Positive fit test and colonoscopy result.

Hi,Id just like to share my experiences that ive been through over the last few weeks for the benefit of people who are going through the same thing.

Im a 50 year old male and I recently had a fit test result of 16. Not massively over but over nonetheless. Immediately I'm thinking the worse and I was convinced I had bowel cancer. I'd noticed blood whilst wiping on the odd occasion which I'd never seen before. My other symptoms were a change in my toilet habits and occasionally I'd get stomach pains. I'm going to sound like a hypocrite here but stay off Google as it sent me doolally! My anxiety was worsened as well by a work colleague who's recently had bowel cancer but has since made a full recovery. 

Just because your fit test is high it doesn't mean you have cancer. It could be lots of things. Believe me I was the world's worst at being anxious to the point that it made me I'll. Share your thoughts with family and this forum helped me as well.

I had my colonoscopy today. They were really nice and helpful and made me feel totally at ease. The pre examination drink was fowl but I split my drinks into quarter measures and had one every 15 minutes,then the other 4 a few hours later. Be warned though, don't stray to far from a toilet. My colonoscopy was ok, I had the sedation and barely felt anything. They found I had internal piles,4 polops that they removed and I also have colitis. Apparently the colitis can cause slight bleeding. It's quite enflamed down there which I now have to take suppositories for the next month to hopefully get it back to normal. 

Don't be Afraid it could be anything and you really need to have the colonoscopy to give you the all clear and peace of mind.

Good luck and thank you to the good people on here who helped me. 

Take care. 

Steve.

  • Helen we know our numbers as it was done through the doctor and I asked him. Yes the drink is instead of an enema, most people have a different one to my husband, he can only drink small quantities at once so ended up with the Gastrografin I think the other is movieprep or something like that x

  • The woman who rung me from the hospital to let me know I'd be getting a call to book me in told me.  It was a bit of a shock as the receptionist at my gp had actually told me my sample was fine. Not good enough from the gp surgery tbh and I'm wondering if she'd got my results mixed up with someone else. I imagine you'd be able to get your fit test score from your gp but is it actually worth it now? I might be something else to get stressed about. 

    You should get all the relevant information sent to you by post from the hospital confirming your appointment time for the colonoscopy and exactly where to park and where you need to go to. You'll have an appointment letter as well that you hand in to the person on reception at the colonoscopy area. They'll be a prescription in there for you to go and get your fluid to drink.Mine was called plenvu. You can take the prescription to your local pharmacy or you can actually get it from the hospital. All the instructions are there on exactly how to use it and what you can and can't eat beforehand. The drink is to completely clear your bowels out. I guess it acts the same way as an enema.

    The only downside is nobody is allowed in with you so your actually on your own from the moment you arrive at reception. Well thats how it worked where i went.

    it was a huge relief after I got told there was no cancer. I actually got a little upset which then upset my wife who was waiting for me.

  • Ahh Steve that was lovely. Hope you had a nice holiday and back to our lovely weather. I’m so pleased for both you and your wife, it must be a huge relief for her as I’m sure all these tests whatever there for effects the other person a great deal, but we try not to show it xx

  • Yes it was a fantastic break thanks and it was a pleasant surprise to come back to good weather back home. Back to work tomorrow though. 

    My wife was so relieved as she could see how it had affected me with my anxiety being through the roof! I'd never suffered with anxiety before and I kind of used to laugh it off but I now know its real enough. Its a terrible place to be. 

    I've kind of made a promise to myself to try and show my feelings a bit more now but that'll be easier said than done. 

  • Hi Steve.. so much relief for you and your wife.. altho my partner will take me it sounds likely he won't be allowed in which does worry me..like you I'm not an anxious sort of person but this has changed this totally..I guess they will tell me the score when I have the appointment on Friday but will only worry me more if I know it I think..so you have the drink and need the loo once you are there....my stomach is on horrible anxious knots just thinking about it all...

  • Thanks Sue..Steve says the same too so guess I could ask but don't know if it would panic me more..sounds like drinks are what are used now..worry worry worry!!! 

  • Yes I worry about anything, even if there’s nothing to worry about which in the last 5 years always something to make me anxious.

    The drinks you have the day before, like my husband he has his today and the procedures tomorrow at 9.30, I think it’s the same for all the different ones.  Xx

  • Yes I bet you have had quite a few worries.. fingers crossed news tomorrow is not something to worry about.. ah I see re drinks..just as long as I'm near a loo I think is main thing

  • You have the drink the day before your appointment although mine was still affecting me first thing in the morning. 

    You'll be fine once your there as they really look after you and make you feel relaxed. 

    Tbh the score looks like it could be irrelevant anyway as I've seen someone on here with a result of a thousand and he was fine,no cancer. But then I'm no doctor. 

    I know exactly how your feeling and no amount of people saying calm down wlll make any difference to how you are but you need to remember that the chances of you having cancer are very slim.

  • Thank you Steve, that sounds OK to have drink at home the day before..

    I've seen some posts about scores and they're quite confusingly.. I'm assuming that higher scores indicate cancer but I've not been able to find a scoring scale to show what they might mean.

    Yes you're totally right, nothing will make any difference until I find out..I keep going over in my head all the main symptoms such as losing weight, pains in stomach, diarrhoea and or constipation none of which i have..and altho I do get little bits of blood every few months I think this is piles..but with this hidden blood I guess that won't be down to piles..really appreciate your replies...