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Worried about symptoms I've been having with my tummy and bowels

effrey95
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Hello all,

I’m a 29 year old female who’s anxiety has probably hit the highest it could. For the past couple of months I’ve been having issues with my tummy and bowels. I was hospitalised (blue lighted) 2 months ago due to a severe infection apparently but they never got to the bottom of it. In those 2 months or even more my bowel habits have changed, I don’t even know the amount of times I do the toilet a day, the pain I get most days nearly passes me out, I’ve had blood in my stools, comes and goes, tummy makes some weird and wonderful noises. I had stool tests done, which I got the results back yesterday, dr who is dealing with me is on holiday till tomorrow, but my results have been expedited to a surgeon. Now this worries me as my cousin who is 6 years older than me had all the same symptoms as myself and the same results from stool sample and she now has stage 3 bowel cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. I’m just looking for advice on how to stay calm and not be overly anxious, I have a 1 year old so being ill all the time and not knowing what the outcome will be is severely affecting me. 

thank you for reading x

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    Hi effrey95, 

    What a worrying time it must be for you and it must be hard for you not to think about what happened to your cousin but try not to compare your symptom to hers: even though there are similarities between your symptoms and stool sample results, sometimes very similar symptoms can be due to different causes so try not to anticipate what it might be if you can. You are right to have these issues properly and thoroughly investigated and I hope that you won't have to wait too long to have a bit of clarity and a proper diagnosis. 

    It's not always easy to keep calm while waiting to find out more but we have some very helpful tips to help you cope while waiting for important news. These will I hope give you some great coping mechanisms during this anxious time. It must be so hard to be going through this while having to look after a little baby and I am keeping everything crossed for you that you get a diagnosis very soon and that it all turns out to be nothing of concern. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Hi  

    I couldn’t not reply to you. I am 32 now but at 23 I was diagnosed with Proctitis - I had all of the same symptoms you describe. It has now been recategorised as ulcerative colitis which is a form of inflammatory bowel disease - presenting during flares with exactly the same as you’re experiencing now. You need a colonoscopy to diagnose and it is commonly diagnosed in younger people.

    there is every chance this isn’t cancer - don’t shoulder such worry. Get back to your GP and arrange further testing and I’m sure they will put your mind at rest.

    if inflammation is bad there’s also every chance you might need surgery to manage which might be why a surgeon is involved.

    i am mum to a four year old and I’ve been there with worrying and a small child like you. I really understand how isolating this must feel.

    if you can stand to face your fears and be brave your future self will probably thank you.

    plus if it’s IBD you will be so glad to get on top of it with medication and back to normal!

    sending love x

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