backfromthebrink
26-07-13, 13:31
I'm curious to know whether others in other parts of the UK are getting told the same thing as me, here.
I've been experiencing some mild but strange intermittent abdominal discomfort in my lower left abdomen. I also every few weeks have some blood in my stool/on the toilet paper, which I think is due to a tiny fissure which my GP identified.
I was sent for an ultrasound - normal. Blood tests - normal. Due to some other symptoms I had, it was then said I might have endometriosis and the only way to know was with a laparoscopy - when it could be removed at the same time. So 11wks ago, I had my lap and they did find endo - only a few small patches and removed it. They had a good look around in there and everything else was normal.
I am still having some occasional discomfort in my lower left abdomen and since everything has been checked out visually, the only thing I can think is left is my bowel.
I had a referral to the gastro clinic today and they basically said that, since I'm 35yo, they wouldn't do a colonoscopy or check inside the bowel with my symptoms. They said that to do a colonoscopy on someone my age, they would need to have ALL 3 OF:
Low haemoglobin
Losing weight
Change in bowel habits
Without those symptoms, they said the risk of the test (perforating the bowel) outweighed any benefit and so they wouldn't do it and have discharged me. They really exaggerated the risks of it, to the point that I thought it can't be that risky because they are introducing it as a routine screening test for everyone over age 60, even if they have no symptoms!
I asked them what I should do about my abdominal pain and they said - take painkillers! So now I just feel alone with this and like I have no explanation for the discomfort and I just keep worrying about what it could be. It is mild and I don't actually need painkillers. I tell myself it could be scar tissue or adhesions or… But there seems no way to tell, beyond what I've had already. The gynae dept are saying it's nothing gynaecological as all was checked out during the surgery.
I read about other people around my age having colonoscopies and I'm wondering if this info I've been given about the symptoms you'd need to have, to have one, is right or not…?? I can't figure out if this is just an NHS money-saving thing (only offering colonoscopies to people with those 3 things) or whether this really IS the best thing for me, in this situation.
I've been experiencing some mild but strange intermittent abdominal discomfort in my lower left abdomen. I also every few weeks have some blood in my stool/on the toilet paper, which I think is due to a tiny fissure which my GP identified.
I was sent for an ultrasound - normal. Blood tests - normal. Due to some other symptoms I had, it was then said I might have endometriosis and the only way to know was with a laparoscopy - when it could be removed at the same time. So 11wks ago, I had my lap and they did find endo - only a few small patches and removed it. They had a good look around in there and everything else was normal.
I am still having some occasional discomfort in my lower left abdomen and since everything has been checked out visually, the only thing I can think is left is my bowel.
I had a referral to the gastro clinic today and they basically said that, since I'm 35yo, they wouldn't do a colonoscopy or check inside the bowel with my symptoms. They said that to do a colonoscopy on someone my age, they would need to have ALL 3 OF:
Low haemoglobin
Losing weight
Change in bowel habits
Without those symptoms, they said the risk of the test (perforating the bowel) outweighed any benefit and so they wouldn't do it and have discharged me. They really exaggerated the risks of it, to the point that I thought it can't be that risky because they are introducing it as a routine screening test for everyone over age 60, even if they have no symptoms!
I asked them what I should do about my abdominal pain and they said - take painkillers! So now I just feel alone with this and like I have no explanation for the discomfort and I just keep worrying about what it could be. It is mild and I don't actually need painkillers. I tell myself it could be scar tissue or adhesions or… But there seems no way to tell, beyond what I've had already. The gynae dept are saying it's nothing gynaecological as all was checked out during the surgery.
I read about other people around my age having colonoscopies and I'm wondering if this info I've been given about the symptoms you'd need to have, to have one, is right or not…?? I can't figure out if this is just an NHS money-saving thing (only offering colonoscopies to people with those 3 things) or whether this really IS the best thing for me, in this situation.