IBS or something to really worry about?

[topsyturveymum]

I have namechanged as I'm a bit embarrassed by my problem...sorry about the content of what I'm about to write!!!

I have been feeling really stressed out over the last few months for various reasons - everything has been getting on top of me and I've been feeling really edgy and miserable.
I have always had what I put down to mild IBS - in and out the loo some days moreso than others, but it was never really a problem.

I was diagnosed with piles a few years ago as I panicked as there was a bit of blood when going to the loo - so I know that I do have an internal hemeroid (not the right spelling, I know!)

Last week, I had a really painful poo which I put down to the hemeroid. The next morning when I went to the loo again, there was quite a lot of blood in the loo. I was on my period, so that could have contributed (although it was early in my period for there to be a lot of blood) but am thinking it's the hemeroid...but the bleeding has made me panic that it could be something more sinister.

I have also over the past week since this happened been in and out the loo more often with fairly loose poos and have had wind and a general heavy and unsettled feeling to my tummy. All this, I truly believe is nothing more that IBS and the hemeroid, but I am panicking I might have cancer. I realise that me stressing about this is probably making my symptoms worse. The one thing that is really unsettling me is that,alos for the last week, my poo has been quite long and thin - like thin sausages and have read this could be an indication of something sinister. I feel so worked up at the moment and am scared to go to the doctor. Has anyone else with IBS had my symptoms? I'm sure deep down it is IBS as the symptoms are so similar - I have no weight loss and so many of my symptoms match IBS. I guess I'm looking for some reassurance. Can anyone put my mind at rest?

Thanks for reading this long and not terribly pleasant post!

Any blood and you should get yourself to the doc ASAP. If your tummy is hurting it could be a symtom of something other than piles.

Our bums make mucous to make the poo come out more easily and sometimes there can be more mucous than anything else.

Are you getting tired? It is pretty exhausting when your tum isn't working properly, and if you are losing blood it can cause anemia.

There are lots of things other than cancer which can cause bleeding, but even in the worst scenario, a lot of colon cancer is very treatable. Don't worry and get to the doc! Hopefully you will be as right as rain soon!

topsy - right now i know EXACTLY how you feel. i plucked up courage and went to the docs on wednesday (i have had all the same symptoms you described) he had a feel of my tummy and quick internal exam and tells me that he thinks it is most proberbly internal piles.

he has however, referred me to the local cancer clinic for one of those camera exams - im dreading it! i know he has tried to reassure me but im finding the whole thing very stressful so i can truly sympathise with you!

after having said all that im quite relived that soemthing is being done, i cant go on like this, it is becoming quite debilitating.

please go to the docs, i think the fear of having something very wrong is more scary than anything (hopefully we have been worrying over not a lot)

perhaps we should try and give each other a bit of support for the next few weeks?

Hi jesus
So sorry you seem to be in the same boat. Hope all goes well for you. I am going to see how I fare over the weekend but will, I'm sure, be making an appointment next week to see my GP. I need to be reassured that my gut feeling (excuse the pun!) is right as i know I won't relax until I'm told and if the only way to do that is to visit the doc, then that's what I'll have to do. Am just wishing that I didn't have to put myself through the stress of these examinations - I am going on holiday at the beginning of June and really don't want to have the wait of results hanging over my head - hope it can all be sorted before i go. When is your camera examination? Do they arrange them quickly? Wish I wasn't such a worrier!!!

You'll only be worrying about this anyway in the run up to your hols topsy, so better to go and get checked. It will in all probability be IBS and piles as you suspect but better to be sure.

Jesus I've had 3 colonoscopies and they weren't that bad { am the biggest wuss on the planet } the thought is worse than the actuality - just make sure they sedate you and you will be fine.

oooo spooky! we are going away the first 2 weeks in june aswell , i think it is the thought of wanting this sorted out before we go that is spuring me on - i so don't need this while abroad!

the appointment for the camera exam came this morning, it is for the 5th may, so not too long to wait, i come under a suffolk hospital and assume most clinics work under the same kind of time frames?

get yourself to docs on monday!!! think of your holiday!!!

thanks winetime, i really am a coward and my dh is not much help (he is wonderful really and quite worried for me) but his sense of humour can be very 'schoolboy' at times, he asked me this morning, while i was snivelling, how they fit the sound boom up there! cheeky bugger

It's better to have a camera shoved up your bum when you're not feeling too ill

Please get checked

Apart from obvious blood related concerns, IBS should always be checked out thoroughly.

My DH has severe IBS and by itself it is horrid enough for sure, I woulodnt wish it on anyone. however, my BIL was wrongly dx'd with IBS when in fact it was ulvcerative colitis; by the time he was dx'd the damage was so great that he has been on steroids for a while and is needing an op to have an ileostomy once he decides to go ahead; failure to proceed he ahs been warned culd lead to rupture, internal haemorrhage and death. He is 31 FFS.

OTOPH if it is IBS Dh swears by ppermint tabs on prescription or from then pharmacy

Hi topsy , i have ibs and this was happening to me ,and as my BM were loose i was worried couldnt be piles as wasnt straining ... however after refuring myself to see a gastrologist (sorry spelling ) i had a flexable sigmoidoscopy , and biopsys done all came back normal , he did say i had a sizeable amount of internal piles that would be the cause of my bleeding .
please do get reffured to a specialist though if only to put your mind at rest ,piles r very .

x

sorry didnt finnish ..

piles r very common , but best to get checked out

topsy - are you about? i'm bumping this thread to nag you about going to the doctors!

Sorry about your problems - I have had similar and it is not fun.
In may case it was endometriosis, which can penetrate through the bowel wall and cause blood loss through the bowel during your period. It's not life threatening thank God, but it needs to be treated.

Have a look at this site: ://www.endometriosis.org and see if it could be you. If so, you need to see a good gynaecologist and preferably a colorectal surgeon as well. Good luck, whatever it is. Hope you feel better soon