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Original poster

Bad stomach pain

17 replies

anonxc · 31/08/2022 18:01

Hey everyone, I had a bad stomach earlier this year for a few days and ignored it, felt kind of like ibs but I didn't go doctors as ibs is in the family and just assumed, this was back in January, I've now had another flare of some sort and this has lasted for a week, the pain does not subside with painkillers so I contacted my GP, GP said potentially ibs or an infection called pylori which can only be confirmed by a stool sample. Issue is I am struggling to use the toilet and when I do it's coming very hard or diarrhoea, the pain is constantly there and is generalised not in one specific area, I also keep burping which is weird.
My period came this morning and I had hope that it could have been this causing it as my period seems to be causing a lot of weird issues a week before starting lately however the pain is still there and I still feel awful, it's so upsetting because my friends are coming to visit this weekend for my birthday and we haven't seen eachother in years! So unfortunate that this is happening now but I was curious whether anyone has experienced anything like this before? It's not so bad that it's interfering with my daily life but it's in the background and very uncomfortable

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gamerchick · 31/08/2022 18:04

Yeah turned out to be gastritis. Had to treat for acid reflux for ages.

MRSAHILL · 31/08/2022 18:10

I had h pylori last year. I put off going to the GP for ages and it gradually got worse. I was convinced that I had stomach cancer or liver failure. I did the stool test and it was positive, it was actually a relief. I took the medication and it took a while to clear up and resulted in malabsorption issues but it's all cleared up now. Apparently, h pylori is very common so I'd get tested ASAP. Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
anonxc · 31/08/2022 18:15

MRSAHILL · 31/08/2022 18:10

I had h pylori last year. I put off going to the GP for ages and it gradually got worse. I was convinced that I had stomach cancer or liver failure. I did the stool test and it was positive, it was actually a relief. I took the medication and it took a while to clear up and resulted in malabsorption issues but it's all cleared up now. Apparently, h pylori is very common so I'd get tested ASAP. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you, what were your main symptoms? I was worried it would be this because I know the treatment is long, I haven't gone to the docs yet to collect the stool samples as I've been working but planning to go tomorrow after work to pick it up. I do hope it isn't pylori 😩

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Original poster
anonxc · 31/08/2022 18:15

gamerchick · 31/08/2022 18:04

Yeah turned out to be gastritis. Had to treat for acid reflux for ages.

I hope it's as simple as this, doesn't seem to be going :(

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MRSAHILL · 31/08/2022 19:59

Honestly, the treatment was fine. I think I initially had a weeks course of 3 pronged treatment, as they call it, but then they gave me another week of antibiotics to make sure it was cleared up. I'd had stomach pain, acid reflux, pale stools, hot sweats, extreme fatigue etc I really wish I'd gone to the GP sooner. My friend had also suffered from h pylori previously and went to the GP sooner and her infection cleared up much quicker than mine. The medication was very strong and I think a lot of the "goodness" had gone out of my system. My skin and hair became dry and I was very tired so I was tested again but the h pylori had cleared up. I think it was because I'd had the infection so long and it had prevented by body from absorbing nutrients. The sooner you start the treatment the better.

Original poster
anonxc · 31/08/2022 20:01

MRSAHILL · 31/08/2022 19:59

Honestly, the treatment was fine. I think I initially had a weeks course of 3 pronged treatment, as they call it, but then they gave me another week of antibiotics to make sure it was cleared up. I'd had stomach pain, acid reflux, pale stools, hot sweats, extreme fatigue etc I really wish I'd gone to the GP sooner. My friend had also suffered from h pylori previously and went to the GP sooner and her infection cleared up much quicker than mine. The medication was very strong and I think a lot of the "goodness" had gone out of my system. My skin and hair became dry and I was very tired so I was tested again but the h pylori had cleared up. I think it was because I'd had the infection so long and it had prevented by body from absorbing nutrients. The sooner you start the treatment the better.

Thank you, it's so weird it started last week out of nowhere, I only have really bad stomach pain even goes up to my ribs it's awful and consistent burping, I'm struggling to use the toilet aswelll :( how long does it take to get results from the stool sample?

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MRSAHILL · 31/08/2022 20:22

I also had a lot of burping/wind and terrible griping pains. I think I got the results from the stool sample within a couple of days.

Original poster
anonxc · 01/09/2022 08:55

Thank you, I'm due to pick up the stool sample after work today but unfortunately I did end up going this morning and thought I would take a look at my stool this time just to see, I noticed dark black bits and also a big white section, I've never seen this before and don't know how long I've been having this! I don't tend to look...but my doctor did ask me on the phone if I had any dark black bits as this could indicate blood.... I said no as I just assumed but now I've just seen this, should I call doc back to update or just pick up the stool sample as normal?

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MRSAHILL · 01/09/2022 10:15

I'd definitely mention it to whoever you collect the sample pot from and ask that the information can be passed onto the doctor ASAP. It is worth mentioning as they may want to test that sample or another sample for other things as well as h pylori. I'm not sure if the lab have to leave the sample for a few days to observe it when you are tested for h pylori. I had a few different tests so I may be mixed up. I also never used to take much notice of stools, but I became obsessed with checking them. It sounds gross, but at the end of the day they do reflect your internal health. Let me know how you get on.

MRSAHILL · 01/09/2022 10:22

Apologies, just read your post again and noticed you aren't collecting sample pot till tonight. Yes, I'd ring this morning and tell the doctor about the black bits. He may want to add further tests to be done. Try not to worry, my stools were all different colours. Some were very pale, some black, yellow, even orange! They are now totally normal again. I became obsessed with checking stool colour charts, posting on here asking for advice etc I don't know what h pylori is, but it doesn't half mess with your system. The main thing is it's very easily treatable.

Original poster
anonxc · 01/09/2022 12:05

MRSAHILL · 01/09/2022 10:22

Apologies, just read your post again and noticed you aren't collecting sample pot till tonight. Yes, I'd ring this morning and tell the doctor about the black bits. He may want to add further tests to be done. Try not to worry, my stools were all different colours. Some were very pale, some black, yellow, even orange! They are now totally normal again. I became obsessed with checking stool colour charts, posting on here asking for advice etc I don't know what h pylori is, but it doesn't half mess with your system. The main thing is it's very easily treatable.

Thank you, I messaged doctor this morning, haven't heard back yet but I've just had awful diarrhoea again and I'm starting to wonder whether I've eaten something that I'm unaware of that caused this or if this is just a general stomach bug, I've not had a stomach bug since I was a child and I'm now 27 so seems weird. Stomach really hurts today aswell :(

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Original poster
anonxc · 01/09/2022 12:14

Doctor responded to say to just continue with stool sample and blood tests as discussed and if symptoms worsen to go a&e. Issue is I am in a lot of pain and I'm worried this is something worse than what's being said. My dad had bowel cancer so anything bowel related scares me :/

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Original poster
anonxc · 01/09/2022 12:52

I think I'm going to go a&e after work, anything I'm eating is now going straight through me, I'm starting to feel weak and not great at all.

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MRSAHILL · 01/09/2022 13:07

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling so bad. Good idea to go to a & e. I lost my dad to stomach and bowel cancer so I know exactly how you feel but there are lots and lots of other things that it could be, you are very young to have something like that (I'm 54). Try not to worry, best thing is to get to A&E asap, can you leave work early? I also had blood tests and even an ultrasound because of my family history, so don't panic if these things are suggested to you. Hoping you feel better soon, let me know how you get on.

Original poster
anonxc · 06/09/2022 08:02

Hi everyone, I ended up going a&e as the pain was getting worse, thankfully negative for h.pylori but I have a lot of stomach acid so been prescribed omeprazole and docs believe I am suffering from ibs, more tests due to confirm but prescribed me buscopan

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MRSAHILL · 06/09/2022 14:01

Thanks for the update, I wondered how you'd gone on. Hopefully, the meds will clear the stomach acid and you'll feel better soon. All the best.

Original poster
anonxc · 08/09/2022 08:06

Does anyone here ever get white stool? I had this when I went a&e and they did bloods that could cause this potentially and all came back normal, I had diarrhoea this morning and once again it's white stool, it's so worrying especially with my symptoms

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