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Beating bowel cancer together

Worried about bowel cancer

If you're worried about possible bowel cancer symptoms or are awaiting diagnosis, you can ask questions and get advice here. You can find out more about the symptoms of bowel cancer on our website.

adam74

Waiting for further tests

Hi everyone, I’m a 31 year old male and have been having abdominal pains for roughly 2 years now (used to be worse in the mornings however has now become persistent 24/7). I also started having back pain around the same time, so it was assumed to be related, along with tiredness, fitness dropping (used to run marathons now can’t run a mile), feeling of still needing to poo after pooing, and also pooing much less. I was also having small amounts of blood “spotting” but I put this down to wiping. I have also been suffering with heart burn a lot of the past couple of years. Around the time of these things happening, I also had 2 random days (about 3 weeks apart) where I had a real impending sense of doom that something was wrong and I was terminally ill. This is very unlike me as I’ve never suffered with any form of mental health in the past, and both periods only lasted about 24hours and then I felt fine again. It was very odd.

Anyway, last week I quite a lot of blood on the tissue so went to the doctors and they did a FIT test which has come back positive. I have been referred for a colonoscopy and have a phone call with the specialist booked for the 14th of July.

I haven’t had much bleeding since, but the pain and “odd” feelings has continued/worsened at times.

Not really sure what I’m looking for from this post, but I guess I’m just concerned that something has been going on since my first symptoms and the “impending sense of doom” moment, and it’s only just been pushed forward now due to the bleeding.

adam74

I’m not sure whether this indicates anything or not (I imagine not until everything’s been looked at properly judging by the feedback above), but I called my GP to get specific results, as I was previously just told they were positive:

— FIT = 23hb/g - should be under 10
— an inflammatory test (can’t remember the name) = 100hb/g - should be under 50

adam74

Apologies if the hb/g are the wrong letters for the measurement, that’s just what it sounded like over the phone, but the numbers are correct in terms of my results and what I was told about greater thans.

bettyb1987

Hey @adam74 sorry to read you've had these health problems. As I understand it a positive Fit and Calprotectin tests can be elevated by other things aside from bowel cancer, such as different forms of IBD and diverticulitis. My results when diagnosed were >200ug (I think it's ug but now not sure!) for the Fit test and 58ug for the calprotectin. I just had a bowel resection 6 weeks ago and I was caught early at stage 1 T1N0M0 and surgery has been with curative intent, so no chemo needed. I hope you get a resolution super soon so that you can start to feel better, poor you. Will you keep us posted? All my love Betty :x::x:

adam74

Hi @bettyb1987, thank you for your message. Glad to hear yours was caught early and no chemo was needed! I know everyone on here has been in the same boat, and currently I’m potentially worrying about something that might not even be there, when others here such as yourself are going through it for real. I think I need to stop googling etc between now and my further appointments and just try to take my mind off it.

Thanks again Betty, and I’ll keep this thread posted with the outcome of my consultation and then further testing :x:

bettyb1987

Honestly don't worry at all @adam74 weve literally all been in your position with the worry and late night googling! We will all hope you get a good outcome and just wish you well. No fun feeling poorly. Definitely a good idea to stay off Google, the stats are so out of date. Best of luck and definitely keep us posted :x::x::x:

adam74

Hi, Just a quick update to say I have my colonoscopy booked for Tuesday 26th July (next week). I’ll update following the procedure.

Thanks again for advising to stay off Google etc. I’ve found the past 2 weeks easier by trying to keep busy and push it to the back of mind for now! :x:

hev

@adam74
I think we have all turned to Google - I did and unfortunately this was often when I was in a “dark place”. It’s so easy to pick up and Google as you want answers to so many questions in your head.
I know easy to say but once you have your consultant appointment and information given/plan things do feel more focused
Good luck

adam74

I’ve now received my MoviPrep to take on Monday. I’ve seen lots of good tips on other posts, so thank you for that, I’ll definitely be taking them on board as it doesn’t sound fun!

Thanks again for all the advice not just across my thread, but others too :x:

adam74

So I’m all set for Tuesdays colonoscopy now and will be having the sedation for it. The instruction pack says that you stay conscious but may not remember the procedure..

Does anyone remember theirs? Could you see the screen and what the surgical team are seeing? Just trying to prepare for what may or may not happen.

