Hi all,
First-time poster. I was told this website is a good resource by someone who knows how awful I feel right now.
This is going to be long. I apologize for that, but I am truly at the end of my rope.
I've been so confused, scared, and in distress this past month. I have no idea what is going on with my body and neither do any doctors/specialists I've spoken to over the past couple of weeks. If anyone can offer anything—advice, their own experiences, or just words of comfort, I would appreciate it.
Some background information about me:
26F, Asian, 5'6, 115lbs, no food allergies/intolerances. I have a history of large BMs and sometimes some constipation, but nothing unmanageable in the slightest.
My story:
About a month ago, I began experiencing these urges to go poop (tenesmus), but when I went to the bathroom, nothing would happen. Although I tend towards more constipated BMs, I have never experienced tenesmus before (the sensation of needing to poop, but there's no poop to be voided). This feeling has grown to be a sensation I feel constantly, every single day. Even when I'm completely empty of poop and it feels like I'm empty of poop, the urge to go poop is still there!
I don't experience pain, stomach cramping, or any other typical IBS other symptoms. There are no foods that make this better or worse. My BMs, when I do have them, are still normal (solid, brown, a bit hard but again, that's normal for me—no blood, nothing unusual), and I would go on a daily basis. However, even after I have a BM, the feeling will return under an hour later. Often the sensation is so strong it makes me run to the bathroom but NOTHING. COMES. OUT.
Since this has started, I have also become VERY gassy, which is also unusual for me, as I don't normally fart often at all. I have to fart immediately after every meal I eat.
I have spoken to multiple doctors, and also a gyn, and none of them have any clue what is happening to me. My family doctor said it's just my anxiety and wants to put me on meds, but the feeling doesn't correlate to how anxious I am—it's always present, regardless of how I feel.
I have done a CT, ultrasound, X-ray, bloodwork, stool sample, urine sample—nothing unusual has come up. The bloodwork and stool sample show no inflammation and I am well within the normal range for the bloodwork, ruling out Crohn's and IBD (I also don't have any of the other symptoms). The bloodwork also ruled out celiac, although I suppose it's possible I have a sudden, unusual onset of gluten intolerance??
I have also, in desperation, done a colonoscopy prep to flush out my bowels in case it IS constipation. The feeling returned just 24 hours after.
Is this my anxiety manifesting from hyperfixating on my bowels?? Has anyone encountered this before as a result of anxiety? Please, if anyone could offer any advice, or if anyone has been through something similar, I would really appreciate hearing from you. I feel so lost and alone.
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