Very high FIT test result

Hello all,

I'm a 50+ man and got the result of my second FIT test yesterday. To be honest am feeling a bit freaked out - actually majorly freaked out. Reason for the test was that I've had intermittent mild abdominal pain for about 6 months. I assumed it was a muscular problem when clearly it wasn't.

The result of the first test was over 900 and the second around 1000. So there's little doubt there's blood in the samples (even though none was visible). My GP has made an urgent referral to the colorectal clinic at the hospital. It's hard not to google things like this when you're in shock (have tried to only read stuff from reputable sources), and I understand that there are a number of things that can be causing blood in the stool: ulcers, polyps, hemorrhoids as well as cancer. Though looking through different forums, I've not seen anyone report figures like this and things feel pretty bleak today.

Not really sure why I'm writing this, as I realise nothing new will be known until I get the referral/have colonoscopy. Maybe it's just to know that other people are going through the same thing, or even just understand what I'm talking about. Thanks for reading :)

B

Parents
  • In case it helps anyone: have had colonoscopy and two sigmoidoscopy (feels similar) and about 10 polyps removed since the high FIT test. None of the polyps have been cancerous.
    So just to say that a high fit test result doesn’t always mean the worst. Take care

  • So grateful to come across this note and appreciate your sharing it. I've just had a positive FIT test of over 400. Been Googling far too much and got myself in a bit of a state. 
    I have a colonoscopy booked for Sunday 30th and you're all right. The waiting and thinking is horrific for both me and my husband. 
    Good and reassuring to hear lots of you get positive outcomes. 

  • Not really,  I had phone call to say letter been sent but a week later and still not received it? But was told something suspicious showed up on scan and now need a colonoscopy.  Booked in for Monday 17th November.  So its an anxious waiting time. Hoping its something that can be sorted without too much fuss 

  • Shaz, I am so pleased for you. You can now breathe with relief. Now time to start enjoying yourself again xx

  • Thinking of you for 17th. Shall has had good news, so hoping you will do too. Try to relax as much as possible  xx

  • Thinking of you for the 17th November. It is an anxious wait. The advice and the comfort I got from this chat helped me through the process. People on here are just so understanding and compassionate and have their own stories to tell. Let us know how you get on on the 17th Nov xx

  • Thank you, Flower. I am hugely relieved but will continue with the annual screenings offered. My gran had bowel cancer and my mum has had issues on and off with her bowels. She is now 83. My dad who is 87, bless him, went for a colonoscopy in September this year to the same hospital. He was so relaxed about it all. So it seemed. He has diverticulitis too and haemorrhoids and few polyps removed. I knew what to expect then as he went through the process. Keep me updated on your treatment, Flower. I am rooting for you xxx

  • Thank you for caring. I will report back after my colonoscopy on the 17th

  • Just received a phone call I have my colonoscopy on 16 November at Scunthorpe (anyone been there) just waiting for a phone call to pick up the drink thingy from Grimsby, was hoping the colonoscopy would be nearer home but hey I’ll go with that. Good luck to us all xxx

  • Yes wishing you all the very best. I feel a little more optimistic now because spoke to nurse today (still not received letter) and ct scan picked up thickening of transverse and sigmoid colon which could be caused by a number of conditions which are treatable. 

    Good luck with colonoscopy prep. Yuk

  • How are you feeling after colonoscopy today.  Been thinking about you. 

    I am on horrendous prep, not nice

  • Hi and thanks for thinking of me, I found the prep to be ok-ish not as bad as I thought,  In the fridge for an hour drinking  through a straw 4 slurps of it then a mouth full of Lucazade worked well for me. Apart from 6am one, prep was ok but then I drank the water too fast so I could get back in bed and brought the whole lot back up, even so the bowel was clean BUT I never want that again, it took ages and so so painful but think that’s just me as the lady who went in after me was ok and back out before too long so don’t worry about that. One polyp took off it wasn’t cancer so now it’s over I’m sat at home very happy. 
    Will you let me know how you get on and I’m sending you all the best, take care it’ll all be over very soon xx

Reply
  • Hi and thanks for thinking of me, I found the prep to be ok-ish not as bad as I thought,  In the fridge for an hour drinking  through a straw 4 slurps of it then a mouth full of Lucazade worked well for me. Apart from 6am one, prep was ok but then I drank the water too fast so I could get back in bed and brought the whole lot back up, even so the bowel was clean BUT I never want that again, it took ages and so so painful but think that’s just me as the lady who went in after me was ok and back out before too long so don’t worry about that. One polyp took off it wasn’t cancer so now it’s over I’m sat at home very happy. 
    Will you let me know how you get on and I’m sending you all the best, take care it’ll all be over very soon xx

Children
  • Colonoscopy didn't happen.  I followed all the diet restrictions prior and took the disgusting solution as directed but bowel not cleared enough! I was disappointed because I had geared myself up for procedure and then made to feel it was my fault.  

