Abdominal upset and cancer fears (TMI)

[bulan]

Hi there,

I've posted here earlier this year re: ovarian cancer fears, and I'm back, but with bowel-related symptoms and concerns...

- bloating
- a change in bowel habits (more often)
- change in stools (small, thin)
- a feeling of constipation
- a feeling of pressure or fullness in my left pelvic area
- the same feeling of pressure or fullness on my upper left side, just at the bottom of my rib cage
- increased passing gas
- upset stomach
- slight rectal pain...

I have an appointment with the GI specialist soon, which I'm thankful for.

But right now, I'm just trying to keep a handle on my fears that I have some type of cancer (colon, pancreatic, etc.)

I realize these symptoms could be due to my anxiety, stress, sleep depravation, IBS, diet changes, etc... Even though I'm younger, with a mostly healthy diet and lifestyle, you never know. I've heard of plenty of people in their 30s with a cancer diagnosis.

Also, it runs in the family. Both of my grandfathers were diagnosed with colon cancer.

One case wasn't caught in time. The other case was fought with chemo and diet changes, and he's still alive and kicking almost 20 years later--and turning 90 this May!

One of my burning questions is... What could cause a constant feeling of pressure (like a mass inside, or like trapped air) in the upper left corner of the abdomen that lasts over 48 hours?

Is it possible for gas to be trapped in one corner of the colon for over two days? And how could that be, when I've got increased passing gas anyway? If it's passing, why would any remain trapped?

I'm very concerned and grateful for your input...

[alexi]

I'm sure your GP will have palpated your abdomen to feel for lumps and bumps, so I reckon there is nothing sinister to be worried about. Anxiety and tension can really upset the gut and bowel which just adds to the stress and worry.
Your consultant will be able to reassure you that all is well and advise you how you can manage these painful symptoms.

[bulan]

Thanks, alexi. Yes, he did check, and he didn't find anything...

The fact working against me in favour of anxiety is that pancreatic cancer usually isn't detected until it's advanced. People have been known to pass all sorts of medical tests (e.g. for health insurance applications) and pancreatic cancer is missed.

Pancreatic cancer, and other 'silent killers,' are also killers of contentment for people with health anxiety, sadly. It makes me wish MRIs weren't so expensive...

If we could only have regular MRI scans as a preventative measure, I think many of us would feel much more reassured.

[bulan]

Some good news on this front... I've been able to overcome most of my anxiety about these symptoms.

Most symptoms have passed in conjunction with my reduced anxiety, so yes, I'm sure they were connected.

Only one symptom remains, which still troubles me... a feeling of pressure or fullness on my upper left side, just at the bottom of my rib cage. It feels a bit like the days I was pregnant, when my son's feet were lodged in my ribcage.

I'm not overcome by fear, but I do have a gnawing concern about it. The one possibility circling through my mind is that a tumor is causing these sensations...

Has anyone else had this feeling?

[Kassery]

Hi there just reading your thread .... I've been getting a dull ache in my tum for couple of weeks I did go to France so wasn't sure if change in water or so on but I do suffer ibs and health anxiety like you this does not help . My mum died of pancreatic cancer 2 years ago and this is always on my mind so I'm a big worrier xx

[Hellly]

Sorry to hear about your Mum Kassery. My mum had (and died of) the exact same thing and now I am paranoid about anything to with my digestive system.

Any pain and I am googling/panicking :-(

[bulan]

Aahhhh, how tiresome gut issues can be.

As an update:

After feeling a sense of pressure in my upper left abdomen and around the lower left ribs for about seven weeks, aching and shooting pains in my upper left abdomen at the front, bloating and constipation on and off, and now aching and burning pain throughout my abdomen...

...I discovered I'll have to start from scratch with a new GI specialist. :(

I learned, quite by accident, that the GI specialist I was seeing had a practice restriction put in place last year by the Ontario College of Surgeons and Physicians.

They give no reason for the restriction, but the fact that it exists is unnerving. Yesterday I told my GP about it, and he seemed to think it was strange, as did the osteopath I saw last week. Nobody seems to think a practice restriction is normal or of no concern, so I feel better about making the switch.

But the downside is that now I'm waiting longer for the colonoscopy and any potential treatment that may be needed. When I saw my GP yesterday, he listened to my abdomen and reported a lot of 'activity' (gurgling, etc.) on the left side. Next, he told me he didn't know how far in advance my new GI specialist was booking.

Fantastic. So my fear skyrocketed again... *Something* is going on, and I have to wait an unknown amount of time to see what it is. :(

Meanwhile, though, I'm working very hard at telling myself that at my age (36), given that my diet is healthy, I'm most likely dealing nothing more sinister than IBS.

Any other IBS stories out there? They would be very reassuring... Thanks in advance.

[bulan]

I'm having another rough evening here. I began the day feeling like I had lost my appetite, but I ate anyway.

Then this feeling of *extreme* bloating came gradually as the day wore on. I feel as if I have a lump of wet dough lodged in my gut.

And on top of that, I have my usual intermittent pain in my left side, just under my ribs.

I feel so vulnerable in this war against anxiety...

But I'm breathing through the fear, and trying to focus on other things, like my son (he's almost 2!! ) and all the ways he makes me smile.

I wonder if my lunch is responsible for this feeling, which I'm ashamed to admit to have eaten: Two small apple strudels, a small blueberry muffin, and a couple savoury danishes. I suppose it was a lot of processed flour to have all at once, especially after a diet of mostly fruits/veggies, whole grains, and fish/chicken over the last month.

Since I'm trying to avoid Dr. Google, this forum is the only other place I can try to find sensible information about what I'm feeling. Has anyone else felt this way after a meal?

[Lilharry]

Having gone through a lot of these symptoms myself, I would say that it's most likely nothing serious and working on lowering your stress levels and not getting anxious about it is one of the most important things you can do as stress chemicals directly affect your digestion in a negative way. You may be experiencing food sensitivities and an elimination diet is a good way to figure out what it is that's affecting you. All sorts of foods can cause inflammation in your gut lining. Gluten is a major culprit, but there are lots of other things too. Also, if you have an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your gut some foods feed that bacteria and make you feel really sick. See if you can get tested for SIBO which stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

[bulan]

Thank you, Lilharry. I will look into that.

Food Sensitivity
About food sensitivities, what triggers them? I'm 36 and have had no problem with any foods, so I wonder how this problem would start, seemingly out of the blue?

TMI
Apologies in advance about this, but today I've had quite a bit of pain up and down the left side of my abdomen. This morning I had quite a large BM which looked normal in every other respect.

But I've had gas and pressure ever since, and later this afternoon I had another BM (that's a lot for one day!). But what troubled me about this one was that it might have been a little pale. I couldn't quite tell.

This morning's looked perfectly normal in colour. Then this one looked mostly brown, but also just a little gray-brown.

Again, I apologize for having to share the gory details, but I'm quite concerned. Does anyone have experience with this?

Blood Test Results
Meanwhile, my urine and blood test results came back, and it seems everything is within the expected range.

BUT I've heard certain problems (incl. many cancers) don't show up in blood tests.

My question is, are there specific markers in the blood that would indicate colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, or any other cancer related to the GI tract?

I'm hoping someone here might have experience with this. Can anyone fill me in, so that I can ask my doctor more informed questions about my symptoms and test results?