Am I being a hypochondriac?

[CutiePatooties]

A few months ago I started having a really sharp pain in my stomach on the left hand side. It would only ease off once I stood up and after feeling a twisting sensation, it would then feel like something had ‘dropped’ in my stomach and then I’d feel fine again. Pain comes on and off and can’t think of what triggers it - changed diet a few times, cut things out like junk food or dairy but still happens.

Then I started needing the loo (number 2) more often. I’d usually go once a day, but since a few months ago I’ve been going at least 5 times a day and some days after everything I eat. I’m bloated, never feel like I’ve emptied my bowels properly and on one occasion I didn’t even make it to the loo in time (sorry for TMI) and when I need to go, there’s now a sense of urgency every time. The stools are loose, plus I found myself sleeping 3 hours every Saturday during the day but put it down to working as a teacher, having 2 small DDs (1 y.o and 6 y.o) but I’ve been off for summer and I’m still absolutely exhausted and still needing to sleep during the weekend. We went away for 3 nights and I slept for half a day on one of the days and missed out on the fun. I’m constantly exhausted. Had my thyroid checked and nothing wrong there.

GP took a stool sample and they’ve just got back to me about results and she said there’s blood in my stool and there were markers that indicate inflammation. She told me to try not to worry as it could be ulcerative colitis, but the fact it’s Friday today and she’s booked me in for a colonoscopy for next Tuesday worries me, plus my nan and auntie both died from bowel cancer so she said she’s put it through as urgent due to this.

I’m trying not to overreact. Told DM and DH about the blood in poo and the colonoscopy and they don’t seem worried in the slightest.

AIBU to be worrying about this? The fact DH and DM aren’t bothered by it at all, makes me think I’m being a hypochondriac.

Of course your not being a hypochondriac.

It's only natural to be worried about a health condition.

You've done the right thing by having tests and not just left it.

Try to stay calm and I hope everything will be ok as it's not necessarily anything awful.

I'd be worried too in your shoes, I think it's only natural especially given your family history. It's great that you went to the GP though and that they are moving everything along so quickly. Fingers crossed it's something and nothing.

Well, you'll know for sure after the test. But the fact that your family is being sensible is entirely admirable - making a fuss achieves nothing.

of course you aren’t being a hypochondriac

I’m pleased you’ve got a quick appointment, that is the main thing, and as the doc says, it may well be colitis or something similar.

@Hbh17 don’t be daft. The OP has two close relatives who have had bowel cancer, it is perfectly natural for her to be concerned. It would be rather more admirable if her mother and husband acknowledged her fears. This is not making a fuss. We all need to be heard, especially when we feel vulnerable.

Could be Diverticulitis. It has many of the same symptoms including pain in lower left hand side and blood in your poo.

Thank you everyone. I’ll try to take my mind off it and just be grateful that the GP is dealing with it quickly.

@Crinkle77 I’ve just googled this and it could very well be what I have. That’s made me a lot calmer, so thank you.

I’ve calmed myself down a bit now and it’s true that it’s not going to help worrying about it until I find out what’s wrong with me and it could be nothing serious, in which case I’d have worried for days over nothing. I really appreciate the replies, thank you.

@continentallentil Thank you for this. It would’ve helped to be able to talk to them about it. Mum just said don’t worry and started talking about Dad’s bowel habits and hubby started talking about the time he had kidney stones and no one actually asked me how I felt or anything. Even the GP asked me if I was okay once she gave me the update/booked colonoscopy. Almost felt silly for bringing it up with DM & DH.

And don't worry about the 2 week referral. When I got referred quickly they said it was because if they didn't do it that way there would be a 50 week wait. My issues turned out to be diverticulitis, gastritis, ulcers and I had some polyps removed. I've only just had the biopsy results back which were normal so need to speak to the doctor about treatment now.

I was going to suggest this. Especially the pain, agonising, couldn't stand upright.

I haven't had a flare up for a while. I found that cutting out/cutting down on fatty meat, highly processed foods and food containing processed white flour definitely helped. Now, if I get a flare up it's usually after Christmas or a holiday binge.

Yep my stomach is worse when I've eaten a rich meal or a load of crap!

@Createausername1970 @Crinkle77 Do you get back pain as well?

I’ve started having back pain on and off and it’s been more sharp/severe today. I haven’t gone to toilet a lot though which is a nice feeling. Makes me think it can’t be serious, otherwise I’d still be going lots today. Have slept excessively though.

I had inflammation markers in both my poo and my biopsies from the colonoscopy and was told it was still just ibs.

i know it’s easy to say don’t worry but it’s not always the worst possible diagnosis.

Gosh, it's a while since I had a flare up, I am trying to recall if I had back pain as well.

The pains in my lower left abdomen were very sharp and I struggled to stand up straight and walk. Initially I thought it was a problem with my hip. I didn't get the severe need for the loo though, if anything I tended to be bunged up. Things weren't moving through quick enough.

But I have had the symptoms you mention, and that was IBS, but the pain with IBS was more in the middle.

My understanding is that IBS can differ from one person to another, so one person will experience one set of symptoms and someone else will experience something entirely different, but it's IBS in both cases.

I think you said in your original post that you have a scan on Tuesday for possible ulcerative colitis. Having googled that, it does sound remarkably similar to what you describe. And if you have a lot of inflammation, then just like I thought my diverticulitis pain was emanating from my hip, then it's not unreasonable that it seems like the pain in your lower bowel area is coming from your back. It's all fairly squished in to a small area, so can be difficult to work out just where the pain is.

I am sorry you are feeling so rough. My suggestion would be to keep of your feet as much as possible, preferably stay in bed. Drink plenty of fluids. Eat bland, easy to digest food in small quantities. Digestive biscuits were my preferred choice.

I was prescribed strong co-codamol for my diverticulitis pain and told to avoid ibuprofen as it can aggrevate rather than soothe.

Hopefully Tuesday will bring some answers 🙂

@CutiePatooties no back pain and didn't have the pain in my left hand side either. I've got a docs appt this avo to discuss the colonoscopy/gastroscopy results so will see what they say.

How did you get on with your colonoscopy OP?

@C1239 sorry I’m only just replying - had a lot going on recently.

They booked in for a colonoscopy and sent me a letter with the date etc. I went in and they said I had to have bloods taken first to check my liver so told me to go away and wait for a letter with an appointment to take bloods. I went in to have bloods taken; she couldn’t get it from my arm, so tried my hand and then my other hand and eventually got some. It was very painful and I had a large bruise covering the backs of both my hands.

I’ve just been told they didn’t get enough of a blood sample so I have to go back to get another one taken, at which point I’m just tired of this! I told them to just leave it, as I’m already drained (sleeping a lot, can’t function and if I do anything like laugh too hard or bend over too quickly my stomach hurts severely). I’m still experiencing the same symptoms. She told me she’d inform the local hospital as to why I will not go back to the hub to have bloods taken and that they might call me to go there for bloods instead, but I won’t hold my breath. I’m thinking with how long they’ve taken and how incompetent they’ve been, that this can’t be anything to worry about, so that’s calmed me down a lot actually. I keep telling myself I’m probably okay, otherwise I’d have had the colonoscopy already.