new symptom

[Readingpiano]

Hi Everyone. Before I ask my question about the new symptom, I just want to give a quick back ground.

Im 42. Symptoms may have started in April/May of this year. Mild to moderate abdominal cramps and pain. It comes and goes. Narrow loose stools. This has progressed to pain that comes more often and lasts longer, mucous within and around stool (always), with occasional light pink bloody mucous on top of stool (not often). I now have the feeling of always needing to go, but not really being able to. I have had 2 or 3 bouts of diarrhea, but mostly just narrow stools with the feeling of constipation. I say feeling, because when I do go, the stool is always loose and not hard like you would expect to see in constipation. I have had no bright red bleeding except for one instance of a tiny smear on paper. I also have mid to lower back pain.

I have been seen by my Dr and have been referred to a general surgeon. Whom I have gone to this past Monday. I am awaiting the colonoscopy to be approved by my insurance and be scheduled, which I expect to come in any day.

Ok so the new symptom started this morning. I have a spot of tenderness and pain about 2 inches below and 2 inches to the left of my navel. It is a very specific spot of pain, which gets more uncomfortable when I sit down. I’m a bit worried about it and trying not to over react.

Since I already have a colonoscopy pending, I don’t think I would need to be seen unless it’s urgent.

Has anyone experienced this? Is there anything I can do to help it? Should I maybe go on liquids today?

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Readingpiano,

Good to hear from you again. I am sorry you are experiencing these issues but I am definitely glad you have taken action and are getting that colonoscopy. You have met with a surgeon and are very close to getting answers only the colonoscopy can provide. It sounds like you are in good hands.👍

I debate whether to tell you this or not as everyone's 'situation' is unique and I don't want you to over react to what happened to me. You are you and your situation is unique to you. You are doing all the right things to get answers to your situation. That colonoscopy is key.

It's important to note I have Lynch Syndrome which makes me more likely to get colon cancer at a younger age. It's hereditary. My family definitely has a history with it. I have to get an annual colonoscopy and CT scan just to make sure that if something does come back, we will deal with it early and be on the preventative side rather than having to fight something late stage.

I can tell you my experience was occurring just to the left of my right hip bone. Kinda the same area you have issues with but on the right side. It felt like small fatty deposit that was just there and not doing much for a couple of years. It didn't bother me. Then it started to get a little tender and my doctor said let's get it checked out with a CT scan. Two days later I had a CT scan and two days after that I was standing in front of a surgeon. I had a colonoscopy the very next morning. A couple of days after that I had partial colectomy surgery to remove it.

I don't think there is anything more you can be doing. You are on the best path to getting answers. I wouldn't make any dietary changes unless you think it may be causing you pain and want to test that theory out? You definitely want to get all your nutrients in to fuel the body.

I do hope that what you find and the answers you get are all easily correctable and put you on an immediate path to being well. Know this, you are doing the right things to get answers. Just focus on that.👍🧡

All the best. Please let us know what you find out.

Thank You,

~Tom, GCCA Survivor - Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.

[Readingpiano in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

Thank you so much for you response Tom. And for sharing your experience with us all. If really helps.

I appreciate the insight that at this point giving my body the proper nutrients would probably be more beneficial to me than anything else.

I think the idea of going all liquid was a little panic response. So I will stay the course. I will definitely post an update as soon as I get some answers. Which I’m hoping will be soon. Thanks again!

[UnconqueredIserve]

Good morning,

This is a bit long winded but please stay with it.

Have you had any life or career changes? I ask this because I did have two life changes which bought on IBS ( irritable bowl syndrome) the symptoms you have were very similar.

The symptoms I had were site specific pain,fluctuating between constipation and diarrhoea some blood, cramping pains bloating and unusual bowl movements.

I started to suffer medical anxiety which in turn made the symptoms worse I literally convinced myself I had cancer this was fuelled by Dr Google, stay away it’s tempting but there’s a lot of misinformation out there.

After numerous tests including a colonoscopy endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy bloods etc which all came back clear I was finally diagnosed with IBS and kidney stones.

I’ve since had a further two colonoscopies both clear.

The life changes for me were retirement, I joined the Army at 16 ( British Army) left after 12 years and joined the police serving for 24 years retired from that and became a minibus driver for the local council.

