Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Bowel issues and at a loss what to do

62 replies

CurtainTwitch · 31/12/2019 08:06

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

OP posts:

Haworthia · 31/12/2019 08:44

You need a colonoscopy, for sure.

mrsbyers · 31/12/2019 08:44

I’ve had crohns for 20 years , my blood tests never once showed the disease markers - insist on a referral to gastro and endoscopy

ChasingRainbows19 · 31/12/2019 08:50

You havea family history of crohns and all these chronic symptoms/results? I'd want a referral to a gastro specialist. That's the way forward possibly further tests and a colonoscopy!

Original poster

CurtainTwitch · 31/12/2019 09:11

Thank you all. I've written a list and my GP has open surgery this morning until 1030 so I'm waiting for my mum to come & mind the DDs whilst I go.

Again thank you all. The second GP I saw back in September made me feel like I was being a prat/being a drama llama & you've all given me the courage to go back

OP posts:

Montybojangles · 31/12/2019 09:38

They need to be referring you to gastroenterology for review and colonoscopy. Like mrsbyers I also have crohns, but never have a massively elevated blood marker, and my calprotectin is never massively high, however bad the flare. My gastro says it’s just that way for the odd person or two. Luckily I had a gp who referred me on only a mildly elevated level, as they were looking at my symptoms and family history, rather than just at numbers.

Original poster

CurtainTwitch · 31/12/2019 09:46

What shall I say to the GP? Now I'm sitting here I feel like I'm being a twat & they'll send me away again

OP posts:

ThisIsFine · 31/12/2019 09:56

The second GP I saw back in September made me feel like I was being a prat/being a drama llama

wtf 😡 as if you're being dramatic for worrying about faecal incontinence! Definitely demand further investigation! Good luck

Montybojangles · 31/12/2019 10:05

Just point out that you have family history of crohn’s, have had ongoing serious symptoms for over a year resulting in weight loss, and that you would like further testing, by a specialist, as you are concerned this is not being taken seriously, and your life is being dramatically impacted by it daily. They may be seeing the faecal impaction part of your history as a sign it can’t be crohns, but they are wrong. I know several people with it who have intermittent issues with severe impaction (needing hospitalisation)and constipation, as well as other times they have constant loo trips with diarrhoea. Good luck, really hoping you get somewhere with it today.

Greenglassteacup · 31/12/2019 10:06

Say that you want a gastroenterology referral for colonoscopy. Raised calprotectin. Bowel pattern changes, including incontinence.

Greenglassteacup · 31/12/2019 10:06

And unintended weight loss

Greenglassteacup · 31/12/2019 10:07

AND family history of inflammatory bowel disease

mrsbyers · 31/12/2019 10:10

You need to be pushy , don’t worry about anything else other than getting the referral - it took 3 years for me to get diagnosed by which time I needed two very extensive surgeries , just kept saying it was IBS etc

Greenglassteacup · 31/12/2019 10:12

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

Idontkowmyname · 31/12/2019 10:14

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

Designerenvy · 31/12/2019 10:16

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.

Greenglassteacup · 31/12/2019 10:21

Hope you got on ok OP.

darkhorse2016 · 31/12/2019 10:21

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.

leckford · 31/12/2019 10:22

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

Greenglassteacup · 31/12/2019 10:23

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

roiseandjim · 31/12/2019 10:24

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 · 31/12/2019 10:24

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

Greenglassteacup · 31/12/2019 10:24

Otherwise they can fuck off

Perid0t · 31/12/2019 10:24

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

gemsgv · 31/12/2019 10:30

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

Cosyjimjamsforautumn · 31/12/2019 11:01

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

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread