I am so very anxious about a health issues that I suffer from and despite having many tests because I still have the issues/symptoms, I can not rest assured all is ok. My dh says I need to.
I have had digestive issues from the age of 25, I am now, almost 50.
I had tests back then and it was determined I have IBS.
My symptoms have been up and down over those years and often controllable. However, over the last 5 or 6 years these symptoms have exacerbated and are now on a daily basis.
I suffer from upper and lower gut issues. Excessive gurgling of stomach, intestines and colon (will often wake me throughout the night), acid, awful nausea, burping, gas and discomfort, bloating and gas especially in the evenings.
Although over the years I have had a mix of diarrhoea and constipation, the last year I have been mainly IBS-D or very loose every morning as soon as I wake (weirdly, although loose, I often only go once a day but have all the other symptoms throughout the day).
I have had quite a few tests.
In 2019 I had a colonoscopy and gastroscope with biopsies (biopsies for h pylori, coeliac and various inflammatory markers etc), I had a US scan and CT scan to check the liver, gallbladder etc.
I have various blood tests and I do a FIT stool test every 6 months (purchase this myself).
This year I had a pill camera endoscopy to check the stomach and small intestines and another US scan to check upper digestive organs.
I have had a pelvic scan to check my ovaries and a CA-125 blood test earlier this year.
All have come back ok.
But because my symptoms are daily and I can not improve the morning loose stools, I live in constant fear something is not right.
I have spent a small fortune trying absolutely everything recommended for IBS yet can not find anything which will give me regular relief.
I am on the low fodmap diet, am gluten/wheat free, I do not have dairy, no alcohol or artifical sweeteners. I just live off rice and oatcakes, chicken, turkey, tuna and salmon. Very few veg, no fruits. Careful about my fibre intake. Only drink water or mint tea. It’s a boring existence tbh. Food is no joy at all.
Imodium stops me going to the loo and as soon as I stop taking them the IBS-d returns.
I have tried antidepressants (SSRI’s make the issues worse and TCA’s leave me feeling like a zombie), peppermint capsules, mebeverine, loads off the shelf products. Probiotics, kefir. The list goes on.
I exercise, do yoga and listen to hypnotherapy every day.
I have had various CBT sessions to try to help.
But still I can not drop the constant fear something is going on despite the tests that I have had.
My gastroenterologist says there is nothing more he can offer.
I just can’t live a full life feeling the way I do, the constant fear of having something wrong (especially now I’m hitting 50) and also fearing I’ll have a ‘toilet’ accident whilst out.
I now only go out if I absolutely have to.
Would you feel assured after having all of these tests that it was ‘just’ IBS?