Page 3 of 9 FirstFirst 12345 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 82

Thread: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    4,918

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedOlive View Post
    Since last posting I feel like I am going downhill. I have been up all night with acid reflux and nausea and I’m terrified this means I have some serious advanced illness.
    If you had advanced cancer, there would be a lot more going on inside your body. You are terrifying yourself. You are ramping up your stress levels which is creating the acid that's keeping you up!

    I can’t get the reddish BM out of my head since reading cancer patients saying they wish they had acted sooner.
    Your HA mind is making a connection from bits of tomato in your poo (normal) to somebody who actually has cancer talking about actual blood in their poo that they didn't immediately act upon.

    Have you ever done a FIT test?

    I’m just so scared I have these awful scenarios going through my head of being referred to colonoscopy and being told I have stage 4 Bowel cancer and leaving my partner behind when we are supposed to have a whole life left to live together.
    Seeing a gastroenterologist on Monday and I’m so nervous
    I've had abdominal pain for two months and a load of other symptoms since February. I can't get into my surgery, let alone see a specialist, and I've just been told I could be waiting for up to a year for a colonoscopy!

    At least, you are being seen. A lot of people are just having to suffer on at the moment, so at least look at the positives.

    Not sure what I’m trying to achieve with this post, more reassurance I suppose. Finding life hard right now
    I really hope the gastroenterologist can alleviate your fears on Monday. You'll just have to do your best until then. Stay on the rollercoaster or use this time to try and calm yourself or work on the health anxiety because this really is the best time to start.

    Good luck.
    __________________
    A thought is harmless unless we believe it.

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    , , United Kingdom.
    Posts
    473

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    It depends on what the gastro doc thinks is causing your symptoms whether you would need tests but my guess is probably not . My reflux has been going on for 5 months and no one is very bothered but me . You might get a blood test for helicobacter to rule that out . And if it was that a course of antibiotics get rid of it . Ive honestly never heard of reflux being connected to the bowel as such . In fact the gastro doctor i spoke to a few weeks ago didn't even ask about my bowels . I know how easy it is to let this all get to much believe me im the same . Hopefully you will feel better after seeing the doctor. Xx

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    110

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by NoraB View Post
    If you had advanced cancer, there would be a lot more going on inside your body. You are terrifying yourself. You are ramping up your stress levels which is creating the acid that's keeping you up!
    I know, I feel terrified and I know it’s all my own doing. I’ve had this obsession since developing IBS. Acid reflux is a new symptom for me and I have had bad anxiety for a while. Not sure if it’s something I’ve read about. I read a lot of the ‘young people with Bowel cancer’ on cancer UK is the website and they had a whole manner of symptoms, some people none at all which is just terrifying!! I’m so mad at myself for doing it but I thought it would make me feel better by reading the symptoms are a lot more severe than IBS.

    Websites like that make it seem like it’s a really common occurrence for young people to get it. My doctor has told me that it’s extremely rare and most people my age with BC (under 30s) have a family history/genetic condition that increases the chances, but it mentions that rarely in the stories. He said the guidelines for people with lynch syndrome don’t even start colonoscopies until age 25 so it would be very rare for a 26 y/o with no family history to have BC. I try to use these things to reassure myself but reading lots of stories makes it seem untrue.


    Quote Originally Posted by NoraB View Post
    Your HA mind is making a connection from bits of tomato in your poo (normal) to somebody who actually has cancer talking about actual blood in their poo that they didn't immediately act upon.

    Have you ever done a FIT test?
    I worry blood in poo wouldn’t be obvious, as it says it could be occult. I haven’t had a FIT test since my first stool sample in 2017 when diagnosed with IBS. However for some reason any time I’ve had to have a blood test the doctor always checks for anemia so I know since I started worrying about blood in poo around this time last year, I’ve been checked for anemia 4 times and have never had low iron at all. My doctor thinks this is reassuring. The last test was end of August.

    Quote Originally Posted by NoraB View Post
    I've had abdominal pain for two months and a load of other symptoms since February. I can't get into my surgery, let alone see a specialist, and I've just been told I could be waiting for up to a year for a colonoscopy!

    At least, you are being seen. A lot of people are just having to suffer on at the moment, so at least look at the positives.
    That’s a crazy waiting time! I’m lucky to have private health insurance through work so wait time’s are pretty quick. I hope you manage to get an appointment soon.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    4,918

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedOlive View Post
    I worry blood in poo wouldn’t be obvious, as it says it could be occult. I haven’t had a FIT test since my first stool sample in 2017 when diagnosed with IBS. However for some reason any time I’ve had to have a blood test the doctor always checks for anemia so I know since I started worrying about blood in poo around this time last year, I’ve been checked for anemia 4 times and have never had low iron at all. My doctor thinks this is reassuring. The last test was end of August.
    Checking for anaemia is routine - especially with IBS type symptoms. No anaemia is a good sign - as is a clear FIT test. This applies to me, but then I'm not making the cancer connection because it's not very likely given a clear colonoscopy in 2017. If it was clear then, it's highly unlikely that I will have developed colon cancer in 3 years. However, I am in pain all the time and it's dragging me down because that's what being in constant pain does - even with the best intentions. I did have a good cry yesterday and it helped - even if I did look like a pig afterwards with my nose all massive and puffy.

