How long for food to travel through digestive system? HA about BC

[WorriedOlive]

I hate to be that person, but please stop messing about with your faeces? Digestion is a complex chemical process and it's much better just to wait and get tests done.

For the record, I think it's extremely unlikely to be anything, but poking through your poop is never a good move.

Unfortunately I haven’t been offered any other tests. Had a rigid sigmoidoscopy in March and recent bloods for anaemia, both of which were clear.

I’m worried because I know rigid sigmoidoscopys are the old method and not as good as the flexi ones. (Didn’t even have to do prep). The Gastroenterologist said he got a really clear view right up and there were no signs of polyps or blood etc.

Is it normal to have teeny amounts of blood? Because I feel like it’s not :(

[WorriedOlive]

Don't you think the GI would have insisted on a full colonoscopy to begin with if you had red flag symptoms..which you don't? Colonoscopy is not without risk It's an invasive procedure and if the specialist says you don't need one you should be happy with that. Obviously you're not though.

But isn’t blood a red flag symptom? That’s why I’m worrying

[pulisa]

Have you had a FIT bowel screen which tests for blood? It's easy to do and your GP could give you a kit.

[WorriedOlive]

Have you had a FIT bowel screen which tests for blood? It's easy to do and your GP could give you a kit.

My doctor didn’t see the point in doing one as I had already confirmed I had seen blood, so would likely be positive. This is when he referred me onto the gastro who said my combination of symptoms isn’t a red flag (tiny amount of intermittent bright red blood (tiny like a grain of rice size) no sudden change in habits, tummy pain is relieved by going to the toilet, no anaemia, age 26 etc) but as I was worried he performed a rigid sigmoidoscopy to double check. He was certain I had nothing more than ibs and that the morning diarrhoea I get had caused some irritation.

Would you push for further tests if you had the above? I’m conscious I have very bad HA and it makes me want to just push it further and further until I’ve had every test under the sun to reassure me. But at the same time I get so scared something has been missed.

Also have read that mucus isn’t a good sign and I do get clear mucus with my BM, which I thought was common with IBS but now I’m not sure.

[BlueIris]

Seriously, I'd leave it and work on not looking when you flush.

[pulisa]

Seriously, I'd leave it and work on not looking when you flush.

I agree and also stop researching about bowel cancer. Your GI consultant is more qualified to give you a professional opinion than Dr Google.

[MrLurcher]

Thank you for replying. However much I wouldn’t want people to go through the same thing it’s very comforting to hear others have the same problem!

My worry is that this time is was a solid but when poked there was a tiny (couple of mm) bit of red liquid, which looks like blood. So frustrating when it wouldn’t have been visible without inspecting so it makes me feel like I have to inspect to check.

Can I ask, were you given any tests for your symptoms? And how did you manage to get over the worst of it?

Yeah, well firstly I had blood tests for a variety of things - CBC, liver, thyroid, kidneys etc. Nothing was wrong.

Then I returned a month later still not reassured and had CBC again, as well as a few inflammation markers, and stool tests. Again, nothing wrong.

After a few more months, one doctor finally referred me to the gastro team, and I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy. Again, nothing found.

Most of my severe symptoms - the pains, bloating, weird rectal feelings went away a few weeks after the procedure, and it took me a short while to accept it.

So what I'm saying is, I chased and chased for months for a 'diagnosis', but the dr's were right all along.

[pulisa]

All credit to you, Mr L. Chasing a diagnosis is exhausting and pointless but you don't see it at the time. We've all been there-we're trying to help you, WorriedOlive but ultimately it's down to you being receptive to this different view of the situation and you may not be ready for that yet.

[lilysmith123]

I've had bowel issues myself with HA, and it took me a long time to accept there was nothing wrong. I had the works, MRI scans, CT scans, barium enemas, colonoscopies, everything! Nothing, and I still didn't believe my doctor until I was ready to accept it was all in my mind. By focusing on it, I was making it happen. It's really awful to deal with trying to recognise that our brains are so remarkable they can give us these horrible symptoms.

[WorriedOlive]

Hello,

I’ve posted on here recently about BC worries due to seeing red bits when I go to the toilet. (I check obsessively, so often see bits of red food and get really worried) but this morning on the toilet paper there was a black crispy bit! About a quarter of an eraser size, not liquid at all you could pick it up, looks like if you got a bit of black off of burnt toast.
Couldn’t see anything black in the toilet.

Could completely dried blood come out like this? I’m so scared I have a tumour far up in my intestine now. Some sites are saying blood would mix in and create a black sticky appearance, while others are saying black flecks are blood. Would the flecks be dry and crispy?

I have recently eaten a wood fired pizza which has lots of black burnt bits on it, could it be that?

Can’t get this fear out of my mind I’m literally shaking with worry. I also have had some mild indigestion for the past couple of days, so worried about that being a symptom too :(

For context, I am a 26 y/o female.