Bowel cancer fear again

[countrygirl]

Had IBS symptoms for years - 2-3 times am loose then hard pellet like with mucus late evening.
11 months ago worried it was bowel cancer - had flex sigmoidoscopy, ultrasound abdo and pelvic, complete stool analysis, fecal occult blood test and general bloods and all completely normal. told IBS. I was offered colonoscopy to put my mind at rest but no reason to do one. I discussed with my GP as worried about prep and proceedure as i have severe spinal damage and she advised not to have it in light of all my other tests being negative. She did say that she thought I would worry if I canc it and she is right!!

I had another fecal occult blood test 5 months ago and then another one 3 weeks ago and all negative.

My lower spine is bad past three months and it is getting very stiff and painful when i wake up in monrning with stabbing back pains. Of course this coincides with my morning bowel movements and I am obsessing once again that this is because I have bowel cancer.

My GP has tried to reassure me and done lots of blood tsts again last week and with the negative occult blood test as well .

Should I be reassured - she was right when she said I would continue to obsess over it if I didn't have colonoscopy but she also said there has to come a time when you stop having all thes invasive tests when there is no clinical need.

Do you all thnk I should be reasured. I have been told that bowel cancer would not produce stabbing back pain unless it was so advanced you would not have a negative occult blood test and the other blood tests would not be normal either.

[sheba2]

You are really really reallly fine. You do not have bowel cancer. Please believe your doctor.

[manmoor]

Hi Countrygirl,

Oh hun :hugs: I just wish I had the courage to go and have all the tests you've had done as I suffer from IBS symptoms but I'm not brave enough to go for the tests to rule anything else out. Please take the reassurance you've been given from the specialists that did the tests that your ok as your going to torment yourself with worry for no reason :hugs: Please do try to be reassured for your own peace of mind and sanity hun. xxx

[jadeybags]

I was sent to the hospital, ooooh, going back about 13 yrs ago now, i had convinced myself i had bowel cancer. Had all the symptoms for ages. My doctor told me different, i went back a multitude of times, but i wasnt having any of it. I got so bad with symptoms i had to be put on beta blockers and an appointment rushed through within 3 days. I nearly had a break down. went to the hospital, after writing a few goodbye notes to family, because i knew i wanst gonna die a painful death! And the doc checked me over there, told me it was IBS and gave me some meds. I walked out that hospital a different person. For some reason i trusted him! And my symptoms lifted almost immediately. Ok took a couple of days to go completely, but they were 90% better! Up til then i was even getting pains in my legs which the doc told me was called referred pain. It was all in my mind, but i know for a fact, that pain was there! IBS is a cruel illness that plays on the health anxiety sufferer, and ive had 2 kids since that horrendous time in my life by the way.
I wish you could see into the future! Because i know, that pain you have is very real! But i also know how powerful the mind is in making it worse! and only now, 13 yrs later and a few more episodes with different 'health anxiety 'illnesses' have i come to realise, i'm still here!
My sister once told me, to think you're dying, is to die many times over!
xxxxxxxxx

[clarkybird]

Hi Ya,

I haev convinced myself that I have bowel cancer and i am really making myself ill over it....I have had a pain in my right hand side that comes and goes.. Since suffering with bad anxiety about 3 weeks ago i have found that the pain is only bad when i work myself up...Because i have anxiety and this acid taste in my mouth I am convinced it is the C word..It is comforting to know that Im not the only one who has been thinking like this.I am on anxiety tablets but really think that i need something else to help me get back on track..This constatn feeling of fear is driving me away from my lovley partner and my gorgeous son :-).....Can anyoneagree with how i am feeling,Since i have been on the anxiety tabs i am sleeping ok but as soon as i wake up I am starting the thgouhts straight away..This isnt good for me and i am making myself worse i think....Can anyone help???

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