Danielle

Hi I haven’t had it personally but My mum had hers just over two weeks ago. The hardest bit for her was the laxatives. But that’s because she has already lost a lot of weight so energy was quite low anyway. She was sedated for the procedure and didn’t feel a thing! She could see the screen but chose not to look at it very often. I think it’s the build up of waiting for it that was more difficult.

adam74

Thanks Danielle. I’ve seen lots of people on here say the laxatives are not very nice, so I’m definitely not looking forward to tomorrow! Hope all is ok with your Mum! :x:

Leaguefan
Quote from @adam74:
So I’m all set for Tuesdays colonoscopy now and will be having the sedation for it. The instruction pack says that you stay conscious but may not remember the procedure..

Does anyone remember theirs? Could you see the screen and what the surgical team are seeing? Just trying to prepare for what may or may not happen.

To be honest I have found them straight forward, including the pre op drink. Not exactly unpleasant but not a first choice.
As for the colonoscopy itself, yeas I had sedation but could see the monitor as the test progressed . OK not everybody’s cup of tea but I have always been fascinated by things like this. My comment was wow, what a weird looking thing a colon is. The tumour did look big on the screen but the specialist said small but looked cancerous, which it was after later confirmed by other tests. The location was my challenge.

Anyway have had another colonoscopy since the operation, again with sedation and a lovely view of my colon again. This time one minor polyp removed, scar tissue and staples which I didn’t expect.

Everything fine and dandy so life continues . I would hope everyone who has the procedure finds it as straight forward as I did BUT I have read enough on the forums to know that people react differently to the situation . Nothing wrong with that, everyone is different.

Lirio345

Hi @adam74, you are going to hate my response - it varies!! Not helpful I know. You should with sedation still be awake and conscious of everything visible on the screen (I was). However I know that some folk fall asleep! You could ask them for light sedation to start, which can be topped up if you need it. Sorry not to have been very specific, but best of luck with everything, Kim :x::x:

adam74

Thank you for your reply, and I’m glad everything is now fine. I’m interested to see as well, so I’ll see how it goes and let you know if I remember any of it!

Quote from @Leaguefan:
To be honest I have found them straight forward, including the pre op drink. Not exactly unpleasant but not a first choice.
As for the colonoscopy itself, yeas I had sedation but could see the monitor as the test progressed . OK not everybody’s cup of tea but I have always been fascinated by things like this. My comment was wow, what a weird looking thing a colon is. The tumour did look big on the screen but the specialist said small but looked cancerous, which it was after later confirmed by other tests. The location was my challenge.

Anyway have had another colonoscopy since the operation, again with sedation and a lovely view of my colon again. This time one minor polyp removed, scar tissue and staples which I didn’t expect.

Everything fine and dandy so life continues . I would hope everyone who has the procedure finds it as straight forward as I did BUT I have read enough on the forums to know that people react differently to the situation . Nothing wrong with that, everyone is different.

adam74

Thanks for the reply Kim. Yes I’ve read mixed things, I guess everyone is different when I comes to sedation!

I’ll see it goes and let you how I get on. :x:

Quote from @Lirio345:
Hi @adam74, you are going to hate my response - it varies!! Not helpful I know. You should with sedation still be awake and conscious of everything visible on the screen (I was). However I know that some folk fall asleep! You could ask them for light sedation to start, which can be topped up if you need it. Sorry not to have been very specific, but best of luck with everything, Kim

hev

@adam74
As you said every one different and everyone reacts differently to everything
From my experience I totally agree in that the prep is worse than the actual colonoscopy
I was so anxious about the colonoscopy and nearly didn’t have as my pulse went through ceiling
I didn’t decide on sedation until I arrived on unit as I had been told so many different experiences from people
For me I had sedation
I didn’t feel it going in at all. Slight pulling when going around bowel but def not painful at all.
I chatted to nurse all way through procedure and I remembered everything said too but have been told some people have no memory at all so wishing you all best for Tuesday

adam74

Hi everyone, thank you again for all of your support.

Had my colonoscopy this morning, good news as there was nothing sinister, so very pleased about that.

They took some biopsies of inflamed areas and are scheduling me for an upper endoscopy for further investigation due to symptoms and the original stool results. I’ve been told 6 weeks for biopsy results and 4 weeks for the endoscopy .

Thanks again to everyone and I wish everyone the best with their journey’s.

Adam :x::x:

Lirio345

This is brilliant news @adam74, I am so pleased for you. I hope that they work out what is going on soon and I wish you the very best, Kim :x::x:

Leaguefan

@adam74
Glad to hear everything has gone well. Let’s hope they find the cause of the problem but good news that it isn't the nasty no one wants.
Good luck.

Jane39

@adam74
That is really great news.
Good luck with the endoscopy.
Best Wishes,
Jane :x: