** Update ** 

A frustration when I used to read the forums was where someone never posted back with results and findings ..... hence please read below my update to help others who are concerned.

my gp was only interested in providing me the flexible sigmoidoscopy and wrote off the other symptoms of flatulence and abdominal discomfort to IBS. I was not prepared to just accept that!!

The beginning of January this year I went onto my wife’s Bupa and the package allowed me to cover pre-existing conditions. Within 4 days of speaking to a gastroenterologist I was on the table having a full colonoscopy. All was going well with sedation - I could see everything - however on the way out of the colon (just past the splenic flexure) my consultant spotted a 6mm flat elevated polyp!!!!! Yes it was small but these are apparently the ones that need to be watched. Anyhow, he injected it with saline to allow it to rise and hot snared it. The consultant also saw some third degree hemerroids which explained small red bleeding on wiping.

my consultant came to me right after the procedure and 100% assured me it was not cancerous (he also assured me 100% I would not have polyps at 30 years old). I left the hospital worried awaiting the results. The next day I was also scheduled for a ultrasound of my abdomen (liver, pancreas, gall bladder) due to the mild discomfort below right ribs I was feeling and mild elevation of some liver enzymes in blood test.

The Results:

The polyp turned out to be hyperplastic (benign) which I can not begin to tell you how relieved I was. The ultrasound showed that I have a fatty liver (non alcoholic fatty liver disease). I am overweight but have played a lot of sport (rugby) and have always been on the heavier side but by no means a couch potatoe. Run 5k a week/ walk to and from work etc.

My consultant has now scheduled for me to do a Fibroscan - which is non invasive and looks at any fibrosis (scarring to the liver). I will update the forum once I know this.

this has been a big wake up call for me with a new baby now here. I have moved to a Mediterranean diet with more exercise and intermittent fasting and we expect the liver enzymes to return to normal after losing weight.

My Learnings:

Push, push and push more your gp. Change doctors if necessary!! You are entitled to get the necessary treatment. Yes IBS does exist but ensure everything has been ruled out before then. I demanded my GP for copies of everything - low and behold the liver enzymes were high for over one year and they did not tell me!! Apparently it was only mild elevation which I think is nonsense - they are either normal or not? If not i want to know so I can change them before something serious happens because of it.

best.

C

To add - since the removal of the polyp my loose stools are no more. I am back to having normal bowel movements. Whether this was due to the polyp I am not sure. One thing I am sure of was the flexible sig did not go as far in the bowel and missed that polyp a year ago.

Reading your posts has been really helpful. I have been having similar symptoms and pushed for the flexible sigmoidoscopy (not happy with single hemmaroid being blamed for mucas every day and very occassional blood when wiping for 6 months). I have my exam on Monday, I'm completly freaked out.

My GP said when she examined me, she could feel an inflamation (not lump), I'm wondering if it could be a flat polyp she detected? Before reading this, I didn't know they could be flat.

I've lost 2 friends in the last month to bowel cancer, neither over 50, so I wasn't prepared to be fobbed off

Thanks

Hi Grillz,

Glad it was helpful.

You are definitely doing the right thing and with the symptons being in your rectum/lower bowel a flexi sig  is good to have.

Dont be worried about it at all - honestly it is a slightly weird sensation - I honestly felt no pain at all (at one point it felt like I had that trapped gas feeling - that was all). It will be done in around 15 mins.

For your preparation make sure you do the enema properly - the last thing in the world you want is to prepare mentally and physically for it for the edoscopist to then say your bowel is not clear enough to see and need to repeat and get back into the waiting line the NHS has. This I will be honest about with you - I hated this enema as it felt like I needed the toilet like never before (my wife found it hilarious watching me sprawl around on the floor sweating and trying not to let go:)

Prepare a list of your symptons to take with and discuss with the endoscopist your results at the end of the procedure so you can leave there with an understanding of what went on. DOnt be alarmed if they take biopsies - perfectly normal.

P.S Good for you for pushing for this. 

All the best pal.

P.S I had third degree internal haemmorroids that caused the on/off bleeding. Trying some lifestyle changes which have helped (lots more fruit and veg and water) but may in due course go for the banding treatment.

Hi,

Thanks for replying so quickly. I must admit, my diet contains very little fruit and veg, if all is well I will most certainly be addressing that. My boyf tells me I have the diet of a child (food types not quantity wise) and hes right.

I've been sent Movieprep to drink, litres of the stuff, which I'm dreading, but I know it needs to be done. Like you said above, no point going to be made to do it all over again due to bowel not being empty. I cant cope with more waiting.

Ive had the Blood and FOB tests back, both of which were clear, though I was bleeding when I did one sample, so not sure how it was clear.

I'll update on Monday, I've read so many posts where the poster never comes back to let us know how they got on. 

Thanks Callum x

Good luck!! You'll be good - more positives that your fob was normal. The blood in the stool has to hit a vertain level for it to be recognised on the test.

All the best.

C.x

Thanks Callum, its nice to chat to someone who's been through it, my friends are great to talk to, but they dont get the fear because they haven't been through it (and I hope they never will), so they just tell you not to worry, but you can't help it.

No worries, I made a promise to myself that if I could help one person with their concern then I’d be happy.