Re: Bowel worries.
Originally Posted by
jessieblue
During the infection my inflammation markers and blood was present in stool and raised in my bloods. I was so sure this meant I had cancer.
Logic says infection = raised inflammation markers. HA irrationality says cancer..
In the months following I had all kinds of problems, lingering pain and gripes and frequent loose stools. I have become bowel obsessed to be honest and I wake early in the morning and panic about going to the toilet when I get up.
Totally understand this. I became almost phobic about my BM's. My heart would bang like an old barn door as I sat down on the loo..
I have since had repeat bloods and stool test for calprotectin. They were reported as normal and I paid for a CT scan of abdomen and pelvis to look for any masses or obvious problems. I refused colonoscopy because my phobia will not allow me to take the bowel prep.
I took the prep no issues. It tastes shite but I followed it with a flat lemonade chaser. Didn't feel at all sick..
I started amitriptyline a couple of months ago and recently stools have been more constipated. I am now worrying that I have an obstruction or that my bowel has stopped working
This is the situation I was in - meds (opioids) and mucking about with my diet caused constipation and I struggled to poo. I was convinced there was a blockage and having a raging case of HA it HAD to be a tumour. (There was no tumour)
Another change in bowel habit and in between I have had some bleeding after passing stool and straining, but I think it is caused by a small tear.
Fissures: I had one earlier this year after a few weeks of straining (meds and diet combo again) there was bright red blood on the loo roll and blood in my poo but I could feel the tear (I'm hyper sensitive) so I wasn't overly concerned. A few weeks alternating with my cool gel pad & heat pad and it's been fine ever since..
I live in utter fear of my body and have lost hope of ever getting back any quality of life. I have had therapy and tried different things like hypnotherapy and other things with absolutely no improvement. It seems like something in my brain has broken.
Nothing's broken, it just feels that way to your mind..
If it helps you, I've had all your symptoms (and more) and my colonoscopy was clear. You've had a nasty infection and it's bound to muck about with your system. It will take time to settle back down - even in a non-anxious person. Anxiety means it will take longer. Studies have shown that people who catastrophise experience more prolonged pain and discomfort with illness and injuries compared to those who don't..
Amitriptyline causes a dry mouth so it's not too much of a stretch to the imagination that it's going to cause dryness elsewhere, as in the bowels. It's a common side effect so you need to counteract it with diet or laxatives. Magnesium (citrate) that works for me, it's natural and kinder on the system than most laxatives, but check you can take this with the medication. I always check everything against my meds - even herbal teas..
I feel incredibly isolated and alone.
You're not alone..
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A thought is harmless unless we believe it.