Could this be IBS?

[millyskye3]

Hello,
I’m 26 and pregnant with my third child (20 weeks).
I’ve had odd bowels changes since I was a teenager such as cramps, mucus, diarrhoea.
However, definitely over the last 4 months since being pregnant again, I have had almost daily loose stools. I wake up each morning and within 5 mins I have an urgency to go and (sorry tmi) it just exits my body very quick, very soft consistency like a smoothy.

I also get daily cramping pains in my upper stomach after eating and left bowel cramps occasionally. When my bowel isn’t soft like this I may get the very rare normal formed stool but this is always accompanied with mucus.

I have been tested for coeliac, no blood in stool and I’ve just sent off a H Pylori test this week. Bloods are all fine.

To say I am utterly fed up and worried is an understatement. I suffer with chronic health anxiety and take sertraline for this. I am so worried I have cancer of some form. Doctors are still looking at IBS but I’m just annoyed that it seams a throw away diagnosis when really I should see a specialist. PLEASE give a tired worried mama some reassurance or similar stories to relate to. Thankyou!! 🤍

It sounds like your GP is on it. Could you ask for a calprotectin and FIT test?

I’ve had two fit tests over the last few months and both have been negative. She did mention that later steps could be contacting gastro and asking them if they can ‘ok’ a calprotectin test. Does that show inflammation too? For IBS/IBD etc?

A GP can do a calprotectin test, mine did. It shows inflammation in the colon, less than 50 they diagnose IBS, 50-100 they repeat and over 100 is referral due to possible IBD.

Ok, I’ll ask my GP. Are you an IBS sufferer? Do you feel my symptoms sound like IBS?

I’m not sure what I am really. I started having symptoms a few months ago and I’m currently having tests done, much like you.

ibs covers so many symptoms

Nobody can or should diagnose you over the internet.

If course it could be IBS, but it could also be a number of other things, or maybe impossible to pin down.

I've had IBS for all of my adult life. It's awful not knowing when you might have a flare up and having to try and plan outings around toilet availability. It has many causes - my main one was a very overactive thyroid. Once that was brought under control things improved, but have never been perfect. I still get episodes.

Your doctor does sound like they are exploring many possibilities. Let them go through the batches of tests without jumping the gun first. Nobody can second guess it.

I hope you get some answers soon.