Hi what was your out come

Hi i have Pan Colitis....Ulcerative colitis of the entire bowel x

Had another consultation over the phone just now with my GP. She said it's obviously good news that my results are normal as you would likely see raised calprotectin levels with something that was inflaming the bowel, such as an IBD or something sinister, and my levels are well within normal amounts.

She said I should hear from the rectal bleed referral service before 8th Feb but I have a number to call if they don't call me before then to book a sigmoidoscopy. 
 

Would be good to find out it was something non serious so I can move on. Will be very nervous when the date comes for sigmoidoscopy however, but I need to try to focus on the positives of the normal test results and the lack of other worrying symptoms.

It's great news that there isn't anything sinister. I'm so happy for you . That's a positive result. Try not to worry especially because you have had negative results and that's great. You are on the home stretch. Be strong, I'm here. I think you will be ok xxxx 

Yeah, still nervous but would be much more so if those results hadn't been as good. Thanks again 

Anytime x always here x keep positive and strong 

I feel like at times i have a bit of discomfort in lower left abdomen. Have felt this before but passed it off as trapped wind or just overthinking, but I feel I've had this feeling most of the day now. No pain, sort of feels a bit like a stitch, or trapped gas/unempty bowels, but could be some form of something in bowels. Again, a bit worried, but just reminding myself of the odds in my favour with the normal calprotectin levels.

Did you have any similar feeling to this?

Yes I was told it could be a touch of irritable bowel because they looked at my ct scan and they couldn't see anything. I seem to get spasms in the tummy above the belly button that no one can name. They mentioned many ideas but the tests showed nothing. Since the colonoscopy I've had two stools both with a little blood and mucus and they said it's due to the polyps. I have to say the scan put my mind at ease as it showed nothing at all. But the spasms make me panic a little. I have normal gas and I'm eating well but get spasms and it's a pain but I can't explain it only trapped wind because all the tests are clear. Honestly sometimes I feel I'm mad lol x

Exactly. You feel like you're analysing every little feeling because you don't want to miss a symptom that might be important, but that can cause you to overthink which makes things worse! 
 

Yep definitely over thinking im Sure of that 

thank you 

stay safe and strong 

I think we are all so worried we are all overthinking things. Between us we will get through this and be strong for each other. We have to be positive even if some days seem bleak. My husband was trying to be positive too but partly he thought he was helping and partly he was trying to convince himself because he's no good without me lol x I was grateful for his positive thoughts but I'm so glad I have you two 

let's support each other and stay strong x

I feel quite strange because I'm not having any other symptoms but the amount of blood is remaining the same. I tend to wake up feeling nervy, go the toilet, see some blood, and then feel worried for a few hours. Then throughout the day I feel less worried, and at times no worry at all. Even sometimes I feel daft about worrying in the first place, but then the next morning I wake up worrying again!

Even though my test results all came back normal and I'm young, have no other serious symptoms, and no family history of anything sinister, I keep asking myself why the bleeding isn't stopping. I sort of feel like if it was a hemorrhoid or fissure (the type that bleeds for 3-4 weeks) that there would be some pain. But there never is. I found it a bit strange that my GP never suggested trying anything to to heal a fissure/Hemorrhoid tbh considering that was what she said is the most likely cause

I feel quite strange because I'm not having any other symptoms but the amount of blood is remaining the same. I tend to wake up feeling nervy, go the toilet, see some blood, and then feel worried for a few hours. Then throughout the day I feel less worried, and at times no worry at all. Even sometimes I feel daft about worrying in the first place, but then the next morning I wake up worrying again!

Even though my test results all came back normal and I'm young, have no other serious symptoms, and no family history of anything sinister, I keep asking myself why the bleeding isn't stopping. I sort of feel like if it was a hemorrhoid or fissure (the type that bleeds for 3-4 weeks) that there would be some pain. But there never is. I found it a bit strange that my GP never suggested trying anything to to heal a fissure/Hemorrhoid tbh considering that was what she said is the most likely cause

Did your go ask you to have a full colonoscopy. I had one in the end and they found the polys. After four weeks of diarreah and blood it has now gone completely. I'm grateful for that but now I have abdominal pains when I pass water  only slightly but it could be they have disturbed the bowl they said. My scans were clear it was confirmed again today . I still have the large ovarian cysts but hey ho. I have decided that my stress bought on a lot of my symptoms because I just didn't know what was happening and I couldn't understand why. I knew it wasn't right and stressed everyday. After all of the tests and my results I realised that there was nothing sinister despite my gran dying of bowl cancer. I do not have it. I have gone back to normal eating and drinking because I had lost over a stone. My stools are back to normal, no blood or mucus. I am relieved. 
I believe you will be fine once you get all the answers. I am always going to be here to help you and if you need to talk. Stay strong , I'm here xx

