Signed off work for bowel problems.
Discussion
About a year ago I started getting the runs. Thought nothing of it and assumed it was diet. Time went on and it got worse. Comes and goes in flare ups. I was fine for a few weeks then it hit me and would spend day running back forth to toilets. Started having sick days as even had some close encounters walking to bus in the mornings. Over the past few months it’s gotten far worse and I get flare ups several times per week and living on Imodium.
Was off sick for two weeks with it. Even sitting on the bus, the bumps make me feel like I’m going to have an accident. Had the test done for bowel cancer and as of today got results from GP who said it was all clear. She thinks it could be colitis but they can’t give diagnosis until I get the colonoscopy. Can’t even give me medication until then either. GP gave me a sick line for three months.
I’ve been warned as of last week in work for sickness but it’s only getting worse. Spoke with family and doctors and I’ve decided it’s best to be signed off for now. Then return to work once we have answers and hopefully treatment. I will lose my job as I’m agency staff in the DWP. Though such is life. It’s better leaving for medical reasons than being fired. I’m literally one sick day away from being fired anyway. Has anybody here gone through or going through the same bowel issues?
Was off sick for two weeks with it. Even sitting on the bus, the bumps make me feel like I’m going to have an accident. Had the test done for bowel cancer and as of today got results from GP who said it was all clear. She thinks it could be colitis but they can’t give diagnosis until I get the colonoscopy. Can’t even give me medication until then either. GP gave me a sick line for three months.
I’ve been warned as of last week in work for sickness but it’s only getting worse. Spoke with family and doctors and I’ve decided it’s best to be signed off for now. Then return to work once we have answers and hopefully treatment. I will lose my job as I’m agency staff in the DWP. Though such is life. It’s better leaving for medical reasons than being fired. I’m literally one sick day away from being fired anyway. Has anybody here gone through or going through the same bowel issues?
About three years ago I was having 2-3 days off work every week due to stomach issues. After plenty of cameras going inside me all the hospital could come up with was that I have diarrhoea based irritable bowel syndrome which is likely caused by something I eat. It took me ages to figure out the various foods that would set it off but eventually got control of it. I haven’t had to have a day off with it ever since and although it does still affect me it’s definitely manageable.
Sammo123 said:
About three years ago I was having 2-3 days off work every week due to stomach issues. After plenty of cameras going inside me all the hospital could come up with was that I have diarrhoea based irritable bowel syndrome which is likely caused by something I eat. It took me ages to figure out the various foods that would set it off but eventually got control of it. I haven’t had to have a day off with it ever since and although it does still affect me it’s definitely manageable.
Thanks. Dairy seems to be a huge trigger for me. Cut out diary but still having flare ups. Good to know there may be hope.
burritoNinja said:
Thanks.
Dairy seems to be a huge trigger for me. Cut out diary but still having flare ups. Good to know there may be hope.
Yep - I can be pretty bad with milk/dairy or too much coffee, also stress....have cut out as much of the dairy as possible and limit my coffee numbers and it’s far better than it was.Dairy seems to be a huge trigger for me. Cut out diary but still having flare ups. Good to know there may be hope.
Brother had a test done which told him all of his allergies/intolerances and turns out his big trigger (permanent tiredness) was gluten.
Have the medics considered Coeliac Disease - gluten intolerance. It can be one of the worst intolerances to diagnose as it presents with so many varying symptoms and many are very similar to other conditions - i.e. Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
I was diagnosed with Coeliac 15 years ago. I was suddenly struck down with severe diarrhoea, went to GP who diagnosed food poisoning.
Anyway three months later with constant upset stomach - two stone weight loss - and no better diagnosis from GP. I demanded a second opinion and went privately. Consultant took one look at me and said, ''I think you have Coeliac Disease''. He took a blood test there and then and I went back three days later for an endoscopy. The blood test indicated Coeliac and the endoscopy confirmed. Total strict gluten free diet improved the symptoms overnight and it took me about nine months to put on weight again and feel back to normal.
