Very stressed over bowel issue

[Elodiah]

Hi all, I'm new here, joined up because I really need to vent about how anxious I've been... and a little warning that this post contains TMI talk about poop and such! 

First of all, I'm female, 31, normal weight and generally very healthy.

In the first week of December I noticed I was having a bit of rectal pain when trying for a bowel movement, and quite badly one time during normal intercourse. I didn't think much of it until over the next week or so when I noticed that bowel movements were getting more difficult, and my stools were changing, e.g. getting narrower and/or flatter, but were sometimes were still almost normal.

I went to the GP on Dec 17th, and after listening to my concerns she referred me to a gastroenterologist. I called them up to book in, but they didn't have any appointments til April! So I went to call my GP back, only to find out she'd gone on holidays and wouldn't be back til Jan 3rd. I let it go for a few more days, but then on the 20th I got incredibly anxious (tears and everything), because when I was having menstrual cramping, usually I'd have very loose bowel movements, but this time despite the heavy cramps and urge to go I was straining to get it out of me, and what did come out was quite narrow (not really "pencil thin" though). The next day I stupidly started googling my symptoms, and was immediately terrified that I had colorectal cancer. I spent the next few days anxious and crying, until on the 24th I went and saw a different GP, who gave me a referral for a colonoscopy.

Unfortunately the colonoscopy place wasn't open til Jan 2nd, so I had a very scary wait ahead of me as my symptoms got a little worse, plus (possibly because of my googling), I started feeling other symptoms such as coccyx pressure and pain, lower back aches, and mild twinges of pain all through my pelvic and upper rear/inner thigh areas.

I finally called up on Jan 2nd to book my colonoscopy, and luckily they could fit me in the following week, which was last Wednesday. By the time it rolled around, I was pretty much over being anxious, and was just resigned to the fact they were probably going to find something terrible! But then at discharge, the nurse told me everything was normal, they didn't find any polyps, and she gave me the printed report which said the same thing. I practically skipped out of the hospital with my husband, I was so incredibly happy.

However, once my bowel movements returned, I discovered that so had my symptoms. My first post-procedure bowel movement was as close to normal as I'd had since mid-December, but after that the next few were back to being difficult, narrow and/or flat in shape, and I had trouble getting them out even when the stool was soft. On Sunday I was completely constipated, Monday it somewhat resolved, yesterday my stool was back to narrow/flat pieces again, and today I started the day straining hard to get out odd-shaped dry, dark-coloured pellets, but then later this morning had another almost-normal looking bowel movement. Basically, every time I look in the toilet bowl I see something different!

On top of that, I'm still getting mild lower back aches and all the twinges I described earlier, plus when I was rubbing my lower back after feeling a twinge on Saturday night, I discovered at least one (moveable) lump on my sacrum region which feels like an enlarged lymph node, but I'm not even sure if we have palpable lymph nodes there. Also, since Sunday night I've lost a whole kilo in weight, even though I'm eating and drinking the normal amount and not exercising much.

I went back to the first GP on Monday to tell her that my symptoms had returned post-colonoscopy, and she very kindly called a different gastroenterologist to see if he could squeeze me in for an appointment this week. I'm seeing him tomorrow night, but that's not soon enough for me, which is why I'm posting here in an attempt to get a bit of comfort. Even though aside from everything I've described I feel quite well, I'm convinced that the specialist is going to find and diagnose me with something awful. I'm meant to be starting my fourth IVF cycle in a few days time (hence my rushed appointment tomorrow) and I'm really worried about finding out I've got a serious illness right when I'm trying  and wanting so badly to get pregnant.

If you've read all this, thank you so much. If you have any words to offer me, even bigger thanks. This has been dragging on for far too long now for someone who has hypochondriac tendencies! 

[colls22]

That's a perplexing one.

Well, I presume you've taken colon cancer off the table, which you rightly should.

IBS is certainly a possibility, as it can produce all of the symptoms you're describing. However, given the palpable lymph node, it could also be an infection of some sort (intestinal, etc). And yes, I do believe we have lymph nodes there.

You'll hopefully have some answers very soon, but I certainly wouldn't fret! And re. the weight loss, it just seems to happen during periods of high anxiety, eating normally or not. Not to mention that I'm willing to bet you are actually eating a little less than you normally do, whether you really realize it or not.

Let us know how it turns out.

[LindaRK]

IBS is the first thing that came to my mind - I've had it for decades, off and on.  Can be diarrhea or constipation.  I'm going through a constipation phase right now.  Stress related - learn to manage stress in order to manage the IBS.  You might want to discuss this with your gastro.

[Elodiah]

Thanks so much colls and Linda for your replies!

I'm hoping it could be IBS; I do have a history of being prone to gas pain, bloating and the occasional mild bout of constipation, so I've always suspected I've got some form of IBS anyway. But I've never had it affect me this badly before, or with these symptoms.

As for the possibility of an infection, I did think of it too, but would have assumed there'd be obvious pain, signs of bleeding/pus, and it would have been picked up on the scope.

My lower back ache has gone today, but I've had a tiny niggling pain in my coccyx all afternoon... 

[colls22]

Remember that pain, tingling, etc are often "felt" completely because of worry. Could definitely explain your aching and now tingling, since you're worried about a problem in that area.

[marc]

Sounds like IBS. I would increase your fiber and fluid intake and see if that helps you.

[Elodiah]

Just an update. The specialist wants me to have bloods for coeliacs, thyroid issues, and a stool test to check for inflammation. If they all come back normal, he said he'd chalk it up to IBS, and then it's time for me to relax and focus on the IVF stuff instead. I have a follow-up booked in a month's time.

It wasn't until I was back out in reception paying for the appointment that I realised I'd forgotten to tell him about the lumps on my lower back, which have been my main stress this week! But I guess I'll just keep an eye on them and tell myself that they're just harmless lipoma for now...