Hi Everyone 

I have recently had a colonoscopy after years of suffering with pain and being told i had IBS and nothing more, years of being told to take a codeine a day to stop running to the toilet between 7 and 20 times a day oh and my bowel was back ward and that i should be taking anti depression tablets for it . Years of blood tests and stool samples coming back normal/satisfactory. A female doctor told me she wouldn't send me for a colonoscopy because its a very uncomfortable and invasive procedure ??? That she would just give me enzymes because thats all they would give me after a colonoscopy anyway , I begged for a colonoscopy i said that something was not right she referred me in the end 5 years down the line ...to then have the consultant ring me and tell me he wouldnt be doing it as i have IBS and i have no red flags ....i told him i would complain and take legal action if he did not perform the colonoscopy and i am so glad i stuck up for myself for once!! another Dr performed the colonoscopy and found that i have been suffering with crohns disease he also took 22 biopsies of my bowel/colon the results im still waiting for but im so glad a pushed for the colonoscopy anyway the point im trying to make with my long winded story is all of your tests may come back normal but if you are suffering you need a colonoscopy yes its uncomfortable but for half an hour for your life that could save your life please don't be worried its the only thing that will settle your mind and believe me the prep is the hardest part but not horrendous. 

Good luck to all xxx

Called the hospital today as they told me to call if not heard by 8 Feb. said they could give no timeframe for next consultation due to backlog caused by covid. Rang my GP back and explained no additional symptoms or pain or anything like that but still same amount of blood on stool and sometimes mucus, same as when I first spoke to her, so still worrying as hoped it would have stopped by now. She said initially nothing they could do to boost urgency as my normal blood/stool sample results, age, lack of other symptoms and family history etc all make me low risk (which is obviously good despite it meaning longer wait for answers) but I could wait less time if I went to a different hospital, so as it turns out, I have an appointment next Wednesday! So that relieves the worrying a bit around waiting and not knowing how long etc. 
 

Appointment will be to do another rectal exam, possibly more in depth with a camera but not a sigmoidoscopy- that may be needed after. Nervy about the potential findings or possible inability to diagnose something non-serious, and this will no doubt increase my nerves as next Wednesday approaches, but it could also be the day they're able to diagnose something like a fissure or burst blood vessel or something, which would be great.

Fingers crossed that date comes quick and they're able to put my mind at ease.

Hi, please don't worry. It's annoying that we have to wait to be tested because of what is happening. They are right I guess in a way about your results meaning you are low risk which is good news, but it doesn't help us who are suffering. Since they gave me a colonoscopy and scan I I was given the results along with blood results and stool test results I have calmed down and stopped reading what could be causing it. I now have no blood in stool which is a relief and they didn't find anything sinister at all. My only problem yesterday was that I feel nauseous and after eating I feel queezy . However, my gp said this is stress about other things in my life at the moment, eg kids live in another country, covid is not getting better etc. I was advised to use a meditation tape twice a day and walk. Hopefully this is the reason, but I think the ovarian cysts could be causing a problem, or there is a parasite causing me to feel sick. I'm thinking of doing another stool test. 
sorry didn't mean to go on about me. 
please don't be nervous about the rectal exam. I was terrified and imagined everything possible but it was a single polyps under a centermitre along with a fissure.  You too will feel relieved once it's done. I am here if you need me. The test is a little uncomfortable but thorough and worth it

you will be fine and I'll pray for you. Be positive you will beat this and I'm here to help. It will be ok xx

Thanks again. I find I feel more relaxed in the evenings than I do in the mornings but unsure why. 
 

It's brilliant that your bleeding has stopped and tests all came back normal. I can imagine you might not fully relax until you feel 100% back to normal but you are definitely getting there by the sounds of it.

Im confident I will be ok and I would feel like I have a new lease of life if they give me good news next week. I know it's possible they may still be unable to diagnose me then, but just taking it one step at a time now. 

We will get through this as a team. I do feel much better I just wish I knew what the nausea is and why it's happening. I'm positive but I'll be happier when I get back to normal. I've had so much stress and upset last year I feel my health has suffered . I m so grateful for your support . Be strong and tell me how you get on 

Thanks for always replying. Feels good Knowing someone is listening

I'll always listen and reply xx I'm here to help x

Did you have any bloating at all? Or weight loss?

It's hard to tell if I'm losing weight cos it always shifts 2-3lbs depending on the time of day and if I've eaten/gone the toilet or not, but I still think I've lost a few pounds in the past week or so. This could be from worrying as I felt like I worried a lot since Friday, which is causing me to not feel like eating as much. And when you don't eat as much, your stomach shrinks so you get bloated when you eat. The worrying also makes me feel tired at times too.

I think my anxiety will likely increase as I near my appointment date next Wednesday

Hi yes I lost weight but that wasn't the bleeding or anything it was the fear of the stomach pain I got when I ate. My anxiety was through the roof and my fear of passing stools and seeing blood was just too much some days. I felt bloated and heavy after food so I avoided eating a lot and drank dioralyte a lot that's why I lost weight really. I had convinced myself that food was the enemy. Worrying didn't help either and not talking to someone to share my fears didn't help but as I mentioned before my kids live in USA and dad died of covid so it's been a rough 12 months . Thank you again for listening .
don't do what I did and stop eating out of fear because they told me eating doesn't cause the blood it was the polyps apparently and now the blood has gone 

I'm always here if you need to chat. It's a rollercoaster honestly and I have had to just make a list of tests and tick them off and eliminate as I go along just to keep sane lol x stay strong