Speaker 1: 0:00

Eight red flags you can't ignore. Well, you could, but ignoring them might cost you your peace of mind or worse. If you've got a confirmed IBS diagnosis from your medical doctor and you've not self-diagnosed or seen some so-called guru who's given you some dodgy diagnosis and it is a proper and confident IBS diagnosis by a physician then if you've got any other symptoms other than the classic stomach pains, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation and this can also include feeling sick then it's wise to see your doctor again to get checked over, because it's best to be safe than sorry. Yeah, ibs can cause non-gut symptoms like fatigue, headaches, backache, bladder problems and sleep problems, but these symptoms could also be due to other things, and so to get on top of these and feel better, then the underlying reason behind these needs to be investigated. Yes, it might turn out to be IBS and I've had guys work with me who have had chronic back pain and they've seen various specialists over a number of years, couldn't find what was wrong, done all you know, the took medications, done all the physio and all sorts of stuff and nothing helped. And then they had IBS. Came to me and it's like that back pain, almost as if it vanished because once they got their IBS under control. They no longer had back pains. So, yes, it may be IBS, but then again it might be something else.

Speaker 1: 1:30

And here's another example people can get migraines from stress. So although you might be having headaches and it might be to do with IBS, it might be something else and it might be the stress. And the stress can also make IBS symptoms worse. And having previously suffered with migraines myself, I know that migraines can make you feel sick and actually make you physically sick, not nice and like constipation. They can also make you feel sick. When I say feel sick, I mean nauseous. So although nausea can be a symptom of IBS, it might be something else feeling anxious that can make you feel sick as well. So your emotional state can trigger some symptoms as well. So yeah, I know I talk about some really nice stuff on here, but it's important stuff that we talk about.

Speaker 1: 2:13

So here's eight red flags or alarm signs and symptoms that you should tell your doctor about without delay. Now, I'm not telling you stuff to freak you out, but to help you out, so you know what to look out for. But here's the thing a lot of men, and actually women as well, don't check their poo. How can you spot any potential early warning signs, or even any later stage signs, if you're paying no attention to what you drop in the loo, if you catch my drift. So, in no particular order of importance.

Speaker 1: 2:41

Number one blood in your poo. This could be red blood, so it would be like fresh blood that you might have noticed on the tissue paper when you've wiped your bum. Or it could be old blood, which would make your poo look very dark, brown, black colour and very smelly. And it's worth noting that blood in your poo doesn't automatically mean it's cancer. It could be, but it could also be caused by other conditions, such as piles, which is hemorrhoids, colitis, crohn's disease, diverticular disease, bowel polyps, ulcers or even a gut infection. But if it is cancer, finding it at an early stage is crucial.

Speaker 1: 3:18

Number two white, yellowy, pale poo that might float, and so you end up struggling to flush it. If you've been suffering with this for more than a one-off, then it's a sign that something might be going on and you need to see your doctor, especially if you've got any other symptoms as well. Number three diarrhoea waking you from your sleep, so waking up, and then eventually needing a pee and a poo, that's okay, but if you wake up because you need a poo, then that's not normal and again speak to your doctor. Number four symptoms are severe or progressively getting worse. If your IBS symptoms are all over the shop and you get really bad flare-ups, then this might be hard to tell, depending on the symptoms that you experience. But even so you can still check in with your doctor, because isn't it better to feel a little bit silly or like you've wasted their time because it's nothing serious to worry about compared to doing nothing, and then later find out the worst and by then it's too late.

Speaker 1: 4:17

Five unexplained weight loss. If you've unintentionally so you haven't intentionally tried to lose weight but you've lost more than five percent of your body weight in six months or less, then see your doctor. Six if you've got a fever, because ibs doesn't cause fever, so if you find yourself feeling hot or shivery with a high temperature, then it's best to get medical advice. Seven if you're over the age of 50, this is because the risk of cancer increases with age and some signs and symptoms of bowel cancer can be similar to IBS and other gut conditions. And if you are over 50 years old and you've got new signs and symptoms and it might look like it's IBS. Because of your age and depending on your family history as well and what other things. And if you've got any other signs and symptoms going on, like any other of these red flags, your doctor will probably want to do other investigations rather than the usual investigations and tests and history taken. Compared to if you were younger and experiencing this, does that make sense? So if you're 50 and you are now experiencing stomach pains, diarrhea or constipation, bloat and gas, they will want to do other investigations just to make sure that it's not bowel cancer or something else going on. So they might want to do a colonoscopy or whatever to just to check you out.

Speaker 1: 5:33

And then eight, if you've got a lump or swelling in your stomach or your bum, there can be several reasons for this and it would need to be investigated by your doctor.

Speaker 1: 5:42

It could be the sign of several conditions, ranging from something relatively mild, like a hernia, to something more serious like a tumour.

Speaker 1: 5:51

But the important thing is that any unusual growth or swelling should be investigated, regardless of how embarrassing it can feel to talk about things like this and to get your bum out and get checked out. So it might be something or nothing, but getting checked straight away as soon as you notice it, so they can then rule out anything potentially serious. And even if it is cancer, the sooner they find it, the sooner you can get treatment and the sooner you can get the support and everything that you need. So it is best to go to your doctor as soon as you notice something that's not usual for you, any unusual lumps or bumps or any unusual signs and symptoms, so then these can be addressed early, before they become more complicated. So I know this hasn't been the happiest or most positive episodes, but it's super important to talk about this kind of stuff because it could save a life. So please do share this with others who could also benefit. So thanks for listening. Stay safe.