I was lucky in the fact the symptoms suddenly appeared and were severe. Most folks are in the unfortunate position of having mild symptoms at varying frequency that makes diagnosis more difficult.
I was diagnosed with Coeliac 15 years ago. I was suddenly struck down with severe diarrhoea, went to GP who diagnosed food poisoning.
Anyway three months later with constant upset stomach - two stone weight loss - and no better diagnosis from GP. I demanded a second opinion and went privately. Consultant took one look at me and said, ''I think you have Coeliac Disease''. He took a blood test there and then and I went back three days later for an endoscopy. The blood test indicated Coeliac and the endoscopy confirmed. Total strict gluten free diet improved the symptoms overnight and it took me about nine months to put on weight again and feel back to normal.
I was lucky in the fact the symptoms suddenly appeared and were severe. Most folks are in the unfortunate position of having mild symptoms at varying frequency that makes diagnosis more difficult.
I have suffered with ibs for years, only recently got it under control by taking kefir every day. I make my own. I had never heard of it till a Uber driver in the USA talked to me about it. He said he has suffered for years with chrones disease , tried to take his life 3 times. Kefir sorted him out and no longer suffers with anything.
Must admit I though It was a bit far fetched but it worked for me.
Must admit I though It was a bit far fetched but it worked for me.
From what you’ve described, I’d say (as a Colitis sufferer) that Colitis/Crohns is unlikely.
IBD flare ups don’t come a ‘few times a week’, they last weeks at a time and are unlikely to die down without prednisolone. With symptoms going on this long you’d likely be bleeding heavily too.
Flare ups a few time a week are likely to be dietary, finding the cause can be difficult, but taking your diet right back to basics would be a start and reintroduce gradually.
FODMAP as above, to give you an idea during my worst times I ate:
Ready brek with oat milk
Plain toast
Rice/chicken/egg
Of course any of the above could be causing the symptoms so tread lightly!
IBD flare ups don’t come a ‘few times a week’, they last weeks at a time and are unlikely to die down without prednisolone. With symptoms going on this long you’d likely be bleeding heavily too.
Flare ups a few time a week are likely to be dietary, finding the cause can be difficult, but taking your diet right back to basics would be a start and reintroduce gradually.
FODMAP as above, to give you an idea during my worst times I ate:
Ready brek with oat milk
Plain toast
Rice/chicken/egg
Of course any of the above could be causing the symptoms so tread lightly!
My first thought was Colitis but the poster above is probably correct in that Colitis usually comes every few weeks rather than every other day.
On Colitis, one of our dogs (I know, I know) suffered every 4 to 6 weeks. Put her on Grain Free and no probs now in 8 months.
I'm watching this thread with interest though as I have a prob, not the exactly the same as the OP but with digestion and the same orifice.
On Colitis, one of our dogs (I know, I know) suffered every 4 to 6 weeks. Put her on Grain Free and no probs now in 8 months.
I'm watching this thread with interest though as I have a prob, not the exactly the same as the OP but with digestion and the same orifice.
bristolbaron said:
From what you’ve described, I’d say (as a Colitis sufferer) that Colitis/Crohns is unlikely.
IBD flare ups don’t come a ‘few times a week’, they last weeks at a time and are unlikely to die down without prednisolone. With symptoms going on this long you’d likely be bleeding heavily too.
Flare ups a few time a week are likely to be dietary, finding the cause can be difficult, but taking your diet right back to basics would be a start and reintroduce gradually.
FODMAP as above, to give you an idea during my worst times I ate:
Ready brek with oat milk
Plain toast
Rice/chicken/egg
Of course any of the above could be causing the symptoms so tread lightly!
