constipation

[Potato12]

hi. I’ve had bouts of constipation all my life(54 years). For the last 8 weeks I’ve been constipated constantly. I have worked myself up into a panic convinced that I have bowel cancer! Please help

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Potato12,

Thanks for posting with us. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this again. First I would have to ask if you have a family history of any diseases or cancers? This looks like a Cronic situation and you’ve had to have had many looks into it. Is there anything that has been helpful in the past when dealing with with this?

I also feel you have a bit of anxiety in trying to deal with this. Why would you be convinced it’s bowel cancer? If you were told it was not bowel cancer, what would think or do? I think perhaps getting some testing may give you some answers and a good step towards a definitive answer. There are some tests your doctor could order and there are some test you can order yourself. There are noninvasive blood tests that can detect dead cancer cells discarded into the bloodstream as waste.

I see you are 54. Have you had a colonoscopy yet. If not, it’s a good time to get it done👍. This could give you a lot of answers. If you have gotten a colonoscopy, what were the results?

All the best on getting answers for you,

Tom

[anxiety80]

you should go see your doctor and in the meantime buy some stool softeners and do you have any other symptoms like blood weight loss etc if so please get seen asap hopefully it’s just a digestive issue please keep us informed all the best and try not to stress as this can make constipation worse.

[Popsicle57]

Hi

Do you have any other warning symptoms of bowel cancer ? These are

bleeding from your bottom

blood in your poo

a change in your pooing habits. You might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go

losing weight but you’re not sure why

feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why

a pain or lump in your tummy

Please remember that having any of these symptoms does NOT mean that you do have bowel cancer.

Maybe make an appointment with your GP to discuss your concerns. He may give you an at home FIT test kit that will look for minute microscopic amounts of blood in your poo. If you’re in the U.K. the NHS has rolled out this test to over 50’s. A physical exam , pressing in your tummy and a rectal examination could be carried out. You may be asked about your diet, particularly in relation to your constipation… are you eating enough fibre and fresh veg,, drinking enough water, exercise, etc. He/She might prescribe stool softeners or bulking drinks ( ie laxido) to get things moving and encourage regular bowel movements.

If on examination and taking a detailed history of your symptoms and family history, the Dr thinks further testing apart from an FIT test is necessary or indicated, he may send you for a colonoscopy and then if necessary to see a colorectal consultant.

Your first direct route to getting a medical opinion on your symptoms and associated anxiety is definitely making an appointment to see your GP.

It is better to be pro active in your health, than to sit worrying, as anxiety can cause unpleasant symptoms. Constipation can have many causes other than cancer.