Hi what was your out come

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

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

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

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 

Can't imagine how tough that must all be. Try to focus on seeing your kids this year. Hopefully it won't be much longer now :)

Thank you. It's been really tough, but I know others have been suffering too. 
live had my letter for them to remove the polyps soon so I will know when next week.

im glad they are not worried but I would feel better once it's gone. Thankfully it's not a full colonoscopy. I hope you are feeling better and more positive. Xx

I have read all the posts. I was told yesterday that I am being referred for a colonoscopy due to blood detected in stool - this has been visible on and off for the past few months along with mucous. I am also still waiting of results of another stool test which are still to come back.

I am worried sick about this. I have some questions - how long did you wait for the procedure after being referred? I have no one to take me and collect me from hospital so thinking of either getting the bus (not ideal) or driving myself there but not sure if I could drive home after. If anyone could tell me a bit about the procedure itself and how they felt after i.e if they had sedation. Also, do you have to wait on results or do they give you details of what has been found on the day..?

Any information or advice would be appreciated 

Hi 

I had the procedure. I had sedation but was awake but drowsy. It was a little uncomfortable but bearable. They spoke to me all and a nurse sat at my side reassuring me. When they were finishing the procedure she talked me through and took me to recovery. I was cared for by another nurse who cheeked oxygen levels etc. After 15 minutes I was fine. They gave me a sandwich, a biscuit and a cup of tea. I was given the results after that and spoke to the doctor. I had the same symptoms as you and it was a tiny polyps that they want to remove. They usually do it at the time but it was in an awkward place 

the prep was harder than the procedure lol. I would get a taxi or a friend to take you. You are fine but they like to be sure and if you can have someone to stay with you the night they are happier. I waited five days as I was fast tracked. They were amazing and I had a covid test before it to make sure I was safe as the department was covid free. I felt much better about this. It might even be something more simple. Be strong we are here x

Thank you so much - you have no idea how much this information helps. Now that I know I have to have it I just want it done as I am worrying so much about it and the results The gp said something about two weeks but I don't know if that was an appointment within two weeks or just a letter with a date for procedure...I'll just have to wait and see. I think I'll ask my sister if she can take me and collect me, but I won't mention it until I know when it is to be. I haven't told anyone about this - I am on my own and my Mum is elderly and I don't want her to worry too.

I have also been worried about covid so good to know they test for it , although I feel that I will need to isolate from my mum (we are in a bubble) for two weeks after in case I catch covid in hospital. 
Do they give you the sedation intravenously? I hate needles but I guess I am just going to have to be brave and get on with it. Hoping so much that it's nothing too serious but you will know what it is like to have this constantly playing on your mind. 
thanks again for your support x

Don't worry I will be here to support.  They put a small cannula in your right hand so they can add the sedation solution. You don't feel it and it really relaxes you. You lie on your left side and they may ask you to roll over half way through. The nurse helps you. Honestly our nhs are amazing they help you, care for you before and after and I cannot tell you how easy they made the procedure for me. Our hospital definitely gave a covid test for safety and I was glad. I too stressed out but it was easier than I thought. It's good if someone can take you. My mum is elderly too and I'm an only child so I knew I was safe but still stayed in my room for at least 6 days to be sure but she bought me home so it was probably a waste of time but I felt better. Try to relax and think positive 

Thanks so much. I think I have a better idea what to expect now.

I phoned the hospital to see if they can tell me when the appointment is likely to be. They have the referral from the GP but it's not been looked at yet. So they suggested I phone back next Tuesday to see if they can tell me any more.

Will try and not think too much about it until next week.

Thanks for your support x

Hey! 

Just wondering how you got on with the appointment?

I have the same symptoms as you, however I have mucus pretty much every time I go. Had blood tests, stools tested, rectal exam, abdomen felt and urine checked - all came back fine. I'm also young (26) so I think the chances of it being something really serious are slim, however still a possibilty which is worrying me.

After my tests came back fine my GP told me not to worry as it sounds like IBS. I then mentioned about the blood in the mucus (couple of times a month, more often recently) and she then said that it "ticks the persistant bleeding box" - I don't think she knew it was that often. I'm now waiting for a flexible sigmoidoscopy appointment to check what's causing it all. 

Oh and I was prescribed with some hemmeroid treatment and supposorites as she seems to think it's potentially that, however I wouldve thought the rectal exam picks stuff like that up! Also I'm not in any pain down there, just mucus and occasional blood. Such a worry at the moment.