Blood in stool and tummy pain

[Ribbon14]

Hi all,

i've had tummy troubles on and off for about 6 years. About 3 years ago it was very bad (bad cramping especially in the morning, loose bowel movements all the time and some blood). I had this checked out and was told it was just ibs. Since then I have been on/off ill having periods of months where I have relatively few symptoms and normal bowel movements then suddenly it will switch back to me having bad pain and cramping and loose bowel movements.

I have been bad again with it for the past 6 months or so but in the last month it has got worse again and have got bad pain, very liquid bowel movements (sorry tmi) and have seen blood splattered in the toilet. I'm feeling very worried about what's going on but have been repeatedly to gp in the past about this and just get dismissed (have had blood tests and stool samples before). Does it sound like just ibs or should I ask to be checked again? I also have other symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, gassiness and aches and pains but these could be unrelated.

Thanks

I've had a few colonoscopys both nhs and privately. All were absolutely fine. You have a choice of having a sedative which I have always turned down and it's a day outpatient treatment but only due to waiting your turn etc. You do have an enema beforehand but that's not nearly as awful as I'd imagined.

The actual colonoscopy isn't particularly pleasant kind of felt like period cramping, you lie on your side and blankets are carefully managed so you're not baring your bottom etc. It doesn't take too long. The nhs one had a nice sense of camaraderie about it as we were all in a small shared ward. Private one had my own room and got a sandwich!! No difference in care at all.

Re your symptoms I have the mild form of colitis which is just in the rectum and when it's flaring it sounds v similar to yours - action stations in the morning ok rest of the day then bloaty in eve.

I manage it with steroid suppositories and enemas myself when it's flaring, all v easy to administer and not dreadful to do in practice once you've done it once.

Good luck with it all, much better to know what you're dealing with.