To expect to see or dr?

[Tunnocks34]

Fully appreciate my health anxiety may be fogging my mind here which is why I am reaching out.

I have had some bowel disruption for about three weeks, whilst on holiday (admittedly eating lots of greasy food, and drinking lots of alcohol) I had a day of diarrhoea. That I would cope with. I have since come home and been exceptionally constipated. Used over the counter laxitive to deal with the initial build up, and I am now going daily but very hard balls. Not my usual.

GP has told me to drink more. They don’t need to see me as a I had a clear colonoscopy last year.

happy to be told I need to get a grip!

Eat big bowls of salad and add olive oil

Thanks all. I did expect it was likely my health anxiety making this worse and clouding my judgement. Sometimes I just go from zero to panic.

I will try the advice listed over the next few days.

thanks again for taking the time to advice.

Yes you can buy laxido over the counter.

Take a small dose of the dulcolax every day. This will get you back into rhythm.

Or laxido - same difference.

You need to get your diet back on an even keel for couple of weeks, alcohol back to normal levels if applicable and drink the right amount of liquids for the same time frame to even see if you have a problem, if after this period you are having issues, then contact the doctor. They are not going to order tests when the more likely cause is over indulgence.

You dont need a dr for what is simply self maintenance, you do however need a therapist for your anxiety , health anxiety costs the NHS alot of money and time wasting

I do have private CBT and for the most part so am successful. The place I still struggle with with health anxiety is where I have something that is a symptom. So in this instance I was ok for a few days but when I didn’t revert to normal and I googled causes so I could address them every site says to see a GP if persistent or over 2 weeks, which this has been. I know how expensive medical care is. I have spent thousands on a private mammograms, pelvic ultrasounds and mole checks. I am trying.

If you had a cleat colonoscopy 12 months ago, please don't worry about cancer. It takes a long time for pre cancerous polyps (that they check for in the procedure) to turn into cancer, years even. Which is why screening is infrequent. Try self care, with diet, peanuts are helpful, some walking to get things moving and warm lemon water. A probiotic might be good too.

Definitely stool softener over laxatives. Movicol is the main one. Not nice but does the job.

Macrogol (Movicol, Laxido etc) to rehydrate any hard stool in bowel and get it moving. Can add docusate (Dulcoease) as additional softener. Once things are moving reliably again that's when you can get into good habits with fibre and water but you need to clear the backlog (so to speak!) with macrogol first. Good luck!

Was going to suggest that. The holiday has knocked your guts out of balance. That happens to me as well.

I tend to have constipation andhard stools so my cure is 2litres of water as a minimum. Up your fibre-Chia seeds (you must drink when eating these) every day. I put 80g frozen raspberries into the microwave for a minute then squish and add 25-20g chia seeds overnight. I then add this to Greek yoghurt or use the mixture as jam to use on toast (you can use honey to sweeten it). Beans on high fibre bread at lunch, plenty of fruit and veg and nuts. My bowel is working well now.

Double your fluid water intake
Bran
Nuts
Fruit
Fresh veg
Prunes
Figs
Fresh dates
Fybogel and or laxido.

Would you go to your dr about this if they sent you a bill for £150?

I would. Honestly I know it is pathetic but I do t think you realise how awful health anxiety could be. 3 weeks after giving birth I felt an unusual lump in my boob. I asked my midwife who said it was a milk gland. This didn’t reassure me and I spent £4000 on a private mammogram and follow up consults to be told it was a milk gland. I am paying for private CBT which is helping biy obviously I still have issues

I have taken advice on board - chia seeds, lactose and upped my water. As I’m sure is a surprise to. No one things are improving.

Thanks for the advice - I know I must seem like a bit of a drama queen!

A huge lack of respect or compassion for health anxiety which is hugely distressing and disabling.

Have a hug OP, look after yourself and I’m sorry you are going through this. X

It isn't necessarily pathetic but it is utterly wrong to expect such consultations to be publicly funded, particularly if you have not first engaged with common sense initiatives.

If you want clinical advice, I would venture that you should pay for it in these circumstances. However, the NHS should be sorting out your health anxiety.

Take dulcoease. It softens the stools and doesn't give diarrhea or cramping. You need to take it a couple times a day.