I’m 30 yo F and for around three years I’ve suffered from severe nighttime middle back pain, stomach cramps (worst in the morning) particularly just under the ribs and on the right side, which has over time progressed to general right side pain and a stitch-like pain in the mornings, very severe gas issues but inability to pass gas and diarrhea (now daily).

After a few weeks of the back pain I went to my GP, who suggested physio, assuming it was postural as we’d just started working from home during the pandemic. I waited for a referral that never came and I ended up paying for private physio, who recommended exercises which didn’t help.

A year and a half on with symptoms worsening, I went to the doctor again and demanded they look into my pain and symptoms. They referred me for an US and chest X-ray, blood test and stool sample (I didn’t ask what they were checking for) and all came back clear. They again referred me to a physio.

8 months on and I was still waiting for a physio apt. while also moving house. Having moved house, I contacted the physio department I’d been referred to and informed them of this. They said that’s fine so I continued waiting for an apt. which was finally booked for me. It was a telephone apt, during which the physio told me he couldn’t help me because I’d moved house.

I go to my new GP reception. They refer me to an internal physio. This physio doesn’t seem in any way interested in hearing about the gastrointestinal issues but refers me for an MRI of my spine, which comes back clear.

During this time, my dad has a cancer scare and two large polyps are found in his colon (he’s 60yo). His dad died of colon cancer aged 62 and his mum died of colon cancer aged 42. This makes me really worried about my symptoms.

So I get booked in with a GP who orders a blood test and does a physical exam. Blood test comes back clear except for slightly low iron, so they suggest waiting a couple of months and if symptoms don’t improve to come back again. I demand further tests and treatment but she demands written proof of my dad’s condition and familial risk before proceeding with a gastro referral. This takes weeks to obtain from my dad’s doctors as he lives abroad, is being treated privately, and I don’t have a good relationship with him.

Subsequently I’ve been referred to a gastroenterologist but waiting times are 6 months on average.

I’ve since had a FIT test which came back normal.

My symptoms feel really strange and worsen every day. It’s hard to explain but I feel different and have a very bad feeling about my symptoms. The pain wakes me up at night. The fear and panic about a potential cancer diagnosis and all of these horrible delays are taking over my life.

I feel like I have to learn so much by reading online in order to be able to advocate for myself with doctors so they treat me seriously and investigate my symptoms, that it’s like a full time job for me now. For example they prescribed NSAIDS and PPIs for the pain. If I’ve got a peptic ulcer or something like that I shouldn’t be taking these, so I had to tell my GP that, who only then ordered a stool test to check for ulcers. Constantly googling to advocate for myself isn’t good for my anxiety levels.

I’m sorry this is so long but if anyone has any suggestions I’d really appreciate it.