Fear of Colon Cancer / Probably IBS?

[Brackett]

Hi All,

What a relief it is to find this site. I was certainly in much more of a panic over the past several months before stumbling upon this site.

I want to be thorough in my description in the hope,that someone out there has had a similar experience and/or can shed some light on this situation for me.

Since I was 18 (I am 30 now) I have had stomach problems. They began with always having runny/loose stools when I ate out to the point I would not eat at restaurants for fear of explosion. Also at that time there was bright red blood in my stools. Being young, I ignored this. The bloody stools lasted maybe 6 months, maybe a little more, but eventually went away and have never returned. But the loose stools, urgency, frequency continued until present day. It was simply something I accepted about myself. Never went to a doctor for this reason, just learned to cope. Always worried about bowel movements.

Then a few years ago, I began getting this feeling in my left side, felt like a lump or fullness, like something wasn't supposed to be there. It was never painful, but very uncomfortable. I tried Roland's, etc - nothing helped. Again, learned to cope. Then, within six months of this discomfort, I stared getting terrible acid reflux, heartburn that accompanied the "lump" feeling and the frequency/urgency/loose stools.

At this point, I went to the doctor. He said it was minor GERD (after a barium swallow test), put me on pills and sent me on my way. The acid reflux got a little better, but everything else got worse. I kept going back to the doc - they ran abdominal ultrasounds, indicating a fatty liver which I was told was of little concern and it the first round of ultrasounds and slightly enlarged spleen (a subsequent ultrasound 2 years later (1 year ago) revealed that it either hadn't grown any further or had in fact gone slightly down in size. Again, told there was nothing to worry about unless the issue was within my colon (where the ultrasound can't see).

Began freaking out, but tried to remain calm. Was told I was too young for cancer, wasn't bleeding, etc and not to worry. Shortly thereafter I was in terrible pain, wound up in the ER and they ran a CT and said there was an infection and they would remove my appendix. They did and everything got worse. Symptoms intensified, anxiety went through the roof but again I was reminded that between the ultrasounds and now the CT that if something was seriously wrong, they would know.

A few months after that (6 months ago from today's date) I went back in complaining that my discomfort had mostly shifted from my left side to my right. It was still in my left but not as bad, but it was worse in my right side. Sort of sits right above my hip bone. Again, not painful, but extremely uncomfortable. And what was even more strange, i had transitioned from pencil thin, disgusting looking and frequent bowel movements (for the past several years), to constipation. Doc said he knew of nothing more he could do and referred me to a specialist. In the meantime I went for a second opinion and that doc ordered a celiac blood test which came back positive. Said my number was 16. Whatever that means. I appreciate he ordered the test, but he didn't have much knowledge of celiac. Told me to go gluten free. I did and it was a miracle. Felt better, had bowel movements that looked like long, thick logs. Even curled. I thought these were myths or things that only happened in movies! I thought I was cured! It lasted about six weeks and now I am back to the same old pain in my right side (and left a little) and a week long bout of constipation followed by loose stools. Doc thought maybe diverticulosis and put me on antibiotics which have made my stools extremely loose (been off the, for 3 days and still pooing mush). I'm eating right, trying everything and am back to square one. Also have begun to notice mucous in my stools over the past six months.

Worried about colon cancer. Worried about everything. Specialist appointment is this week. Which is ramping up the anxiety (which I should mention is severe to the point I am in therapy for it, health related anxiety specifically).

I'm thrilled if anyone read this much - and if you did - does this sound like the course of IBS? Something worse? I'm sure I've left out some details and the dates might be a little fuzzy/inconsistent, but this is pretty much how things have been.

Any advice? Insight? I know I should just wait for the specialist, but it would be great to hear from someone who has similar experiences.

Thanks so much.

[kingkong]

Hi Brackett,

My experience is exactly the same. I have been having these episodes since 1999 and learned to cope with it. I used to be afraid to share a room with my friends because of too much wind during sleep.

I too have had 2 UTs (2011 and 2012) and 1 CT (2011). All the tests revealed gall stones.
I had fatty liver during my first UT, and during my second UT ( after an year) liver was reported normal.

Since 2011, I have also noticed a sense of fullness on my right side. I notice it when I lift my thighs for wearing socks etc. The fullness went away when I was on a course of Lansoprazole ( 2013) for a week, but lansoprazole only made symptoms worse.

My GP thinks I dont even have ulcer (2013). Since my Ferritin levels are full and the CBC is fine, he says I am fine.

He did order a H.Pilori test, which turned out positive. I was on triple therapy for a week ( started on the 8th of this month). Was fine during the course of antibiotics and until the 25th of this month. However, my stomach and guts are back to their irritated self now and I have too much mucous now.

Please let us know how it goes with your specialist.

[nomorepanic]

Hi and

Have they never done a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to check things out?

[Brackett]

Specialist saw me and listened to everything I said. Key things I took away:

He said it presents and sounds like IBS. Explained how rare cancer would be at my age and said I had none of they key symptoms that would point in that direction.

My blood test, still don't know the name, was an 11. Anything novel ten indicates a gluten intolerance. He said celiacs present with numbers between 250 and 600 typically. He said its unlikely Celiac disease, but likely a gluten intolerance that triggers my IBS. Also indicated that it probably wasn't gluten alone and that it would be trial and error to find all trigger foods. But also was clear that IBS would be with me, probably for life. He said there are ways to manage: avoid trigger foods, consider a low dose SSRI, exercise, lose some weight.

The MOST interesting thing he said was that the cancer societies have done a great disservice is putting out pencil thin and ribbon like stools being a sign of colon cancer. Said it would be possible in the very late stages, but he has never in 30 years seen CC present itself in this fashion. But did say it was very common with IBS.

Encouraged me to go back on a gluten diet so that he could biopsy my stomach in a few months and confirm either a celiac diagnosis or simply an insensitivity. Ate gluten that night, very excited, and have been dying for two days. Will call and let him know that I'm ok going gluten free and to,skip,the gastroscopy.

He also ordered a colonoscopy for December which he said was mostly for my piece of mind.

Felt a lot,better after talking to an expert. And better understanding IBS.

[cokesmyth5]

I too have IBS, flares up when I'm anxious particularly.
Have you looked at ibsnetwork.org? I found it quite helpful. More helpful has been starting acupuncture. My therapist suggested I go gluten free, dairy free and sugar free as far as I could. This sounded like life would not be worth living (l have a sweet tooth) but I'm making a big effort and the IBS symptoms have definitely improved - could be combination of acupuncture & dietary changes - whichever, something is working.
I wish you luck!