IBS, anxiety, or just paranoid. Honest views welcome?

Hi, first time poster, I'm a 40 yr old male really after some honest views maybe reassurance.  Back in Sept 2018, and out of the blue I had a couple of days of blood in my loose stools mixed in.  It was brighter and the first time it had ever happened.  I remember it was the morning and the 3rd time I'd been to loo when it happened.  In a panic I got a doc appt, who ordered blood tests (also calprotectin and stool sample to check for bugs).  Everything was clear.  Also got refererd to a consultant and got lucky as although not an urgent referral managed to be seen in late Oct for a colonoscopy. It's fair to say prior to this I'd worked myself up into such a mess I was having counselling through work and through Dr Google had convinced myself it was likely colon cancer or IBD.  Probably to my amazement the colonoscopy was clear and the samples they'd took to check were also clear.   They never told me what it definately was although they did find some small piles so probably something had popped and a little blood goes a long way.  

 

I think for the next year I got on with things but weirdly found it hard to stop myself being on high alert, I got anxious every time I went to the toilet incase there was blood.  It was probably in Nov I started worrying about my bowel habits again.  I seem to go once or twice a day with the odd day of not going at all.  One third of the time I seem to have loose stools (type 5) and the other third (type 4) and the other third an between of type 4/5.  Sometimes I'll have 2 or 3 weeks where it is type 5 and occasional type 6.  Never get any pain or cramps but often get very windy.  I went back to the docs in Feb this year as just wanted to know is this IBS, especially with the loose stools and somrtimes needing to go twice in succession in the mornings.  Ran bloods again, tested for celiac, tested for stool bug and all clear.  I did ask for a FIT test but Doc was worried about a false positive and didn't think my symptoms warranted it.  Doc suggested it could be IBS (which I thought had to have cramps/pain which I don't get so bit confused) or maybe something to do with diet.  I have tried a low fibre diet for three weeks but that didn't have much effect.  I generally eat healthy, am average weight, exercise and eat little meat.  I think I've slowly convinced myself there is something still wrong with me, or something was missed in the colonoscpy as just don't know what is wrong or if this type of alternating bowel habit with looser stools is just my normal.  I do know I'm a much more health anxious person since I had blood in my stool and keep fearing my kids will be wirhout a Dad.  Perhaps it is this anxiety which varies that is effecting my bowel?  But this constant worry about my health is in all honesty ruining my mental health.

 

If you've read this far I thank you, if nothing else it has felt good to get this out.  I don't know whether to try an exclusion diet or FODMAP diet to see if I can achieve that holy grail of one type 4 poop  a day ;-).  Or if I do this whether I'm just feeding my anxiety further and what I have is IBS and my normal is OK and not serious?  My doctor said to see how things go and if I want get back in touch in July to rule out anything gastro. 

 

I know people are in a worse situation which makes me feel bad.  Any advice/wise words would be most welcome.

  • I know exactly how you feel mate. I had bleeding from my backside about three weeks ago and its knocked me for six. I have become obsessed with my stools, lost sleep over it and my appetite comes and goes. I really hope its stress and anxiety causing my loss of appetite and not a blockage. The only thing stopping me from seeing doc is i have had no blood for a couple of weeks, and stools are relatively normal bar a couple of off days when i had diarreah. Feel like i am living on the edge the whole time. Just constantly having nightmares of colonoscopy and being told bad news.

     

    At least you were tested and got the all clear, im too scared to get tested. 

  • Hey Fred, I had typed a reply but it seems to have gone missing. Yes, my immediate reaction gave me all sorts of symptoms, weight loss because of lack of appetite, night sweats, fatigue, vivid dreams. Goes without saying but going to your GP and likely a colonoscopy is one way out of purgatory. I'd convinced myself it was cancer so actually a colonoscopy was something I really wanted and as a procedure was straight forward. Worst bit was the prep you drink. I know it can be scary but not knowing, especially when likely to be something like piles means you can end up putting yourself through ill health because of worry. I totally underestimated the way anxiety and stress can effect things and it's been going on for so long now I can see why mental health support and treatment is used for things like IBS.