Colonoscopy and bowel cancer fears

Hi everyone,

I have had constant diarrhoea for 4 months and the last few weeks rectal pressure like I need a poo all the time it’s a weird sensation.

I went to doctor again yesterday who did a digital rectal exam and said it felt normal and my rectum felt empty, she pressed my tummy and there was tenderness on the left side, she has now referred me for a colonoscopy she’s advised it will be a 2 month wait and she can’t do the 2 week pathway because of my age (43) my health anxiety is severe and ever since she’s told me about the colonoscopy I he t been able to eat, I feel sick and crying all the time reading stories about cancer symptoms in the under 50’s... I am beside myself with worry and can’t control it, I am frightened of the procedure, frightened to have the sedative in case I have breathing problems and frightened of what the might find I have such a fear of cancer... I have taken 2 Valium today and not been able to go to work I just physically can’t think straight :( i am going to ring the doctor tomorrow to see if there is anyway at all I can be referred earlier as I honestly don’t think I can wait 2 months, anyone’s thoughts or experiences with colonoscopy, Howe cancer fears would be hugely appreciated, I am really on the edge at the moment xx

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your post was moved from its original place to a sub-forum that is more relevant to your issue.

This is nothing personal - it just enables us to keep posts about the same problems in the relevant forums so other members with any experience with the issues can find them more easily.

Please also read this post:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=213239

Can anybody at all help? X

Oh goodness hi! You sound like you are really spiralling. Firstly take a moment- it really is very unlikely to be anything sinister. It sounds like IBS or an upset in your gut bacteria. If you suffer from anxiety you will be prone to both. I’ve gone for months at a time without doing a “normal” poop. That said, I can understand your fear because I totally share it. We with HA catastrophise. It’s what we do.
Has your GP done a stool test? That is very simple to do and the absence of blood makes bowel cancer even more unlikely. (Even if blood is present, bowel cancer is still VERY unlikely (in the screened population, ie the over 60s, of those testing positive for stool blood, 90% will NOT have cancer).)
Has your GP said why you are being referred for a colonoscopy? I am assuming it is for reassurance purposes?? (In which case I wonder if it is actually having the opposite effect??)
Sorry - I’m rambling. I have had a colonoscopy before. For similar symptoms. I paid myself (not cheap). But it really wasn’t that bad - so don’t worry.
Xxx

Oh Jojo thank you sooo much for replying :( doctor didn’t do a blood stool test because she has referred for the colonoscopy so she said there’s no need I think she referred me because of the tenderness in left hand side and the continuous Diarrhea I literally haven’t eaten anything since Monday night I just physically can’t I feel so sick, This in turn is making the Diarrhea very odd as I am drinking nothing but water, I have ordered a test from amazon to check for blood it’s coming today she said if there is blood she may be able to get it quicker but she doesn’t think it’s cancer she would bet money on it...doesn’t alleviate any of this anxiety though how could she know she can’t see inside me... I looked into private colonoscopy and I just cannot afford it so I have to wait but It’s torture I’ve lost 6lb in weight since Monday but I need to remember it’s because I haven’t eaten anything and not for another reason.... I just keep thinking of leaving my family behind everytime I look at my husband I want to cry it’s unbearable xx

I know you’re in a horrible place right now. I’ve been there too, not for the same reason but have felt the crippling fear. You need to eat and drink, I know you feel you can’t, but start small with gentle foods and you’ll hopefully start to feel better. It’s good that’s she’s ordered the test, but I do understand that it’s scary still.

When I had an endoscopy I didn’t have sedation, but the people in the ward who did looked so content! Everyone says it’s like having a nice nap.

Hi scass thank you for replying it’s overwhelming the fear isn’t it? I can’t think of anything else :( just forced myself to eat an apple and half of a banana got stomach ache now :( just wish I could have the appt quicker than 2 months and get it over with xx

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Originally Posted by Mrs Anxious

Hi scass thank you for replying it’s overwhelming the fear isn’t it? I can’t think of anything else :( just forced myself to eat an apple and half of a banana got stomach ache now :( just wish I could have the appt quicker than 2 months and get it over with xx

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I agree with your doctor; I’d put large amounts of money on the fact it isn’t cancer. I would say the majority of your symptoms are caused by anxiety. Tenderness isn’t a warning sign for cancer as far as I know. I have it all the time - I think it is a feature of IBS.
So - the wait. This probably isn’t what a “sensible” person would suggest, but what I would do (and I am not AT ALL sensible - I am highly crippled by my HA), what I would do is perform a fecal occult blood test (from Amazon). If negative, I would accept that cancer is EXTREMELY unlikely and put up with the two month wait. If it was positive I would go back to the doctor and say “I have blood in my stool, please can I be seen quicker?”.
Disclaimer: this is certainly not therapist approved advice!!

