What could these symptoms be?

[tummytroublesagain]

Sorry not an AIBU but this has got me really down and after coming home from work sick today with a bad flare up, just wondering if anyone has had any similar issues and what it turned out to be? Doctor thinks IBS and a bad flare up, but is referring me for blood tests and they want a stool sample too to "rule other things out". What other things could it be? I'm worried.

Symptoms are

• horrible abdominal cramps sometimes to the point I have to concentrate and breathe through them. When it happens at work it's so awful, especially if I'm in a meeting trying to pretend I'm fine

• diarrhoea and urgency to get to the toilet very quickly. Often feeling that I have to go straight back after the smallest bite to eat or a drink, like my stomach starts to cramp the instant food hits it and I run back to the toilet with more diarrhoea. That can happen around 5-6 times in an hour at its worst (as was the case this morning)

• nausea that makes me just not want to eat, but then hunger makes me feel worse & lightheaded from low blood sugar

• constant lethargy and fatigue, no energy at all. I go to bed between 8-9pm most nights and still feel exhausted after 8 hours solid sleep.

Anyone had similar?

me, for the past 10 days. Following with interest!

After googling I’m thinking IBS or coeliac which apparently can appear later on in life.

They might be wanting to rule out something parasitic or an ongoing infection.

It sounds like IBS

If I were you I'd ask to be refered for a colonoscopy better to get fully checked and have peace of mind that it's nothing serious.

It could be IBS. It could be an infection. It could be something more sinister.

Is there any chance it could be anxiety though OP?

Could be all sorts really, if you haven’t had much testing there’s no way of knowing.
Obviously it could be something like IBS, Crohns, colitis, celiac, an intolerance, or a stomach/bowl cancer even.
Have you ever had any testing yet?

It could be all sorts of things:

IBS.
Chron's Disease.
Coeliac disease.
Gluten intolerance.
Parasites/infection.

I suspect they want to rule out any kind of allergy or intolerance before diagnosing IBS.

My first thought was it could be bowel cancer, the point where you said "my stomach starts to cramp the instant food hits" immediately set the alarm bells ringing. This is why the doctor wants tests done so that it can be ruled out or treatment started if necessary.

Thanks everyone

I've never had any tests before. I've had tummy troubles most of my adult life and I'm 37 now, but recently it's much worse.

Im worried about bowel cancer as there's a family history of it ☹️

I do suffer with anxiety as well but I don't think this is the cause of my tummy problems.

What makes you think it's not anxiety related?

The reason I suggested it was because when my anxiety was at its worst I had all of those symptoms plus chest pains. It was really scary and I thought I was going to die. It's worth considering.

@girlmom21

That's interesting. My anxiety is quite severe at the moment so I guess it's possible there's a link. I just hadn't considered that such awful physical symptoms could be caused by mental health, as they're so bad that I feel there has to be a physical explanation if that makes sense. Hopefully I'll have some answers when I have the blood tests.

That definitely makes it sound like anxiety.

What help are you getting for your mental health?

These were my almost exact symptoms for type 2 diabetes!

@mountainsunsets

I have just started sessions with a therapist for my anxiety, I was referred ages ago and only just got my appointment through.

Oh god, I hadn't thought about diabetes.

Are you on any kind of medication in the meantime?

I was diagnosed with bowel polyps after these symptoms. The lethargy was from anaemia which you often get if they are large.