At the moment that flare ups are everyday. I’ve tried being vegan, vegetarian, dairy free and still nothing helps. The poo tests came back as no blood in them and thankfully no bowel cancer. I have had at times some crippling cramps and had ultrasound for gallbladder but all was fine. Doctor had said there could be a possibility of colitis but not yet determined. I have to get the camera test next. I’m going to check out the Fodmap and see how I get on with it. IBD flare ups don’t come a ‘few times a week’, they last weeks at a time and are unlikely to die down without prednisolone. With symptoms going on this long you’d likely be bleeding heavily too.
Flare ups a few time a week are likely to be dietary, finding the cause can be difficult, but taking your diet right back to basics would be a start and reintroduce gradually.
FODMAP as above, to give you an idea during my worst times I ate:
Ready brek with oat milk
Plain toast
Rice/chicken/egg
Of course any of the above could be causing the symptoms so tread lightly!
Another point of interest is that I had went onto a bodybuilding diet and using protein drinks. My issues did not start until I stopped training and went back to a normal diet. Doctor can’t say for sure, but she did say there could have been something to it and it could have triggered my stomach issues but we will never know.
Sounds like you're heading towards a diagnosis of IBS which in one respect is good news because there's nothing wrong with the mechanics, so to speak, but not so good in another in that it's quite poorly understood and NHS treatement tneds to be around prevention of symptoms rather than cure.
When mine first hit I had 2 months of cameras, biopsies, sample tests and even MRIs beforew they gave me that diagnosis. Mine had caused me to lose 2 stone in 6 weeks as I wasn't able to keep anything in for long and was paranoid about eating. During the testing they had me on various bulking agents and medications to alter my bowels and to be honest all they did was either swing things the other way so I had days of spasms while constipated or nothing at all.
Not looking ofrward to a life of that I set out researching things for myself. I tried a low FODMAP diet which helped a bit but then discovered that a major trigger for a lot of people is stress. I'd been having a rough time at work when it came on so that made sense. I had some private sessions with an NHS dietician who had seen that diet didn't really have a great impact long term on IBS and had discovered trials which showed that hypnotherapy did.
That was what made all the difference for me. Within 3 sessions there was a massive improvement and I was able to get back to work full time. I then went further and learned a lot of things about coping and reducing stress generally and bought an IBS specific hypnotherapy course by a guy called Michael Mahoney
https://healthyaudio.com/healthy-audio/about-us/mi...
After completing that course the problems completely disappeared. That was 10 years ago now and occasionally things will get a bit dodgy if I eat something particularly stupid or allow life to get on top of me but now I know what it is and how to let go of it it passes within hours rather than weeks.
Supplements can help and I now drink peppermint tea rather than regular tea and take turmeric supplements if I have a problem. Colpermin peppermint capsules work too but I find them quite harsh when they eventually come out as the mint can sting, no worse than a vindaloo type of thing but turmeric does the same without that.
Somehting else to bear in mind, antibiotics. I always had problems after a course of antibiotics and what started mine off was stress but also I'd had a couple of courses of them for an infected wisdom tooth a few months before which took a while for things to settle. When I found out that they wipe out the complex flora in our gut which never really recovers I vowed to keep away form them unless I really had to. Managed to avoid them for almost a decade but pneumonia meant I had to last year and as predicted they wreaked havoc. I used a probiotic called VSL3 which was recommended by the hospital staff to recover from that so there's something else to consider.
When mine first hit I had 2 months of cameras, biopsies, sample tests and even MRIs beforew they gave me that diagnosis. Mine had caused me to lose 2 stone in 6 weeks as I wasn't able to keep anything in for long and was paranoid about eating. During the testing they had me on various bulking agents and medications to alter my bowels and to be honest all they did was either swing things the other way so I had days of spasms while constipated or nothing at all.
Not looking ofrward to a life of that I set out researching things for myself. I tried a low FODMAP diet which helped a bit but then discovered that a major trigger for a lot of people is stress. I'd been having a rough time at work when it came on so that made sense. I had some private sessions with an NHS dietician who had seen that diet didn't really have a great impact long term on IBS and had discovered trials which showed that hypnotherapy did.
