[Illusions]

The second a new symptom pops up I automatically think cancer, infertility, various other life threatening/god awful disease. Doctors are no doubt fed up of me. My Fiancé has to put up with my constant worries.

Today I've had back pain, abdominal pain and pains near my hipbones. I'm suffering from thrush and it's making me worry it's something worse. I get occasional breakthrough bleeding (usually mid cycle) but occasionally a small amount of spotting after a BM randomly. All these things make me panic uncontrollably to the point where I'm probably making my symptoms ten times worse due to anxiety.

I saw a therapist recently who sort of helped, but I can't help but feel the only think that will put my mind at rest is these constant doctors visits. I think I've been to the doctor once or twice every month for the past few months with some other symptom. I think because they don't seem to do anything about it, it makes me more scared because I have no answers.

Does anyone else feel like this? I realise I'm moaning and probably deserve a slap. It's just I'm 22. Recently engaged and should be enjoying life to the full instead of dwelling on health problems

[emmawil]

Illusions, on 23 October 2011 - 11:47 AM, said:

The second a new symptom pops up I automatically think cancer, infertility, various other life threatening/god awful disease. Doctors are no doubt fed up of me. My Fiancé has to put up with my constant worries.

Today I've had back pain, abdominal pain and pains near my hipbones. I'm suffering from thrush and it's making me worry it's something worse. I get occasional breakthrough bleeding (usually mid cycle) but occasionally a small amount of spotting after a BM randomly. All these things make me panic uncontrollably to the point where I'm probably making my symptoms ten times worse due to anxiety.

I saw a therapist recently who sort of helped, but I can't help but feel the only think that will put my mind at rest is these constant doctors visits. I think I've been to the doctor once or twice every month for the past few months with some other symptom. I think because they don't seem to do anything about it, it makes me more scared because I have no answers.

Does anyone else feel like this? I realise I'm moaning and probably deserve a slap. It's just I'm 22. Recently engaged and should be enjoying life to the full instead of dwelling on health problems

You sound exactly like me, I went to the doctors last year when I first had symptoms. He said straight away IBS but after me telling him that I thought I had either bowel or ovarian cancer he decided to send me for abdomen ultrasound ( came back with nothing showing).

I have had 2 or 3 flare ups over the last year each varying in time from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. However this time I have now had abdomen pain moving from right to left side and my hips and my lower back pain is really bad, I have gurgly stomach, get the urge to need the loo to get there and not be able to go! I am burping and parping all the time, have heartburn .

My husband is like your other half and keeps telling me if I continue to worry it will make the symptoms worse! Am taking spasmonal ( prescribed by docotr last year) but symptoms are still there. Like you I think about it constantly convincing myself I have cancer! as my husband said if I did then I would be on my last knocking now as ive had these symptoms on and off for over a year!.

Have just booked an appointment with doctors tomorrow in the hope that he puts my mind at rest.

Chin up x

[puddingpearl]

I am also 22 and if my partner read your post I'm sure he'd think it was me!

I am EXACTLY the same but I have read that it is not an uncommon way to be for people who suffer from IBS-D. I constantly worry about my health, I worry about cancer, I worry I'm not getting all the right vitamins and minerals, I worry I'm going to catch something from germs outside so I've always got an antibacterial gel at the ready. I was diagnosed with IBS 4 years ago and since then I have been fixated on the thought that it was something else. I was so worried and obsessed about it that I was constantly at the doctors for a piece of mind, running tests and demanding that a colonoscopy was needed but they disagreed. 4 weeks ago I got another doctor who referred me for one, to my surprise, and I had it done 2 weeks ago. Since then I feel like I have been living a nightmare. The prep was awful, the procedure was awful and 2 days later I got a Urinary Tract Infection which I have NEVER had before and I am now obsessing that it might be something else like IC or endometriosis because it won't go away. It's a viscious cycle for me and my partner gets very very tired of it, he must be very patient.

Like you, the only thing I have found that eases my worries are regular trips to the doctors, I must be the running joke in that place.

I have no answers, just wanted to let you know that I am the same age with the exact same problem. The only advice I could offer would be to never research symptoms on the internet because you end up thinking you could have a million different things which will lead to more worrying, and worsening of IBS.

[EllaGuru]

We should start a club.

