Bowel Cancer Panic

[liggy]

I'm really hoping that somebody may be able to give me some advice. I am 37 and have always had regular and good bowel movements. From googling I think that for the past few years I have suffered from Proctalgia Fugax (spasms in your bottom that last up to 1/2 an hour) I realise that they are not serious and know how to control them. Then last week I woke up with a real gurgling tummy and needed to go to the toilet immediately, it was looser than normal and very smelly. Since then I have had to go every morning as soon as I wake up, the same loose movements. I am now getting tummy pains all the time and a pressure like feeling in my anus, but not so much that I feel like I have to go again. I am worrying myself sick that it is BC. Don't think I have had any blood as religiously check but convince myself that anything slightly red is blood. I am waking up in the night and my tummy is fine then as soon as I start worring why I've woken up I get tummy ache and then think it must be my tummy waking me up!!! I'm having to go twice a day nd they are always soft and very smelly. Have 2 young kids and don't want to leave them. Am trying to keep diary of it so I can track it, but think if it was just tummy bug it would have gone by now. I had a spinach and chicken curry at about 11 last night and there was black in my movement this morning, would the spinach have passed through this quickly or could it have been blood?? If somebody can help I would be very greatful, thanks. I had full blood test in Jan and abdominal scan, all fine but know this doesn't check bowel.

[LeeBee]

You might have a stomach bug or virus (they can last longer than a week, especially a virus) or maybe IBS. Being anxious can cause "fast digestive transit" - basically when you are anxious or nervous, and you release stress hormones, this causes your body to move the material in your digestive tract much faster than normal, in an attempt to prepare your body for "fight or flight". This can cause light-coloured, soft stools, more frequent movements and urgency. So maybe you have IBS/stomach bug/virus that is being exacerbated by anxiety.

The best thing to do would be to pop to your doctor for a physical exam to put your mind at ease.

[liggy]

Can the stress cause the stomach pains and pressure feeling too? thanks for your reply

[Jaco45er]

Stress and anxiety goes straight to your stomach, anxiety causes tummy upsets.

Did I see that word google? That's the problem, googling

An anxiety sufferer will always go straight to the worst case scenario, it sounds to me like LeeBee said, just an upset tummy or IBS.

If you really are stressing about it, pop to the Docs for re-assurance but it really does sound like nothing to worry about.

TC

Jaco

[LeeBee]

Not sure to be honest, liggy, my own experience is only of urgency, looseness, light colour etc. I had lots of gurgling and discomfort at the same time, but not pain. This went on for about 3 months while I had a virus, and it was definitely worse when I was at my most anxious, and eased off when I was less anxious. IBS can cause stomach pain:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=ibs

[BNCfan]

I understand completely how worried you must be. I also would suggest that it's some kind of bug, but if you're so worried go to your doctor and ask to have a stool sample done. It may initially make your anxiety worse waiting for the result, but there are lots of other more simple things it could be other than cancer that can be easily treated. I know I'm one to talk, because the slightest symptom becomes cancer in my mind. I don't think it's related to the muscle spasms you describe. You say you have two little children and believe me little kids can bring some nasty bugs home with them. I hope you get things checked out, it's the only way to get peace of mind. Just occurrred to me, have you been away on holiday recently? Another way of picking up nasty bugs.

[jojo2316]

I had to write a reply to your post because I could have written it myself, right down to the two young children bit!
It is an amazing thing, but the gut seems to actually respond when you are thinking and worrying about it. I got into a state about bowel cancer a few months back and boom! suddenly I had loose stools and needed to go to the loo all the time. I had pains and horrid sensations too. then my health anxiety moved on to something else (throat cancer!) and, although I was just as worried, my bowel symptoms almost went away. Then I started worrying about bowel cancer again and, guess what, the symptoms came back! The body is an amazing thing.
You know, for peace of mind, you can order those fecal occult blood tests over the internet. They will tell you for sure whether there is any hidden blood. And as my gp said, no hidden blood, no cancer.
Hope you feel better soon!
xx

[liggy]

Hello all

thanks so much for your replies, actually went to docs on monday and stressed the fact about looseness, smellyness and also stressed (good word!!) the rectal pressure and ache that I've been feeling. He checked my tummy and said all felt ok, said I probably had low grade bowel infection/bug and gave me Keflex antibiotics for a week. I have stopped having loose poos although they have gone thinner than normal (worrying me that I have an obstruction!!) they have stopped smelling so bad and stomach gripes not so bad apart from after BMs and still have some little gripes in lower tummy in day. Problem is the rectal pressure and aching is still there and really worrying me and it also is quite itchy?? worse after BM. Am intending to go back to docs aftr antibiotics finished to check out this pressure and aching, any ideas would be appreciated??
Thanks

[lennons_mammy]

If it is still there when you finish your antibiotics then you should go back to put your mind at rest. Are you still getting black in your poo?

[liggy]

No I think that was the spinach! it's just this aching, trouble is I sit down all day and am worrying about it and know how powerful my mind is ! could I really make my rectum ache with my mind though??!!