Hi, just looking for some reassurance really.
For the past two years I've had bowel issues, this has been since changing my antidepressants. I am on the ones that suit me now but the change has come after twenty five years on the same meds which were no longer working.
The first change of meds I had diarrhoea for three weeks and as soon as I went on a different one it cleared up and all stool tests were clear.
However, now I get bouts of diarrhoea and stomach cramps followed by a week of constipation. My anxiety makes it worse. A couple of weeks ago my doctor did a stool test for an infection which came back clear and I was relieved. She has said its IBS and anxiety.
However, I had another flare up last week and I saw my doctor since then just for an update and she wants to do another stool test to see if there is an infection there now as there has been a lot of tummy bugs going round recently.
As I am 62 I have just received a bowel test kit in the post. I had one two years ago which was clear. I asked my doctor if I still need to do this with me doing with the ones with her and she said the tests she is doing only shows up infections and nothing else.
Now I am worrying that I might have something awful if the test I've just had wouldn't show it up anyway. The relief of having that clear test has now gone.
I try to console myself with the fact that my doctor wasn't going to do the test for blood in the stool which is the cancer one, it was me who brought it up so she didn't seem concerned but I am still worried.
I haven;t done the sample yet as I've been constipated all week. I have been to the toilet today for the first time since getting the sample kit but I was out at at the time so couldn't do it.
Can anyone whose had or got this put my mind at rest please? I feel fine in myself apart from feeling tired when I get the IBS flare ups, there's nothing wrong with my bowel movements inbetween either.