May I ask what peoples symptoms were before having a colonoscopy in terms of pain or bleeding or anything else? Was your bleeding small or large amounts? I’m having large amounts of bright red blood. It’s not just when I wipe it turns the whole toilet bowl water bright red and sometimes there’s blood clots. Pain is severe in my back passage too like a burning stinging and that’s not when I go to the toilet that’s just all of the time. If anything when I go to the toilet I get a relief from pain afterwards for a short time but then it returns. Ive also been anaemic for a while. I’m only in my 30s so GP has been sending me away for quite a few months despite me going back over and over again but I’ve finally been referred for a colonoscopy and waiting for an appointment now. Thank you 

Hi Daisy,  hopefully you won't have too long to wait for the colonoscopy now you have finally been referred..

A small amount of blood in the toilet bowl can look very alarming being bright red means it's fresh and not old [ dark coloured] blood. Haemorrhoids can be internal and external and capable of producing blood when having a BM...hopefully you will get some answers after the procedure. 

For me it was a marked change in my bowel habits, accompanied by distended stomach, low down period-type pains  [ hysterectomy 45 years ago]  sensation of needing to pass motion even after a BM. Five positive qFIT results and referred to Colorectal Consultant. Appointment for colonoscopy last June which had to be cancelled.. follow up appt missed until Nov colonoscopy 17th Dec 24 ...20 week waiting list for results.  There has been no change,  multiple BM,  pain, loss of appetite,  blood ( not all the time) the feeling of needing to have a BM.. seven times since 10 am..now 4.15 p.m

Thinking of you..

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Morning

Onto round 3 (or 9/12) of chemo. Forst 2 pretty tough. Meds dona bit but they say they'll reduce my dose for r4 as my symptoms are pretty bad

Hi James good to hear from you, been thinking about you.. really hope a reduction in the meds will ease your symptoms and you will soon be feeling a little better.. will be thinking of you and sending love xx

Hi James really good to hear from you  hope every thing turns better for you   I’m sure you will soon be feeling a lot better  you will get there James   Sending lots of love and you are always in my thoughts.    Geri 

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

I hope you are all doing well and that 2026 brings you health, good news and happiness.

My journey has been almost exactly a year. I was diagnosed on New Year's Eve 2024 with a colonoscopy. A year and 3 days later (tomorrow morning) I will be in hospital for maybe the 50th time to have my stoma/ileostomy reversed by rh wonderful surgeon who removed my tumour back in July.

It's been the hardest year of my life, but I am so grateful to be where I am now, and for the incredible support I've had, from over 100 medical professionals, from my family, friends and colleagues, and from this forum- which was a Godsend in the early months.

I am apprehensive about tomorrow but looking forward to being back to 'normal' very soon.

Wishing you all the very best in your own journeys. If anything I can share from my own experience might help you in some small way, please do reach out.

Much love

Happy New Year to you to James4000,. Sending you best wishes for your bowel reverse opperation ,hope it all goes well for you you will be looked after very well. Just take care ,and dont push ypurself too hard you will get there ,youve beem through sooopo much  and this will hopefully be the last hurdle to get through ,and get back to feeling like yourself again. X

How wonderful to hear from you James, I have been thinking of you and trying to give you some space over the holiday period..

It's been a long year for you with many hurdles to conquer BUT you have with courage and dignity.. the stoma reversal has been #1priority for you and that day is just one more sleep away..

You will be in my thoughts..

Sending you love, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

May 2026 be incredible, filled with health and happiness for you and your family  

Much love 

Kate xx

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Hi James 4000 lovely to hear from you  you have always been in my thoughts we started our journey together I’m so happy you are one step away to be back to a normal life I will be thinking about you tomorrow but you have got this James you have been through so much  and yes like you say the medical and nursing team are amazing  I have nothing but praise for them   So I leave you James with my love and thoughts for tomorrow  lots of love  Geri 

Thank you all so much. Lovely to hear from you, and I hope you are all doing well?

Op seemed to go well. I've been in and out sleep since midday. A bit of pain - more than I'd expected, but that (i think) is because there aren't such intense painkillers as I had with the major surgery in the summer.

Should be here 4 or 5 days.

It's a relief to be where I am now, though it won't all fully sink in until I've spoken to surgeon, made sure there are no complications, antibiotics and painkillers finish, and get discharged.

How is everyone else doing?

So good to hear from you James, glad to hear all went well and now onward and recovery.. I think we often forget the incredible trauma inflicted on our bodies during treatment and surgery..we are well aware of the effect on mental health and well-being and can forget that our body also needs to recover from the physical onslaught.. so be kind and patient with yourself.. sending very gentle hugs and best wishes, Kate xx

Morning Kate, Geri, Jasso and everyone else.

Quick update. Got back home yesterday. Surgery went very well and recovery looking good so far. Moved very quickly from bed and painkillers etc, to bejng up and about. Now just a bit of discomfort and paracetamol.

My body is fairly quickly relearning how to behave after having the stoma reversed. It'll take a couple of weeks for the wound to heal through to surface (dressing changes each day), and 4 weeks til i can exercise.

I've been told to expect erratic bowel movements. And I feel bloated all the time as swelling goes down etc poat surgery. But all normal.

So, after a few weeks now of recovery, I should be back to normal, only now without a tumour. I have gained an impressive selection of scars though!

Much love

J

Morning Kate, Geri, Jasso and everyone else.

Quick update. Got back home yesterday. Surgery went very well and recovery looking good so far. Moved very quickly from bed and painkillers etc, to bejng up and about. Now just a bit of discomfort and paracetamol.

My body is fairly quickly relearning how to behave after having the stoma reversed. It'll take a couple of weeks for the wound to heal through to surface (dressing changes each day), and 4 weeks til i can exercise.

I've been told to expect erratic bowel movements. And I feel bloated all the time as swelling goes down etc poat surgery. But all normal.

So, after a few weeks now of recovery, I should be back to normal, only now without a tumour. I have gained an impressive selection of scars though!

Much love

J

Morning J..what wonderful news from you today, so glad to hear your recovery is going well, although I never expected anything less as you have seen a wonderful patient.. just a little while longer let your physical health get stronger... I've experienced the bloating many times following numerous abdo surgeries..so we can have a 'show and compare' with our scars carry on the good work, please remember..few more weeks before you start GENTLE exercise.. very best wishes and love to you xxxx

Hi James , happy New Year to you. What great news that  your on the mend,and recovery is going so well for you. The bloating is uncomfortable but it will eventually subside and go in time,once ypur bowel gets its normal rhythm back,your doing so well,and the scars well ,they are a gentle reminder of just how strong ypu are. Just listen to your body,it will soon tell you when youve done too much,and when you need to rest up. That tumour is gone  , its a new year a  new you, which is fantastic.x

Morning James 4000 I am so happy for you  you have always been on my mind   You are well on your way to recovery now and I am so excited for you getting back to normal again and like you say with out a tumour   You have been through a lot James but now just let your body heal  your bowels might be a bit erratic at times but all this is normal. Mine still is a bit but you get used to it  it’s just nice been able to go to the toilet normal again   My stomach looks like I have bullet holes think I have five then a long cut across my pelvis  but all have healed ok. Yours will too. Keep in touch James  lots of love. Xx

Thanks so much. Yes, I can relate, very much, on the scars and erratic bowel movements (mostly fine, but been a lot today and one other afternoon).

Im so glad youre doing ok, Tango. We started this journey together and Im so happy youre doing so well