"Bowel Problems!"

You need to know a little history for this 2018 story!

I have had bowel problems for over 20 years.  Crohn's diagnosed then a question mark as to diagnosis when laparotomy undertaken at a private hospital only adhesions found!  Following on from this IBS diagnosis.  This was all done over the years at a private hospital.   I have had two failed colonoscopies and two Virtual CT colonoscopies.  I have had many consultations and other investigations re the awful discomfort and pain I have suffered.  I personally knew I didn't have classic IBS symptoms.

I had a particularly bad experience with a consultant and gastroenterologist at at a private hospital in 2016.  I gave them all the information I possibly could to help them to help me.  The end result was a consultation where they spent a lot of time looking at their mobile 'phone.  Told me I didn't have a mass in my stomach and more or less said they couldn't help me other than to offer pain medication via my GP.  They didn't discuss the possibility of any investigations;  my previous investigations were in 2010.  Being a private patient I don't think it would have cost them any real inconvenience to have instructed repeat tests but they didn't! I also  mentioned, at one point, I had a little blood when passing a bowel motion.I tell this part of my story so you can see what happened next!!

At the beginning of 2018 still in discomfort and this time I had passed a bit more blood.  I looked on the private hospital websites for a good consultant and, yes, I made the right decision when I found  a new doctor.  He was polite, listened and at once started new investigations.  At each step of the way he reported his findings to my GP and copied me in all correspondence.

 At last polyps were found on a Virtual CT colonoscopy.  One of which was large and had obviously been in situ near my caecum for a long time!  My bowel was shown to be tortuous, looped etc etc.  AT LAST I HAVE FOUND WHY SO MUCH PAIN AND DISCOMFORT OVER MANY YEARS.  Just a pity your food has to continually make its way round. My doctor having done all he could then, discussed with and, referred me to one of the top colorectal consultant surgeons on the NHS in Scotland.

I have now had two polyps removed, during an extremely difficult colonoscopy, by a very skilled surgeon, Mr Molloy, at the Glasgow Gartnavel Hospital.  I now await the biopsy results.  The skill used by Mr Molloy has, I hope, ensured I don't need surgery.  Follow-up colonoscopy will take place in a year to ensure no return of the polyps.  The procedure was very uncomfortable but understandable given the shape of my colon.  The treatment on the NHS was very good. 

MY CONCLUSION IS:-

Remember, you know your own body.  Don't give up on your quest to get answers.  There are kind and caring doctors and consultants.  I have met two in this story.