Awaiting results

[PinkBubblez1]

Hi, I’ve been lurking on here for quite a few weeks worrying myself sick but this morning decided to share what’s going on with me, sorry in advance for the long post….

So back in early December I’d a frantic weekend away with the kids and had been going longer periods without food and eating quite a bit of junk. For several days after we got home I had, what I was initially thinking was an upset stomach, loose stools, urgency & going to loo maybe 5-6 times each day. At times it was only mucus. At no point did I have any pain. After maybe 3/4 days being like this it seemed to calm down and normal stools resumed but along with this a bit of mucus coating seemed to be ongoing and then later that week I spotted blood in amongst the mucus. This freaked me out and started my frenzied googling of symptoms. Hence why I found you guys!!! At times the stool would look really normal and other times there would be drops of mucus that had blood in it. I know this may be too much info but some times the mucus was like globules and looked like very small pieces of steak mince (hope I don’t put anyone off mince!! ) Around this time I noticed a strange feeling under my right rib cage, not a pain but almost like a pressure feeling or as if something was fluttering or about to spasm. I started googling and NHS website recommended waiting 3wks if things like this were happening. Perfect as it was coming up to Christmas/New Year. I booked a GP appt for early Jan. Over this time some loo trips seemed normal whilst others had evidence of mucus and smears of blood. At no point has the toilet water been red or filled with blood. it’s smears inside the mucus or along the stools. The weird feeling under ribs on my right side continued and every now and then I would get what I can only explain as 1 short sharp shooting stitch like pain that literally lasts 1-2secs and then will maybe not happen for days or over a week. I had my GP appt and she done rectal examination and couldn’t feel anything obvious. She sent me home with a QFit test which I handed back in. A few days later I got the call to say that my results from the Qfit were quite high and that she was referring me to have an urgent colonoscopy. I have since experienced the joys of moviprep 🤢🤮 and had the colonoscopy done on 20th Jan with sedation. The report from this mentions that the procedure was not complete due to the presence of scar tissue & adhesions from previous gynae surgeries. Unable to reach the upper section so I was further referred for a CT pneumocolon. The initial findings from colonoscopy stated ‘multiple small ulcers’ which biopsy samples were taken from and also noted ‘indistinct vascularity’ which was biopsied too and ‘inflammation of the mucosa’ …. all of these seem to point towards a diagnosis of Colitis….. but they needed me to have the CT & all the biopsy results before there’ll be a proper diagnosis or plan. So fast forward to 8th Feb and I just had the CT scan following 2 days of Gastrografin bowel prep. much easier to take than the Moviprep but equally as bad with loo trips 😧

I am now at the waiting stage as I’ve not had the colonoscopy biopsy results back and obviously the CT needs to be reported back to the consultant. They said the gastro dept should contact me within 1-2wks 😐 I’m worrying what they’re going to tell me, worrying that maybe I’ve had blood prior to Dec and haven’t noticed as I would really pay any particular attention, worry what the weird feeling under my ribs might be, worrying what they’ll see on the scan, what does the occasional shooting stitch like pain mean under my ribs. so many worries and I can’t help but let my mind do overtime.

I know no one will have any answers but I feel better for sharing my experiences after lurking here for weeks. Sorry that so many folk are having a rough time too and even more sorry for the length of this first post 🫢

[Mondlee]

can really understand that feeling because back in 2020, I had mucus with blood along the mucus on in it or along the stool. So eventually I go for colonoscopy as well and it came back with polyps and are benign.

Fast forward to 2023, I poop again with some blood, I had been observing my stools for 3 years and in around August I saw it again. The feeling is so depressed. So again I observed and then go for a colonoscopy in October.

Result came back, 3 polyps and 1 precancerous, all are removed during the colonoscopy and I will go scope again this October 2024. But these few months, I had gas in the stomach and always felt uncomfortable and fluctuate and sometimes even after fluctuate, the feeling is still there. I myself is worried as well but I asked myself after 4 months of colonoscopy, nothing bad should happen right. I don’t know. Sigh.

