficult to see due to bowel gas obstruction)

Based on all the test results, I am fine.  But my body is giving off all sorts of signs that I am not.

Does anyone have any insight as to where I am with all this, and what I should be doing.   I feel out on a limb at present?

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