I don’t feel like I’m being taken seriously

[Robmarriott]

I don’t mean just generally in life, but specifically with regards to my GP.

For a long time I’ve been suffering from some discomfort in my bowels, it’s basically constant. Not what I’d describe as pain, more like the feeling you get when you haven’t ‘been’ for a while. Along with that I’m windy with a capital W.

I’ve had several phone appointments and a physical check over with the GP plus blood tests which all came back clear.

I’ve tried eliminating the obvious things - bread, dairy, fizzy drinks, coffee. I already don’t drink alcohol or smoke. My diet isn’t perfect but I wouldn’t say I eat badly. Nothing has made an obvious difference. The only thing which works is not eating which I’m not sure is sustainable…

The problem is it’s not going away and I need to get to the bottom of it because it’s affecting me daily. I’m sat here now having just been to the toilet, feeling like I need to again and I know there’s nothing there.

So my question is, what next? How do I get to the bottom of this? (No pun intended)

[bigandclever]

Get a second opinion.

[Hoofy]

How are your stress and anxiety levels? Is work really bad at the moment? Is your wife doing your head in? Worried about an elderly parent? Car playing up all the time?

[Robmarriott]

bigandclever said:

Get a second opinion.

Ok but how? Different GP?

[Robmarriott]

Hoofy said:

How are your stress and anxiety levels? Is work really bad at the moment? Is your wife doing your head in? Worried about an elderly parent? Car playing up all the time?

I’m probably the calmest I’ve ever been. I used to have horrendous anxiety and panic attacks but it never manifested itself this way. I don’t feel stressed, put it that way.

[bigandclever]

Robmarriott said:

bigandclever said:

Get a second opinion.

Ok but how? Different GP?

I would ask my GP to arrange one with another GP. You have no right to one, and they can refuse when you ask, but it (sort of) resets everything.

[sherman]

Try some Sennakot. See if properly clearing yourself out helps allieviate the problems.
Do you need more fibre in your diet

[SAS Tom]

Ask to be referred to a gastroenterologist and see what they say. It can be hard to find the right person to speak to but a gastroenterologist should be able to help.

May be worth seeing a dietitian too. I took all the advice from GP’s etc regarding diet then when I went to see the dietitian they told me to do the complete opposite and that worked wonders for me.

[Hoofy]

Robmarriott said:

Hoofy said:

How are your stress and anxiety levels? Is work really bad at the moment? Is your wife doing your head in? Worried about an elderly parent? Car playing up all the time?

I’m probably the calmest I’ve ever been. I used to have horrendous anxiety and panic attacks but it never manifested itself this way. I don’t feel stressed, put it that way.

Oh, that's good then. At least you'll know what it feels like and can compare it to back then. Always worthwhile ruling things out.

Have you increased your roughage/fibre recently? Personally, I find that I definitely 100% do not need to "increase my roughage"! It's one of the reasons I could never be vegan. Most (all?) plant protein sources are high in fibre.

Also, do you eat a lot of onions or similar? That can cause wind.

I'm not asking for exact feedback here but it's worthwhile having a look at your stool.
-is there blood in it?
-is it solid or is it really runny?

[Robmarriott]

sherman said:

Try some Sennakot. See if properly clearing yourself out helps allieviate the problems.
Do you need more fibre in your diet

I did think that but I’m reluctant to make myself st more!

I probably do need more fibre.

[Robmarriott]

SAS Tom said:

Ask to be referred to a gastroenterologist and see what they say. It can be hard to find the right person to speak to but a gastroenterologist should be able to help.

May be worth seeing a dietitian too. I took all the advice from GP’s etc regarding diet then when I went to see the dietitian they told me to do the complete opposite and that worked wonders for me.

The GP has said a GE appointment is an option but it looks like the earliest would be January! Dietician is a good shout, I need some help with that I think.

[Robmarriott]

Hoofy said:

Oh, that's good then. At least you'll know what it feels like and can compare it to back then. Always worthwhile ruling things out.

Have you increased your roughage/fibre recently? Personally, I find that I definitely 100% do not need to "increase my roughage"! It's one of the reasons I could never be vegan. Most (all?) plant protein sources are high in fibre.

Also, do you eat a lot of onions or similar? That can cause wind.

I'm not asking for exact feedback here but it's worthwhile having a look at your stool.
-is there blood in it?
-is it solid or is it really runny?

Honestly, if anything, I’ve reduced my fibre intake as a result of reducing my ‘everything’ intake to try to combat this.

Stool is bloodless and what I’d call normal, not hard, not soft or runny.

[oakdale]

Are you drinking enough? You need to be well hydrated for your bowels to processs things properly.

[Robmarriott]

oakdale said:

Are you drinking enough? You need to be well hydrated for your bowels to processs things properly.

That’s the one thing I’m confident I’m doing right.

[condor]

I'll suggest having one or two soft boiled eggs for breakfast each morning for a week. See if that makes any difference

[mcelliott]

I had this a couple of years ago, stomach would make popping noises along with a dull ache, lasted about 7 weeks, did the usual google search which said it was ether stomach or bowel cancer! anyway turns out a wrongly prescribed course of antibiotics wrecked my gut health, 2 weeks of taking probiotics and a digestive enzyme and everything was back to normal.

Stressing out about it will only make it worse, easier said than done I know but the link between gut and brain is highly developed.

Edited by mcelliott on Tuesday 31st August 12:39

Edited by mcelliott on Tuesday 31st August 12:41

[ReverendCounter]

mcelliott said:

2 weeks of taking probiotics and a digestive enzyme and everything was back to normal.

I was just about to suggest that OP hammers a load of good bacteria down his gullet.

OP try getting things like these into your diet: kombucha, yakult type products, apple cider vinegar mixed with apple juice as a drink after food, and kefir (you could eat the grains as well as drink the by product - it seems the milk version has greater beneficial bacterias/yeasts).

You've probably looked up IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)? If not it might answer a few questions.

[ShinyPsyduck]

Total pain to get an appointment. I last called the hospital dermo to book an emergency appointment as my skin was getting infected and the person on the phone said: “ah no problem we are opening our clinics back up and we should see you soon, whats your mobile?”

Fast forward 3 days and a letter comes in the post telling me its going to be a month until my appointment. Great now I need to ask again, louder.

For me if it doesnt get seen to that week my skin will digress and it will be a year to recover instead of a couple of weeks.

[Robmarriott]

mcelliott said:

I had this a couple of years ago, stomach would make popping noises along with a dull ache, lasted about 7 weeks, did the usual google search which said it was ether stomach or bowel cancer! anyway turns out a wrongly prescribed course of antibiotics wrecked my gut health, 2 weeks of taking probiotics and a digestive enzyme and everything was back to normal.

Stressing out about it will only make it worse, easier said than done I know but the link between gut and brain is highly developed.

Edited by mcelliott on Tuesday 31st August 12:39

Edited by mcelliott on Tuesday 31st August 12:41

I’ve not had any prescription (or non prescription) drugs at any point remotely recently so that’s not it.

[Robmarriott]

ReverendCounter said:

I was just about to suggest that OP hammers a load of good bacteria down his gullet.

OP try getting things like these into your diet: kombucha, yakult type products, apple cider vinegar mixed with apple juice as a drink after food, and kefir (you could eat the grains as well as drink the by product - it seems the milk version has greater beneficial bacterias/yeasts).

You've probably looked up IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)? If not it might answer a few questions.

Yeah I’ve checked IBS and followed the advice of cutting certain foods and food groups to find the trigger but to no avail.