Bowel cancer or ibs? Unexplained abdominal pain for 4 years (Always on my lower right abdomen) - I’m worried sick

[ymncl]

I’m 23 and have been having an unexplained chronic abdominal pain for 4 years. The pain is dull and cramping like, and it’s always on my lower right abdomen. The pain usually becomes more apparent while I’m stationary, especially when lying flat on my back. I have had loose stool (sometimes constipation) for 4 years. Always bloated and have stomach growling. The pain often goes away after going to the loo, but it always comes back, particularly when and after I eat.

I have seen several doctors and been into A&E several times. Thought to have appendicitis or IBD, but the gut x-ray, mri test, countless blood tests, urine tests, and a stool test all came back normal.

Most of the doctors said I have ibs, as I’m young and dont have any serious red-flagged symptoms (i.e., no fever, no weight loss, no blood in stool) that indicated bowel cancer or IBD. I was relieved in the beginning, but the pain comes back again and again, affecting me everyday. I’M WORRIED SICK..

Many doctors reassured me that I would not have survived if it were bowel cancer, considering that the pain has been there for 4 years... But it’s not reassuring AT ALL. I cannot stop thinking about it. I cannot ignore it as if the pain doesnt exist. It is definitely there, always on my lower right hand side.

Anyone having similar situations? Can I request to see a specialist? Or should I get a colonoscopy from private clinics? It’s really expensive thoo..

[Wintersbite]

Hi I was young too when I first had signs and symptoms of colon cancer and I was undiagnosed for two years thay even took me off my medication for my epilepsy it took me moving to a new area to get everything sorted and answering yes to some odd questions by the new doctor.

You pain when you say where it is is it like you put your hand to the stomach area but tell the doctor there but NOT YOUR STOMACH BEHIND YOUR STOMACH and left or right?

Also even stranger do you suffer with back pain? Like since you were a teen? This one I thought was the most strangest one but apparently it was the best answer .

If you answered yes to these odd questions ask them to test your back and not your front and if you do have anything this time they will find it as that's how they found it with me ( thay were looking in the wrong place) and with me found it just in time .

I was 28/29 when I started feeling unwell as my mum had just passed away from cancer I thought I was just run down from losing her but it wasn't I'm now 39 I thanks to that doctor I have survived two attacks of colon cancer and a lymp node in my lung removed and for me chemo treatment didn't work so I now only have 10% of my bowls left and I'm in my last year of being free for 5yrs .

Play it safe and them to check your back area if you answered yes to these two questions thay are real doctor questions.

[ymncl in reply to Wintersbite]

Thanks for your reply and info!! I’m sorry for all the things you’ve gone through. Glad to hear you are recovering!

The dull pain I have had is, I would say, more up/front (closer to my stomach rather than my back) and always on my lower right side - exactly where my appendix is. I don’t have back pain, but my coccyx does hurt sometimes, around similar time the pain occurs ... Not sure if its related.....

I have asked my gp to call me back.. not sure if he could refer me to a specialist..

Do you have other symptoms apart from abdominal/back pain??

So do you suggest that I should go to have a colonoscopy in a private clinic, instead of waiting to be seen by a specialist??

[Wintersbite in reply to ymncl]

I would then go with the suggestion that Dia89 made about the colonoscopy as by the sounds of it Dia89 seems to have the best answer for you than myself but as with life everyone has a different experience and knowledge so with your reply I believe Dia89 seems to have the best answer for you than myself. Good luck

[Dia89]

I’m afraid the only way to know for sure is to have a colonoscopy. The other thing I would do is to see a gynaecologist and get a scan of ovaries, they in this area too and can cause pain .

Good luck!