Anyway you do update us on ur result and I believe nothing happens and btw when is ur result coming back

[tony11173]

I know that feeling. Awaiting the biopsy results can be stressful. My GP and I were concerned I had bowel cancer. I had every red flag and yet ive had many scopes and various scans which dont really point to a diagnosis. They found diverticulitis but curiosily, the main problem was gastritis found in the stomach which may explain the iron deficiency and weight loss. Your biopsies and virtual colon CT may help determine what may be going on. Best wishes.

[AdsMcads in reply to tony11173]

Hi can I ask what your symptoms were? I'm being told possible gastritis however no tests have been done.

[tony11173]

Weight loss, fatigue, iron deficiency but fit test always negative for blood, abdominal pain high and low especially when I sit down or laydown on my back. Nausea, neuropathy all over. Gastroenterologist has referred me to a neurologist for nerve conduction tests. I feel that the GI tract has been damaged because theirs inflammation from stomach to colon. Whatever I have came on suddenly in Spring 2021.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi PinkBubblez1,

Thanks for posting with us. We appreciate you sharing your story in detail. It's very informative and a lot can be learned from it. Anytime there is blood in the stool there needs to be an answer. I think you are all over this and going after those answers. That's great.

I hate the fact that you couldn't have a complete colonoscopy. But you do have a lot you can learn from what did get done. You found out that you had multiple ulcers. Those could be the culprit for the blood in the stool you're experiencing. I had a similar experience when I was having low iron issues. They performed an endoscopy and a colonoscopy looking for what may be the cause. It ended up being an ulcer at the opening of my duodenum from the stomach.

In my case when they did my first colonoscopy, the tumor growing out of my colon did not allow the scope to pass. So, I understand where you're coming from. The combination of the CT scan results and the colonoscopy can give you a great deal of information. I know you're waiting for the results of your CT and that can be a nerve-wracking time. What you should focus on is that you've done all you can do. You haven't ignored anything. I believe you'll get some great information from the CT scan results as they can detect certain size polyps but also may reveal what may be causing your rib cage pain spasm. What's interesting is that the pain is not occurring that often but when it does, it's in the same spot. Given that, doctors have a good place to focus on what may be the cause. The disadvantage of the CT versus the colonoscopy is that the CT is unable to take a biopsy. If your report comes back and it shows something significant in the colon, they will have to find a means to determine if they need to get a biopsy. They may be able to get to it via the endoscopy.

We do wish you the best in determining what's going on. Again, I think you're doing all you can do and you should feel good about that. I know people worry about the results from their scans. They call it scanxiety. I always avoid that by focusing on what a benefit it is to have the ability to get these scans and what they can do for you in getting you on the path back to being well. They will definitely yield tremendous information and then you won't have to speculate like you're having to do now. fyi ... there was one point my doctors told me to stop googling things😲😂. Also, please let us know what you find out. It is that type of information that can be helpful to others on this site as well.

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.

[PinkBubblez1]

Hi everyone, I am still waiting on all the results!!!! I called my GP on Thursday to see if they had any update and nope….they suggested contacting the gastro consultant medical secretary which I did. She has come back to me and has said that he has been on Annual Leave and then back log of theatre, my results are back so he is in office for paperwork day next week and that I should receive a letter after that. I’m still none the wiser 🥹 I have a feeling the letter is going to be an outpatient appointment so don’t even think I’ll know anything else during the week. just feel i’ve been worrying for weeks☹️

[Kvance424 in reply to PinkBubblez1]

Hello Bubblez! I hope all is well. did you get your results back yet?

[PinkBubblez1 in reply to Kvance424]

Hi, thanks for asking. My biopsy results showed inflammation in keeping with a possible form of an inflammatory bowel disease. They suggested colitis at the time of the colonoscopy, the CT scan of upper colon area that couldn’t be reached during colonoscopy shows a thickening and narrowing of the sigmoid colon…this could also be in relation to an inflammatory bowel disease or indeed due to my history of endometriosis. The bowel above the sigmoid colon is normal. The Consultant will be discussing me further at an interdisciplinary team meeting with more gastro & gynaecology specialists so i’ve not been able to discuss any of this with a medical professional yet. I’ve been googling lots but not really sure what thickening and narrowing of Sigmoid Colon means or how it can be treated. my symptoms are ongoing so guess i just need to wait til i hear from the hospital again.