Hi all
Amazing website with advice and experience from all over the world, thanks for the support I already had over the last week just reading the advice and tips.
I am a 53 year old married man (fisherman, not my job my hobby) living close to the coast in Dorset, Southern UK.
I have had blood and pain after BMs since December last and have been to doctors 3 times, Jan, Mar and 10 days ago. Have had variously Diltiazem, xyloproct and suppositories since Jan and just now have Diltiazem and lactulose 2x5ml. Waiting for a lower bowel colonoscopy to check up on stuff.
I could go into the gory details here but having read lots of posts I know that I am no worse off than most here. Will say however that I have severe pain on and after BMs, leading to burning (especially with Diltaizem) and varying amounts of blood.
If I walk more than 20 yards on the flat or up and down stairs after BM it seems to become 100 times worse. Baths and rest seem to work well.
I have changed my diet to high fibre (soluble and insoluble) perhaps sometimes too much fibre. I eat lots of veggies mainly peas, carrots, beans, baked beans. I eat fruit maybe 3 apples a day and drink a fair bit of water, prune juice (1/2 litre a day) and the odd sachet of MOVICOL inherited fom my dad.
I seem to have blood, pain and burning even with fairly soft stools. Havent really had a hard stool for weeks although all feel hard and bulky just now.
Going back to my GP tomorrow to ask about a change of regime as things seem to be getting worse and sysmptoms now out of control for me.
How do people manage to go to work with these sorts of symptoms and has anyone else tried just about all of the recommended "dos", avoided just about all of the "don'ts" and still not been able to manage the symptoms. I am actually starting to feel ill and this this is starting to take over my life.
Wonderful to see the AF survivors posts.
Thank you again