That was what made all the difference for me. Within 3 sessions there was a massive improvement and I was able to get back to work full time. I then went further and learned a lot of things about coping and reducing stress generally and bought an IBS specific hypnotherapy course by a guy called Michael Mahoney
https://healthyaudio.com/healthy-audio/about-us/mi...
After completing that course the problems completely disappeared. That was 10 years ago now and occasionally things will get a bit dodgy if I eat something particularly stupid or allow life to get on top of me but now I know what it is and how to let go of it it passes within hours rather than weeks.
Supplements can help and I now drink peppermint tea rather than regular tea and take turmeric supplements if I have a problem. Colpermin peppermint capsules work too but I find them quite harsh when they eventually come out as the mint can sting, no worse than a vindaloo type of thing but turmeric does the same without that.
Somehting else to bear in mind, antibiotics. I always had problems after a course of antibiotics and what started mine off was stress but also I'd had a couple of courses of them for an infected wisdom tooth a few months before which took a while for things to settle. When I found out that they wipe out the complex flora in our gut which never really recovers I vowed to keep away form them unless I really had to. Managed to avoid them for almost a decade but pneumonia meant I had to last year and as predicted they wreaked havoc. I used a probiotic called VSL3 which was recommended by the hospital staff to recover from that so there's something else to consider.
Herr Schnell said:
Sounds like you're heading towards a diagnosis of IBS which in one respect is good news because there's nothing wrong with the mechanics, so to speak, but not so good in another in that it's quite poorly understood and NHS treatement tneds to be around prevention of symptoms rather than cure.
When mine first hit I had 2 months of cameras, biopsies, sample tests and even MRIs beforew they gave me that diagnosis. Mine had caused me to lose 2 stone in 6 weeks as I wasn't able to keep anything in for long and was paranoid about eating. During the testing they had me on various bulking agents and medications to alter my bowels and to be honest all they did was either swing things the other way so I had days of spasms while constipated or nothing at all.
Not looking ofrward to a life of that I set out researching things for myself. I tried a low FODMAP diet which helped a bit but then discovered that a major trigger for a lot of people is stress. I'd been having a rough time at work when it came on so that made sense. I had some private sessions with an NHS dietician who had seen that diet didn't really have a great impact long term on IBS and had discovered trials which showed that hypnotherapy did.
That was what made all the difference for me. Within 3 sessions there was a massive improvement and I was able to get back to work full time. I then went further and learned a lot of things about coping and reducing stress generally and bought an IBS specific hypnotherapy course by a guy called Michael Mahoney
https://healthyaudio.com/healthy-audio/about-us/mi...
After completing that course the problems completely disappeared. That was 10 years ago now and occasionally things will get a bit dodgy if I eat something particularly stupid or allow life to get on top of me but now I know what it is and how to let go of it it passes within hours rather than weeks.
Supplements can help and I now drink peppermint tea rather than regular tea and take turmeric supplements if I have a problem. Colpermin peppermint capsules work too but I find them quite harsh when they eventually come out as the mint can sting, no worse than a vindaloo type of thing but turmeric does the same without that.
Somehting else to bear in mind, antibiotics. I always had problems after a course of antibiotics and what started mine off was stress but also I'd had a couple of courses of them for an infected wisdom tooth a few months before which took a while for things to settle. When I found out that they wipe out the complex flora in our gut which never really recovers I vowed to keep away form them unless I really had to. Managed to avoid them for almost a decade but pneumonia meant I had to last year and as predicted they wreaked havoc. I used a probiotic called VSL3 which was recommended by the hospital staff to recover from that so there's something else to consider.
Thank you for the information.When mine first hit I had 2 months of cameras, biopsies, sample tests and even MRIs beforew they gave me that diagnosis. Mine had caused me to lose 2 stone in 6 weeks as I wasn't able to keep anything in for long and was paranoid about eating. During the testing they had me on various bulking agents and medications to alter my bowels and to be honest all they did was either swing things the other way so I had days of spasms while constipated or nothing at all.
