Terrified.....

[Kayanne1980]

Hi all

I am a 35 yr old female with some bowel issues going on for the last 4 weeks or so, firstly I am a massive Health anxiety sufferer, since this year begun I have had a chest x-ray due to a cough that would not go away which was normal as I thought I had lung cancer , it then progressed into my throat and I thought it was cancer of the throat, I went to ENT whom scoped my throat and it was normal, it was then my stomach due to repetitive acid reflux and got my GP to refer me to the Gastro doc for an endoscopy which was normal, BUT since then my poops have been mushy and for about 2 weeks now my BM have been more frequent, looser and narrower (which is terrifying me as this is colon cancer), but the most horrific is I jumped on the scales last night and I have lost 4lbs in a matter of 2 weeks....(not good), am I eating less, I think so as my partner was struggling with stomach issues too at the time, we have both had a stool sample check and it was normal but just checking for infection not sure if it checks for blood, anyone know?

I am very worried, I never loose weight just like that! I am very nervous and so scared, I cannot seem to concentrate or sleep anymore....I have decided to go private and get a colonoscopy as I know my GP will not refer me as I have been back and forth there for the last 7 months with throat issues etc....

I am petrified of what they find........please can someone advise me further.......

[Grae]

Hi

If you have had a stool check I am sure they would test for blood etc in the stool. Also I would guess that perhaps your more frequent looser movements are probably down to worry. Do not just leave it though just because you feel you are constantly troubling them. You seem to have had a lot of checks which should be reassuring. The only thing left to have is a camera up inside rather than an endoscopy which is down your throat if i remember.I was 40 when I had rectal cancer and yes they are reluctant to spend money on people our age. I am reassured by the fact you have had a stool check though.

[Kayanne1980 in reply to Grae]

Hi there

Thanks for replying, this is terrifying for me and my HA has kicked in BIG time, feeling so nauseous and just terrified, cant think of anything, just googling all the time and petrified for the future, how will I cope and will I make it!

I am sorry to hear about your cancer, I hope you are now better!

I have take it a step further and seeing a Gastro Consultant tonight privately as I know my GP will just say its your anxiety causing IBS, the usual story......I will ask the Gastro for a colonoscopy for which again private...wasting no time! The weight loss is the worrying thing for me with the loose movements, not sleeping, having about 1000 calories a day less than what I am used to...

As I mentioned my partner was having tummy issues too all of last week and the week before, but he is now better and me>.......STILL struggling and loosing weight and just so scared!

I genuinely feel like crawling into a hole....I cant take this anymore.......

I wish i know if the stool check they did checked for blood

[Grae in reply to Kayanne1980]

I am sure they would have checked your stools for that. When you get the all clear from the colonoscopy you need to put these thoughts away and hope it settles down. Stress can do all sorts to your body including bowel movements and reflux and reducing appetite. i hope you will get quick results so that you can rest easier. I'm sure it will be ok with the tests youve already had. Let me know if poss.

[Kayanne1980]

I know, but they say blood or no blood, weight loss and persistent change in movements are a cause for concern, so blood or none its still a massive risk factor.... The tests I have already had where nothing to do with my issues now, they all happened in Jan-June with various other symptoms but then this comes along and pulls me right under.....petrified & confused, I google every day for hours, reading on stories of survivors and relating myself to them....I wish I could sleep, I do sleep but have nightmares of blood in toilet bowls and then I suddenly wake and cant sleep again, pick my phone up and start googling again, I feel so stupid but need to urgently have a scope.

[Fran01]

I fill for you in the pain and stress it has put you through of not being able to get diagnosed with the problems that you have been getting and with that amount of weight you have lost. I do hope that you get the results from going private. I do here suffer a great deal amount of time on the toilet so I am to frightened to go the GP about it. I get a lot of white and yellow gue coming out of my bowels all the time.

[Kayanne1980]

Hi Fran01.

I am going on Friday for the colonoscopy, I have to do something, this has been playing badly on my mind....

[wildelesley]

the best advice i can give is to stop googling! you can scare yourself unecessarily by reading symptoms that may only match what you are thinking might be the outcome. rest assured you have had the results from a poop test which will have covered everything. there are other things that can cause weight loss (like stress from googling and worrying). and stress and anxiety cause a flood of hormones that supress appetite too.

honestly, googling symptoms is the worst thing you can do.

[Kayanne1980 in reply to wildelesley]

Hi there

Thanks. I have stopped googling but the anxiety is still sky high! Ive tried to keep my mind off my stomach issues but its driving me mad. Keep thinking i have a tumor in my colon!! Its a horrid feeling!

[Kayanne1980]

Hi all

I didnt go for the colonoscopy as it was private so opted to go to my go again. He has taken full bloods, these were taken Wed morning but still have no results which is making me panic and also he said he would refer me for a colonoscopy and i have received the letter today, that means he has referred me urgently therefore suspecting cc!!!

I am worried about the blood tests now and the urgent referral convinced myself i have cc!

I am in a right panic and worried state and really need some advice or someonr to talk to.....

[rammsteinqueen in reply to Kayanne1980]

They refer patients due to their symptoms. A 2WW is usually the case in change of bowel habits and/or blood. I am in exactly the same boat. I have been referred for a sigmoidoscopy and go 9 September. I am worried but know it could be a number of things. All the best, please let us know how you get on.

[Kayanne1980 in reply to rammsteinqueen]

Hi

I made the appointment today and they told me it was not an urgent referral so i have the initial appt in sep 22nd, im petrified to say the least!

[rammsteinqueen in reply to Kayanne1980]

Good. Now just don't go googling and worrying yourself more - easier said than done I know. Take it easy

[Kayanne1980 in reply to rammsteinqueen]

I google everyday. Check my stomach, eye lids the lot im in such a state its pathetic i know but my nerves are so bad

[Kayanne1980 in reply to rammsteinqueen]

Let me me know the outcome of your procedure... Good luck

Im just loosing weight now which is freaking me out even more so!

[rammsteinqueen in reply to Kayanne1980]

They bought it forward a day - I had it yesterday. Although I must be clear, I had the sigmoidoscopy (endoscopy) where you are awake and not sedated. However being as they didn't find anything sinister they want to give me a colonoscopy just to be sure. I have had colonoscopy before and I think I just fell asleep I was that relaxed - I certainly don't remember much about it, only joking with the clinicians in the room - the sedation feels wonderful! however, yesterday wasn't great fun, it took about 10-15 minutes altogether and they took about 6 biopsies which don't hurt. It's when they insert the air into your colon that it can feel uncomfortable. I was anxious (they must get loads of people that are) so trying to relax, deep breathe and the nurses talk to you as the doctor carries out the work so distract you Do you know what procedure you're having?

[Kayanne1980 in reply to rammsteinqueen]

Hi good that they found nothing sinister! Im having a colonoscopy, terrified!

[Hello1066]

Hi, read your post and it’s just me, stress has taken me down the very same road, googled every symptom you mentioned, had every cancer you suspected. I’ve had four polyps removed , small bowel 2004, Uterine, nasal and oral. All benign11 breast lumps, benign four skin cancers, so anything new screams cancer. Suffering from stress bowel now, loose narrow, stools and clear bowel screen for the last four years, clear colonoscopies for the last 16 years, but stress can hurt your body, I hope you found your safe place and moved on safely, I’m still finding mine

[feelsotired]

hey, I think you are worrying too much and those bm changes are obviously caused by your anxiety, let us know how are you right now.