I had a colonoscopy some years ago and was utterly terrified before it.

GP couldn't see or feel anything with me either but it did turn out to be piles. Nurse said that wasn't unusual, for them not to be noticed.

Hope you get good news 

Thank you  I’ will be taking the prep to night and then six in morning  as my appointment is afternoon can’t have any thing to eat now until after the colonoscopy. I’m really scared about tomorrow I’m still hoping it’s just internal piles hope the prep I can cope with  I guess I will be on toilet all night  hope I get good news as my stress levels are so high 

TangoPotter...you are not getting things out of proportion,  you are struggling with the news you have been given.. that is very natural.. thanku for your kind words,  my only hope is that knowing you are not alone can help a little.. sharing helps to ease our worries..having support and understanding is vital...be kind to yourself x x

James4000 hi thank you I will have to try mints and mint tea to see if it helps. Today I’m feeling a bit achey around bottom of my back it could be how I have been laid in bed but I find every little thing that appears different with me I’m thinking is that because of the tumour I don’t know me any more  still waiting for my scans don’t know when they will be  but I’m just going to have to go with the flow of things  but every one on here is so lovely and helpful  lots of love xx

TangoPotter...hi there, may I offer a little advice please..

Have you been given an approximate date/time for the scans ?

All NHS departments are experiencing delays and longer waiting times.. so it's important to keep checking with the relevant department .. this can be appt referral/ xray department or the secretary to the Consultant assigned to your case.. going with the flow is inevitable at times but it's vital for your emotional and mental wellbeing to get as much info as possible x

Hi. I got a phone call last week not long after my colonoscopy from a hospital saying my scan will be in these two weeks she said the hospital will send an appointment date to my phone or they will ring me. That’s all I know.  Thank you for your reply  xx

Really good to hear you are on the 2ww list  thanku for the update xx

James 4000 hi James  I’m a bit worried with keep going to toilet quite a lot passing bits of stool blood and mucus maybe it’s that why I’m loosing weight  I only eat very small these days just hope this tumour hasn’t got hold of me I’m looking pale as well just want to know if your experiencing things like that  when I get out of bed in the morning it starts with the bath room  feel a little weak in morning until I’ve been up a while  Hope your doing ok would be good for anyone to share there experiences  xxx

Hi Tango 

Yes, kind of similar for me. I need to go to toilet 10+ times a day, sometimes a couple of times in quick sucession.

In the morning, last few days, I've found that I passed quite of lot of fluid, mostly mucus in the night, which is obviously not pleasant and is quite worrying.

I then usually have several normalish bms and some  passing blood and mucus.

I'm going to call the cancer nurses about it,  but I think it's not unusual for our conditions. Do others on here have this kind of experience?

On your weight, paleness, etc, I would recommend you talk to the cancer nurses at your hospital. There is also a good helpline you can call, only open a couple of days per week. I had it recommended by a nurse on one if these forums. I spoke to a oncology dietician, who was thorough and helpful.

https://www.wcrf.org/living-well/living-with-cancer/cancer-and-nutrition-helpline/

They are next open 6pm-8pm tomorrow.

Hi James thank you for your reply. How is your food intake mine isn’t great I try but still don’t know if it’s my anxiety that makes me not fancy much I only eat little bits still haven’t got date yet for scan hoping it won’t be too long then maybe I will know what can be done for Me x

Hi tangoPotter and James4000... following your thread as I await my results...

Passing bloody mucus and looking pale are experienced by many people with bowel cancer... intake of food is less meaning the digestive system has less work to do.  Anaemia is very usual causing a pale complexion and feeling of weakness. Loss of appetite,  eating less has multiple impact on the body... some people are given liquid  supplements to balance the lack of nutrients in the diet. Keeping well hydrated and eating little and often can be helpful.  When we have little appetite the thought of a meal can be too much,  meaning we don't eat anything at all.. 

For me a jacket potato is a good 'go to' or a bowl of cereal when the thought of a meal is too much

Thank you, Eastend. Yes this makes sense and it is always reassuring to know others have experienced the same or similar things.

For me (sorry of I'm repeating this), I've been told to avoid fibre. I've been given a couple of useful, similar lists of foods to eat, eat in moderation or avoid based on fibre. But I try to apply common sense to it. The fibre correlates with how easily one can pass the waste afterwards. So, veggies are OK, but should be well cooked, and when they're for example in soups, there isn't much fibrous material that might be hard to pass (vs say, brocoli stalks or raw salads).

I've changed to white bread, crumpets etc (always ate seeded granary before), lots of bananas, soups, rice crispies (always muesli and granola before), protein shakes (used to only after sport, but now daily) [I'm a vegetarian, so need to get enough protein, which before I got from lots of nuts and seeds, which I'm supposed to avoid now due to fibre].

I was told my bowel is partly restricted by the tumour, but i havent had constipation really, due to diet change. I jist find i have the urge to go to the toilet a lot and have lots of small BMs.

I am anaemic. Been on iron tablets for the past week, which is definitely helping with my complexion, energy etc. Only aide effect for me (touch wood) is very dark stools.

Thank you, Eastend. Yes this makes sense and it is always reassuring to know others have experienced the same or similar things.

For me (sorry of I'm repeating this), I've been told to avoid fibre. I've been given a couple of useful, similar lists of foods to eat, eat in moderation or avoid based on fibre. But I try to apply common sense to it. The fibre correlates with how easily one can pass the waste afterwards. So, veggies are OK, but should be well cooked, and when they're for example in soups, there isn't much fibrous material that might be hard to pass (vs say, brocoli stalks or raw salads).

I've changed to white bread, crumpets etc (always ate seeded granary before), lots of bananas, soups, rice crispies (always muesli and granola before), protein shakes (used to only after sport, but now daily) [I'm a vegetarian, so need to get enough protein, which before I got from lots of nuts and seeds, which I'm supposed to avoid now due to fibre].

I was told my bowel is partly restricted by the tumour, but i havent had constipation really, due to diet change. I jist find i have the urge to go to the toilet a lot and have lots of small BMs.

I am anaemic. Been on iron tablets for the past week, which is definitely helping with my complexion, energy etc. Only aide effect for me (touch wood) is very dark stools.

Hi James4000...

I find it ironic.. very seldom eaten processed foods for the past 60 years  [77 in March] I cook from fresh, make my own bread, biscuits etc, eat a well balanced diet,  plenty of fresh fruit and every day.. standing joke amongst family and friends as I always serve 4 or 5 different veg at evening meal.. breakfast is granola with banana,  blueberries,  kiwi, strawberries,  grapes and any her fresh fruit to hand...all the things we are advised for preventing bowel cancer and other bowel issues ♀️

I have had Pernicious anaemia for 40 years and have hydrocoxobalamin injection every 10 weeks. ..also other autoimmune conditions.. I wonder where/if there is any link  

As for dark stools.. this is due to the blood I am told ..

Take care  

I'm like you, eastend. I usually eat super healthily. Annoying I have to eat less nutritious food at the mo. So frustrating that I have been a really healthy eater for years, vegetarian for the last 8y, and gave up alcohol a year ago, exercise regularly, yet I manage to get this. 

The nurse told me today the dark stools is down to the iron and is normal, so that was reassuring

Sorry James4000.. I'd forgotten you had been prescribed iron.. dark stools and constipation are the 'bonus' effects