Hi everyone,
I've been a long time reader of the site and always found it helpful in answering my questions so finally decided to sign up and introduce myself.
I've suffered from bowel troubles for as long as I remember, but my first major 'flare' was in May 2010. I suddenly developed horrendous, constant diarrhoea and vomiting out of nowhere. I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for over ten years so when I saw my GP, I was told this was the cause. I didn't entirely agree with her diagnosis of anxiety induced IBS but went with it anyway. My flare continued for over three weeks, during which I lost almost 20 pounds and was unable to keep anything down other than small amounts of a meal replacement drink. This episode really knocked me for six and I felt the repercussions of it for a month or two afterwards.
After this flare, I went back to "normal", suffering from the occasional flare every few months but nothing like the first. About 3 months ago things got worse, I was suffering from almost constant bloody diarrhoea, agonising stomach cramps, a continuous pain on the left lower side of my abdomen, a hugely distended painful stomach after eating and general joint pains, exhaustion and I also developed an anal abscess. I visited my GP again and was again told it was IBS and to think about reducing stress and altering my diet! So I decided to try another GP who has been much more supportive.
So far I've had blood tests showing an elevated white blood count and a flexible sigmoidoscopy showing patchy inflammation and some ulcers. Biopsies taken at this time also demonstrated non-specific inflammation. My GP has said he's pretty confident its IBD but wants to check a stool sample to 100% rule out infection before referring me to a GI doctor. So hopefully, I'll get some concrete answers soon! Currently, my symptoms seem to have subsided more of less, just suffering from some abdominal pain, cramps upon bowel movements and urgency issues, but I know that it won't be for long.
So that's my story so far. Otherwise, I live in Liverpool, UK and work in healthcare. I completed my masters degree in health psychology last year (focusing on acute and chronic pain, in particular techniques to reduce the likelihood of the development of persistent post-surgical pain after surgical interventions) and I'm hoping to start a PhD later this year
Rebecca
I've been a long time reader of the site and always found it helpful in answering my questions so finally decided to sign up and introduce myself.
I've suffered from bowel troubles for as long as I remember, but my first major 'flare' was in May 2010. I suddenly developed horrendous, constant diarrhoea and vomiting out of nowhere. I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for over ten years so when I saw my GP, I was told this was the cause. I didn't entirely agree with her diagnosis of anxiety induced IBS but went with it anyway. My flare continued for over three weeks, during which I lost almost 20 pounds and was unable to keep anything down other than small amounts of a meal replacement drink. This episode really knocked me for six and I felt the repercussions of it for a month or two afterwards.
After this flare, I went back to "normal", suffering from the occasional flare every few months but nothing like the first. About 3 months ago things got worse, I was suffering from almost constant bloody diarrhoea, agonising stomach cramps, a continuous pain on the left lower side of my abdomen, a hugely distended painful stomach after eating and general joint pains, exhaustion and I also developed an anal abscess. I visited my GP again and was again told it was IBS and to think about reducing stress and altering my diet! So I decided to try another GP who has been much more supportive.
So far I've had blood tests showing an elevated white blood count and a flexible sigmoidoscopy showing patchy inflammation and some ulcers. Biopsies taken at this time also demonstrated non-specific inflammation. My GP has said he's pretty confident its IBD but wants to check a stool sample to 100% rule out infection before referring me to a GI doctor. So hopefully, I'll get some concrete answers soon! Currently, my symptoms seem to have subsided more of less, just suffering from some abdominal pain, cramps upon bowel movements and urgency issues, but I know that it won't be for long.
So that's my story so far. Otherwise, I live in Liverpool, UK and work in healthcare. I completed my masters degree in health psychology last year (focusing on acute and chronic pain, in particular techniques to reduce the likelihood of the development of persistent post-surgical pain after surgical interventions) and I'm hoping to start a PhD later this year
Rebecca
