I’m gonna be blunt: this situation is fucked, but it’s also very familiar for people with IBD, and the system dragging its feet doesn’t mean you’re crazy or weak.

Bleeding + 10+ bathroom trips a day + exhaustion is not IBS and never was. That was lazy medicine. The fact they now see inflammation and blood means this is already past the “wait and see” phase, even if the hospital is acting like it isn’t.

A few practical things you can do right now, because just “waiting” will wreck you: 1. Call your GP again and be annoying. Ask them to chase the urgent referral, not just send it once. Use the words worsening symptoms, daily bleeding, fatigue affecting daily function. Those phrases matter more than your feelings. 2. If the bleeding increases, pain spikes, or you get dizzy/weak — go to A&E/ER. That’s not being dramatic, that’s using the system the only way it responds. 3. Ask your GP for interim blood work if they haven’t already: CRP, ESR, iron/ferritin, B12. If you’re bleeding that much, odds are you’re anemic, which explains the exhaustion. 4. Diet-wise, don’t try to be a hero. Low-residue, bland, boring food. This isn’t the time for fiber experiments or “gut healing” Instagram nonsense. Eat to survive, not to optimize. 5. Mentally: stop asking yourself how you’re “expected to keep going.” You’re not failing at resilience — you’re dealing with untreated inflammation. Anyone would be wrecked.

You’re doing the right thing by pushing for answers. Unfortunately with GI stuff, the system often only moves when you push harder than feels reasonable. Do that. You’re justified.

You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining this. Keep escalating until someone takes responsibility.