I should have put symptoms in! Change of bowel habit from pretty much constipated all my life to a mix of that but now lots of loose stools. Wind wind wind, I'm full of gas, you can hear my stomach all night which is keeping me awake it's horrible. The wind is definitely the worse, I can feel it trapped trying to come up after I've eaten - indigestion and then it moves to the other end later on. Starting the tests today and terrified 

Hi everyone, I am really worried about my symptoms. I have lower left pain in my abdomen, for a few weeks now, comes and goes, feel pretty terrible at night , gassy and uncomfortable. I had FIT done witch was negative, abdomen and trans scan, both ok, blood tests ok, but calprotectin level at 87. Also confirmed helicobactor diagnosis. My worry is since having all there tests done and higher calprotectin my bowels have got worst, I am checking my symptoms all the time and every day I seem to get a new one. I can hardly sleep at night and get gassy as soon as I swallow my food. Would aprcieatw if anyone could give me some advice or had similar symptoms . 

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 

Goodness Sarah you really are being put through it! The very worrying thing at the moment is the lack of healthcare or should I say the very long waits. I had a breast cancer scare 6 months ago and the GP put me on the 2 week referral but I ended up paying for it on my credit card and going private. The waiting time would have been months and my anxiety couldn't take it. That said there are so many tests for the stomach and there's not way I can afford that. I really hope you aren't left much longer Sarah. Can they test for H Pylori or can you not come off of the meds? The gas, bloating and noises is like nothing I've experienced before. I really hope you get seen soon x

Hi Anaw me again 

is the calprotectin level the marker for IBS? X

I believe it's for inflammation, anything above 50-100 is borderline, mine was 87. There isn't so much information on the lower end of raised, just for the very high one. Some websites  say it can be for IBS, some for IBD. Not sure what to believe anymore. I had a very low back pain during the night and digestive issues, which really freaks me out. I am starting that think that colonoscopy might be the only way to go. X

Sorry to hear this. I think I will end up in colonoscopy too. I'm so worried, three loose very dark stools today. Not fun at all this, is it 

I hope you get some sleep x

Thanks, you too x 

Hi Anaw

How are you doing? My FIT test came back negative and whilst I'm obviously very pleased about this my husband just said yeah just means no blood not no cancer? Guess I have to wait for all the other tests. I had my bloods yesterday and they are usually pretty quick. How are you? Are the meds making any difference 

Hi bubbles

iwent to the doctor yesterday, he said he is not concerned because my tests were ok, apart from the     Inflammation which was a bit raised. He listened  to my bowels and said sounds ok but I am still getting very bloated and get stabbing pain in my abdomen after eating, he said if the calprotectin tests comes back raised he will do a referral, and also talked  about peri menopause.... I feel a bit fobbed off since I still have symptoms... glad your test came back negative x 

Hi Anaw I'm glad you're ok but it's frustrating when you can't get answers. Funnily enough my breast cancer scare was changes due to peri menopause and whilst I refuse to accept I'm at the age where this is a "thing" I did wonder if it could be related. If it is it's going to be a long few years! I don't like it when everything is brushed off as menopause but I did read an article recently about a lady whose mum kept having all these things go wrong medically but no one knew about peri menopause then and she spent so much time having scans and medical tests. You know your own body though so keep searching and it's good the tests were ok xx

Hi Anaw I'm glad you're ok but it's frustrating when you can't get answers. Funnily enough my breast cancer scare was changes due to peri menopause and whilst I refuse to accept I'm at the age where this is a "thing" I did wonder if it could be related. If it is it's going to be a long few years! I don't like it when everything is brushed off as menopause but I did read an article recently about a lady whose mum kept having all these things go wrong medically but no one knew about peri menopause then and she spent so much time having scans and medical tests. You know your own body though so keep searching and it's good the tests were ok xx

I know, let's see how it goes, keep in touch xx 

How are you getting on Anaw? I have a follow up with the doctors today but expecting to get referred to a gastroenterologist. I've also been reading up a lot on SIBO, have you ever looked into that?

Hi Bubbles

i have not been great, lots more symptoms, one day constipation, next ok. I have pretty bad anxiety, so mot sure if this helping... I went back to the doctor, he said don't worry, listened to my bowels, etc.. he said he will refer me to gastro, just waiting for one more repeat calprotectin test to come today and he will call me today. I also have a pain in lower left abdomen on and off, lower back and hip... honestly, just about had enough now.. I did look at Sibo, if it was that I would probably be happy. How are you coping? Xx 

Sorry to hear this. I am the same, I now have constant loose stools. Not a nice colour and not at all right. Ridiculous amounts of gas and bloating. The anxiety doesn't help does it it's hard not to go down the rabbit hole of panic. Have you had scans / colonoscopy etc I can't remember and can't scroll back. I'm going to ask to be referred too. It's a waste of energy sitting here worrying when I could be talking to someone specialist. Mine is also sending weird pains into my bladder now.  All very worrying. Hope you have a better day 

Same here Bubbles, bloating pain at night etc...hope you have a better day too, keep in touch xx I had ultrasound of abdomen and transviginal one, all came back ok. Hope you have a better day too, keep in touch xx 

Hi Bubbles, did you ever get a diagnosis? I am having very similar symptoms, but with indigestion even after water and am terrified as I’ve had symptoms last 8 months that I’ve explained away rather than go to GP. Any help would be appreciated xxx