I think today is as good a day as any for the promised IBS post. I'm sure you're all rubbing your hands with glee. (Warning, I'm not going to mince words about any experiences here so if you're a bit squeamish about toilet bits you might want to skip this one..).
So last year I started having problems in my stomach region. Mostly on my right, a couple of inches across from my bellybutton, I would get this really sharp pain. A pain that was exacerbated by certain things like lying on my left side or sitting cross legged and hunched over for long periods of time (my favourite sitting position as it happens..). I'd also had lots of sort of pulling pains and cramp type pains all through my digestive system...top to bottom.
I went to my doctor sometime just after Christmas and he gave me the cursory belly prod and sent me on my way with the intentions of returning if it didn't magically go away in a week (this was after a year of problems already...he's an adorable doctor but a bit crap sometimes). Anyways, I went home and obviously returned with tales of woe and he sent me on my way for an ultrasound. The first of VERY many I've had this year. Anyway, they sort of aimed the probe at my side for about three seconds, and then she zoned in just below my bellybutton for the rest of the scan. At the end of which she informed me that I had an epic cyst attached to one of my ovaries. 17cm of epic cyst infact (so big I could feel it behind my bellybutton when I lay on my back which I didn't realise until after it had been removed). Although I do have polycystic ovaries, triggered by being overweight, I was informed it's actually something to do with periods and can happen to any woman. I hadn't had a period in years because of the pcos, but at the minus three stone mark mother nature decided all was forgiven and kickstarted them...and then fucked it up leaving me with Alfred the epic cyst.
So a couple of months later (the day before my birthday) I was sent to a gynecologist who decided it needed surgically removing and sent me home with instructions to wait for my letter. Fast foreward to the back end of July and me slightly stressing out in the waiting room of the day surgery in some very fetching, hospital issue surgery socks. (Incidentally my mother was much more stressed, even though it was my ovaries a team of strangers would be fondling whilst no doubt chatting about the previous night's Eastenders). The surgery was supposed to be a keyhole affair through my bellybutton. Five days and I'd have been back to work. As it happens, because of it's size I had to be opened up at my bikini line and off work with my feet up for six weeks. Oh how I missed my ever so glamorous cleaning position whilst I got paid for staying home I can tell you...(sarcasm aside, it did get a bit boring).
Anyway, my point is, throughout this process, I had been told and retold that the pain in my side was to do with that. As it happened, after the cyst was gone I was pain free for a few weeks..and then it returned with vengeance. For about a month and a half I had pain like a knife grinding in my side along with bloating every evening after my tea all day every day. Hardcore bloating which had me rolling round trying to work the gas out..I went to the doctors numerous times and kept being told how it was probably IBS..by my normal doctor and a duty doctor.
Aaaand I think for now that can be enough for one day otherwise this will be one mammoth post that no one will actually want to read (not that I blame you..the windy conditions of someones knackered bowel doesn't make for the best conversation..unless you find someone with an equally knackered digestive system then it can be quite an interesting discussion over coffee and biscuits).
So try to contain your excitement for part 2 and for this evening my dears, good boo.
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