Hello

[Dozza]

Hi folks am new here. I am 50 and have had stomach prob mainly diarrhea on and for years and I always found an excuse for it - working dreadful shifts living in countries where water quality wasn't always the best. Jan 2014 I had what I initially thought was a bug projectile vomiting diarrhea fever etc. After 6 days I visitedy GP who agreed just a bug. 2 weeks later I returned to GP who then examined me, my whole bowel was very painful and GP then suggested IBS took stool sample and bloods and suggested high fibre diet. Bloods and sample came back fine. Then referred to GI. Finally had appt 10 days ago have now been referred for colonoscopy (7 week wait) and barium follow through no date as yet. GI also was concerned about certain bloods results that GP had said were ok. nding I am trying to keep going at work but finding they are not very understanding. Pain, feeling full with no appetite and diarrhea/sickness and weight loss (probably because just can't face food. GI said no more with the IBS diet and a suggested diagnosis of crohns. Apologies for rambling - so glad I found you all

 

[DJW]

Hi and welcome. Sorry to hear you're going through this. Hope the colonoscopy answers some questions.
Sending you my support.

 

[Dozza]

Thanks DJW -hope so too but then no appointment til November for results. GP is just no longer interested so struggling on at the moment

 

[Daisy123]

You should get results the same day as you get a report and letter for your Dr. High fibre diet for IBS and low fibre diet for IBD. If the high fibre diet isn't helping then it may suggest inflammation is the issue. Keep to low residue until after the scope. I suspect length of times for tests and reluctance by your GP is to do with financial issues under this government. If you start getting worse, I would try phoning the hospital and seeing perhaps if you can get the scope brought forward. Best of luck.

 

[Dozza]

Hi thanks for your reply. Am sticking with the low residue diet and can feel a difference already. I have already requested an earlier appointment and that's the date I have been given for a hospital 40 miles away. My nearest hospital would be an when longer wait. The one positive thing is am in Scotland so NHS here seems to be a lot better than south of the border just now. Have been told that as the hospital where tests are to be done are not in a position to give the results!!!! I feel guilty complaining aa.some people appear to have waited far longer to referred. Thanks again for your support it really helps

 

[StarGirrrrl]

A report will be produced with your results, should be sent to your GP, and GI will certainly have it.

A few weeks after your scope call the Consultants secretary and make sure the results are sent to you or your GP.

Just because your appointment isn't until November doesn't mean you have to wait until then for your results.

If everything comes back normal there are other tests, also you mention working in countries with poor water quality so rare and exotic stomach bugs may be an avenue to explore.

 

[Dozza]

Hi again just found out colonoscopy has been cancelled due to demand!!! After a lot of arguing have now got a new date in 3 months time. Have switched GPs and am a lot more confident about the care I am getting at GP level - so at least some good news

 

[UnXmas]

High fibre diet for IBS and low fibre diet for IBD. If the high fibre diet isn't helping then it may suggest inflammation is the issue. Keep to low residue until after the scope.

Not necessarily - various digestive disorders can benefit from low-fibre, diet isn't a way to distinguish between IBS and IBD.

The colonoscopy and barium follow through stand a good chance of telling you what is wrong, Dozza. Unfortunately the waiting time and the cancellation sound all too familiar - that's kind of how it is with the NHS (I'm in England, but it sounds like it's pretty much the same where you are).

It sounds like you've found a good GI though, one who is taking you seriously. Did he/she tell you which blood results were concerning?

In some cases you don't get test results on the same day you have a test. Some tests are not done by the consultants themselves, and the results are sent to your consultant for interpretation, with the consultant then discussing them with you at your next appointment. With a colonoscopy, quite often you'll be told some of the results as soon as you've had the scope (though the sedatives they give may mean you don't remember them!), but the results from any biopsies taken will need to be sent off for analysis, so you're probably looking at waiting several weeks for them (based on my experience and that of several people I know who've had them on the NHS).

But if anything sinister is found you should get the results a lot sooner - so if there's a long delay, look at it as a good thing! And I've come to understand that the free health care provided by the NHS is a wonderful thing, even if the waiting can get frustrating at times.

 

[Daisy123]

Not necessarily - various digestive disorders can benefit from low-fibre, diet isn't a way to distinguish between IBS and IBD.

The colonoscopy and barium follow through stand a good chance of telling you what is wrong, Dozza. Unfortunately the waiting time and the cancellation sound all too familiar - that's kind of how it is with the NHS (I'm in England, but it sounds like it's pretty much the same where you are).

It sounds like you've found a good GI though, one who is taking you seriously. Did he/she tell you which blood results were concerning?

In some cases you don't get test results on the same day you have a test. Some tests are not done by the consultants themselves, and the results are sent to your consultant for interpretation, with the consultant then discussing them with you at your next appointment. With a colonoscopy, quite often you'll be told some of the results as soon as you've had the scope (though the sedatives they give may mean you don't remember them!), but the results from any biopsies taken will need to be sent off for analysis, so you're probably looking at waiting several weeks for them (based on my experience and that of several people I know who've had them on the NHS).

But if anything sinister is found you should get the results a lot sooner - so if there's a long delay, look at it as a good thing! And I've come to understand that the free health care provided by the NHS is a wonderful thing, even if the waiting can get frustrating at times.

Sorry for the misinformation. I am permanently confused as to what diet I should be on, so back on low fibre because of obstructive symptoms which may well be IBS, but as I said I am permanently confused!

 

[Dozza]

Hi Daisy thanks for the support. I certainly didnt think your comment on diet was miss info.GI IBD nurse and 2 GPs have all said high fibre diet is a big no no at the moment am sticking with low residue at the mo and its now certainly helping. My bloods show inflammation and low b12 and folic acis . Now on supps for that and b12 injection which was amazing things definitley looling up. Just my employer to tackle now

 

[UnXmas]

Sorry for the misinformation. I am permanently confused as to what diet I should be on, so back on low fibre because of obstructive symptoms which may well be IBS, but as I said I am permanently confused!

Don't worry - it is very confusing! It took me years to work out that low fibre suits me. I think a big cause of the confusion is that IBS is not a specific diagnosis - it just refers to digestive symptoms in cases where doctors have not been able to find a cause, so the diagnosis of IBS ends up including many different symptoms. IBS can diarrhoea or constipation or both alternately, so while some people with an IBS diagnosis may benefit from high fibre, others may benefit from low fibre (and some may not benefit from changing their diet at all).

You're right that Crohn's causes inflammation. When tests reveal inflammation in the digestive tract, that means that it's not IBS (though Crohn's is not the only cause of inflammation, as you probably know). From what I've read, it does seem that many people with Crohn's do benefit from a low fibre diet, so it is a good thing to try, but apparently there are also exceptions where a low fibre diet doesn't help.

Dozza - I'm glad you've had some improvement!