Does this sound familiar??

[melby76]

Throughout late June and all of July I had several admissions to hospital with severe abdominal pains. On each of these admissions I was informed I had fecal impaction. Although I have been told by my GP for several years that I likely had IBS, I have never suffered from fecal impaction before.

This time I had severe abdominal distension, right side abdominal pain and inability to have a bowel movement. I’m one of the early visits the consultant advised me that my colon was completely impacted, and from the X-ray she could see there was nothing in my rectum. The last visit I had they once again found blood in my urine and told me I had a kidney infection, a rectal examination was done but I was told it was fine.

The last colonoscopy I had was done about 5 years ago - I was told it was fine, although there was poor visibility so they couldn’t see properly. The last couple of years I’ve fluctuated between constipation and Diarrhea almost on a weekly basis. There’s no blood that I can see, but my stools have become pencil thin over the last few weeks.

I don’t have consistent pain or constipation any longer but that’s only because I’ve been on laxatives/stool softeners for the last few weeks with a range of health supplements which seems to be helping.

I’m now really concerned because it turns out I’m also anaemic - low Hemoglobin and low folate. Although my mom had colon cancer at the age of 56 my GP is refusing to refer me for another colonoscopy, saying that the hospital would’ve done it if they were worried. I’m only 44 so she can’t see there’s a problem. However, the last doctor I saw in hospital said he was going to write in my discharge letter to my Gp that she needed to undertake further investigations including a colonoscopy.

Unfortunately the hospital doctor either lied or he forgot! The information wasn’t put in the discharge letter and my GP won’t listen to a thing I’m telling her. I’m having to go private. I’ve got an appointment with the Nuffield on the 7th September, but I’m worried sick! I’ve had a ct on my kidney and an X-ray on my stomach, would these have shown if there was anything seriously wrong?

I know you can’t diagnose but I’d be grateful if anyone would kindly shed some light on this for me. I’m a single mum and need to be here for my kids.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Hi Melby76, thank you for sharing and I'm sorry to hear about what you are going through. What a nightmare! It is difficult enough to go through the health challenges, but on top of that to have to fight to get the colonoscopy - I'm sorry. I am glad however, that you are fighting for the colonoscopy.

When you do get the colonoscopy, I would recommend that you watch your diet leading up to when you have the prep the night before, you want to make sure that you are totally cleaned out to the best of your ability so that they have good visibility (this is in reference to them saying before that they had poor visibility). Here's a website that has information on what to eat and what to avoid eating in the days leading up to the colonscopy: wa.kaiserpermanente.org/htm...

The family history, fecal impacting, anemia... all of these are things that would lead us to want to encourage you to get a colonoscopy. It is a shame that you need to go private to get this but to get answers, it really is the best next step.

I'm sure you are anxious and I know this is easier said than done, but please don't let the stress get to you too much while you are waiting for the colonoscopy to happen. Our guts are very sensitive to stress and it ends up making everything worse.

A rectal exam will only cover the relatively small space from the anus to the end of the rectum/start of the colon. I'm not sure that a CT of the kidney and stomach would be able to show in any areas beyond the kidney and stomach. In advance of your colonoscopy, it would be great to get copies of any CTs, blood work, etc. so that they can be send to your GI ahead of time so they have a full picture of what you've already been through.

Please keep us posted and keep advocating for your own health!

[melby76 in reply to Nicole_GCCA]

Thanks Nicole, for your reply and all of your information, it is so helpful. Especially the bit about what might lead to poor visibility, no one had mentioned this before.

I’m really disappointed with my GP. She told me that I wouldn’t be eligible for screening until 2 years time at the earliest because it would be 10 years earlier than my moms age when she had it. My mom was 56, I’m 44.

I feel like I have no choice but to go private. I asked for a referral to gastroenterology and she said it wasn’t up to her, which I took to mean she didn’t want to. At this point she’s aware that I was unable to use the toilet without prescribed laxatives, had been admitted to hospital several times for fecal impaction (which she liked to call ‘a bit of constipation’), the shape of my stools having changed and family history.

It was only because I requested a copy of my records for the last few months since I’ve been having tests that I realised I’m anaemic. No one had picked this up from the test results and informed me!

[Nicole_GCCA Partner in reply to melby76]

Wow, I am sorry to hear that they didn't even tell you that you are anemic! Can you change your primary care doctor so that you can start fresh with a new doctor? It sounds like this current primary care doctor is not a good fit for you.

It is true that the guidelines are that you would need to be screened 10 years prior to your family member's age of diagnosis - but my understanding is that if you have symptoms and issues like what you are experiencing, that you would move up the screening.

While I'm sorry that you are going through this, I am glad that you are putting your health as a priority and advocating for getting the tests that you need and deserve.

By getting the colonoscopy and any subsequent blood tests, biopsies, etc., they should be able to help determine what is causing these issues that are giving you such a tough time. Our hope is always of course that it isn't cancer, but you won't know until you get the tests.

Please keep us posted, we are here for you!

[melby76 in reply to Nicole_GCCA]

Thanks Nicole, I will keep you updated.