T
tm171
Guest
Hey all. I've been reading these forums for a while, trying to figure out what exactly to do. I'd really love opinions, so if you can bear with me while I explain what's going on, I'd be really appreciative.
Okay, so I've had problems with bad diarrhea for 15 months now. I've lost a total of 30 kilo's in this year without exercise or too much dramatic diet change. My doctor has tracked that I've lost 10 kilo's in the past two months alone, which has tied in with worsening symptoms.
Once, I passed mucus and blood. And this week, for three days I had black looking stools, oily and foul smelling. Throughout this all, I've had shocking persistent diarrhea but otherwise, have not noticed blood (on a few occasions, there was maybe slight blood but hardly noticable). My black stools cleared up and now it's back to dark stools, foul. Going to the toilet usually doesn't make me feel any better, it's a constant feeling of needing to go. Usually I get cold or hot flushes, nausea when a bowel motion is imminent, haha.
I have had extreme abdominal discomfort, alot of swishing noises - like water going through my intestines, I've had what feels like menstrual cramping down low, on occasion. If I push at my tummy, most times it's extremely tender. This started on the left side and is now also under my ribs, and along my right side. I've had bouts of extreme nausea, where I've had my head over the toilet bowl for hours - nothing fixes the nausea. I've had alot of headaches lately, and am starting to have really bad eye pain and aching. I'm extremely weak and everything feels like it's hurting. I have this all day, and often go to bed early because I'm sick of dealing with it. My hands and wrist (usually joints) ache, ankles and my back hurts immensely some days. Some days, I can hardly handle the neck pain I have.
My problem is this. I'm in the middle of organising endoscopy/colonoscopy but I'm just wondering whether what I have sounds more like IBD or IBS. I thought I'd ask people who actually suffer with IBD! My doctor seems to believe it's some form of IBD due to blood in stool on occasion and the recent black stools. But then I have periods where my stools aren't black and they don't have blood, usually this is the case more often than not? Where it seems alot more IBS than IBD?
From your experience, how much of what I'm experiencing ties in with IBD?
I don't know if I ever have a fever as I don't have a thermometer. But I don't FEEL as if I do when these 'attacks' occur. Can you have IBD without fever?
I'm just trying to get as much info as possible so I'm prepared for either outcome, and am very anxious about the scopes. My doctor wanted me to go to E.R to get them done urgently, but I keep overthinking and wondering whether the stools weren't really black! Maybe I ate something to make them black (but I hadn't.) ...
I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense, I'm in a bit of a state. I know I just need to get the scopes done and work with the doctors, which I am doing. Just wondering how urgent I should be, as if it's more likely to be IBS, I don't want to have to cancel work, arrange babysitting, etc etc in a hurry!
So much thanks in advance for anything anyone has to offer towards this all.
(sorry it was so long)
Okay, so I've had problems with bad diarrhea for 15 months now. I've lost a total of 30 kilo's in this year without exercise or too much dramatic diet change. My doctor has tracked that I've lost 10 kilo's in the past two months alone, which has tied in with worsening symptoms.
Once, I passed mucus and blood. And this week, for three days I had black looking stools, oily and foul smelling. Throughout this all, I've had shocking persistent diarrhea but otherwise, have not noticed blood (on a few occasions, there was maybe slight blood but hardly noticable). My black stools cleared up and now it's back to dark stools, foul. Going to the toilet usually doesn't make me feel any better, it's a constant feeling of needing to go. Usually I get cold or hot flushes, nausea when a bowel motion is imminent, haha.
I have had extreme abdominal discomfort, alot of swishing noises - like water going through my intestines, I've had what feels like menstrual cramping down low, on occasion. If I push at my tummy, most times it's extremely tender. This started on the left side and is now also under my ribs, and along my right side. I've had bouts of extreme nausea, where I've had my head over the toilet bowl for hours - nothing fixes the nausea. I've had alot of headaches lately, and am starting to have really bad eye pain and aching. I'm extremely weak and everything feels like it's hurting. I have this all day, and often go to bed early because I'm sick of dealing with it. My hands and wrist (usually joints) ache, ankles and my back hurts immensely some days. Some days, I can hardly handle the neck pain I have.
My problem is this. I'm in the middle of organising endoscopy/colonoscopy but I'm just wondering whether what I have sounds more like IBD or IBS. I thought I'd ask people who actually suffer with IBD! My doctor seems to believe it's some form of IBD due to blood in stool on occasion and the recent black stools. But then I have periods where my stools aren't black and they don't have blood, usually this is the case more often than not? Where it seems alot more IBS than IBD?
From your experience, how much of what I'm experiencing ties in with IBD?
I don't know if I ever have a fever as I don't have a thermometer. But I don't FEEL as if I do when these 'attacks' occur. Can you have IBD without fever?
I'm just trying to get as much info as possible so I'm prepared for either outcome, and am very anxious about the scopes. My doctor wanted me to go to E.R to get them done urgently, but I keep overthinking and wondering whether the stools weren't really black! Maybe I ate something to make them black (but I hadn't.) ...
I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense, I'm in a bit of a state. I know I just need to get the scopes done and work with the doctors, which I am doing. Just wondering how urgent I should be, as if it's more likely to be IBS, I don't want to have to cancel work, arrange babysitting, etc etc in a hurry!
So much thanks in advance for anything anyone has to offer towards this all.
(sorry it was so long)
I've heard probiotics are useful and will get some this afternoon. 