Not looking ofrward to a life of that I set out researching things for myself. I tried a low FODMAP diet which helped a bit but then discovered that a major trigger for a lot of people is stress. I'd been having a rough time at work when it came on so that made sense. I had some private sessions with an NHS dietician who had seen that diet didn't really have a great impact long term on IBS and had discovered trials which showed that hypnotherapy did.
That was what made all the difference for me. Within 3 sessions there was a massive improvement and I was able to get back to work full time. I then went further and learned a lot of things about coping and reducing stress generally and bought an IBS specific hypnotherapy course by a guy called Michael Mahoney
https://healthyaudio.com/healthy-audio/about-us/mi...
After completing that course the problems completely disappeared. That was 10 years ago now and occasionally things will get a bit dodgy if I eat something particularly stupid or allow life to get on top of me but now I know what it is and how to let go of it it passes within hours rather than weeks.
Supplements can help and I now drink peppermint tea rather than regular tea and take turmeric supplements if I have a problem. Colpermin peppermint capsules work too but I find them quite harsh when they eventually come out as the mint can sting, no worse than a vindaloo type of thing but turmeric does the same without that.
Somehting else to bear in mind, antibiotics. I always had problems after a course of antibiotics and what started mine off was stress but also I'd had a couple of courses of them for an infected wisdom tooth a few months before which took a while for things to settle. When I found out that they wipe out the complex flora in our gut which never really recovers I vowed to keep away form them unless I really had to. Managed to avoid them for almost a decade but pneumonia meant I had to last year and as predicted they wreaked havoc. I used a probiotic called VSL3 which was recommended by the hospital staff to recover from that so there's something else to consider.
I’ve been pretty much ok since Thursday. Just back to a normal once a day bowel movement which is good. I do take two immodium each morning to help. Though on bad days the immodium barely works and I end up taking ten of them. Dairy seems to be a huge trigger for me and coffee. I’ve cut both out. Also been reading into the FODMAP. I think stress from work was amplifying it. I work in benefits and well, it’s all day long abuse and stress. Since I’ve been off I’m applying for new jobs. I know the job is a huge factor in this. I never even had stomach issues until I started working in universal credit. I literally would wake up angry and agitated at having to go there. I was miserable at home due to the job. My wife was telling me for months to quit and find something else.
I was previously off work for two weeks with bowel issues and was at a stage where I was taking no immodium and not really having issues. Sleep was also better. I then returned to work and my Bowles played up again and insomnia returned. Now I’m signed off for a month and already things have settled down.
burritoNinja said:
Thank you for the information.
I’ve been pretty much ok since Thursday. Just back to a normal once a day bowel movement which is good. I do take two immodium each morning to help. Though on bad days the immodium barely works and I end up taking ten of them. Dairy seems to be a huge trigger for me and coffee. I’ve cut both out. Also been reading into the FODMAP. I think stress from work was amplifying it. I work in benefits and well, it’s all day long abuse and stress. Since I’ve been off I’m applying for new jobs. I know the job is a huge factor in this. I never even had stomach issues until I started working in universal credit. I literally would wake up angry and agitated at having to go there. I was miserable at home due to the job. My wife was telling me for months to quit and find something else.
I was previously off work for two weeks with bowel issues and was at a stage where I was taking no immodium and not really having issues. Sleep was also better. I then returned to work and my Bowles played up again and insomnia returned. Now I’m signed off for a month and already things have settled down.
No worries, hope it's of some use.I’ve been pretty much ok since Thursday. Just back to a normal once a day bowel movement which is good. I do take two immodium each morning to help. Though on bad days the immodium barely works and I end up taking ten of them. Dairy seems to be a huge trigger for me and coffee. I’ve cut both out. Also been reading into the FODMAP. I think stress from work was amplifying it. I work in benefits and well, it’s all day long abuse and stress. Since I’ve been off I’m applying for new jobs. I know the job is a huge factor in this. I never even had stomach issues until I started working in universal credit. I literally would wake up angry and agitated at having to go there. I was miserable at home due to the job. My wife was telling me for months to quit and find something else.
