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Original poster

Warning TMI To ask if this could be something sinister

14 replies

anxietymary · 02/12/2022 12:31

In May I suffered an upset stomach it lasted 2 days and altered my bowel movements which then corrected themselves after a couple of weeks.

Since this point I have suffered an upset stomach with what I say were cramps which ease once I've been about 5/6 times. However 2 of these times DH has also had it so we put them down to a bug. In this time my mother has also suffered from the same sort of symptoms (does not live with us)

When I have the cramps I know I need to go to the toilet and once I go it is watery and has undigested food in it (sorry!). I tend to then go at least once more in quick succession afterwards which seems to get out the Last bits then my stomach just feels a bit tender for the rest of the day.

When I'm not having these 'episodes' everything is normal, no change in colour or consistency and there has been no blood. I have been going more regularly however we are talking once every other day rather than once every 2 days. This also coincides with beginning a full time work from home job so I'm not consciously holding anything in so I don't go at work if that makes sense.

I can't get a GP appointment and I'm not even sure what I'd say other than the above which seems to rule out anything like cancer I would presume (it has not happened more regularly and there is no real pattern other than normally happens when I'm run down or stressed). Could this be something like IBS. The fact DH has had it the same on the last couple of occasions makes me think it is unrelated to the ones that I've had alone if that makes sense.

Could this be something more sinister. I don't seem to really fit the bowel cancer symptoms. No blood, no pain after eating, not loosing weight, not feeling any more tired than is usual for me (have a DS who doesn't sleep and work FT) the only sort of symptom are these episodes above. Can anyone offer any reassuring words of advice.

OP posts:
Oooooooooooooh · 02/12/2022 12:33

Go and speak to a pharmacist to get proper advice. We can't advise you. Hope you feel better soon

Original poster
anxietymary · 02/12/2022 12:33

The only other way it ties to anything is that it has either happened whilst I'm on peak day for ovulation or just before my period

OP posts:
blitzen · 02/12/2022 12:34

Sounds like IBS

TheComptonEffect · 02/12/2022 12:42

Could be helicobacter pylori? You all could have eaten something infected by it. My husband had this, GP ten tests which confirmed this and he had a course of antibiotics. He now uses kefir and fermented foods which made a huge difference but he does still have to be careful with foods.

TheComptonEffect · 02/12/2022 12:48

Definitely get in touch with your GP though and describe your sympoms

HelpIcantfindaname · 02/12/2022 12:52

I thought I had IBS which turned out to be cancer. There was no blood visible in my poo, but traces were detected when the doctor sent off for tests.
I was very tired, suffered bad bloating every night, always felt like I needed to poo, but never felt like I'd completely emptied my bowels, was always constipated or had diarrhoea- there was no inbetween. What I did pass was small & thin as it had had to get past the tumour.
This doesn't sound like your symptoms, but I would still get checked out to be on the safe side.
At the time of my diagnosis, last June, Dame Deborah was talking lots about check your poo. But the blood in mine was not visible to the naked eye, so you need to look at other symptoms too.
Your symptoms don't sound like cancer, but I think any changes, which last more than 3 weeks should be checked.
I don't want to worry more, but I do wish I'd gone to the gp sooner.

HelpIcantfindaname · 02/12/2022 12:53

#don't want to worry YOU more

Original poster
anxietymary · 02/12/2022 12:57

HelpIcantfindaname · 02/12/2022 12:52

I thought I had IBS which turned out to be cancer. There was no blood visible in my poo, but traces were detected when the doctor sent off for tests.
I was very tired, suffered bad bloating every night, always felt like I needed to poo, but never felt like I'd completely emptied my bowels, was always constipated or had diarrhoea- there was no inbetween. What I did pass was small & thin as it had had to get past the tumour.
This doesn't sound like your symptoms, but I would still get checked out to be on the safe side.
At the time of my diagnosis, last June, Dame Deborah was talking lots about check your poo. But the blood in mine was not visible to the naked eye, so you need to look at other symptoms too.
Your symptoms don't sound like cancer, but I think any changes, which last more than 3 weeks should be checked.
I don't want to worry more, but I do wish I'd gone to the gp sooner.

Hope you're better now?

There are no changes to the consistency or amount and I don't feel like there is anything still in there if that makes sense. No increased tiredness either.

OP posts:
Original poster
anxietymary · 02/12/2022 13:01

As I say these are 5 stand alone episodes over 7 months.

DH has just confided that he has also suffered more than the twice he let on!!

Maybe it is something we've picked up. DH goes from one extreme to another although he just gets on with it if it's ok the upset end whereas I go into panic.

DS has also just had an upset stomach so fingers crossed this one is just a bug.

OP posts:
Felicity42 · 02/12/2022 13:10

Could it be the hormones.
Could be getting a fluid filled cyst at ovulation (very common) which is pushing on your bowel. Then once the cyst disperses after ovulation it goes away.
I'm not a doctor though!
But as I got older heading towards menopause I got one sided pain at ovulation and an urge to poo came with it. Like a full feeling like gas.

Also keep a food diary also for yourself and DH for a month or two.

HelpIcantfindaname · 02/12/2022 17:36

I actually have Stage 4 cancer & am undergoing chemo.

It doesn't sound like what you have at all, so please don't worry more.

Do get checked though because whatever it is theres probably something your gp can give you to help.

Keeping a food diary, as pp suggested. Is a good idea.

Original poster
anxietymary · 02/12/2022 20:54

@HelpIcantfindaname sending all the love and luck for you. I hope everything goes in the right direction.

Thank you for taking the time to reassure. I would've thought it would have happened more than the 5 times in 7 months if it was getting sinister.

DH opened up to me tonight and said he's been suffering since March but brushed it aside. I have always had mucus in my poo especially if I have an upset tummy so this isn't anything new to me.

I suffer terribly with health anxiety but surely myself and DH wouldn't both have something sinister at the same time!

OP posts:
Coolcreature · 02/12/2022 21:27

I had similar, and it was the medication I was on mixing with the sickness bug

ButterCrackers · 02/12/2022 21:32

You need to see a doctor to get this checked. One idea is that it could be a parasite infection which would be easy to sort out - seeing that other family have had similar problems. Main thing is to get a GP appointment if possible.

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