Bowel problems (tmi)

[Vickysponge357]

Sorry in advance for the gory details!

I posted a few weeks back with concerns about my bowels and was advised to go to my dr which I did but I have more updates since then.

So last month I had a 2-3 week period of awful Diarrhea, it was bloody and green and mucousy and happening about 8-10 times a day! I called the gp and she said that my previous stool sample showed raised calprotectin which is a marker for ibd so she wanted that repeated and checked for infection and had my blood redone which also previously came back abnormal. Repeat tests then came back fine!

I had also been having some days where I was actively bleeding out of my bottom when ever I went to the loo, even if I wasn’t opening my bowels!

After this my bowels then went the other way and I struggled to open them. When I did manage to it was excruciatingly painful. I remember sitting on the loo shaking and feeling as though I was going to be sick.

It now swaps back and forth between the two so dr called me back in. She wondered if the pain could have been caused by Hemorrhoids or a tear so did a digital examination which hurt horrendously but she could not feel anything to explain the pain, she then tried pooping in the instrument to open the back passage so she could see but I wasn’t able to tolerate this as it left me shaking and crying in the bed in pain.

She then said the most frightening thing which was given my symptoms and unexplained pain and unexplained bleeding and that I did have those abnormal results that her brain has to go to bowel cancer so she has put me on a 2 week referral for a colonoscopy. A week has already gone by and I haven’t heard anything yet though and the wait for my appointment is driving me mad!

In my heart I know that it is t that and that this is all endo related, and also my running joke is that I’m too chubby to have cancer (lightens the mood when I tell people what’s going on!) but to have it said is still terrifying.

I have turned into an absolute mess these last few months. I’m crying every day. I make plans with my other half in our days off that he really looks forward to but then the day comes and I just feel so tired and down from being in pain and not having any answers that we spend the day with me crying on him every 5 minutes. He has been so good and understanding but I’m sure he must be getting fed up because I know I certainly am!

This group has become something that keeps me sane though so thank you to all of you lovely ladies

Xx

[elisepalmer71]

Hi Vicky. Oh God your poor girl. This is all sounds horrendous for you so no wonder you are crying every day and upset I have been the same recently with similar health problem. You are not alone and this is perfectly normal for you to be so upset and sad and frightened. I work as a nurse and the two week wait referral will be really quick and believe me it will be being acted upon. They have to get in touch quite quickly but it might be right up to the 14th day, difficult for you I know. In the meantime just try something called mindfulness. This means just being in that one moment, so for me at the moment my back is hurting I’m sitting on the chair and I’m drinking a cup of tea and that is all I need to do in this one moment is it drink my tea and breathe and then I can get onto the next moment so that I don’t become focused on what is ahead of me and frightened and fearful of it and think about what’s been behind me and frustrated by it. I hope that helps. Message me if needs be. I’m off sick and have time to try and support fellow women. Especially with International Women’s day yesterday. ☺️. Sending you strength through a big squeeze hug. Xx Elise

[Vickysponge357 in reply to elisepalmer71]

Thank you so much for your reply. Thankfully my letter actually came today, but Sod’s law it’s a Saturday and the letter said that I need to call the clinic Monday-Friday to book in my appointment, but at least I know that every thing is moving with the colonoscopy now!

Mindfulness is a really great suggestion, I tried meditation and mindfulness a few years back when I was feeling down about some other issues and I found it really helped then so it is definitely worth me trying it again now!

I hope that your back starts to feel better too!

Xx

[Thecraftyadder]

I just wanted to say that I get how scary it is when you bleed and have horrendous bowel issues. I've had two bowel tears and they are horrifically painful. When I got referred to see a colorectal surgeon the gp started asking about the history of bowel cancer in my family (there is one!) I was terrified and really stressed. However I do remember being told that if its red blood its usually from lower down (tears or hemorrhoids). There is more cause for concern if its black blood. I go through spells of chronic diarrhea which can cause you to tear. The weird colours (sandy yellow or green) are because your stool came through your system so quickly it didn't have time to colour its usual brown. Its great your getting investigated so quickly though. Hopefully you'll get some answers soon. X