    That’s a crazy waiting time! I’m lucky to have private health insurance through work so wait time’s are pretty quick. I hope you manage to get an appointment soon.
    It is crazy mate. Obviously it's due to Covid because normally I'd be having the colonoscopy within a couple of months - max. I almost fell off my chair when the Doctor said it could be a year!

    This might sound bonkers but I'm almost hoping my Calprotectin test comes back showing inflammation because at least that gets me seen sooner and I will be closer to an explanation for why I'm in pain. However, gut feeling (soz) is that it's going to come back clear as all the other tests have done, except Vit B12 - which was low.

    On the one hand another clear test is good, but I'm still in pain and this means I will have to struggle on, you know?

    I can honestly say that I'm not scared, but I am very frustrated.
    __________________
    A thought is harmless unless we believe it.

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    110

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Adding to this thread rather than creating a new one for context.

    Just had a phone consultation with a gastroenterologist. He said he thinks it’s IBS and if there is blood it’s most likely caused by little blood vessels in the colon but he wants to do a colonoscopy. He said it isn’t something he feels he has to do but that I won’t stop worrying unless he does... and now I’m worried!!! My brain is now thinking he clearly thinks there’s a chance I have Bowel cancer and he needs to check! I asked him directly how likely it is to be BC and he said minuscule like 0.something %.

    He left the choice of the colonoscopy up to me, and said we could just try and tackle the IBS and see if that helps and that it’s up to me. Is this because it’s private? Do they just hand out colonoscopies? I’m freaking out!!!

    It’s non urgent so have to wait 4-6 weeks.

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    24,667

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedOlive View Post
    he wants to do a colonoscopy. He said it isn’t something he feels he has to do but that I won’t stop worrying unless he does

    It’s non urgent so have to wait 4-6 weeks.
    So he obviously knows of your HA, gave YOU the choice of doing it or not and offered an alternative to treat the real issue, AND its non-urgent. What about that at all is concerning?

    Positive thoughts
    __________________
    "Eat. Drink. Enjoy the work you do. Be thankful for the blessings God gives you in this life. Live, love and seek out the things that bring your heart joy. The rest is meaningless... Like chasing the wind." King Solomon

    The best help is the help you give yourself! http://cbt4panic.org/

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    110

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fishmanpa View Post
    So he obviously knows of your HA, gave YOU the choice of doing it or not and offered an alternative to treat the real issue, AND its non-urgent. What about that at all is concerning?

    Positive thoughts
    Because if the chance of me having something seriously wrong was really that low I wonder why they would offer to do it so easily, probably just my brain being irrational

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    24,667

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedOlive View Post
    I wonder why they would offer to do it so easily
    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedOlive View Post
    He said it isn’t something he feels he has to do but that I won’t stop worrying unless he does...
    Positive thoughts
    __________________
    "Eat. Drink. Enjoy the work you do. Be thankful for the blessings God gives you in this life. Live, love and seek out the things that bring your heart joy. The rest is meaningless... Like chasing the wind." King Solomon

    The best help is the help you give yourself! http://cbt4panic.org/

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    16,747

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedOlive View Post
    Because if the chance of me having something seriously wrong was really that low I wonder why they would offer to do it so easily, probably just my brain being irrational
    Because you are paying for it.

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    110

    Re: Is Acid Reflux a symptom of Bowel cancer?

    Quote Originally Posted by pulisa View Post
    Because you are paying for it.
    I did wonder if that would have a part to play but I’m not sure, do they generally just do want you want privately? I haven’t really used my insurance up until now as haven’t had medical tests in years, apart from a rigid sigmoidoscopy but that gastroenterologist didn’t want to do a colonoscopy!

    Thankfully he’s also referred me to a dietitian and for CBT to try and combat what he suspects the issue is - IBS.

    I asked about CC and he said ‘no one can be 100% sure without a colonoscopy.. but it’s exceedingly unlikely like 0. Something %’ I know it’s mad, but really latched onto the no one can be 100% thing.

Page 3 of 9 FirstFirst 12345 ... LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Stomach Cancer / Acid Reflux
    By Worryovernothing in forum Health Anxiety
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 23-04-19, 10:41
  2. Acid reflux/menopause/ cancer
    By k9love in forum Health Anxiety
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 19-06-11, 12:47
  3. acid reflux, nausea, liver cancer?
    By jessieblue in forum Health Anxiety
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 21-07-09, 13:33
  4. Is this a symptom of IBS/acid reflux? Help!
    By betty72 in forum IBS, IBD, Bowel, Stomach problems
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-03-09, 13:10

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •