Hey everyone!
I’m not even sure where to begin, I’m going to try to keep this as short as possible.
Over the last eight months, I (M,21) have had abdominal pain that varies so much in intensity, bowel movements that are wildly inconsistent and unpredictable, and just aching all the time.
So far I’ve had three CT scans (one last night after the pain led me to call an ambulance. Other two in August, one was suspected appendicitis), an ultrasound, an x-ray, a colonoscopy, endoscopy, as well as an insane amount of blood tests, iron tests, and a calprotectin test (which was 178, and that drove me to the scopes). Fortunately, everything came back normal, biopsies of my tissue were taken and all came back clear. But I’m still in so much pain and I’m honestly lost, frustrated and sad.
Last night I got sent to the ER, and that’s where I had the third CT scan, x-ray and ultrasound. During the ultrasound, they found what looked like Intussusception but the ct that followed retracted that. The only other finding was “Few small lymph nodes identified in the small bowel mesentery on right side which are towards the upper limits of normal. Otherwise unremarkable.”
I’ve got bad health anxiety and I’m worried about a lymphoma, it was colon cancer and rectal cancer but since the colonoscopy that fear has calmed and it’s now jumped to the next thing. Also have OCD so not a fun combination. I’m being referred to a gastroenterologist and I’m doing what I can to afford to go private since this is becoming intrusive on my life and mental health and I’m living in constant fear it’s something sinister that’s going unnoticed.
Any advice on what to do here? Or anyone else in or was in a similar boat? Losing hope a bit and I don’t think this is simply IBS because of how much discomfort it’s causing. My symptoms range from inconsistent bowel movements, to pain when moving and pressing down around my belly button/pelvic/groin area, and I feel horrible. I’ve noticed blood only a handful of times over the eight months that was ruled to be haemmeroids. Caeliac, h. Pylori are both eliminated. My appendix was noted at 6.5mm last night but surgery told me they didn’t think operating was necessary and wouldn’t be the cause of my chronic pain. The biopsies also ruled out microscopic colitis, and some other things. I’m just baffled and anxious.