I've just found blood in my stool now I'm very panicking 

it's gross but I was doing my stool samples and so without getting graphic had to handle it a bit and a small red blob

I had a lot of bloating ,I've been absolutely fine since I had the Colonoscopy everythings back to normal since last October thanks let us know how you get on .

I had very similar, I thought I had blood when I took the sample but it came back negative. , it could be from a tear or something similar 

Thank you. I'm in bits. It was definitely red and one small black part too. This is getting a bit scary I wouldn't have even looked at it so closely normally so I wonder how long it's been happening 

That's how I felt for the past month. We are our worst enemies when it comes to this stuff, i am too constantly checking the toilet and looking for symptoms. My work colleague  is medically trained and she says there is a wide range of disorders that cause similar symptoms  . So let's hope this the case for us x 

It's an awful feeling isn't it Keep in touch, I hope things work out well for you 

Hi my lovelies,

Can I jump in on this post also please?  I have the exact same symptoms but also major bloating (I look 8 months pregnant no exaggeration and keep getting asked when I'm due) which is rock solid and I am passing black tarry stools.  I am a bit further ahead in tests than some of you though.  This started a few months back (though I was diagnosed with IBS around 15 years ago, I'm 40 now and always had issues with constipation) when my stools turned to black tarry diarrhoea instead of the usual constipation and I had major stomach pains.  I called gp and was told I had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment.  I then had a little blood when I vomited.  At that point the gp said they could see me in a week.  When I went she was really lovely and contacted the hospital right away as she thought I may have a tear in the esophagous but also got me to do a qfit stool test.  A week later I went for an endoscopy (gastroscopy) where they have found a large prepolyic ulcer, severe gastric erosion and "marked amounts of bile" in my stomach.  I actually wasn't aware until then that bile shouldn't be in your stomach lol.  So it seems the gas burbling up at night and making me feel sick etc is from the bile.  They have taken a biopsy and said there could be a few reasons for it.  There is helicobactor pylori but supposedly she couldn't test for that as I was already on PPI at the time for the last 2 years (yep this "it's just ibs" answer as usual) but could also be a gastrinoma so they are testing for that.  At that appointment she told me my qfit test was positive so I will also need a colonoscopy to check my lower bowel.  That was 5 weeks ago yesterday and I've heard nothing.  No test results at all and no appointment.  I have called and been assured I am on the list but been told it will be within 12 weeks of the referral which was 5 weeks ago.  I've been put on stronger PPI esomeprazole 40mg twice a day which has helped a little with the reflux but not much and I'm still in pain.  I still have daily diarrhoea and it's still black and tarry so still bleeding.  I'm just about to finish a course of antibiotics I was given for a kidney infection last week so I feel a bit all over the place.  The waiting is driving me insane but I'm just trying to stay positive and feel like the fact it's taking so long would probably be a good sign as if it was cancer I'm sure they would be much quicker at seeing me back etc.  sending love to you all.  Here if anyone needs a chat xx

Hi Sara 

sorry to hear about your troubles, it seems like one thing after another for all of us. When I started having my tests I didn't feel as bad and my bowel movements were ok ish , fast forward 4 weeks and I feel much worse. I have been off work for 2 weeks( Easter holidays)  and my anxiety Googling things are through the roof. What worries me was calprotectin level raised to 87, and the occasional very low left sided ache/ pain, not sure how to describe it. It seems everything is getting worse with each day, so might go back to the doctor and see if I can make some sense of things. X 

Hi Anaw me again 

is the calprotectin level the marker for IBS? X