Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this forum and really appreciate any replies. I'm a 32 yr old female with no history of bowel issues or family history of colon cancer (other than paternal grandmother that had breast cancer first, then colon cancer in her late 60s). I will start by saying that I definitely have health anxiety...I took it upon myself last year to start seeing a psychologist to help deal with my anxiety issues. First it was ovarian cancer, then breast cancer, brain tumor, heart disease...the list goes on. In the past year and a half I lost a very close relative and had 3 miscarriages. Needless to say, it's been difficult. I
In March 2015, I had some really terrible heartburn and chest discomfort. I was referred for a gastroscopy (upper endoscopy). Results were active h.pylori with chronic gastritis. I was treated with triple therapy and tested negative for the h.pylori since. It was a battle for about
a year afterwards, I was on and off a PPI as the heartburn would flare up and I'd be bloated from time to time.
Fast forward to April 2016, I had my third miscarriage. Weeks later, heartburn symptoms seemed to disappear. No discomfort.
June 2016 - I had eaten quite a bit over one weekend. Woke up the Sunday morning, strained when using the washroom...nothing happened and went back to bed. A couple hours later I went to use the washroom and had some blood when I wiped. I think it was either from straining or excess wiping. But I went to the washroom about
9 times that day and felt nauseous. The next couple of days I had some abdominal discomfort, and was using the washroom about
3-4 times per day. I also started noticing mucus in my stool or that I was having those lovely 'wet farts' when using the washroom. My stools had quite a bit of undigested food and were formed but had the shredded look. I would go my usual 2x in the morning and then a few times later in the day and evening would have what I'd call a couple of 'pellets'. My butt would feel itchy from time to time and burned some days (likely due to excess wiping I assume).
From June-July my symptoms continued but I didn't have abdominal pain, no bleeding when I wiped. Most predominant symptoms for me were using the bathroom about
4-5 times per day, undigested food in stool (especially lots of tiny white flecks) and some mucus. Stool looked 'shredded' and once in a while had loose stool.
I saw my doctor - she did a digital rectal exam- everything seemed ok to her no sign of abnomalities, stool culture and test for ova/parasites. Normal complete blood count. Had an abdominal ultrasound a couple months before and no abnormalities. Urine test normal. The stool culture showed up as negative for bacteria but the ova/parasite test came back positive for blastocystitis hominis. I don't know much about
it but there is a lot of debate about
whether this parasite causes actual symptoms and whether to treat it. But they do say it can cause IBS symptoms. I was prescribed flagyl for 10 days went back in for a follow-up stool test and it didn't eradicate the b.hominis. I'm now currently taking 10 days of bactrim to see if that will help.
I did see a general surgeon as well in July (gastro specialist or infection disease specialist is next on the list...takes a while in Canada to get a referral). He performs a lot of colonoscopies and specializes in gastric band procedures so he has a good knowledge of the gut. He couldn't comment on the parasite but didn't feel that a colonoscopy was really necessary at that point based on my symptoms (i.e. no blood in stool, no weight loss, no malaise, no diarrhea or constipation really).
I have noticed that for the last week and a half I haven't seen much in the way of undigested food. The white flecks are almost non existent. My bowel movements are much more solid. I am back to 1-2 times a day (3 max) but sometimes have these tiny BM in the evening. I get gassy and then will expel those small amounts. I will see mucus in my stool once a week (before it was at least every other day). No blood. No abdominal pain. No weight loss. No anemia and have lots of energy.
I think Mr. Google just scares me when I look up my symptoms (i.e. colon cancer). I am sorry if I should be posting somewhere else but my doctor said they will likely just diagnose me with IBS if they can't get rid of the parasite. I guess I'm also trying very hard to only take tests that I need to take as well. I think I've put myself through enough in terms of ultrasounds, blood work, etc. in the past year. I guess I'm interested to see what others would do and whether a colonoscopy is the route you'd take at this point.
I should also say I'm trying to work on my anxiety. I work out regularly, do yoga for stress. My diet is pretty decent. I do limit alcohol and I would say I 'indulge' only on the weekends.
Thank you so much and I apologize for the long post!
Post Edited (anxious848) : 9/19/2016 10:55:55 AM (GMT-6)