Hi all. I am new to this site and haven't been diagnosed with IBD, but my doctor has mentioned that it's a possibility.
I suppose a little history is a good place to start.
About 5 years ago I had a bout of extreme diarrhea, where leaving the house became impossible because I couldn't risk being away from the toilet for any length of time. After testing, I had some sort of bowel infection (I wasn't given specifics, just antibiotics). After completing the course, the symptoms did clear up, but I found they were recurring every 1-4 weeks, sometimes months between bouts. I have had countless tests but no more infections have ever shown up. Last year I was diagnosed with IBS after having months of unexplained constipation and diarrhea, with no noticeable food/medication/consumable connection. I started on a healthier diet with no noticeable differences.
Around the same time as the IBS diagnosis, I noticed a lot of rectal bleeding after most bowel movement, but I put it down to tearing in the skin from the constant wiping again, and again, and again due to the diarrhea. It has never seemed to heal, but I assumed that was just due to wiping daily (not counting constipation days) and the tear never having a chance to heal properly. I have also noticed some light brown mucus type fluid for the past 6 months or so that doesn't seem to have much of a smell. Only yesterday did I realise that wasn't actually coming from my anus, but from the tear (I had not just had a bowel movement, it was just a random leakage). After wiping that away, I noticed there was quite a lot of blood, a lot more than usual. So I took a photo and found a large pool of blood. I stretched the skin to get a better look and took another photo, and found a hole just below my anus. It's probably 1-2mm in diameter, in the same place that I always thought was a tear.
I have read through a few other threads and noticed people mentioning heartburn and reflux, and cramping and bloating. I was diagnosed with GORD 4-5 years ago, and I suffer from a lot of cramping and bloating that my doctor said was a result of the IBS. Should I be asking him to further investigate the possibility of IBD? I don't want to be one of those hypochondriac people that sees a disease or illness name and puts their hand up to say "yes, that must be what I have", but I also don't want to leave it and run the risk of being misdiagnosed just to save my pride. I do however feel better knowing that I am already on Pyralin and Naproxen for diagnosed seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, which I am told is a medication commonly given to Crohn's and ulcerative colitis sufferers.
Thank you in advance for any advice, and I am sorry for the super long post. I had no idea what to say or what not to say. Oh and I am going to see my doctor, but I cant see him til Monday, hence asking for advice in the mean time.
I suppose a little history is a good place to start.
About 5 years ago I had a bout of extreme diarrhea, where leaving the house became impossible because I couldn't risk being away from the toilet for any length of time. After testing, I had some sort of bowel infection (I wasn't given specifics, just antibiotics). After completing the course, the symptoms did clear up, but I found they were recurring every 1-4 weeks, sometimes months between bouts. I have had countless tests but no more infections have ever shown up. Last year I was diagnosed with IBS after having months of unexplained constipation and diarrhea, with no noticeable food/medication/consumable connection. I started on a healthier diet with no noticeable differences.
Around the same time as the IBS diagnosis, I noticed a lot of rectal bleeding after most bowel movement, but I put it down to tearing in the skin from the constant wiping again, and again, and again due to the diarrhea. It has never seemed to heal, but I assumed that was just due to wiping daily (not counting constipation days) and the tear never having a chance to heal properly. I have also noticed some light brown mucus type fluid for the past 6 months or so that doesn't seem to have much of a smell. Only yesterday did I realise that wasn't actually coming from my anus, but from the tear (I had not just had a bowel movement, it was just a random leakage). After wiping that away, I noticed there was quite a lot of blood, a lot more than usual. So I took a photo and found a large pool of blood. I stretched the skin to get a better look and took another photo, and found a hole just below my anus. It's probably 1-2mm in diameter, in the same place that I always thought was a tear.
I have read through a few other threads and noticed people mentioning heartburn and reflux, and cramping and bloating. I was diagnosed with GORD 4-5 years ago, and I suffer from a lot of cramping and bloating that my doctor said was a result of the IBS. Should I be asking him to further investigate the possibility of IBD? I don't want to be one of those hypochondriac people that sees a disease or illness name and puts their hand up to say "yes, that must be what I have", but I also don't want to leave it and run the risk of being misdiagnosed just to save my pride. I do however feel better knowing that I am already on Pyralin and Naproxen for diagnosed seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, which I am told is a medication commonly given to Crohn's and ulcerative colitis sufferers.
Thank you in advance for any advice, and I am sorry for the super long post. I had no idea what to say or what not to say. Oh and I am going to see my doctor, but I cant see him til Monday, hence asking for advice in the mean time.