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

Hi OP, how awful. I know how it feels my body does this occasionally and without notice. I tend to do the wrong thing and use diarrhea melts to stop it.

If you dont already, you try drinking water infused with lemons? It's a really good alkaline pH drink. It might now work, but worth a go.

www.naaree.com/natural-ways-to-alkalize-your-body/

I'd also suggest you keep a food diary to see what if anything makes it worse.

I think adding capsules of digestive bacteria might help too - you've lost your cultures by now and they're so important.

I can't believe they're not medicating you. I hate dismissive medics. So what if it's 'just' IBS? You're in pain and shouldn't be.

Good luck xxxx

I also suffer with acid poo too and like the PP said a pot of bicarbonate near the loo is a life saver!

I run a little lukewarm water into the sink (which I can reach from the loo) and dunk the loo roll in it, then I will hold the loo roll and squeeze so the water flows over the area. You can immediately feel the burning start to ease. Then use the wet loo roll to clean yourself (make sure you dab rather than wipe which irritates), get a new bit of loo roll and repeat until clean

Keep very clean, sometimes you may get a bit of acidy leakage which just keeps burning until you wash it off.

And finally some witch hazel on a cotton wool ball (soak the ball and put against your anus for a few minutes) before you go to bed helps with the soreness.

I tried anusol etc but found that if it's not piles it can actually make it more sore, so perhaps stop with that for a while and see if it helps

Were you very strict with the FOdMAP diet? It takes a period of time to cleanse then to slowly re-introduce foods. It should pick up irritants very quickly as you re-introduce.

I had burning diarrhoea a lot and it was ulcerative colitis. The only reason I got the proper tests was because I had bleeding as well. But I had to push for the tests. They weren’t pleasant but now I’m on medication all problems have ceased

You have my utter sympathy OP, I have IBS too which can go crazy on me unless I stick to a very restrictive diet - which, when I do, eliminates virtually all symptoms, alongside some good health supplements. Perhaps that's worth a try, what are you currently eliminating?

As for the specialist, they can be bloody awful. Tbh the understanding of IBS is still so basic but some health care people still arrogantly think they know more than they do. I read that IBS may be allergies but ones triggered in the gut so they don't turn up in normal allergy tests - who knows for sure but that might be contributing. He was very much in the wrong to treat you that way.

Anyway you don't deserve this, or to be fobbed off constantly with Anusol and diarrhea tablets.

I know it sounds weird but have you tried lipsyl / vaseline / sudocrem as a barrier? Obviously doesn't fix the cause but might give you relief?

It was recommended to me when I had a colonoscopy, because it is very acid, and it worked. Just apply it after every toilet trip (or before) and it protects the skin.

I also have similar consultant experience - they ruled out cancer (thank goodness) but then they're not really interested anymore.

Someone has mentioned histamines up thread, but I was going to suggest it may be the nightshade group. In particular tomatoes. In particular raw tomatoes. A tomato intolerance runs in our family and basically its like pooping acid. Horrific. It doesn't seem to be picked up on allergy or intolerance testing so we are generally told by hcp that its not real. But stop eating tomatoes and everything is fine...

My son has a milk protein intolerance and as a baby had acidic diarrhoea before we knew. Several others have already suggested cutting out dairy, you seriously need to try that.

I agree with @Lessofallthisunpleasantness . I think if you really can't get into see someone, your best bet right now would be do an extremely basic diet for a week like rice and a protein and then very slowly add things back in to search for triggers. You can't get any major deficiences in a week. You shouldn't have to DIY it like this but if there's no help, what else can you do?

It's really hard to tell if its an external moisture damage issue or more internal. If its more external I doubt the barrier creams will help if you are having constant loose stool, it's wet on wet and will just slip off. I would use the spray foam that someone else linked after every bowel movement, let it sit for about 30 seconds then as little wiping action as possible. You may find soft dry wipes are better than toilet paper but they shouldn't be flushed. Then after you are clean and dry put a barrier film spray on (will link). It doesn't look like it's doing anything but just leaves a film on the skin so next time your bowels move it shouldn't cause so much damage. Also is there any evidence of any fungal infection? That would be an irregular shaped rash, musty/yeasty smell? May be worth trying some canesten. I'd be reluctant to keep putting stronger creams like hydrocortisone etc on.

Of course the main treatment for moisture related skin damage is removing the source of the damage. I feel there is more to explore here and you are being let down by your GP. Would you explore things privately? Have you had any weight loss? Have they suggested loperamide? Is the pain and loose stool every single day or related to your cycle at all? I'm so sorry you are being let down like this.
Barrier film

Cut out dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt) anything with lactose and milk in the ingredients list. Also cut out sugar free food and drink. Dairy and artificial sweeteners can cause abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea. Eliminate all of these for at least a month and see how you feel after 4 weeks.

Whoops just realised I didn't say to put some bicarbonate in the sink with the water 🤦‍♀️

Just as a stopgap because there's obviously a larger problem, but have you tried the anusol suppositories? I found them very helpful where the cream was useless.

I have IBS d and have exactly this during a flare up. It is agony and just like poking acid.

Do you take loperamide daily?

I had this when I went through an awful mental health crisis. I was always in panic mode. My poo became very acidic and the doctors didn't think it was a real thing. But it was alarming and horrible!

I wasn't eating well as I was too panicky to eat. And my stomach was always tense because of the anxiety and stress.

As soon as my mental health improved so did my poo issues.

I think it was extreme IBS. Once i was feeling calmer and mentally well, senna tea from H&B helped me regulate my tummy and get better.

I also found lots of massaging around the belly button helped and an acupressure mat.

My tears were also acidic. I used to get in a horrible state!! So thankful to be better again

Have you considered you could have anal thrush. That causes these type of symptoms.

Can you afford to pay privately?

I really do think you might have fissures.
Took them a long time to find the ones my husband had (via a colonoscopy )he had an operation and has been fine since

Take paracetamol as much as you are allowed each day and it will help (not ibuprofen as ibu can irritate stomach problems). Sudocrem after ever toilet trip works wonders. Go back to GP for anti spasmodic tablets for IBS. Have they tested Liver/full blood count to check it’s nothing else causing the acidic poos? Hope you feel better soon OP, stomach problems are awful.

What have you cut from your diet - for a couple of weeks at least ?

I've had this for years and the only thing that helps is a steroid based cream from the Drs,
Proctocytle (I don't think I've spelt that right!) I started taking omeprazole for an unrelated issue and found that that helped a lot with my IBS.

I had this.
Very annoying and was also cleared. A few weeks after I got awful pains, was debilitating. Went to the ER ended up being gallstones. They took my gallbladder out two days after and haven't had the issue since.

Have you tried sheriport? (Not sure that’s how you spell it …)
game changer.
and ibroprofen for the pain. I think you can get suppositories which might be better for you

I'm really sorry you're going through this OP as someone who also suffers with personal health issues that doctors can't help me with, you have my full sympathies xx

Try Germaloid cream rather than Anusol. It’s so much better (for piles but just generally it’s better at numbing things). There’s also a numbing spray. When I was pregnant I had the worst piles I was scared to treat in case it hurt the baby, afterwards I tried everything. Still get them now and again. The numbing spray meant the difference between slowly walking about and just having to lie down and cry.

There are medications for IBS, they are supposed to help the symptoms. Rather than taking Imodium or whatever. Have you been offered those? Or I think you can buy them. I know it doesn’t help with why it’s happening but if you could make it happen less often. Sounds horrible and I’m sorry you’re going through it x