Posting for traffic I’m feeling really brushed off by gastro and I’m not sure what to do next. They’re saying my symptoms are IBS because I’ve had that diagnosis before. I explained that it turned out to be undiagnosed bowel endometriosis and my symptoms only resolved after surgery. Gastro is telling me that bowel endo and adhesions wouldn’t cause diarrhoea or pain, which doesn’t feel right to me. Current symptoms 1. Diarrhoea 4–20 times a day . Usually watery but sometimes hard lumps. An anaesthetist even postponed surgery because of this, but cultures didn’t show anything. 2. Pain mostly on the right side around my belly button, sometimes into my back. It’s worse a few hours after eating and at night. It can wake me up. It sometimes feels like kidney stone pain, but scans were clear. 3. Pain when trying to open bowels – sometimes the stool “peeps out” then goes back in. Warm baths and breathing help a bit. After going, it’s very sore for around 30 minutes. I use water-only cleaning and nappy cream but still sore. 4. Very limited appetite . Only tolerating toddler amounts: avocado, bananas, biscuits, chicken, cheese, fish, fruit purée, mashed potatoes with root veg coliflower, rice, soup, toast and yoghurt. 5. Feeling generally unwell – fatigue, low ferritin, occasional temperatures up to 38.3°C. 6. Joint pain , mainly right shoulder and hip. Recent tests • CRP raised.
• Low ferritin, calcium, magnesium and zinc.
• Stool sample positive for campylobacter (treated with antibiotics).
• CT scan showing inflammation in the terminal ileum , sigmoid , and rectum . Medications • Paracetamol and Buscopan are only helping a bit peppermint tea and a hot waterbottle does simmilar.
• I have no confidence Mebeverine will work.
• Iron tablets cause severe pain 3–4 hours after taking them. My GP suggested asking gastro for an iron infusion, but gastro told me to “learn to tollerate. Just feel in a state of dispare.