Hi,

I’ve just posted on this forum and saw your post - really understand the anxiety. Have you seen/spoken to your GP about the changes? I would strongly recommend you do so they can order some tests asap. I’m terrified after that stage but you can’t afford to put it off… they won’t do a colonoscopy unless you have definite results so don’t worry about that part right now.

Wish you luck :) 

Probably the chilli dish, but even on the off-chance it is blood, it's still probably nothing serious. Colon cancer is rare at your age and most of the symptoms you mention are normal for you.

When I was 40, I had rectal bleeding nearly every day for a month or two, I always pass stools probably 3-6 times a day. I had also lost weight (about a stone in maybe a year or less), had trapped wind and had started getting occasional loose stools (maybe once a week; to be honest, it's quite possible this was due to the stress of the whole thing).

One incident of rectal bleeding wouldn't have bothered me, even a week of it, but going on and on for weeks and combined with weight loss and some other symptoms (not the passing stools regularly, since I always did that and that was clearly not related as it had not started at the same time as the other things), I panicked.

The consultant said that at my age, I'd have to be "the unluckiest person in the world" for it to be cancer and the odds were less than 1%. Given that you are slighly younger than I was, that you probably even haven't had bleeding, and if you have it is only one instance and you having mentioned weight loss, I would say your chances are even less than mine. 

Thank you so much! I’ll definitely go see my doctor after Christmas but your post is very reassuring! 

I know I have always struggled with anxiety, especially around my health - so I know that often amplifies what May very well be simple things.

thanks again have a great day 

Hi,

have you done any research in to Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Either Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis.

 your symptoms are all typical or both or these conditions and symptoms most commonly present in young adults.

Might be worth reading up on them as they may reassure you.

If it is IBD, they are chronic conditions but can be managed.

I was diagnosed at 23 and live a relatively normal life.

Hope this helps!