Hi mama54, 

So how did it go? Were you ok on the bus and have you managed to be seen at the EACU and have they done any tests or scans? I really hope that by now you have a few more answers. It must be really hard to have to deal with so much diarrhoea and pain. All this uncertainty must be rather unsettling but it's good that in the midst of all this, despite everything you have been going through, you have been able to enjoy some little moments of beauty as spring is coming such as the birds singing at dawn, the sun shining... Keeping distracted while waiting for a diagnosis is a good idea and I thought I would share with you these helpful tips  to help you cope while waiting for important news. 

I am keeping everything super tightly crossed for you for good results. Other members of our community have been through similar experiences and I hope that they will join me soon and say hello and wish you the very best of luck.

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Lucie, thanks for asking after me.

In a nutshell I just couldn't face the buses, so I had a taxi there and back. On my credit card, but I hardly  use it normally.

I was in EACU for 6 hours but thankfully the people there were quiet and well behaved!

I had a big comfy chair and had a seaview. I even got a very decent cup of tea from the wvs shop/refreshments. 

Have to admit I only just reached the EACU loos in the nick of time !!! But at least it was in time.

I had the most wonderful doctor I've ever known and I thanked him for his kindness and patience..

From my history and so on, the consensus from him and another doctor was it's most likely IBD, probably Crohns, or slight chance of cancer.

They had all my blood test results and some of the fit ones. The sore ulcer under my lip that just won't heal was taken into account plus the fact that I've not had bleeding, only the "nuclear power diarrhoea " !!!! my humour!

I'm to have the full colonoscopy to properly diagnose and will, he said , get appt in 2 weeks.

I know about the ghastly laxative drink as one of my daughters has had Ulcerative colitis for 23 years  poor girl.

However I  have researched this and there are ways to minimise it's evil taste, so I  will try that.

Whatever happens it's got to be done, for me mostly to rule out cancer.

I might have to book hospital transport as I live alone.

I can't complain, it's part of life of which I've had 70 years of.

The brave one is my poor daughter.

I've purchased comfy and effective sheets to lay in the bed...I  find the tummy cramps the hardest part really, parting with the cause of them is a relief !!

I hope everyone here is as relaxed and content as possible, take one hour at a time. x

this is a ps Lucie !! forget to say there was a lot of humming and hawing about the size of my liver and spleen....no idea why.

Hello mama54, 

Thank you for taking the time to update us and you did well to get a taxi - a lot more pleasant than the bus in these unpleasant circumstances! 6 hours there is a lot but it sounds like things are definitely moving forward and that it's only a matter of time now until you get a diagnosis. It won't be long thankfully until you have the colonoscopy - as you say it's got to be done and it will hopefully give you reassurance and an action plan will be put in place so you can start getting treatment. Must be so stressful for you the fear of not reaching the loos in time - I am glad you did though! 

Your poor daughter she is very brave and probably very used to the colonoscopies by now. 

It's not a bad idea to look into hospital transport. As you can see on this NHS page on how to organise transport to and from the hospital, some people are eligible for non-emergency patient transport services (PTS) but it may not be available in all areas. To find out if you're eligible for PTS and how to access it, you'll need to speak to your GP or the healthcare professional who referred you to hospital - they will I am sure be able to point you in the right direction or tell you what transport options are available to you. 

I hope all turns out to be ok with the liver and spleen and that you find out more soon about why they were so focused on this. 

Keeping everything crossed for you! Let us know how you get on if you get a moment and crucially best of luck for the colonoscopy! 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator