Urgent. bowel issues

[Inspirationpending]

Over the last 18 months have had low level abdominal pains and changes to bowel habits

Last year ultrasound & ct picked up large gallstone and had my gallbladder removed at start of year

Since then I’ve swung between constipation, occasional normal movements and more often than not diarrhoea plus lots of acid indigestion issues.

Have had further ct scan & faecal tests for bacteria although doctor said they wouldn’t be looking for blood in faeces these were all clear
I mentioned a colonoscopy but he was more concerned about the acid indigestion and has booked me in for gastroscopy instead

Today I’ve done a home test for faecal occult blood and it’s positive, of course no appointments at doctors til Monday so I’m panicking

Have had problems with piles in the past so understand this could affect result

Where do I go from here? Will the give me a colonoscopy based on home test alone?

TIA

Hopeful bump

Poor you. There are many things that could cause your symptoms and in my experience doctors tend to assume it's irritable bowel syndrome unless proven otherwise.

Keep pressing for a diagnosis. Covid has made investigations into this kind of thing more difficult and drawn out.

Meanwhile, you may find herbal teas soothing for your symptoms. Try peppermint, ginger, chamomile, lavender. Good luck.

No idea what they will say.
Absolute sympathy for you, I had to have a zillion tests and scans and exploration for bowel and anal issues and it's a bloody circus. hoping you have the opposite and it goes like clockwork.

Thanks for the replies
I appreciate all the tests they’ve given me so far
just tired of the back and forth with no progress

Fingers crossed for an appointment on Monday

I don't think they take in to account how much of an ordeal keeping up with appointments is when you are ill.
I've been in stirrups more times than Frankie Detori this last couple of years.

TheQueef that sounds horrendous
Do you mind me asking if you’ve had a diagnosis?

I've had three they've taken my ovaries as they found some growths, they've taken some bowel because they diagnosed colitis and some anus because it had all collapsed/ piles at full capacity due to the vom/runs that happen when I get my monthly migraine
I puke/ evacuate so forcefully I've literally blown my back door off

I'm just waiting for a change of migraine anti sickness pills so I can try colitis meds!

With the stool tests you did at home was it visible blood?

It wouldn't explain the faecal occult blood test being positive, but the diarrhoea and indigestion symptoms could be due to post cholecystectomy syndrome/bile acid diarrhoea. Its actually a fairly common side effect of having your gall bladder out, though a lot of doctors don't seem to be aware of this, and it is certainly not something I was told about before I had my surgery. I was well for around 12 months after my surgery and then started with similar symptoms but it was years before I was given the diagnosis. I just kept being told that as I had had my gall bladder out already it must be in my head. It eventually settled down for me though I do have flare ups on and off. There's drugs you can take for the diarrhoea that work by soaking up the bile acids but as my symptoms are intermittent i have never tried them.
I hope you get things sorted out and feel better soon.

Oh TheQueef you’ve really been through it! really hope colitis meds work for you

Torvean32 no visible blood, I did have a little on wiping last week

MrsAvocet I did wonder about this as certain foods are more of a trigger since the gallbladder removal. I will definitely discuss with GP

It could well be bile acid malabsoption [ or bile acid diarrhoea as it is sometimes referred to ] . It is fairly common to occur when you have had your gall bladder removed. You aren't told about this [ well I never was ]. I had my gall bladder removed about 12 years ago, and afterwards had constant symptoms I put down to IBS, as did GP. It can take a long time to get a diagnosis. It was only when my symptoms got really bad about 18 months ago I was referred to the hospital.

Symptoms
painful, watery and explosive chronic diarrhoea

urgently needing the toilet / having accidents (faecal incontinence)
numerous bowel movements a day often occurring during the night
foul smelling diarrhoea which is yellow / greasy in appearance
excessive wind
painful stomach cramps
moderate to severe bloating

GP's aren't familiar with bile acid malabsorption . You will need to see a gastroentrologist and arrange for a Sechat scan

Check out www.bad-uk.org/symptoms

Toomboom that’s really interesting
I have heard of BAM but didn’t realise it cause quite so many symptoms.

Managed to speak to GP this morning and he’s advised next step is a colonoscopy & bloods
Hopefully if those are clear then I can be treated for either IBS or any residual gallbladder issues