This is my first post in this community. After a few weeks of stomach upsets and changes in bowel habit I had a FIT test earlier this week. My doctor rang today and advised my score was 30 against the normal level of 10.
As a result he is going to refer me for a colonoscopy, so hopefully I'll get a date sooner rather than later. To make things worse an intermittent dull ache has developed to the right of my belly button in the last couple of days.
Obviously I'm very worried about it all, can I read anything into a FIT score of this level? Any advice or tips would be much appreciated
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Ceorl
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Thank you for sharing and I'm sorry you are experiencing symptoms. My best advice is to focus on the upcoming colonoscopy and not be too focused on "what ifs" at this point. A FIT measures blood in your stool and while a positive FIT will lead to a colonoscopy, it doesn't mean you have colorectal cancer, it means you need a colonoscopy for the doctor to see what's going on.
I know that is a lot easier said than done, to "not think about it". Our GI systems are highly sensitive to stress so when we are anxious or stressed out, symptoms will get worse.
Here's some suggestions to help you focus on the next step in determining what's going on in your body:
1. Make getting the colonoscopy date your #1 priority. Depending on where you live, how COVID-19 has affected procedures at the hospital or facility, it may be difficult to get a colonoscopy scheduled as soon as you'd like. Our advice: be the squeaky wheel. If it is hard to get an appointment, keep calling, ask about cancellations, any opportunities for you to be scheduled.
2. Once you get the prescription for the prep that you'll drink, follow your doctor's instructions exactly. You want to have the cleanest colon for the doctor to be able to see everything with no fecal matter obscuring the way. We like this tool that Kaiser Permanente put together (with drawings!) that shows food to avoid and foods to eat leading up to when you actually start drinking the prep. wa.kaiserpermanente.org/htm...
3. Get prepared to prep! Many people say the prep is the worst part of the colonoscopy procedure as a whole. Depending on what your doctor prescribes, it may be a lot of the same drink with the medication mixed in (such as Gatorade) vs. a smaller volume of prep that you drink, and then separately drink a certain amount of liquid of your choice (excluding something like a red Gatorade which could stain your colon for the test).
a. In addition to picking up your prescription, buy yourself some supplies:
*Toilet paper (necessary!)
*Wet wipes (never flush wipes even if they say flushable, the last thing you want is a clogged toilet when you are in the midst of prepping for a colonoscopy),
*Magazines
b. While you are going through prep, many treat themselves to buying a movie or series they've been wanting to see.
4. If during your prep you have any concerns or don't feel well (nauseous, etc.) call your doctor to let them know what is going on.
5. Most places will require you to have a family member or friend drive you home (you can not drive for the rest of the day), most places don't want you taking a taxi or Uber home alone. Bringing a family member or friend who can take notes on what the doctor tells you when you are in the recovery area will be key - you most likely won't remember what they say.
Many thanks for the reply and advice, I had no idea a colonoscopy involved so much preparation etc!
Having been diagnosed with a heart problems 3 years ago, I’m quite well versed in the struggle to get appointments etc with the NHS, so I’ll definitely be on it and post an update once I have a result.
We like to share as much information as possible about preparing for your colonoscopy so that you are physically prepared for the procedure and the doctor has a clear view of your colon. If there is fecal matter in your colon, the GI doctor may not be able to complete the procedure - and you'd have to start all over again - from getting an appointment to the prep to the procedure.
The other tips about wet wipes and picking out a good tv show or movie -- those just come from wanting to make your prep experience as painless as possible!
Please do keep us updated and we'll keep our fingers crossed that you can get scheduled for the colonoscopy soon!
Hi Nicole ,unfortunately your comment about appointments is true.
I had my FIT results from my GP on the 18th of sept (result was 81) and was referred on the 2WW straight to test. As of today the 12th Oct I have had no response from my hospital bar a 3 minute phone call on the 28th of sept.
I have repeatedly rung the colorectal unit but only got answerphone and never had a call returned. In desperation my gp tried to follow up with them and it took them nearly 2 days to get a reply only to be told I am on the waiting list for endoscopy with no posible waiting time indication.
So after nearly a month am going out of my head with no support from anywhere and dont know what to do, its a good job my anti depressants are working.
Moral - You can get treated and saved from Covid on the nhs but cancer Not a chance.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Are your from the UK? I don’t understand why they are not giving you an appointment after two weeks. How long did they say you have to wait? What are your symptoms? Age? Maybe considering all of those factors they think you’re ok. I have been waiting ages, they delayed my colonoscopy so much that now I’m in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy and they can’t do the test cause of risk to baby, they could have done it when I was in my second trimester but they delayed that.
Thanks for posting and I'm so sorry to hear about this. Please keep up the efforts to get that appointment, no matter how discouraging it can be to not hear back, be told there are no appointments, etc.
It may be worth reaching out to Bowel Cancer UK to see if they have any suggestions bowelcanceruk.org.uk/
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