What to do next? Negative colonoscopy

Hi, im looking for some advice as I'm in a situation where in unsure how I should go forward. It all started about 4-5 months ago when I noticed pain in my left abdominal area when I move or breath in,  and I also had very soft stool full of mucus (emptying my bowels 4-5 times daily)and it wouldn't  go away and I also had extreme acid reflux. so I took a visit to my local gp to check it out... During the exam he found a type of lump that he said may be my colon but was worried and asked me to do a urine sample which came back positive for small blood, he immediately said I need to go to hospital and I stayed as an inpatient for 2 days. As an inpatient they did various tests which included a CT scan with dye  , cystoscopy and a urine test again. The CT scan showed thickening on both sides of my colon and on the location where I experience the pain, the cystoscopy came back clear but the urine test again had small blood. I was then discharged and was put on a colonoscopy waiting list and after about 3 weeks I had the colonoscopy, by which time the bowl problems had calmed down and my stool was normal again. 8 biopsiy were taken but they were from random locations as no obvious signs of cancer were present, the doctor said that there is definitely no cancer there, only mild redness and mucus was found. The biopsies came back clear. Since then I have been monitored by my gp and  had some stool culture tests which came back clear, the blood in the urine which went away for a short while (I keep getting positive and negative resaults). Around 2 weeks ago the blood came back, the pain on my left side started acting up again more than ever, in now needing to empty my bowels around 7 times daily and my acid reflux is though the roof. The doctors don't seem to have any plans to send me for anymore tests and the colon doctor has said that they feel no more followup is needed. They plan to monitor the urine for the next few years.

My problem is that the blood is still in my urine, my stool is like water again full of mucus and I'm emptying my bowels 7 times daily and my colon is still thickened on both the left and right side. All of this is unexplained and the doctor won't give me any medication for the loose stool as I don't yet have a diagnosis. My stomach aches so much recently also even though I am on lanzparazole to control the acid.

Initially they thought I might have irratble bowel desease but since the colonoscopy came back clear I'm at a total loss.

I have a bacteria blood test comming up to try help with my acid reflux problem but that's all. 

Should I just try to ignore this or how should I move forward? Since I have already had so many tests that have came back clear i really don't know how to proceed or what to ask the doctor.

Btw I'm a 28 year old male. Any advice would be much appreciated thanks.

Parents
  • Hi there - sorry you're worried & I'm sure people will come along to give you more advice than I can. But, I'm pretty sure that there aren't any tests for IBS. It's also worth saying that if you do have IBS doctors know there is a link (called the brain bowel axis) which makes IBS symptoms worse. So, because you are clearly anxious about your symptoms this may be the cause. Hope it gets sorted soon but try not to worry given what the doctors have said.

Reply
  • Hi there - sorry you're worried & I'm sure people will come along to give you more advice than I can. But, I'm pretty sure that there aren't any tests for IBS. It's also worth saying that if you do have IBS doctors know there is a link (called the brain bowel axis) which makes IBS symptoms worse. So, because you are clearly anxious about your symptoms this may be the cause. Hope it gets sorted soon but try not to worry given what the doctors have said.

Children
  • Hey, so after multiple tests in the early 00's when I was in my early 20's which all came back negative I was diagnosed with IBS... however yesterday I had to repeat a colonoscopy and endoscopy (together under GA) and apparently its all come back negative and they could not find any IBS so I'm assuming they can see it on a camera. Maybe pursue it with your gp if your still worried/getting symptoms