Ongoing bowel issues peaking my anxiety :-(

[SpideyMom]

Hiya

I've posted here a few times about ongoing bowel issues, mostly constipation.

I've been seen by a specialist and had a sigmoidoscopy which didn't show any thing obvious. I have now been referred to the hospitals FINCH team for ongoing appointments and investigations if necessary.

At my last appointment with the consultant I asked about cancer, (my biggest concern), and if the problem could be higher up in my bowel. He said he felt cancer was unlikely as the sigmoidoscopy didn't show anything and my bloods are all within normal ranges. He believes the problem is with the lowest part, basically getting anything out.

My constipation has continued and Senna seemed to help. But for the last week nothing is helping. It's making me so miserable and peaking my anxiety. I am now getting pain too. Not constant but it's very uncomfortable when it comes on. I am starting to get scared again, worrying something more sinister is going on. I am constantly exhausted too but have been like that for years now. I can't even explain how badly exhausted I am and I have no excuse for it. Its painful at times. I have zero energy :-(

I can't get my head around why my movements have changed. The best way to explain it is, I feel like I really need to go (no urgency though). I then walk to the toilet, literally 10 seconds away, sit down and nothing. I will then sit back down and 5 minutes later get the same feeling and the same result. I am starting to obsess over having a poo :-(

I'm sorry to keep posting but I am miserable and if I am being totally honest I am scared

Has the exhaustion coincided with your other symptoms? I imagine your iron levels were checked but I wonder about a B12 deficiency?

DH has had bowel cancer so I know that symptoms vary. There is a lot of media coverage now about younger people with bowel cancer but those who were fobbed off tended to be fobbed off at GP level, not getting as far as seeing a consultant.
Also, it is less common in younger people so try not to automatically think the worst.

Anyway DH's diagnosis was via colonoscopy and CT scan. I don't know much about sigmoidoscopy but there should be someone to explain to you.

Re the constipation have you tried dietary changes and did they make any difference?

Just how constipated are you? How often do you "go"? Obviously you do go, you'd have exploded otherwise!

No I have been exhausted for 2 years now. Initially I put it down to being on my own with my DS, but I cant say that as he causes no problems and sleep well.
I sleep around 9 hours a night, wake up and within an hour have no energy. Over the last 2 years my bloods have been checked regularly. I have even had them checked via the Iron Clinic and all (GP/Specialist/Consultant) tell me all my levels fall within normal ranges. I have had Full Bloods, Thyroid, Calcium, Vitamin D, CRP, B12. I also supplement and the only improvement albeit slight is my Vitamin D levels (on a high strength dosage for life).

A sigmoidoscopy is very similar to a colonoscopy, but the latter looks at the entire colon. The sigmoidoscopy is only the lower.

I did try to change my diet at the very beginning. Nothing extreme, just cutting the binge eating and cutting portion sizes. I eat better than I did but there have been no major changes.

I used to go daily, without fail. Now I am going every 2-3 days though feeling like I need to go. When I sit on the toilet the feeling goes! At its worst it's 5 days without anything. The longer it goes the more miserable it makes me. So yes I am going to the toilet but its been a noticeable change in my movements which isnt improving

To be fair bowel cancer would probably cause anaemia so your blood results should give you some reassurance. However if you are really worried then push for a colonoscopy because as you point out it looks at the whole colon. However constipation alone is unlikely to be cancer but of course no one can say for sure.

In terms of managing the constipation I recommend drinking lots of water (this is really important), and eating watery juicy type fruits. Also a tablespoon of golden linseed (also known as flax seed),in your cereal each morning. As someone who has been prone to constipation for many years these are the things that have helped me the most.

Thanks for this advice. I drink loads of water and eat fruit. I will look into adding the flax. Willing to try anything

I can often go a week without a poo. Never go on two consecutive days. It's just me. I don't consider myself constipated. Could you be worrying about nothing? Everybody is different.

I don't think the exhaustion is linked to your vowel movements.

Yes, it's possible I am, but I have gone every day for as long as I can remember.
I have never struggled to get anything out or had to strain myself. Going days without anything for me is not normal. Today I look pregnant so I am uncomfortable from the bloating.

I would push for a colonoscopy. A change in bowel movements should be taken seriously. I have seen constipation be the only real symptom of bowel cancer at diagnosis.

Another thought is Coeliac disease. Fatigue, bloating and a change in bowel habits and generally feeling unwell are all symptoms.

Thanks. I've felt awful. Particularly today. Like a constant burning achey tummy. Now on day 3 of not going to the toilet. Laxido and senna are now working.
Trip back to the doctors this week as I was assumed it would have improved by now

When you say you are drinking loads of water, how much is loads? How old are you? Digestion changes as you get older. You may just need to evolve to keep your movements as they were before.
Are you eating more or less? More or less brown bread/brown rice and pasta etc?

Also Ps do you eat dairy? Same as before or more/less?

At least 2 litres a day.

Funnily enough I am starting to suspect dairy. My tummy feels bad, although only minor sometimes after having it, even just a small amount in my coffee. I don't eat much bread. I can't say my diet has really changed either. But tonight is particularly uncomfortable. I find mid way between my monthly cycles I feel like this. Never ever had it before but these last few months bang in the middle I have 7 to 10 days of feeling this way. It's also when my constipation is at its worst.

My anxiety doesn't help and since having my boy my health anxiety is through the roof. I can obsess over changes but this has really has thrown me. I would definitely have noticed bowel changes before had they of been present. They weren't

Try cutting out dairy for a week or so and up your water to 3 litres and see you how go. I had similar problems and sound this basically resolved my bloated stomach and slow digestion. I just don't think I've ever digested dairy well but seems to be getting worse as I get older.

Great advice thanks @sanmiguel. I never thought that foods could start having an affect on me as I've got older

When I’m constipated I either take magnesium or soak my feet in strong Epsom salts. Both a) relax me and b) make me go! They are great did it! You need the magnesium powder you mix with hot water from the health food shop, not tablets, and Epsom salts can be bought in big tubs from the chemist. What also works is homemade strong kombucha.

I don't have a problem with bread like some people do... could eat it all day long but if I now introduce a bit of dairy (previously been vegan and now veggie but avoid dairy where possible), I feel it.
I noticed over Easter when I ate a lot of chocolate and pizza and I think the cheese and choc combo were disastrous for my digestion and had terrible stomach issues, but constipation also.
I've not had dairy since (other than bits that can't be avoided in stuff) and felt 100% better and bloating all gone, regular on the toilet. I also drink at least 2/3 litres of water a day now.
Good luck op. I know how frustrating and consuming it is just wanting to feel normal!!

Thanks all.

It really bloody is. I have this super ability to always convince myself of the worst (it's not really very super is it!).

I'm defo going to be more conscious of what I am consuming. Reducing will be my first goal. Mentally I am miserable, but thankfully the pain isn't too bad enough to cut out all together.

Maybe at my FINCH referral they will ask me to eliminate altogether and then I will. Though i worry it will be incredibly hard.

Thanks again

@Heratnumber7 a week?! Surely that's a concern?

There is a smart pill you can take that measures your gastrointestinal motility (replaced barium meal & xrays) - it might be worth asking to have that test.

Thank you @KatieB55 I will ask.

I thought the same too @Heratnumber7 but then it's not for me to say I don't know your normal pattern. Personally I've never gone without for so long until Feb this year. It took me a month before I felt I needed to find a cause

Well it's always been days between poos and can be a week. I'm still alive, and I'm 60 soon.