    Now they want me to take a laxative for 5 days with a restricted diet, then the awful prep solution again!

    Really don't want to do it. Also, nurse at colonoscopy centre said it looks like I have diverticulitis and one small polyp??.  Hearing this is good but only makes me not want to go through it all again. 

    It really is dragging out now and I feel if it was serious then I would be experiencing more symptoms by now.

  • My colonoscopy this morning didn't happen.  Even though I  followed the diet and drank the awful prep solution as instructed,  my bowel wasn't prepared enough for colonoscopy to go ahead. I had geared myself up for this morning procedure,  so feel very down hearted.

    Now they want me to take a laxative for 5 days, follow a restricted diet and then take the prep solution again!!

    I just don't want to do it, especially after a nurse this morning told me its looking like diverticulitis.??   I really don't want to go through it all again.

  • Ahh that’s not good and I know what you mean by wondering if you should do a second one, think I’d be the same but you know you must do it, if you followed all the 4 days before prep I can’t understand why it didn’t work but I guess it does happen. Get the big girl nicker on and go for it again.  I also have diverticulitis nothing to worry about he said but to change my diet. Hope everything goes ok next time xx

  • If you don't do it you'll be thinking about it forever and a day ,the what if's ,if I were you I would have it redone and over with while you have the chance ,rather than constantly thinking about it ..

  • Thank you both.

    I rang care nurse and left a message explaining what happened and being told it looks like diverticulitis?  Hopefully I get a call back tomorrow 

  • So I had my first chemo infusion on 7th Nov. The first 2 days I had the tingling hands, could touch or drink  anything cold , but was ok ish. By day 3 I was terribly sick & the other end, struggled to eat anything & remained in bed. A couple of trips to hospital to be put on a drip & then yesterday due to the being unable to eat & plummeting half a stone in a week my first round of chemo was finished 4 days early. 

    Not idea, as I am now panicking about thet. I have a review on 25th  & will probably be put onto a lower dose for next round in the hope that I am able to eat.

    As they said i cannot go 3 months unable to eat, which i know.  I am however really scared now of the effectiveness of a lower dose & secondly if having a lower dose makes no difference  then I assume they will pull my treatment altogether. 

  • Feel for you going through this traumatic time. I pray chemo gets sorted for you.

    My sister and a friend experienced a similar problem on their first round of chemo.

    Keep us informed and will be thinking of you

  • Aww Flower that sounds awful and such a worry for you, As Everton says let’s hope the next ones ok, I have everything crossed for you.

    Also fingers crossed for you Everton and good if you have it done again, keep us informed x

  • Offline in reply to SueCC

    Hello everyone. Just googling after having a call from my GP advising me that there was blood in my fit test. I've gone on to my NHS record and can see that the reading was 39. I had three fit tests in the last year or so and they were all like two or three. This one is suddenly 39. My bowel have been weird for about 2 years... I'm regular as clockwork every morning but some days it can be like a mudslide (sorry for graphic description !) and other  days it can be perfectly normal!.

    I went for a colonoscopy 18 months ago due to the erratic nature of my toilet needs and habits and was diagnosed at that time with a couple of diverticuli and an internal hemorrhoid and a very small polyp just inside my rectum. 

      Was told to keep an eye on it!!!  ... Not sure how I was meant to do that! Anyway, I'd noticed recently that I was quite sore underneath and when I'm wiping there are tiny spots of fresh red blood. So I decided to see my GP last week. I mentioned to her about the polyp that had been spotted at the last colonoscopy and asked if she could examine me ..she did an internal examination but couldn't feel any polyp although I was told there was one there 18 months ago. She suggested a fit test and prescribed some steroid cream for the sore area around my perineum.

    Then as I say I got the phone call this morning to say I've been referred for an urgent colonoscopy... And like the rest of you. And even though I know I shouldn't, I went straight to Google  ... And scared the living s**** out of myself!;)))

    So here I am now waiting for the colonoscopy. I'm trying not to worry based on it being quite a low reading and have had no other nasty symptoms like weight loss, pain, back pain, loss of appetite etc  But I do know that there is always the chance that it will be. My dad passed away of bowel cancer at the age of 71 and I have just turned 60 although I feel 22 still,

    I'm just praying that if it is anything nasty that it is being caught before it's had a chance to spread. 

    My heart goes out to flower.... I pray that they have managed to zap everything with the radio therapy for you and that your chemo goes without too much distress. And for anybody else, waiting for a colonoscopy, good luck to you all, let's keep in touch and pray for each other 

  • Offline in reply to Joysu

    Yes it is a low reading but it’s still a worry isn’t it, you’ve had a colonoscopy not all that long ago so I wouldn’t worry too much. Why wasn’t the polyp taken off when they saw it last time?. Your symptoms are very much like mine ( I also have a pile that often spots of blood when I wipe) Hopefully everything will be fine and if it’s on the 2ww you won’t have long to wait. Good luck xxx