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.

  • Absolutely fab news Lily, I’m so happy for you. I only wish my husband could have had a colonoscopy then we may have an idea of what the results are, as it is we still waiting……..from 11th Sep. You go and celebrate a bit xx

  • Hi Steve, just had the bowel nurse on the phone,  , Mart has 4 polyps and one flat one (I know after reading that  the flat one isn’t so good. He has to have a colonoscopy and try and drink that stuff, has anyone any tips that will make it better for him? I’m just so so worried now, I don’t think I can cope with him having another cancer. He’s going to struggle with drinking it as he hasn’t a stomach due to stomach cancer, surly he can’t have 4 cancers. X

  • Hi Sue, I've not heard about polyps and which are a worry but re the drink I read on here the advice to use a straw, have an ice pop ready to put in your mouth after drinking and also Steve's advice to break it into separate drinks all of which I'm planning to follow on Monday evening..I do hope that sort of thing will work for your husband..I saw my daughter in law today who had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago as she had symptoms and she said drink was bitter like alka seltsa and made her feel full up but she was fine....I do hope your husband does not have 4 cancers as he has enough to cope with already x

  • Do you know when he's booked in for? Hopefully he'll have a screening call to answer questions x

  • I've never heard of a flat polyp. What's the difference between the two? 

    Surely to have another cancer you'd have to be one of the most unlucky people on the planet??

    My only advice would be to do what I did as it worked for me. I only did it this way after a work colleague explained that it was the way he did it.

     I split the 500ml that they asked me  to drink into 4x 250ml sizes . What I then did was drink each 250ml every 15 minutes and I also had a drink of squash ready for when I finished each 250ml drink. As soon as I finished each drink I reached for the squash straight away and had a few mouthfuls to take the taste away. 

    This is what worked for me but it might not work for others. Theres no way I could drink basically a pint of that stuff in one go as its pretty gross tbh.

  • Hi sue, sorry to hear you and your husband are having a very stressful time.I just wanted to say when I had my colonoscopy they found 1 polyp and that was flat and on the right side but it was under 1cm and the surgeon showed me and explained if they’re small it’s very unlikely to be cancer and has noted it as begin,they have taken it for biopsy but aren’t concerned at all. I hope that can ease your minds just a little x

  • Thanks Bear567, I should have asked when I got the phone call yesterday how big they were but didn’t know size mattered, they would probably have known from the images on the virtual CTC  but yes, as Steve said it’s good to know for when he has it done. Thanks x

  • No I don’t know when but I guess soon as it’s been going on since Aug and on the 2 week wait, yes the bowel nurse said another nurse will phone him up, what kinda things do they ask. What’s the name of the prep you’re having and is it thick after it’s made up, he struggles with drinks that’s thick. Is it tomorrow you have your colonoscopy if so Im Wishing you good luck and hope they don’t find anything. 
    We’ve  been away for the weekend, that took my mind off it for a bit but now back to reality. 
    Good luck Helen Xx

  • Ah thanks Sue..procedure Tuesday at 1.30pm so on the bland food diet today plus 3 days into having the nightly Senokot..getting increasingly anxious about it all to be honest..at the screening appt they ask about any symptoms, any meds, any health conditions eg high blood pressure or things like that..they then reassure it won't hurt and so on..felt quite OK after call but that's worn off a bit...good you had a weekend away to take your mind off it...I have spent today shopping for clothes and boots I really don't need but needed to try and do something other than just worry.. sleep a bit all over the place..drinks called plenvu and I do hope it is not thick as not good with that sort of thing...it says limited alcohol ok for today so having a rather large g&t!! Xx