feeling in limbo

I saw a dr last month as I lost a lot of weight. She requested a CT scan but I'm guessing it got declined as I haven't heard any updates about that. She got me to do a FIT test and faecal calprotectin which were both abnormal.

I had blood tests this week and they were mostly normal. My ESR is too high and Haematocrit is too low. Not sure what they mean but I hope my GP contacts soon to explain. 

I saw a different dr the day after the blood tests. Got my height and weight updated incase I need to be referred to gastro specialists. My weight used to be 41.3kg and now is 42kg so that's good. Just need to try to gain a little more until I reach healthy weight.

It really hurts to pass stools now. I had a telephone appointment today and explained that the pain is so sharp that it makes me cry. She advised me to start taking 3 laxatives a day instead of 2 and use an ointment. I hope they help. I'm finding it nerve wracking that laxatives aren't working so far.

There's 1 and a half weeks left until I can do my repeat stool sample for faecal calprotectin. Then I can find out if I need to be referred. The wait feels so long.

It's also my 21st birthday next week. I hope I don't get anymore ill.

Already weekend now.. I used to love weekends but now I don't like it because I know I won't be getting anymore updates from the GP over the weekend.

  • Poor you sophie2001 you are going through such a difficult time at such a young age. You did well to go and see the doctor about your weight loss as 42kg certainly is very thin and I hope that they find out the cause for your weight loss and symptoms. I think that if your doctor requested a CT scan it's worth chasing this and asking for an update as to when you might be able to have it. 

    It does sound like you are going through a long and painful process and it is taking time to get a full diagnosis and all you can do really is be patient and have faith in the doctors who are being thorough and who will I am sure find out what is causing all this. 

    I hope that you will get some answers before your 21st birthday next week. Waiting for results is really nerve-racking and there are helpful tips on this page to help you cope while waiting for important news. 

    Do get in touch with your GP when you get a chance so that you can have a full explanation as to what your blood test results mean. 

    Hopefully you will hear from other forum members who have been in a similar situation and they will be along shortly to share their experience with you. 

    Keeping everything crossed for you that you get some definite answers soon!

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

     

     

  • Thank you Moderator Lucie.

    I called my GP practice at 8am about my rectal pain as it has worsened and I'm struggling to sleep because of it. I felt guilty before calling as it's only been 2 days since I started using the ointment and increased the laxatives. I was about to put the phone down but then decided to call since I am finding the pain unbearable.

    Now I'm glad I called because the receptionist booked a telephone appointment with a doctor for an hour later. I had never spoken to this doctor before so I was nervous. She spoke to me really kindly and gently which I was so relieved about and she booked me a face to face appointment with my family GP for tomorrow morning.

    I asked her what should happen at my appointment and she said the GP will ask some questions and will look at the area and then might do a rectal exam. I'm very nervous and it's definitely not how I want to spend my last day being 20. But I'm glad it's going to be at the morning so I can forget about it the rest of the day. I'm also grateful that I've been able to get an appointment so quickly since I know it can be hard for people to get appointments.

    I wonder if the receptionist or the doctor tomorrow will be able to see that it's my birthday the next day. I booked an eye appointment a few days ago and the receptionist noticed my birthday was a few days later and I was taken by surprise as I had forgotten about it. But that made me happy and I said I'm really excited. I gave up sugar a few months ago to help motivate my mum who has type 2 diabetes and I decided I will eat my favourite cookie dough on my birthday so that's why I'm so excited.

    I also have a uni assignment which I'm stressed about since I've already had a 2 week extension and now there's only one week left. I've only gotten 500/3000 words through it but I was able to send it to my lecturer today and she said it's a great start so that's motivated me. I also told her I've been unwell again and feel really worried and she said that the uni director will call to check in on me. I'm glad because it helps me to let out my thoughts which is why I'm writing so much here. I hope I keep going with the assignment so it can get my mind off things.

    Thank you for the advice! It's really helped.