Slightly Panicky!! help! :)

[CarlV]

Could do with a little help/advice from some of you clever people.

I've done two home FIT tests (they're a self-test for microscopic amounts of blood in your stool). It's replaced the older FOB test and apparently is more accurate.

The first one I did this morning was positive (meaning there was evidence of blood in my stool.)

The second was negative.

However, I've since found out that the first test was a lot more sensitive than the second. So, despite me being rather relieved about the second test...I'm actually a bit MORE anxious.

Anyone experience with this kind of thing?

I've been having stomach pains for about 5 months, and I'm slightly low on iron. That's the only symptoms I've been having. No C or D. Seen some mucus in my stool twice over a 24 hour period. But it was only one day in 5 months.

The WEIRD thing is that my stomach has actually been a lot better over the past 72 hours!

I should probably add that my mum died of Bowel Cancer when she was 50 (I'm 43 now) after suffering from Crohns for years. This makes me ever more worrisome.

I'm going on holiday with my family for two weeks on Sunday- and I know this is going to hang over me for the entire time we're there. I've actually arranged to see a GI doctor on Monday when we get there.

I've assumed all along that I've "just" got IBS (I may still have of course!)- and I only did the first test to set my mind at rest- and it's done the opposite!

[BrendasBaby2]

Hi CarlV. I'm not very experienced about your tests but have you lost any weight? I have lost over half a stone in a few weeks and have obvious bleeding from my bottom but a CT scan was clear. I am still having a colonoscopy but what I am saying is your body can make you think you have all sorts of things with good reason when you haven't. I'm not in the clear and would definitely say GO to your doctor but please try not to think the worst unless or until you have to. Good luck xx

[Loopyshrew]

Definitely follow this up. Different test I think, but my first showed abnormality, second was clear. I will always be grateful that I was asked to do a third test, again abnormal. This led to a tumour being found early and treatment has been successful. Could be something far less scary, but don't leave it too long to find out. Good luck.

[Mc-uk]

Run don’t walk to a highly competent gastroenterologist to get a colonoscopy - don’t listen to any crap from your GP; those tests are not 100% reliable (some tumoirs don’t bleed).

While it could be several other things (IBS, etc) you’ve got a family history of bowel cancer and are showing some classic symptoms (anemia, assumedly bowel upset, blood in stools, assumedly bowel pain?) of bowel cancer.

This is massively easier to treat in the earlier stages - even if you have to pay for itself do it!

Don’t delay