Lemonslemonslemons
18-07-23, 16:40
Hi folks, longtime HA sufferer here…
I’ve been having some abdominal discomfort for a couple of months. Not pain per se, just pressure and bloating/gas and hyperactive digestion. I’ve tried a lot - digestive enzymes (I don’t have a gallbladder), peppermint, diet modifications, etc. Still working on managing anxiety and stress. Finally saw the Gi nurse yesterday (my MD is on vacation) she recommended increasing fiber and taking omeprazole… so I was a bit discouraged. I had a colonoscopy in Sept. I’m high risk (lots of polyps and adenomas on my index so I have to go back every 3 years… follow revealed another high risk polyp). Nurse ordered endoscopy but first available was end of December. I mentioned my concern this could be pancreas and she did Lipase blood work which she wrote me was “stable”. She said we could do a CT. I dismissed it because I’ve had an abdominal CT years ago when I was having issues with my gallbladder (that was just what the MD ordered-wasn’t health anxiety related). I’m worried about the radiation if this is in fact my HA. I couldn’t sleep last night worrying now that this is actually stomach or colon cancer. Read a ton of journal articles last night about how much higher my risk is since I’ve had both colon and stomach polyps. Now I kind of want to get the CT. In part because I’m freaking out and also because waiting until end of December if something is wrong seems awful. But again, I’m not in pain. I have some worrisome symptoms (loose stools for 2 months now) but I know how anxiety impacts that as well. I feel like I’ve put an expiration date on myself and I’m losing my mind (39 female for reference… married with 2 young children). So I’m torn… if there was no radiation risk, I would absolutely get the CT. But receiving radiation just to put my fears to bed (hopefully) seems irresponsible even though I am truly concerned about my symptoms. In total, I’ve had 2 CTs of my head/neck and 1 of my abdomen. Am I arranged in wanting to do the CT or is this just my ugly HA taking over?
I’ve been having some abdominal discomfort for a couple of months. Not pain per se, just pressure and bloating/gas and hyperactive digestion. I’ve tried a lot - digestive enzymes (I don’t have a gallbladder), peppermint, diet modifications, etc. Still working on managing anxiety and stress. Finally saw the Gi nurse yesterday (my MD is on vacation) she recommended increasing fiber and taking omeprazole… so I was a bit discouraged. I had a colonoscopy in Sept. I’m high risk (lots of polyps and adenomas on my index so I have to go back every 3 years… follow revealed another high risk polyp). Nurse ordered endoscopy but first available was end of December. I mentioned my concern this could be pancreas and she did Lipase blood work which she wrote me was “stable”. She said we could do a CT. I dismissed it because I’ve had an abdominal CT years ago when I was having issues with my gallbladder (that was just what the MD ordered-wasn’t health anxiety related). I’m worried about the radiation if this is in fact my HA. I couldn’t sleep last night worrying now that this is actually stomach or colon cancer. Read a ton of journal articles last night about how much higher my risk is since I’ve had both colon and stomach polyps. Now I kind of want to get the CT. In part because I’m freaking out and also because waiting until end of December if something is wrong seems awful. But again, I’m not in pain. I have some worrisome symptoms (loose stools for 2 months now) but I know how anxiety impacts that as well. I feel like I’ve put an expiration date on myself and I’m losing my mind (39 female for reference… married with 2 young children). So I’m torn… if there was no radiation risk, I would absolutely get the CT. But receiving radiation just to put my fears to bed (hopefully) seems irresponsible even though I am truly concerned about my symptoms. In total, I’ve had 2 CTs of my head/neck and 1 of my abdomen. Am I arranged in wanting to do the CT or is this just my ugly HA taking over?