Bowel cancer worries

[jojo2316]

Thanks again for the reply jray, it's much appreciated to try and explain my thoughts as logical. Not sure why I can't help but go on cancer sites, it's still reassurance seeking I think. Unfortunately all the scare stories and missed diagnosis of the world remain ingrained in my head, and I don't trust the doctors fully. I haven't trusted docs completely from a bad experience at 19 when my doctor at the time sent me for blood tests, and a specialist referral because of ' bigger than normal taste buds' and I was getting boughts of 'geographic tongue'. That doc scared the crap out of me, and I ended up researching things like HIV, AIDS, Immune issues which can cause bumps and burn marks on your tongue. There was nothing wrong with me, the bumps were 'bigger taste buds' and 'geographic tongue' is benign condition, usually caused by acidic food and low zinc - which I didn't have. But I was sent into a panic for months, and always left wondering surely a doc should know what taste buds looks like.

I'm not keen on medication because I've had symptoms when I'm not anxious - like this stomach/bowel pains back in May. I was probably very stressed, but don't quite believe the pains came from that.

Regarding the info on the 92/100 people needing polyps removed, that was from a online NHS leaflet about colonoscopy.

This week a welsh politician died from bowel cancer, aged 34 - only two years older than me. So it can happen to younger people, and is usually left too left because docs are unwilling to refer because of age.

I - and lots of other people on here - must be amongst the 8% then because I didn’t need any polyps removing. It probably depends on the population you are scoping. I imagine polyps are fairly common in the over 70s who have blood in their stool.

So. Re the meds. You seem to be saying you don’t think meds are appropriate because your symptoms are real? I’m just trying to make sure I understand you properly.

[MrLurcher]

I - and lots of other people on here - must be amongst the 8% then because I didn’t need any polyps removing. It probably depends on the population you are scoping. I imagine polyps are fairly common in the over 70s who have blood in their stool.

So. Re the meds. You seem to be saying you don’t think meds are appropriate because your symptoms are real? I’m just trying to make sure I understand you properly.

I don't know - just read the info here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-...olonoscopy.pdf

Out of every 100 people who get a colonoscopy, 92 will have to get polyps removed and 6 will have bowel cancer. 2 will have nothing. Quite scary stats.

Yes, my stomach pains are real, I've head 3 boughts of pain and bloat this year, and perhaps similar boughts in the past. My stools are always softer, and I get bloated (without pain) very often.

[Fishmanpa]

So. Re the meds. You seem to be saying you don’t think meds are appropriate because your symptoms are real? I’m just trying to make sure I understand you properly.

From the OP's ALS thread which includes the reference to being prescribed meds (the beginning of Dec 2018)...

Around 5% of me believes that this is all just anxiety.

That says it all. I also posted about the all too familiar posting pattern we see in many that are deep in the rabbit hole. I'm afraid this is, like many on the boards, an exercise in futility and frustration, especially to those that see the pattern so clearly.

Positive thoughts

[MrLurcher]

I do know how ridiculous it seems to jump from one illness to themselves, but the symptoms are there and real.

If I didn't have a history of HA and presented to my GP with those symptoms - recurrent boughts of pain, bloating, loose stools - I would surely be referred or investigated further.

[jojo2316]

I don't know - just read the info here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-...olonoscopy.pdf

Out of every 100 people who get a colonoscopy, 92 will have to get polyps removed and 6 will have bowel cancer. 2 will have nothing. Quite scary stats.

.

From the NHS leaflet you linked to:

“You have been invited to have a colonoscopy because small growths called polyps were found when you had NHS bowel scope screening”

So the population being scoped in this case HAS ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH POLYPS. No wonder most of them need polyps removing!

So I still feel you haven’t answered my question about the meds. What has the “realness” of your symptoms got to do with it? I’m genuinely trying to understand....

---------- Post added at 14:09 ---------- Previous post was at 14:06 ----------

I do know how ridiculous it seems to jump from one illness to themselves, but the symptoms are there and real.

If I didn't have a history of HA and presented to my GP with those symptoms - recurrent boughts of pain, bloating, loose stools - I would surely be referred or investigated further.

They would probably do a fecal blood test and if that was negative would take it no further. But your history of anxiety if HIGHLY RELEVANT because anxiety and stress plays a key role in IBS (I know from experience )

[MrLurcher]

From the NHS leaflet you linked to:

“You have been invited to have a colonoscopy because small growths called polyps were found when you had NHS bowel scope screening”

So the population being scoped in this case HAS ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH POLYPS. No wonder most of them need polyps removing!

So I still feel you haven’t answered my question about the meds. What has the “realness” of your symptoms got to do with it? I’m genuinely trying to understand....

Doh. That serves right me for not reading things properly.

I guess I think I am, or am scared that there's something physically wrong with me, therefore treating me mentally won't help.

How did you go about getting a colonoscopy btw?

[BlueIris]

Wouldn't it be easier to deal with any physical issues that did arise if you weren't crippled by anxiety?

[Fishmanpa]

Answer the question about the meds. Why haven't you started them?

Positive thoughts

[jojo2316]

Doh. That serves me for not reading things properly.

I guess I think I am, or am scared that there's something physically wrong with me, therefore treating me mentally won't help.

But the symptoms you are suffering are very wide spread. Do you think you are likely to be suffering from MS AND bowel cancer simultaneously ? (And there have been others too, haven’t there?). Statistically it is unlikely that you have developed several rare diseases at the same time. But there is one condition that can explain ALL your symptoms: anxiety

So put your rational head on. What is the most likely explaination?

[MrLurcher]

Wouldn't it be easier to deal with any physical issues that did arise if you weren't crippled by anxiety?

Yes, it has crossed my mind that if there is something wrong with me, it would be better if I wasn't mentally so weak. Right now, if I was given a diagnosis of crohns, colitis, cancer etc I think I would breakdown completely. I had a mini breakdown when my dog died (of bowel cancer incidentally) back in October, didn't think I'd ever get over it. Still not recovered completely from the loss if I'll be honest. Tearing up just writing about him......

---------- Post added at 14:23 ---------- Previous post was at 14:22 ----------

Answer the question about the meds. Why haven't you started them?

Positive thoughts

I thought I had, this - 'I'm scared that there's something physically wrong with me, therefore treating me mentally won't help'

Plus there's the other issues with bipolar in the family, which I've already posted about.......meds kickstarting bipolar etc.