I don’t usually have anxiety around health but I am so scared and hoping for some advice

[Scarred11]

I will go to the doctor tomorrow if I can get an appointment.

Basically the last week I’ve had a horrendous need to go to the toilet but then when I’ve got there barely anything has happened and if it has it’s full of mucus. It’s also very thin and ribbon like which I have read is something serious I am usually fine in the mornings and as soon as I have had food the waves of pain begin and I’m on the toilet every 10 mins. Then I think I am better but it happens again the next day.

ive been fine otherwise, no temperature or headache, but I am still suffering from what was a pretty bad cold. Can barely smell etc

I have had this horrible feeling for a few months that I am going to get unwell. I don’t know why I keep thinking about ds being on his own without me and it’s just awful. Now this has happened I feel petrified. Has anyone experienced this and been ok? I feel so scared and alone

I had this with the flu that's going around. I figured I must have swallowed so much snot that it affected my digestion. It was back to normal in about a week.

Try not to worry 😊 see how you are in a few days.

@CrazyCatLady13 really you had stomach pain too? It would make some sense as my cold was very bad and sinuses blocked but it just feels horrendous when it’s happening even though the next morning I am ok again.

Could it be IBS?

@Knittedfairies2 it has happened really suddenly one day last week so I am not sure. The pain is so bad and then it just stops and I feel fine

Most likely post nasal drip all night long, youre swallowing mucus. Then you're passing it morning til its gone, then starting all over again the next day.

If it hasnt stopped within a few days of complete recovery from cold then see your GP.

Unless youre also unable to eat- in which case GP asap in case of blockage or twist. But that would likely be extremely painful.

Disgusting thought but when you lie down mucus that would run down your throat or nose during the day, pools because your nose and throat aren't down! When you stand up chances are you swallow that and it goes through your digestive system!

@dairydebris the pains start shortly after eating though, so in the mornings I have been ok. It’s as the day goes on and I have eaten that it starts. Could it just be the mucus irritating it? It’s really painful and feels like I really need the loo even when I don’t.

@stichguru thanks, why would that cause pain and feeling like I need the loo though? What I’ve read online has really scared me. I am on my own with my boy and I am all he has (dad involved but not daily)

I am a life long IBS sufferer and what you describe could fit my IBS exactly some days. So it could be IBS but you should still get it checked by your GP since these symptoms are new to you. But it doesn't automatically shout something you should be concerned about so try not to worry.

@EverardDeTroyes Gosh how do you cope :( could it be that starting so suddenly?

Yes absolutely could be mucus irritating it.

If youre worried about blockage or twist in my experience that is extremely painful, the pain doesn't stop, and you wouldn't be able to eat at all.

For me mucus can cause loose poos - if it gets into your digestive system, it doesn't digest and bind in with the other expelled digested food, so it makes poos loose and mucusy. You might feel a little like you had diarreah because your poo isn't binding and is staying lose.

I had this. Went to the doctor and got tested…It was a gastrointestinal infection (e-coli). It was very nasty, but cleared up after 2 weeks.

I suffer from health anxiety and a lovely GP that I once saw gave me some sound advice which helped me massively.
She said, for herself, she follows a 3-week rule… that is, see if the worrisome symptoms persist for 3 weeks or more. If they do, it could warrant a visit to the GP, as most viruses, etc, clear within this timeframe. Obviously, this doesn’t apply to more serious medical emergency situations (ie potential heart attack). In my experience, the vast majority of things that have caused me significant anxiety and worry do not persist for this long and rectify themselves within this timeframe.
Give it some more time- I think it sounds like you have a virus and this won’t go on forever.

Have you tested for Covid? That could cause the loss of smell and some strains can cause digestive problems.

@Scarred11 - did you manage to get an appointment to see your GP?

Yes it was ok thank you and despite the blocked nose and no smell the other symptoms have eased a bit!

Mucous is usually digested as it makes its way through the digestive track. The large bowel also produces mucous. I’d get checked asap.

Hi OP glad things are getting a bit better for you.

I used to work in endoscopy and people would come in with really alarming symptoms, everyone thinks the worst case scenario and most often it wasn’t that. However there’s all sorts of weird and wonderful infections and conditions that impact the bowels. Keep monitoring it, I hope your GP was helpful?

@Sbmpp @sunshineday850

I had a sample done and tested for blood and that was clear so they’ve said nothing further needs to be done now the pain has lessened and now the urge to go has stopped. There’s still a bit of mucus.

I had a similar sudden pain and it was diverticulitis. Diagnosed after an endoscopy and colonoscopy under a two week wait pathway. I was getting g severe pains every time I ate. Also lost a lot of weight very quickly as I couldn’t eat much.

@Florencesndzebedee what causes that and did you need antibiotics?!

I’m not sure but it came completely out of the blue for me. It’s more co
min in older, overweight people and ‘flares’. I had antibiotics and it calmed down after a few weeks. Haven’t had it since but do now get left side abdominal pain every now and again.

So so good to hear!!!