Mess of digestive issues, hemorrhoids, ibs etc.

[mto925]

Hey everyone, new here.  I'm 23 and just graduated from college and life has been a little hectic.  I was diagnosed with ibs last year around September.  I have had two 'attacks' generally cramping and some diarrhea that lasts a few days.  As long as I de-stress and eat bland food I can control it and get back to normal.  My ibs only really kicks in when I am stressed.

About 3-4 weeks ago, I noticed that immediately after using the bathroom, I felt like I had not completely emptied my bowel.   I usually do no strain on the toilet, but this time I did because I thought it was just stuck.  So I went to bed and figured it would come out the next day.  Well obviously it did not and I still have a lump or something in my anus/rectum.  During this time I was also having some trouble with my IBS.

I would say about 1.5 weeks ago I went two or three days without even noticing, I felt like the lump had gone away.  However, over the last week, the lump has returned in full force and has brought with it some very very annoying itching, which is actually worse than the feeling of something stuck in my butt.  Once in a while while using the bathroom I will get some stinging, but there is never blood.  My bowel movements have remained regular, I have always used the bathroom more than average, but I usually go 1-3 times a day.  My stools look normal, there is no narrowing once or twice they have been a little flat but normal width.

I was using Prep. H for a while and then stopped and tried some suppositories which seemed to help a little better.  Although for some reason they make me a little nauseous.  I have been using a sitz bath 2-4 times a day and that helps, I have even tried ice.  

Anyway, does this sound like hemorrhoids?  Everywhere I read said the symptoms go away after a few days to a week.  I have had mine for a month.  Does anyone here with ibs also suffer from hemorrhoids, possibly from running to the bathroom constantly with diarrhea?  I would love to go to the doctor, but I do not have insurance and I was just denied by Aetna.  I am 23 and healthy besides my ibs and that makes me a 'high risk.'  Absolutely ridiculous, I go to the doctors 2-4 times a year on a bad year.  I've been in an ER 3 times in my life, one surgery when I was 4 and I can not get insurance without paying upwards of 400, 500 + a month.

Any help would be appreciated, I am probably going to have to bite the bullet and go to the doctor, but I wanna see if these things sometimes take longer to go away.  Get some opinions from those suffering with these issues.  Thanks!

[mto925]

Just a follow up, its been over 2 weeks since I posted and I still have that lump feeling but the itching seems to have subsided.  Overall I have felt better.  I went a few days without feeling the lump, it felt like it had gone away, but its back.  I was away this weekend and when I used the bathroom one day I noticed I had very thin stools, like the width of a ribbon you would use to tie a present with.  That was only once though and it might have been because I could not get to a bathroom for several hours.  I've never experienced anything like that.  I noticed recently I have had one or two bowel movements that have looked reddish, doesn't look like blood, but it might be.  Almost like the color of red velvet cake but a bit darker.  Is all of this normal? I feel like this has all been going on for so long now.

[mto925]

Thanks for your in depth response.  I have basically go on a 'permanent' diet which helps me ibs a lot.  I must admit I have slipped up this week a little but I still feel ok.  I basically added more fiber, fruits and veggies.  Thanks for the tip on the doc.

[ggreg]

Yes, the diarrhea, constipation (where it's hard to get out), and your irritable bowel, they all conspire to make hemorrhoids flare up.  Hemorrhoids are swollen vascular tissue that develop from straining.  They come and go, and they will last for months sometimes (as opposed to just a week).  The sensation of something stuck there is probably the hemorrhoids, just ignore it, don't keep pushing.  The itching you feel, which is very annoying, is because of those hemorrhoids, those tissues are super sensitive, so food particles or diarrhea will irritate them.

Get you some plain KY jelly from the drugstore and every time you finish bathing, put some of that all over the area, it will last all day.  Also, you can take with you some kind of baby wipes with aloe and use that to keep the area clean of particles so they won't irritate the hemorrhoids, or in a pinch, a damp tissue with do.  There's also carry-along KY.  

If you need to see a doc, since you cannot afford insurance, go to the county health department as a walk-in, they charge very little, and you can see a physician the same day.  Add more fiber to your diet, to include oat cereal, whole wheat bread, fresh vegies, and drink about five glasses of water a day, and exercise regularly.  Exercise will help you relax a lot better so you won't get as stressed out.  When you feel a lot of acid in your tummy, take an ordinary Tums or an alka seltzer, and it should knock that back a little.

Sometimes IBS symptoms can come from something as simple as any medications you might be on OR ordinary vitamin/mineral supplements.  So, review side effects of drugs, and also only take your vits once or twice a week, see if that helps.

[mto925]

Didn't see an edit button but I forgot to mention my butt aches sometimes.  Almost like I sat on a hard surface for a while even if I have not been.