dancingfrog
06-02-23, 19:40
Hi everyone, I haven’t been on the forum for a long long time but feel like a really need some help.
During the Christmas period, I had a short bout of loose stools with increased frequency. It was likely caused by overeating and drinking and went away after I took some Imodium. However, during this time and up to now I have become obsessed with bowel cancer to the point where I am physically checking every stool. I do have some mucus on my stool which is usually the same colour as the stool, this at present is what is making me worry the most. I keep thinking that I see blood when I check although what I’m actually seeing I do not know. I have not had a change in frequency but can be constipated (I’m definitely not drinking enough). I haven’t lost weight although I’m checking my weight every day. I’m also spending any available time where I’m physically not doing something on Dr Google. I look up symptoms, stories about bowel cancer at my age (31), hereditary links, prognosis, the list goes on! I have shared my feelings with my husband and mum who feel like this is another crazy spell of heightened anxiety. This episode has also been fuelled by my grandfather dying of stomach related cancer (in his late eighties) and my father having what I believe to some form of benign growth somewhere in that region in his mid fifties. This coupled with my symptoms makes me feel that I must have bowel cancer and it’s super aggressive and untreatable. I’m calling the doctor tomorrow as it’s something that I need to address but I’m terrified of having any tests as I’m certain they’ll tell me I’ve got what I think I have. I’m well aware that I have severe health anxiety and have a scheduled appt with a therapist next week to begin some form of treatment for that.
What I’m hoping from this post is just a little reassurance from others and to help me get what I’m feeling off my chest in some ways as it’s completely eating me up inside!
During the Christmas period, I had a short bout of loose stools with increased frequency. It was likely caused by overeating and drinking and went away after I took some Imodium. However, during this time and up to now I have become obsessed with bowel cancer to the point where I am physically checking every stool. I do have some mucus on my stool which is usually the same colour as the stool, this at present is what is making me worry the most. I keep thinking that I see blood when I check although what I’m actually seeing I do not know. I have not had a change in frequency but can be constipated (I’m definitely not drinking enough). I haven’t lost weight although I’m checking my weight every day. I’m also spending any available time where I’m physically not doing something on Dr Google. I look up symptoms, stories about bowel cancer at my age (31), hereditary links, prognosis, the list goes on! I have shared my feelings with my husband and mum who feel like this is another crazy spell of heightened anxiety. This episode has also been fuelled by my grandfather dying of stomach related cancer (in his late eighties) and my father having what I believe to some form of benign growth somewhere in that region in his mid fifties. This coupled with my symptoms makes me feel that I must have bowel cancer and it’s super aggressive and untreatable. I’m calling the doctor tomorrow as it’s something that I need to address but I’m terrified of having any tests as I’m certain they’ll tell me I’ve got what I think I have. I’m well aware that I have severe health anxiety and have a scheduled appt with a therapist next week to begin some form of treatment for that.
What I’m hoping from this post is just a little reassurance from others and to help me get what I’m feeling off my chest in some ways as it’s completely eating me up inside!