I’m waiting for the test to come through from amazon today it’s still not here my anxiety is the worst it’s ever been in 20 years, I keep looking up survival statistics and recital pressure it keeps pointing to reveal cancer but the doctor said my rectum was clear? I just hope I can do a poo as I haven’t eaten... thanks again Jojo you are literally like a lifeline for me at the moment xx

Well you have the test coming from amazon soon and then you’ll have more information to help you.

It’s awful how anxiety can mimic symptoms sometimes but it absolutely did to me when I was going through ovarian cyst checkups. Within hours of getting the good diagnosis my symptoms started to disappear...

Trust your doctor, keep trying to distract yourself for now. Getting out for a bit or talking to a friend will help no end x

Hi scass, you can’t do the test with Diarrhea apparently :/ it’s still not arrived I’m just going to have to take another Valium and go to sleep, if I’m asleep I’m not worrying xx

Thing is on Sunday before the doctors I was perfectly fine I felt happy and well still had the runs but I wasn’t overly bothered about it but ever since I’ve been told I have to have a colonoscopy the fear factor has reached 100! I’m trying so hard to rationalise but I’m just can’t xx

So her attempt to reassure you backfired!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mrs Anxious

Hi scass, you can’t do the test with Diarrhea apparently :/ it’s still not arrived I’m just going to have to take another Valium and go to sleep, if I’m asleep I’m not worrying xx

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Why cant you? I didn’t know that...

Yes massively Jo jo :( I have been taking non stop Valium and still not eating it’s ridiculous I don’t think there is anything in there to poop out even if the test does come... you have to take a piece from the top middle and bottom of stool and mix with the fluid apparently so it can’t be Diarrhea I have never ever in my life felt so low and desperate

Hi mrs anxiety, I totally feel your pain, I had a colonoscopy last month and I was so so so anxious, I was worried about the prep, the sedative, what they would find... the whole thing. I could barely function. You know what, you will be fine. Honestly... you’re stronger than you know, if they do find anything, and that’s a huge if, it’s likely a polyp that they will be able to remove before it becomes harmful. I know none of this will really help as I was exactly the same. Please just try to remember that the odds are massively in your favour, The waiting period is awful if they can push it to easier that would be great but if not just please feel free to message me anytime xx

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Originally Posted by Lady123

Hi mrs anxiety, I totally feel your pain, I had a colonoscopy last month and I was so so so anxious, I was worried about the prep, the sedative, what they would find... the whole thing. I could barely function. You know what, you will be fine. Honestly... you’re stronger than you know, if they do find anything, and that’s a huge if, it’s likely a polyp that they will be able to remove before it becomes harmful. I know none of this will really help as I was exactly the same. Please just try to remember that the odds are massively in your favour, The waiting period is awful if they can push it to easier that would be great but if not just please feel free to message me anytime xx

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Thank you lady123 for your reply, you sound like you felt exactly as I do, I have messaged you I hope that’s ok xxx

Woke up at 5:30 this morning with a feeling of dread and nausea did the poo test from amazon negative result! Alleviated my fears just a little bit but I’ll take it xx

There you go!
It’s a little silver lining. Take it and keep remembering it ok? Now you need to start looking after yourself to bring yourself out of your shock and panic x

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scass

There you go!
It’s a little silver lining. Take it and keep remembering it ok? Now you need to start looking after yourself to bring yourself out of your shock and panic x

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Thank you so much Scass you are an absoloute gem.... any tips on how to get through the next few weeks? I have been referred to an endoscopy centre which does things a bit quicker so been told appt 3-4 weeks... need to calm down and eat and function and go back to work! Xxxx

Morning all got a cancellation for next Wednesday at 8 am.... nerves are actually shot to bits now.... just breathe Donna.... breeeeeathe! X

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your thread was merged with another of your threads.

Please when posting on similar topics add it onto your previous post rather than starting a new one.

It is nothing personal it is just to make it easier for people to follow your story and to give you advice as a whole.

We all know that cancer is a terrible disease, and in most cases, it is impossible to recover. After all, no one knows what can happen to the cells in the body. Some mutation can happen at any moment, and the cells will start to divide uncontrollably and grow. For example, my friend has colon cancer, and she was sent for a colonoscopy, which will be held in two weeks. I see her worried state and try to support her because calmness is the best way to survive in such situations. And to prepare for the colonoscopy, they put her on a two-week course of a particular drug, which I ordered from Fenben lab. I hope to take the medication also make it easier to prepare her for all this.