I am exactly the same. Today was not a good day. I've been feeling pretty good for a month or so, and then yesterday I told my friend that I had a dream and in it I finally found that lump of cancer I've been looking for (I am always poking myself where my IBS sensation is) and she said I better go to the doc again, since dreams can be revealing. Freaked me out.

Anyway, I try meditative breathing techniques and use lots of distraction to get me through the rough patches. I'm glad I am not alone, but wish I had more help to offer.

Ella

[Ignea]

Wow! These are the reasons I'm on therapy.
I guess there is more concetion between IBS and Hypochodria than most people think, uhn?

[ocgal]

Wow im not the only crazy. I go for my colonoscopy this week. Im 33 and scared to death.they are going to find something. Dr google doesnt help. I dont know why I torture myself with the internet. In my mind I have 6mo to live. These next 3 days needs to go by fast so I can have some piece of mind.

[LuSmith]

Illusions, on 23 October 2011 - 11:47 AM, said:

The second a new symptom pops up I automatically think cancer, infertility, various other life threatening/god awful disease. Doctors are no doubt fed up of me. My Fiancé has to put up with my constant worries.

Today I've had back pain, abdominal pain and pains near my hipbones. I'm suffering from thrush and it's making me worry it's something worse. I get occasional breakthrough bleeding (usually mid cycle) but occasionally a small amount of spotting after a BM randomly. All these things make me panic uncontrollably to the point where I'm probably making my symptoms ten times worse due to anxiety.

I saw a therapist recently who sort of helped, but I can't help but feel the only think that will put my mind at rest is these constant doctors visits. I think I've been to the doctor once or twice every month for the past few months with some other symptom. I think because they don't seem to do anything about it, it makes me more scared because I have no answers.

Does anyone else feel like this? I realise I'm moaning and probably deserve a slap. It's just I'm 22. Recently engaged and should be enjoying life to the full instead of dwelling on health problems

Haha, although you sound like me I think I must be worse than you, since I go to the doctor a couple of times a WEEK (sometimes more).. I am terrible! I actually have symptoms that drive me crazy beyond belief and have been begging for a colonoscopy the past few months to no avail. I see a therapist too, who helps a little, but even she says she understands why I'd be worried. I have a small family history of bowel cancer and most of those on my mothers side have all had colonoscopys. My brother has UC and my mum suffered diverticilitus only 3 years ago. I'm suffering some strange symptoms for the last 7 months and have NEVER had symptoms like this before, even though I've had anxiety for 10 years+

I'm also recently engaged, just had a baby (which is where all my intestinal problems started) and should be living life to the full but cant stop worrying!

puddingpearl, on 31 October 2011 - 11:54 AM, said:

I am also 22 and if my partner read your post I'm sure he'd think it was me!

I am EXACTLY the same but I have read that it is not an uncommon way to be for people who suffer from IBS-D. I constantly worry about my health, I worry about cancer, I worry I'm not getting all the right vitamins and minerals, I worry I'm going to catch something from germs outside so I've always got an antibacterial gel at the ready. I was diagnosed with IBS 4 years ago and since then I have been fixated on the thought that it was something else. I was so worried and obsessed about it that I was constantly at the doctors for a piece of mind, running tests and demanding that a colonoscopy was needed but they disagreed. 4 weeks ago I got another doctor who referred me for one, to my surprise, and I had it done 2 weeks ago. Since then I feel like I have been living a nightmare. The prep was awful, the procedure was awful and 2 days later I got a Urinary Tract Infection which I have NEVER had before and I am now obsessing that it might be something else like IC or endometriosis because it won't go away. It's a viscious cycle for me and my partner gets very very tired of it, he must be very patient.

Like you, the only thing I have found that eases my worries are regular trips to the doctors, I must be the running joke in that place.

I have no answers, just wanted to let you know that I am the same age with the exact same problem. The only advice I could offer would be to never research symptoms on the internet because you end up thinking you could have a million different things which will lead to more worrying, and worsening of IBS.

I have suspected IC so can probably tell you if it sounded like you had it! I also have symptoms similar to endometriosis but I recently had a laparoscopy and don't have it, so you can get symptoms that mimic it... which I think IBS is capable of! IBS and bladder problems do go hand in hand sometimes too I hear.

Did you get the results of your colonoscopy? I am begging my doctors for a referral for one, though I don't know if I will like the prep one bit! It sounds horrible but I'm more scared of having something serious that I know I need to put myself through it.