To cry myself to sleep about this

[Embarrassingiknow]

I get frequent diarrhoea and discomfort in my abdomen. I’ve had blood tests, stool tests and a sigmoidoscopy. All clear thankfully. I was diagnosed with IBS or a food intolerance.

I mentioned to the consultant who did my colonoscopy that my poo sometimes stings but he sort of dismissed me and didn’t help at all. He just said it’s IBS or a food causing my symptoms (eg possibly lactose) and was quite sharp about it and didn’t really offer any help about why the symptoms are happening

The diarrhoea and discomfort is unpleasant but I’m used to it now. But I can’t stand this burning anal pain anymore. im going through a tube of anusol a week and it’s not really helping anymore. When it’s at its worst, it’s excruciating to sit down and walk about. It sometimes bleeds. Right now im sitting on a cushion and I’m in so much pain with it.

I don’t have piles or fissures and have been checked for it already. I’ve tried different toilet papers, wipes, different underwear fabrics.

it usually starts after I’ve been to the toilet- it honestly feels like my stool is made of acid, it stings SO Much and it leaves me in pain for hours afterwards. I don’t know if it’s possible to have acidic faeces but if it is then I’m convinced it’s acidic.

I have NO idea what’s causing this but I could cry. Nothing is helping and I don’t know what to do. When I ask for help they just say anusol or antidiarrhoeas. But it’s not helping. I can’t get a GP appointment right now because of work and Uni. I don’t remember the last time I didn’t cry myself to sleep about it. I’ve got university lectures tomorrow and I’ll have to walk about and sit down and it’s absolutely excruciating so i could cry some more thinking about how awful it will be

I don’t even know why I’m ranting on here about it, I’m just sick of being in so much pain. I hate my life right now

Use Sudocrem as a barrier cream & Germaloids cream as it has local anaesthetic in it to numb the burning. I understand how you feel as a long term sufferer of IBS. I use Buscopan & peppermint oil capsules to control the symptoms, never drink straight after a meal as it can cause your stomach to empty before food is properly broken down by the acid in your stomach which then causes the wind & diarrhoea you speak of. Stick to a low fibre diet, white bread, pasta, rice, cooked veg, potatoes, keep a food diary so you can work out what foods trigger an attack. Try to keep stress to a minimum, try relaxation, mindfulness or whatever relieves your stress, my IBS was at it's worse when my marriage was ending, every night as I was eating my evening meal it would start & I would spend the next 3-4 hours stuck on the toilet in such pain I was being sick at the same time. I lost 5 stone without trying, within days after I left my husband I didn't have an attack for over 3 years & I only have the occasional attack now.

Oh you poor thing, that sounds so miserable. I’m furious on your behalf at the dismissive attitudes you’ve encountered, how dare these medics make you feel like you’re moaning unnecessarily. Chronic pain is unbearable, especially when you don’t even know the source, please don’t feel that you can’t go back and insist on further investigations. I know it can be easier said than done but you need to keep pushing for the help you deserve.
Really hope that some of the suggestions here might help, and wishing you all the very best.

I had stomach issues several years ago. Had tests, investigations the lot. In desperation I did the anti Candida diet a friend recommended - strictly - for 8 weeks. No sugar, no processed shit, no alcohol etc etc. Within two weeks my stomach was flat again, I could use the loo normally. After 8 weeks I was back to normal. It literally cured me. Go back to basics - something is obviously upsetting your gut.

I’m sure it’s been suggested already, but have you been tested for coeliac disease? Although you need to be eating plenty of gluten around the time you’re tested, or the results could come up a false negative.

Sounds like histamine intolerance. Try a h2 blocker (can buy them over the counter). Life changing for the acid-burning pain.

My friend's baby had something similar... almost acidic poo, giving the most awful nappy rash. Turns out she's airtight up dairy. Have you tried cutting it out?

I would fight to get seen by the doc again.... obviously it hasn't been resolved. Don't let them dismiss you. It's no way to live!!!

Allergic to dairy * 🙄

Keep at the doctors, try different routes.
I wonder if you're a young, white woman, reasonably well-educated? Because they get fobbed off as 'hysterical' by doctors, every day and in every way.
My dd had a problem for years and was told it was 'panic attacks'. No. It was a growth in her chest that nearly killed her, and would have if she hadn't persisted when her concerns were brushed aside.
So keep trying. Definitely do the elimination diet. Keep a diary of symptoms. It's a faff but it will help.

If you are using Anusol could you have skin thinning resulting in little tears In the skin?

I have read every single reply on here and am really grateful to everyone taking the time to comment and help.

honestly, as dramatic as it sounds, I feel like this is ruining my life. I can just about cope with the ibs and the cramps and diarrhoea. But this is agony. Once again I’m up all night with it because no matter what position I lie in, it hurts so much. I haven’t slept a wink because it feels like I’ve got broken glass under me no matter how I lie or sit.

ive already tried barrier creams, petroleum gel, e45 and sudocrem unfortunately but thank you anyway for the suggestions I’m grateful for them all. The only reason I was using anusol is because it apparently has a kind of anaesthetic so I thought it might help a bit

my blood was tested for coeliac and it was negative, I just don’t know what to do because I’m in so much pain with this and nobody can help. The gp can’t help and the consultant at the hospital made it perfectly clear that they are not doing anymore tests or help for me because it’s just IBS. I know if I get referred again it will get rejected. I’m not trying to be difficult or awkward at all, I just want this to stop. Like I said, I can manage with the other symptoms as unpleasant as they are, but this is torture x

Surely even if it’s “just IBS” (so bad you can barely function and it’s “just” ffs) they still need to find something to help you day to day? I think you need to hassle the consultant. It does sound like you’re not digesting food properly somehow.

