IBS and uncertainty

Amazonianup

Hi

Can anyone help or had similar experience with worrying about diagnosis. I guess pain can make you worry, but before i was diagnosed IBS i tolerated pain dull on and off long time. I had a bad flare up and had call 111 prior. I wasnt diagnosed then but the other day. I was worried the pain was bad i decided to look and my fecal matter and it had mucous on outside and a big black part inside the fecal. The dr thinks it could have been constipation and colour change as i showed him the pic. It was firm and i would not say tarry. I worried because it was first time i looked by more than a distance so i went to dr on the day. Since the other day i have not seen any black. The meds i was prescribed seem to reduce the pain and i had a decent bowl movement like my abdomen had relaxed.

My understanding is IBS is to do with bowl spasms? Is this unique to only IBS and not so much IBD or colon cancer? I had a blood test two weeks ago and waited until i wasnt red blood before the test because of constipation. To be honest even though i have had flare ups it was only when i looked other day i had worried and when i had checked prior id never seen it that dark. Is this common experience?

Mary_Scope

Hi @Amazonianup

Sorry I don’t have much personal experience with this but it sounds like you’re doing the right thing by checking in with your doctor and getting tests done. Hopefully somebody with a bit more experience with IBS will be able to reach out to support you soon on the community😊

Bluebell21

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/

Hi @Amazonianup I am sorry you are having such a challenging time. I have Ulcerative Colitis which is not the same as IBS but does have some similar systems.

When I was diagnosed with this several years ago I had blood tests, FIT test and a colonoscopy.

I do have flare ups and bad pain due to inflammation and stress can make it worse.

Did you have tests done for the diagnosis of IBS?

The link on IBS might be of interest to you.

Take care.

Amazonianup

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1060702#Comment_1060702

Thanks but I did have a blood test of the poo sample that i had previous i found out this day was clear. It was just by luck on the day i went to Drs and found this out (clear) i was worried because i was in pain again i noticed black/dark in my stool that morning because i decided to check but i am still naturally worried as sometimes you can get false positives and negatives.

Its just Dr seems to think regardless of the black colour that i noticed it probably is just very dried due to constipation. While meds have helped and i have not noticed any black since (yet) i am still alarmed like anyone would be. Im just hoping with time i will see positive fecal matter (without black colour) and over time accept unfortunately the lesser of evil IBS. When he told me was IBS im not gonna lie i was happy to receive that nasty diagnosis rather than IBD or colon cancer.

Holly_Scope

That's always the way isn't it @Amazonianup. Typical on that day it's clear 😬 It's totally understandable why you'd worry. And if you're anything like I am, I always think it's going to be the worst possible scenario 🙈 But this medication sounds promising. I hope things continue to improve for you. 🙂

Amazonianup

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1061027#Comment_1061027

Hi holly,

Yh meds seem to work but i still get some pain. I think its human nature to want to prepare for worst. i think danger memories make more of an imprint to shield against possible threats. I think its why i didnt share about certain back pains straight away i didnt want to waste time at GP as stress in the body can cause it and when the pain moves higher up and seems superficial like muscle tighting its unlike to be worst. Asking someone whos anxious to not be anxious is not going to help it most cases im just glad im usually able to rationalise or find a way to feel in control of the worry/stress. Im still going to keep checking until i feel comfortable ruling out worst because the pain makes me doubt the overwhelming feeling with not being in the clear of the worst scenario.

Holly_Scope

Oh, it definitely is human nature. And if, like me, you have anxiety it really adds to it doesn't it! It's good to be aware and monitoring your body though. I hope the pain eases for you and you start to feel less overwhelmed over time. 💛