33 with symptoms.

[Gwen-1]

Hi, I’m 33 and have recently quit drinking.

Since I’ve had irregular bowel movements and a lot off abdominal pain.

I was a heavy drinker for about three years, and was finding diarrhoea normal. Some days I would have normal size good stools.

I have been under a lot of stress the last year because off a bad relationship and have not been able to control off good eating patterns and water consumption.

My stools are similar to those on here with them being narrow, long and sometimes Diarrhoea.

Feeling a lot like unemptied bowels most off the time causing pain.

fatigue is immense, and Ive have high anxiety all my life so constantly thinking about it is making me very nervous each day.

I’m not sure if a pap shows anything there but mine was clear last year.

I have had hemroids before. No noticeable dark or blood in stools just irregular with different consistencies.

I’m very worried, I have two small children and have recently split from my partner.

is there anyway at home would can rule out cancer? While waiting to see a doctor for results. I’m terrified.

[Dalph87]

Narrow. How narrow? Usually for colon cancer they are pencil thin, but IBS can cause narrow ribbon like stool as well.

At 33 it's unlikely you have cancer, unless you have family history of the disease but even in that case you won't necessarily get it, you'll just have higher risk.

If you don't see blood it can be just IBS, check for your inner eyelids, if they are not a vibrant red but they are pale that could be a sign of anemia and blood loss (occult).

[mikeuk1984]

I am 36 and have most of the symptoms except the weight loss.

The only advise is to contact your doctor, yesterday mine assessed me and now I have an appointment for a blood test and a CT Scan.

Probably like yourself, to say I am scared is an understatement. The wait is going to be horrible.

[Nicole_GCCA Partner in reply to mikeuk1984]

Hi Mikeuk1984, thanks for posting on here and I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms. When wil your scan be? The waiting time to see a Dr. or get scan results can feel like torture. I hope your appointment is in the not to far future. Please keep us updated, we're here for you.

~Nicoe @ GCCA

[mikeuk1984 in reply to Nicole_GCCA]

I have been advised that I will hear from the hospital within 2 weeks, if not to contact my doctor and let her know.

Blood test is on monday!

[Nicole_GCCA Partner in reply to mikeuk1984]

Glad to hear you've got the blood test on Monday. Keep us posted and if you don't hear from the hospital, do contact your doctor to keep the scheduling moving. Especially with COVID-19, things are a bit crazy, you don't want to get lost in the system!

Hoping for good results

~Nicole @ GCCA

[amc202 in reply to mikeuk1984]

What were the results of your tests? I have been having symptoms and am very anxious and concerned, but because I am not high risk, I have to wait another month to see a GI doctor and see what they say and if I can get scheduled for a colonoscopy. I have been losing my mind with worry and cry all the time. Thanks.

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Hi Gwen-1,

Thank you for posting and sharing with us, and I'm sorry to hear about all that you are going through.

Seeing a specialist is the only way to determine what is going on with your body. Where you live and health insurance often determine what your next steps are. Sometimes you start off with a GP who may prescribe an at home stool-test that you then send it, which is looking for blood in the stool. There are also tests that are sDNA test, also a stool test but looking at abnormalities in DNA in the stool.

Try your best not to let anxiety get you down, anxiety can make existing GI problems much worse. I know it is easy for me to say not to let it bother you, a lot easier to say it than to do it, I know.

I hope you are able to get an appointment very soon and start to get some answers to what's going on with your body.

Please keep us posted as you get an appointment.

We're here for you,

~Nicole @ GCCA

[Wexford1968]

I had most of those symptoms and I was diagnosed with bowel cancer 2 years ago but I did have blood in my stools , I would get a colonoscopy ASAP do you have a history of colon cancer in your family, if not I wouldn’t think you have cancer but I would get checked. Good luck

[amc202]

Hi. Did you ever figure out what was going on? Did you get a CT scan, colonoscopy, etc? Hopefully you are feeling better.