Thrush and cystitis is bad enough and normally that’s just a few days.

I can only suggest allergy testing or one of those donut pillows to sit on.

I don’t have any answers or suggestions but just wanted to say how sorry I am, truly hope you get medical diagnosis relief soon. It’s hell being so ill and trying all these these different things. Hope you can go private (even though you shouldn’t have to resort to that) or get medical solution v soon. In my thoughts, love🌷🌷

Sorry that should read: medical help and relief. Should proofread

OP that sounds horrendous and you don't seem like a moany cow at all. Sorry the doctors are so dismissive, sounds like sexism to me.

Has anyone mentioned psyllium seeds yet? Not the husks, the whole seeds? A teaspoon or two in yoghurt help me get back from slop to sausage shaped poos (sorry to be graphic) when I've eaten something wrong. Also reduce acidity.

Also, in many European countries ppl use charcoal tablets against bowel problems. It sort of soaks up disease agents. Can you get your hands on these?

Really, though, your problem should be investigated further. Try a different GP?

I have one food intolerance that if I eat it, I get what I not so affectionately refer to as baboon butt. It is incredibly painful.

Low fodmap is often the first approach, but it’s not the only set of reactive foods. People can react to anything

i also discovered that the creams that I was using to soothe the area happened to contain something I was allergic to which was actually making the tissue swell and get even worse.

it took some time to figure all this out and my problems weren’t limited to that area so that helped with the diagnosis.

OP I would suggest having a shower after you poop and then apply some soothing cream or barrier cream. You would definitely need to shower afterwards to get and fecal matter that could be left behind.

I’ve had all sorts of these problems. I do very much think the pain could be multiple very, very small fissures which can’t be seen by the naked eye. Caused by all the going and wiping

I was going to say this OP, especially as it is your actual bum hole rather than inside from the sound of it? Not the same but, I get a similar painful sensation that is irritated by wee or any moisture if I have um, vigorous sex too much in a short period. I tried all sorts thinking it was perhaps an imbalance, bacterial etc but it turned out to just be lots of tiny abrasions to the skin making me very sore and uncomfortable. Good old Sudecrem as an antiseptic barrier cream helps hugely, as well as of course leaving the area alone to heal.

That is a problem though, I can obvs stop having sex for a few days but you cannot avoid going to the toilet. I think you need to find a non abrasive way to clean your bottom after toileting for now, possibly an antibacterial wash and just washing it straight away?

It sounds grim but if it is pain caused by abrasion the only way it will end is if you can give it time to heal. Long term you would need to look at your diet and see if there's anything at all you can do to limit the runs x

My daughter has allergies and one of her symptoms is such acidic poo it literally burns the skin off her bottom, even if I change her immediately (she’s in nappies). Can you afford private allergy testing?

Not much practical advice but just wanted to give you some support. I had something similar after giving birth. I used to feel physically sick after going to the toilet and couldn't sleep for the pain. GP just wasn't interested. Had to force them to look at it. I don't think anyone can understand how painful iand upsetting it is unless they've experienced it themselves.
I tried cool salt water bathing, cold compresses and tried to eat a low residue diet.
In my case it resolved itself after a month.

Just checking you aren’t using scented toilet paper and/or wipes, or pads? Many many women have a bad reaction to these

Please get a ring cushion to sit on. You must, must see a GP. I really empathise with the lack of appointments. Can you get one with a practice nurse (re sore skin) and explain the situ to them? There are often “embargo” GP appointments set aside for medical staff to allocate.

I have lichen schlerosus and when the skin around my anus flares up (awful burning) what helps is cleaning the area gently with damp cotton wool, using Drapolene nappy cream and wearing no pants (and a long skirt/dress)

The suggestions about neutralising the acid in your poo sound helpful too.

You can be allergic or sensitive to certain creams. I'd go back to basics and stick to salt water baths after going to the loo and letting the area dry as opposed to always being wet with creams. This sorted out an issue I had with a very persistent sore bum x

In addition to all the helpful comments I’d like to just encourage you to contact PALS at your hospital. You absolutely shouldn’t be made to feel ignored, dismissed or like you wouldn’t be able to access help with this issue.

Another possibility to investigate is bile malabsorption- it’s alkaline but s at the other end of the scale so may also burn (& def causes diarrhoea).

Sounds awful OP so sorry you’re dealing with this. I’m not knowledge but it sound like there could be inflammation of blood vessels or something similar to cause constant pain. As this is chronic/ ongoing the treatments they have suggested aren’t suitable it needs further investigation, don’t let them fob you off!