Hi,

I've recently had emergency surgery to remove a tumour in my small bowel.  I've been unwell for several months and thought I had food poisoning to start with i.e tummy pains high up, feeling of nausea, less bowel movements than normal, nothing in the last week prior to surgery. 

Symptoms worsened, I had endooscopy which stated that I had erosive gastritis and duodenitis.  The week after the endoscopy I was really bad.  I was not too bad in the mornings then as I ate and drank during the day my pain worsened to the point it was unbearable in the evening and then I vomited a LOT, mainly green bile, then I felt better. My tummy, lower right (my right) would distend and stick out until I'd vomited then it receeded.  Turns out my small bowel was completely blocked and I was rushed into emergency surgery when I went to A&E for an out of hours GP appointment (dialled 111 and they sent me there as my GP was no help really).  

The surgeon removed the blockage and it turns out it was cancer.  I'm lucky it was totally removed, not spread to my lymph nodes and I'm going to see the oncologist in a few days to discuss chemo.

Hope this is a little helpful.  Surgeon said colonoscopy and endoscopy would never have picked this up as it was 1 meter into my bowel.  CT scan picked it up in A&E.  

Good luck :-)

Julie

Hi Amy90ml,

No answers yet, but tests all continue to be clear, so that's promising, but I still worry. I have been diagnosed with IBS before, but it seems too high up.

Sorry I'm not much help!!
 

Lots of love x

I also have exactly the same pain you are experiencing. I have had blood tests ,chest X-ray upper abdo scans then referred to musculoskeletal clinic who thought it was costochondritis however l kept saying it's the soft tissue that hurts .

the pain seems to start when l stand for long periods like yesterday and it burns .l also have IBD C and this is not good at the moment and l think it's caused internal piles as l am bleeding after pooing every now and then and it stings to hi heaven.

l do wonder if the pain could be bowel related but the gap has not referred me for tests .

today l feel bruised inside after a day of pain all day yesterday. I wish I could get an answer 

I am very much aware that there is constant advertising that says if you catch cancer early the prognosis is very good.  I am very concerned that G.P's will resort to an IBS diagnosis for people who have niggling pain and some bloating.  My husband rarely went to the G.p apart from heart problems - but had niggling pain in his lower right abdomen for several months - he was told this must be IBS and he went away and just'got on with it' believing he should just accept this and was prescribed peppermint oil - he had private health insurance and therefore could have been referred for necessary tests without cost to the NHS, By the time he was sent for tests the cancer had spread to his liver and he died at home with me without access to appropriate palliative care or medication in very traumatic circumstances aged 55 years.  Please do not just accept an assumption that any abdominal pain is IBS - better you undergo tests that are negative than leave it too late

Hi Dear Sharper1. I was sorry and saddened to read your husband's story and about how much you were both let down by the system.  I hope that you are managing to see a way forward. I completely understand your frustration with the advertising about catching bowel cancer early, and then the huge challenge of getting seen, and getting a diagnosis and treatment. Warmest Wishes x