I was previously off work for two weeks with bowel issues and was at a stage where I was taking no immodium and not really having issues. Sleep was also better. I then returned to work and my Bowles played up again and insomnia returned. Now I’m signed off for a month and already things have settled down.
I was in law enforcement and years of taking abuse had taken a toll which I was managing with various substances. What finally did it was a promotion to a managerial position with no training or support but very high expectations around delivery.
After years of suppressing things my body finally found a way to get my attention and to tell me to make changes. I did that in terms of my lifestyle and the job and since then not only have my bowels been massively improved but life overall has too.
Something I found useful was the work of a guy called John Eaton who has written lots about the links between emotional / mental wellbeing and physical health. Basically, when we are in a situation which is wrong for us but ignoring our inner voice telling us to change that we develop physical symptoms as the constant drip of stress hormones f
ks us up.See it as a positive experience. It's not physically nice at all and has no doubt made you feel terrible but it's switched you on to something which needs changing, run with that idea and take steps to find another job. Taking control back helps immensely so even when you're back there you're not thinking that you're trapped and waiting for the next bad thing to happen to you but can be thinking about escaping and making better things happen.
Good luck!
You need a colonoscopy. If there is going to be a delay to getting this then ask for a faecal calprotectin test. This is a good discriminator between inflammatory bowel disease (crohns or ulcerative colitis) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which have very different treatments. Good luck
Biglips said:
You need a colonoscopy. If there is going to be a delay to getting this then ask for a faecal calprotectin test. This is a good discriminator between inflammatory bowel disease (crohns or ulcerative colitis) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which have very different treatments. Good luck
I don’t know if it was the calprotection test I had. I had to collect samples from three different movements and they were tested for bowel cancer, blood etc. Came back negative which was good. I’m currently waiting on the colonoscopy. I will ask GP about the test mentioned. Have you altered your user name, or are you really a burrito Ninja, might that be the cause............?
Seriously though I went through something like you are 20 years ago and likewise got to the point living on Imodium. Everything on tests proved clear, small diverticular tear in lower bowel fixed but still same problems.
GP thought I'd basically taught my body to "go too often" through worry, as diet was also fine. Told me to back off the Imodium and start using Fybogel and tbh I'm not sure when in the following year problems stopped, but I was back to a "one firm stool a day man". Mint tea and Kefir are my go to these days if I have dodgy stomach / bowels on te odd occasion.
Seriously though I went through something like you are 20 years ago and likewise got to the point living on Imodium. Everything on tests proved clear, small diverticular tear in lower bowel fixed but still same problems.
GP thought I'd basically taught my body to "go too often" through worry, as diet was also fine. Told me to back off the Imodium and start using Fybogel and tbh I'm not sure when in the following year problems stopped, but I was back to a "one firm stool a day man". Mint tea and Kefir are my go to these days if I have dodgy stomach / bowels on te odd occasion.
burritoNinja said:
I don’t know if it was the calprotection test I had. I had to collect samples from three different movements and they were tested for bowel cancer, blood etc. Came back negative which was good. I’m currently waiting on the colonoscopy. I will ask GP about the test mentioned.
The bowel cancer stool tests look for blood in the stool. Calprotectin is different and looks for inflammation. Just an update.
So since I left working at universal credit a month ago, I’ve had no bowel issues. Not had any diarrhea in a month and not been taking immodium. I’m still waiting for a colonoscopy but I’m thinking the job may have been a huge factor to this. Been out and about and been feeling ok. Has it been stress and absolutely hating working there?
So since I left working at universal credit a month ago, I’ve had no bowel issues. Not had any diarrhea in a month and not been taking immodium. I’m still waiting for a colonoscopy but I’m thinking the job may have been a huge factor to this. Been out and about and been feeling ok. Has it been stress and absolutely hating working there?
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