Hi Scaredmummyx.

You have missed out one highly relevant piece of information. Please can you tell us your age.

Hi Telemando,

I'm 30 years old. 

SMx

Hi Scaredmummyx.

There was a particular reason I asked about your age.  Bowel cancer is very much age dependent, and at age 30 it's a very unlikely diagnosis. Far far less than 1% chance. 

I've suffered from a lifetime of IBS, exacerbated by several episodes of diverticulitis, so I know just how horrible it is.  But at age 30, with your history, IBS is a far more likely diagnosis than cancer. 

You are getting yourself into a state of high anxiety, and when you're in that state, any small aches and pains become major traumas. 

I've been there and done that myself, so I know just what you're going through. When I get into this state, I often book myself a couple of acupuncture appointments with my local friendly Chinese doctor. It's strange how being poked with needles can have a calming effect, but it does.

There are also a number of calming videos on YouTube, including an excellent one called "How to Meditate in a Moment". 

Above all, you must stop stoking your anxiety be reading internet pages which you know are going to be unhelpful and which won't shed any further light on your situation.  You've found all the pages there are to find, and you didn't get the answers you need, so stop searching. 

Hi Telemando,

Thanks for reading and responding to my long post, I appreciate it!

I want to believe those statistics too but a lot of the patient stories that I’ve read are from young adults in their 20’s as young as 20 being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.    

Im sorry to hear you’ve been suffering from lifelong IBS and episodes of diverticulitis, it must be so horrible! 

Thank you for the link, I will definitely check it out as I know stress and anxiety isn’t going to help, I just need to learn to calm myself down when thoughts start creeping back in.

SMx

Hi Telemando,

Thanks for reading and responding to my long post, I appreciate it!

I want to believe those statistics too but a lot of the patient stories that I’ve read are from young adults in their 20’s as young as 20 being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.    

Im sorry to hear you’ve been suffering from lifelong IBS and episodes of diverticulitis, it must be so horrible! 

Thank you for the link, I will definitely check it out as I know stress and anxiety isn’t going to help, I just need to learn to calm myself down when thoughts start creeping back in.

SMx

Hi Scaredmummyx. 

I can't deny that there are a tiny number of unfortunate people who got bowel cancer in their 20s and they posted their stories on-line. But the many millions of people who didn't get bowel cancer didn't post their stories.  So, you go searching for stories and the only ones you can find are from those people who got cancer, because people who don't get cancer don't write about it. 

When you read these stories, you also need to understand the underlying context, and this you simply aren't doing. That's one of the reasons why someone in your vulnerable situation should not be looking for infomation on the web.  

This is an example of something called confirmation bias and it's making your life a misery. 

Thanks very much for your kind words about IBS. It did make my life a misery, but eventually I found a solution and my life has improved immeasurably ever since. It was hard work and at times I nearly gave up, but I discovered that my IBS triggers were two common foods that I loved to eat.  I've cut them out completely and my symptoms simply vanished. Unfortunately, everyone has different trigger foods so my triggers won't be the same as yours.  I'm happy to talk further on this if you want.

Hi Telemando,

You’re right, logically I know everything I’m doing isn’t helping my situation, but I can’t help but let the bad thoughts get the better of me especially when I see how skinny I’ve become or when I start experiencing pain again. 

I will try your meditation link today and try and relax myself. My husband is also lurking around making sure I’m not googling, bless him. 

Thanks again for trying to talk some sense into me,

SMx

Hi Telemando,

Sorry I didn’t see ‘read more’ until after i posted.

I’m really happy you found what your triggers are and you’re no longer suffering!! I guess it’s a case of trial and error for everyone. Since I’ve got erosive gastritis I’ve been eating very bland but still have pains so I might have to test out the foods I’m eating one at a time and see if that helps.

Thanks again!

SMx

The process I went through is called the FODMAP diet. It is not something you can do by yourself - you need professional help, and randomly removing foods from your diet in the hope you might hit a trigger is highly unlikely to be effective; I would have sworn blind that my trigger foods were not the cause of my problem, because I ate them so frequently (more confirmation bias, I now see)

With the aid of a dietician, I went on a highly restricted diet for three months, then cautiously re-introduced food groups until I found the culprits.  The three month diet was difficult, and my foods were highly limited.  However, after three months without the trigger foods, when I tried them there was an immediate reaction.  I now know that I can tolerate lactose in small quantities, sufficient to put milk in a cup of tea or coffee, but no more lattes. I'm also highly triggered by mushrooms and beans, both of which I miss badly, but when I accidentally ate some mushrooms a few weeks back, I was in the bathroom all night! 

If, as I think will happen, you get the all clear after your tests, I recommend you ask to be referred to a dietician and ask the dietician about the FODMAP food plan. It will be hard work, and you can't do it by yourself, but there should be a payoff down the line.  In my case, my bowels are once again under my control, and not the other way round. I'm no longer on antispasmodics, simply watching what I eat and drink is sufficient.

Hi Scaredmummy,

Sorry, my email was down for a while there.  Just wanted to check in and see how you're doing with distracting yourself.  Mind you, if you're on here that kind of doesn't work :D

And again, your worry is natural, just best not to let it get the better of you.

LJx

Hi.
How are your symptoms now ?. Did you ever find out what the issues where ?