Hi,
I have had IBS(C) for over 30 years following surgery for Appendicitis aged 10 (which nobody believed me about and I had it for 1.5 years with everyone saying I was a time waster/attention seeker, until I nearly died).
I get horrific pain, bloating, all the usual stuff, but also I can become so unwell during an attack that I can pass out. I've been managing it myself for decades as doctors are just not interested. I gave up on them years ago. It took me 10 years to persuade them that my periods weren't normal, before they relented and gave me a hysterectomy "to shut me up". Turns out I had severe Adenomyosis. Major red faces all round in my GP surgery. So I don't generally bother with the docs. I am on low dose painkillers for a long term back injury, but they won't investigate that either, so i take my script and ignore them.
Now I've been quite ill recently. I've started having lots of issues, including being so tired I'm exhausted all the time, my balance is off, and I've lost over a stone in weight for no reason. My usual weight is only about 53kg so I don't have extra to lose. I'm now 44kg.
I figured I'd have to bite the bullet and see my doc. I was very shocked to be taken seriously. Bloods done immediately, which showed I have a folic acid deficiency. Now I have to do a FIT test, go to the rapid diagnostic clinic for a scan, and whilst they haven't directly said what they are looking for, I am guessing it's bowel cancer.
My IBS would mask every single one of bowel cancer symptoms, so I can't go by my bowel habits. What i don't understand is why I have a folic acid deficiency. I eat pretty well, I've always enjoyed leafy veg/salad, and I eat liver a lot (one of my faves!). All this means that I am pretty worried about the cause of my recent issues. If anyone can relate I would love to hear your stories (positive or negative!). I suppose I'd just like to have some people to talk too. 
What tests to ask for 94 year old 
Blood and mucus when farting
33 year old female diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer 
FIT test result >400 feeling full often and bloated. No weight loss
What could have gone wrong
Well I can certainly relate to being ignored by all the Drs ! Sadly there is huge gender bias in the medical profession so being female we are automatically seen as hormonal hypochondriacs 😠
It took about 30 years of being fobbed off despite 2 emergency admissions and surgery for peritonitis to finally see a Dr who took notice and diagnosed me with ulcerative colitis. Likewise with my heart problems, for several years told it was all anxiety so go away 😠 then oh yes you do have heart disease and need a pacemaker ! still got discharged with no follow up afterwards ! My late husband had lots of medical issues and I could see how differently he was treated being a man, even by the same Drs we both saw !
So after that minor rant and that’s the shortened version 😆 back to your problems.
Folic acid deficiency is very common, mine was rock bottom and probably still is as I’m intolerant of all supplements but hey ho. As for your other issues, they definitely need investigation but it sounds like your Dr is on the case and things are going to happen, easy for me to say but try not to stress about the possible scenarios, worrying and overthinking won’t achieve or change anything, wait and see 🤞 I learnt a long way back that being proactive is the only way to get things done especially now when the hospital system is in tatters, so if you need to stamp your foot or pester for results and appts then do it. Keep us posted and good luck 😉
Hi! You are absolutely right about medical bias against women. It's still horrendous out there.
Thank you for the kind words. You are right that I shouldn't stress. I'm not usually a "stress when there is nothing I can do about it" kind of person. I only stress about the things I can influence usually. Things tend to sort themselves out in the end. This is a bit different for me, but I'm trying to stay my usual self.
Hopefully it'll be OK and I can go back to normal. Most of the time I'm fine, not worried, rationalising that the odds are forever in my favour and with some supplements I'll be normal again, for a given measure of normal. Every so often though I get this horrible fear and I'm convinced I'm going to die. I suppose that is probably normal, given the circumstances, but that is the bit I really don't like. I don't care about pain, I have been living with it for years. I'm not worried about the possibility of treatment either really. I just get this heart-stopping, paralysing fear of not being there for my kids and hubby anymore. The human brain is a treacherous organ and I wish it would shut up.
Thanks for reading my rambling posts though. Just getting to write things down and knowing another human being has read it and gets it is invaluable therapy. <3
I know about the fear 🫤 I have a splenic aneurysm which the Drs are of course as usual dismissing because I’m a menopausal hypochondriac and not worth wasting their time on 🤦🏻♀️ but I’m scared it’s going to go bang one day and that will be it very quickly! I’m now on my own as my hubby died 3 years ago and my daughters are all some distance away so nobody around to know I’ve dropped dead and the dogs need a walk and a wee 🥴
But on a more positive note my Mum had bowel cancer and she had one op which sorted it and she lived another 30+ years to the rip old age of 95 so it’s not necessarily the end of the road. Life is a challenge and keeps throwing curve balls, we just have to keep dodging them best we can.
🌻
That sucks. Being dismissed like that with what can be a life-threatening issue is awful. I really hope you can find someone who take you seriously. I feel quite lucky that I have found a GP who took me seriously straight away. I'm not sure if it was the symptoms or her being good at her job, but for the first time I feel like someone listened to me and treated me like a person rather than a nuisance.
Finding a doctor like that shouldn't be this hard. Being a woman shouldn't be a barrier to good health care. I hope you can find someone to take you seriously. <3
Thank you for your input on Colon Cancer Connected. It is very helpful and sympathetic. It's always good to hear from others that have had similar situations and can share their journey. I do find it concerning about the treatment of women inside the UK healthcare system. It seems like you have to get louder to be heard. A squeaky wheel gets the grease, but it's sad that this is dealing with a healthcare system.
I am happy to see your mom's track record having had bowel cancer. I am sorry she has passed away, but I hope I do as well as she did in longevity.
What can be done about a “splenic aneurysm?” Is it a surgical procedure that the doctors are ignoring? I hate you feel that this is being ignored for you.
Tom
Hi Tom
Thanks for your message. Yes the aneurysm needs surgery but the last Vascular Dr dismissed it without even seeing my CT scan images or report which is about what we have to deal with !
I’m waiting for an appt with a different Vascular Dr but I don’t hold out much hope it will go any better. Sadly our medical system is in a mess right now and getting anything done is even more of a challenge but all we can do is keep pushing for answers.
Stay well and take care
🙂