Ibs or something more?
Very new to this forum but need help/advice ASAP!
Been told I have Ibs however my gut instinct says different!
I have been suffering from bowel problems for a year this month and I'm so unwell and nothing is helping! My symptoms have been:
Weight loss
Diarrhea and constipation depending on the day
Nausea
Burning in my stomach
Severe abdominal cramps that sometimes leave me in A+E
Joint pain
Fatigue
Blood in my stools
Painful when emptying bowels
Loss of appetite
I have completely changed my diet in the past year and take pain medication like buscopan but nothing is changing my symptoms at all?
Any help would be appreciated!
So sorry you are going through these symptoms. When was your last colonoscopy with biopsy? This is not meant to scare you but perhaps you have some sort of Inflammatory Bowel Disease? I would urge your doctor to test you especially since you are seeing blood in stools. Have you had blood work done to check inflammation markers? Ask for C-Reactive Protein test. Also a Fecal Calprotectin test would be a good idea. These all show inflammation markers. If these markers are elevated it points to IBD rather than IBS. IBD requires medication in order for you to feel better and improve. I actually have Crohn's Disease along with IBS. Crohn's Disease is a form of IBD. -Elizabeth (team member)
Thank you so much for the reply! I have never been referred for a colonoscopy as they don't belive its IBD, although my calprotectin results have been abnormal in the past? 
I agree with Elizabeth that you should definitely ask for a colonoscopy! It's very strange that you've never been referred for one, especially since you've had abnormal calprotectin results in the past...
Could you make an appointment with your doctor and insist on a referral this time, or even change doctors if the one you have doses't take your symptoms seriously enough?
Karina (team member)
