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Worried I've Been Misdiagnosed With IBS

beth_n
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I just thought I would post here for a little peace of mind, or at least to hear some advice/personal experiences.

I am a 22 year old woman and roughly 6 months ago I began to experience severe abdominal cramps accompanied by changes in my bowel habits. What’s more worrisome is that shortly after my abdominal cramps began, I first noticed blood on my tissue paper after a bowel movement.

I saw a doctor who carried out a rectal exam and told me that there was a small haemorrhoid (but also told me that nearly everyone has small ones) and that the change in my bowel habits (going more frequently with looser stools) may have aggravated it and caused it to bleed. She told me I likely had IBS and prescribed me suppositories and advised me to see her again if my symptoms didn’t improve.

After 2 weeks of using the suppositories, the bleeding did not stop. I was unfortunately unable to see the same doctor, and the second doctor simply prescribed me more suppositories and brushed me off. I decided not to use the second supply of suppositories, and after another week or so the bleeding stopped entirely on its own. I also began to follow a FODMAP diet around this time and my abdominal cramps disappeared as well.

I had no more issues with bleeding for the rest of the month, so I figured it really was just a combination of IBS and haemorrhoids and went on with my life.

However, a few days ago I noticed blood again while wiping.  An hour after discovering the blood, my abdominal cramps returned and are still present 5 days later, despite still following my FODMAP diet and eating meals that hadn’t given me any bother over the last six months. I have not experienced more blood since.

I’ve booked to see a doctor this coming Tuesday and I am going to ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist for further investigations. I’m just concerned it’s potentially bowel cancer, and that it’s been left to spread for over 6 months now.

Has anyone with IBS eaten meals for months without upsetting their stomach, and then all of a sudden those same meals caused abdominal pain months later? I just don’t understand why my IBS would kick back up all of a sudden when I haven’t made any changes to my diet, and it’s been stable for months.

Many thanks for any responses!

  • Offline in reply to mike.e

    Hi mike.e

    i was wondering if you’d mind elaborating on your symptoms and how long they’d gone on for and how persistently. 

    I’m worried myself.

    Thank you! 

  • Offline in reply to hsoln

    Hello

    about 10 years ago I was having abdominal pains and some constipation. I was diagnosed by my GP with IBS and given buscapan and gaviscon. The pain continued I was referred to a consultant who confirmed. IBS and sent me for hypnotherapy. The symptoms persisted and was given different medications,still no improvement

    acouple of years ago my GP referred me for a colonoscopy , the consultant again confirmed the diagnosis as IBS and because I did not present the classic symptomes of bowel cancer,I was again refused  a colonoscopy. 

    Within a year I was in extreme pain and my excrement was very difficult and came as slime and ribbon like. My GP demanded an urgent colonoscopy which revealed a T4 cancer, which is a large tumour that had grown through my bowel wall, resulting in a major operation and chemo therapy..I have since been informed that a diagnosis of IBS should not have been given without first conducting a colonoscopy.

    DO NOT accept a anything other than a colonoscopy

    My misdiagnosis will probably cost me my life

     

  • Offline in reply to hsoln

    Hi , I was just wondering if you have had a diagnosis yet ? My symptoms are almost exactly as what you have described , I have recently had blood tests and gave stool samples , then doctor is arranging colonoscopy. I'm so scared I'm 28.

    Trying to find something it could be to stop me worrying.

    Thankyou

  • Offline in reply to Nperm

    Yes as I said previously I was finally diagnosed with bowel cancer size T4,after being discharched with IBS..

    Subsequent operation removed a part of my bowel and went through 6 months of chemo. I have been told that I am at 'High Risk' of recurrance. All because a doctor decided it was IBS and took a chance that it wasn't cancer

  • Offline
    hi i’m 15 and i know it’s really young but i’m worried about my health and since christmas so like basically 7 months i’ve been getting stomach ache after eating most days of the week where i have to go toilet, but usually after going to the toilet it’s fine. There has never been blood but i’m really worried and i feel like i’ve left it too late. My neck aches and around my shoulders. Sometimes my back aches, the past couple days i’ve really been stressing and i’ve been getting throbbing headaches and feeling quite dizzy. i also do not think i have lost any weight. please could someone help me
  • Offline in reply to mi123

    Hi mi123,

    I’m sorry you’ve been so worried, seven months is a really long time to feel as anxious as you’ve described. I will say that my symptoms ended up being caused by severe endometriosis, so if you’re a girl that could be worth looking into if your symptoms worsen. As you’ve experienced no blood, though, IBS could very well be the cause of your problems.

    I would definitely recommend seeing a doctor though, at least for your own peace of mind. As someone with two anxiety disorders, I know that anxiety and stress can affect your stomach really badly at times, and dizziness and headaches are really common side effects of anxiety attacks. Seeing a doctor should help lessen your anxiety, and as a result you might find your stomach pain and headaches lessen too.

    Wishing you all the best, and I really hope you’re able to relax this weekend. ♥

  • Offline in reply to beth_n

    See a doctor. If you are diagnosed with IBS request a colonoscopy.

    I was diagnosed with IBS, wasn't given a colonoscopy at that time. When I was  finally given a colonoscopy three years later it turned out to be T4 Bowel Cancer. Suffered a major operation to remove a section of my bowel followed by 24 weeks of chemotherapy. Still not clear !!. 

    If you are 15 discuss this with your parents, but do take it forward.

    I wish you very good luck and hope all turns out well for you.

  • Offline

    Hi beth

    I have exactly the same problems, I'm 20. 

    Did you ever find out what the issue was?

    Mel

  • Offline

    It is nothing to worry about' its piles they bleed not just when we are constipated but ibs c and d can happen 

  • Offline

    You are not to young to have bowel cancer. After repeated trips to Hospital my son ( who was only 30 ) had a xray and they said they could see a blockage, and was repeatedly told he was constipated and sent home with laxatives, the second time he was told to double the dose of the laxatives. He asked the hospital to do more tests and they said there was no more test to be done, they did not think it was bowel cancer because he was young. This all started in August/ September 2019 and in January 2020 he was told he had stage 4 bowel cancer.He passed away in October 2020. I am not saying this to frighten anyone but push for more tests. Do not get fobbed off. Nathan's Mum

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