Because I had a pretty full on working life before all the stress and hardships of those 36 years came out and I suffered a breakdown although in true fashion I soldiered on. That’s when the symptoms first started

Two years after that I found out my wife of 30 years was seeing someone else so I divorced her symptoms started again.

After a year of counselling symptoms have gone, the last colonoscopy I had was due to a FIT test coming back positive the medical team identified a small tear which has since healed.

Don’t always assume the worse your body may be reacting to lifestyle changes and stress as opposed to medical influences.

Best of luck stay positive.

[Readingpiano in reply to UnconqueredIserve]

Thank you for your comment. And it wasn’t long winded at all! It does give me comfort to hear that your symptoms were very similar. I have from the beginning felt that my symptoms could be stress induced. I haven’t had any recent life changes but I’m the type of person to let stress build. So just because I can’t pin point the stress source, doesn’t mean it’s not there.

I have begun to have heart palpitations, patches of scalp psoriasis, and can’t sleep at night. Which are all signs of stress and anxiety.

Wether the stress triggered the symptoms or the symptoms triggered the stress, I won’t know until the colonoscopy. But it does help a lot to know that these symptoms do not necessarily lead to a scary diagnosis. I really appreciate you sharing your experience.

I completely agree about the mistake of googling symptoms. It’s actually what started me to seek out this support group. People who have actually experienced the symptoms know first hand.

For example, I had ruled out IBS and colitis/Crohn’s in my mind initially, because blood isn’t a typical symptom of IBS, and narrow stools are not a typical symptom of IBD (according to Google).

But through this support group I have learned that isn’t true. What I do know is that all of these symptoms are very similar and I just won’t know until it’s checked.

Thank you again for taking the time to give me some peace of mind. How are your symptoms now? You said that you had started feeling after about a year. How long ago was that. Also you mentioned that you had two additional colonoscopies. Was that because you were still trying to find the source of symptoms or did you have new concerns come up?

[UnconqueredIserve in reply to Readingpiano]

Good morning.

I’m glad that my post made sense. It can be a vicious circle when suffering from symptoms that can be concerning but more often and not are not sinister.

Google definitely caused me more problems, I was constantly on it reading up on everything and shoehorning those symptoms I read to fit my symptoms, ergo more anxiety and then more reading Dr Google.

My symptoms now are a lot better I still suffer from IBS but the attacks are few and intermittent. As I mentioned in my previous post were very similar to yours including narrow stools, do you or have you ever suffered from haemorrhoids? Those little sods cause an awful lot of scary symptom's but are generally harmless one of the symptoms are narrowing of stools.

I believe that the IBS was all stress related compounded with my self induced anxiety the counselling made an awful lot of sense and gave me a number of eureka moments, trust me I’m not a pink and fluffy get in touch with your inner self chap, but pleased to say the counselling worked and as a result of this my symptoms have massively reduced.

The other colonoscopies were carried out because my GP wanted one done the consultant and myself were unsure as to why but the old adage if you are offered scans or procedures like this take them. That was clear.

The last one was as a result of a positive FIT test ( faecal immunochemical test) blood in poo the consultant identified a small tear in the anus which was causing the blood. Again that the bowel was clear.

So in essence stay positive you’ve got your procedure on the horizon try not to second guess stay away from Google hopefully the anxiety will go and that’s a big plus.Good luck with colonoscopy I’m sure you’ll be fine.

[Readingpiano in reply to UnconqueredIserve]

I just realized you did mention why you had the other colonoscopy.

[LovinMyFungus]

I have had some of your similar symptoms but the area you described two inches below and to the left was an exact symptom. I have a long wait on a colonoscopy. Do you find due to back pain that your pulling your left leg up into your hip at all? The place your describing where mine has been as well, it has muscle that runs up straight up through that area called the Psoas. It can cause pretty intense pain over time and ball up in a spasm and I believe that's why mine comes and goes. I did go on several different probiotics strains, soil based, enzymes and magnesium and added fiber to my skakes while I wait. I use heat and a massage gun and the pain there goes away until I find my leg is pulled into my hip again so I'm looking into a hip hook. If I find any news ahead though, I'll get back to you.