Bowel issues and at a loss what to do

[CurtainTwitch]

I don't really know what to do anymore. I'm at a loss and could really do with some help...

For over a year I've been shitting myself on average twice a week. Different times of day, I've kept a food diary, mood diary etc and I can't find any triggers.

I went to the GP early 2019. I've done poo tests which showed the high end of normal for inflammation markers & calproctine (sp?) and a few other things. GP said they were still within the norm. I've had an X-ray which showed impaction so was prescribed a laxative to clear out. No change since I've done that.

I've lost weight (I don't know how much as I'm fat anyway and didn't know my weight to begin with IYSWIM?)

Within mins of waking up I'm on the toilet with tummy pains and really loose poo for at least an hour after waking up. I've now stopped eating anything spicy or even just flavoured! Anything high in fat I've cut out. I've also stopped eating dinner as I'm finding that helps lessen the morning issue. I woke up at 4:50 this morning from tummy pains and ran to the loo & I only made it in time!

It's also impacting on my mental well being as I've always got wipes, spare clothes etc on me. I leave for work early as when I've had an accident on the way to work it can take 30
Mins to sort myself out and I don't want to be late for work.

Please help me. What can I do? It feels like the GP isn't listening.

My whole life feels like it's centred around shitting myself!!!!!

Sorry for the rant

[Bananaman123]

Glad your gp listened, you have to keep pushing, this has been life altering for you. I know others mentioned diets, perhaps the autoimmune protocol would be worth a look?

[Freshair89]

I have colitis and have been in the same position as you many a time, especially having to plan any trip out around where toilets will be.
You really need a colonoscopy and there are medications you can be prescribed for more serious bowel conditions such as these.
My triggers are stress, oily foods, garlic, peppers, dairy, green veg and pork.
Imodium instants are a big help until you have a proper diagnosis.

[Itwontrainallthetime]

I have IBS and it sounds like when mine flares up.
I've had to cut loads of food from my diet and fruit and vegetables make it worse including alot of dairy.
I mayswell not even eat anymore to be honest, basically feel like I just live off potatoes.
Stress also triggers this.
My IBS when in a flare feels like being in labour all over again.
Have you tried Buscopan ?
I take 2 every 4 hours when I'm bad and was told by the GP that to take them even if I have no symptoms.
It's worth a try and you can buy it over the counter.

[CurtainTwitch]

@lovemenorca I've lost about 3 stone in the last year and a lot more to lose still!

[Lillygolightly]

Hi OP, firstly I’m glad you had some joy with your GP and secondly to just let you know you are not alone.

Symptoms for me stated shortly after the birth of my youngest. At first I figured it was hormonal and waited for it to settle, with no luck. I cut out fizzy drinks (I was a bit of a Diet Coke addict) it was no help, cut down caffeine significantly, gluten etc all to no avail. In the end I was taking lopromide (Imodium) just to be able to leave the house, I carry it in my purse ALWAYS!!

After months of this I ended up crying to my GP who did me a referral and I ended up having a colonoscopy with biopsy, all came back clear. It’s been the most frustrating clear (good) result I’ve ever had. Not that I want anything to be wrong, but there is something wrong! and knowing what it is would mean I could hopefully fix or at least manage it. The consultant has diagnosed IBS (which is what they do when the can’t find anything else to pin it on) and said I just had to learn to live with it

I refuse to accept it’s just IBS, it feels like more but I don’t know what. Bloods, abdominal x-ray came back clear. I’m at a loss.

I don’t know what else to say except I know what your going through, you have all my sympathies as it’s terrible and I hope you manage to get some conclusive results from further testing.

[lovemenorca]

I can’t see how you’re not underweight or at least losing weight at a steady and rapid pace.

You’ve cut down hugely on food AND and food you are eating seems to be going through you very quickly and in quantity

[Greenglassteacup]

Good outcome OP. Retesting calprotectin levels and referral to gastroenterology. Waiting lists for gastroenterology can be quite long although this depends on where you live.

[bakingbernie]

Hi I have had these symptoms for six months. You have my sympathy! I have had a virtual Colonoscopy and a polyp removed by a sigmoidoscopy. This has not helped. If I want to go anywhere I have to take Imodium. I will follow your progress with interest.

[Fairylea]

So pleased you’ve got a referral!

[Montybojangles]

So pleased to see you have a referral, and that your gp took it seriously. Hope you don’t have to wait too long before you get seen by gastro.

[CurtainTwitch]

@gemsgv no I don't drink fizzy at all only water & coffee (& the very very rare G&T )

I saw the original GP. He apologised and said the previous GP shouldn't have given me laxido as I don't have poo impaction just poo loading.

He's referred me to gastroenterologist & given me a pot to do another calproctine (sp?)

He apologised about the previous dr.

I cried as I left as I feel listened to!

Thank you all so much

[Cosyjimjamsforautumn]

My colorectal surgeon advised that too much coffee can also cause diarrhoea. I also have a sensivity to soya and cant drink coffeeshop coffee due to cross contamination with soya milk

[gemsgv]

I've joined here just to post this.

Do you drink a lot of diet fizzy drinks? I got into the habbit of drinking 2-3 cans a day one summer and it had this affect on me. Took me a while to work it out. They all contain Sorbitol to sweeten them. It is a laxative. If you google it, you will see it's quite common

[Perid0t]

You should be referred for more tests for sure. Look up the nice guidelines and go back to your gp

[Greenglassteacup]

Otherwise they can fuck off

[Greenglassteacup]

Colonoscopy with biopsies. If that’s clear then your GP can say you have ibs.

[roiseandjim]

Oh god you poor thing.id be asking for a specialist referral. I'm the other way I'm on all sorts of laxatives and can still never go. Had my specialist app in sept and it was so good to get another opinion

[Greenglassteacup]

Ibs should be diagnosed after a process of excluding other more serious bowel problems

[leckford]

You need to push and demand an appointment with a specialist. I had a friend like this, doctors would not listen, she died young.

[darkhorse2016]

This sounds just like me a year ago. It had been getting worse for a while and was really starting to affect me to the point that everything I ate was causing a lot of pain and problems. Mentioned it to my doctor but they didn’t really know what to make of it and I would have had to have carried on eating normally for 6 weeks so they could do tests which I couldn’t face.
What has worked for me is the FODMAP diet plus cutting out dairy, gluten and eggs. It wasn’t instant but after 3-4 weeks I was almost back to normal. Sounds extreme but it was actually quite easy and such a relief to feel better. Nearly a year later I can eat small amounts of some of the things that I cut out and while I can tell I’ve eaten them the effects aren’t too bad. Might be worth a try for you.

[Greenglassteacup]

Hope you got on ok OP.

[Designerenvy]

You need your bloods checked for iron levels and stores, thyroid levels, coeliac screen.
You also need a colonoscopy to check.for any inflammatory conditions like crohn's or ulcerative colitis and a gastroscopy to check for coeliac .
This needs checking out.
Insist on it.

[Idontkowmyname]

Hope the appt went well and you are a step closer to getting some answers

[Greenglassteacup]

Agree you need to be pushy, my GP was useless too