Worried about bowel cancer

Hi there.

I previously posted on the forum, as I was having regular flair ups since late last year every couple of months. My diet wasn't great, however I never had problems until last year. The flair ups would start with bad indigestion, constipation but wanting to empty bowels, then going to toilet a few times until the indigestion went. It would then be like a release and I felt better once I was sick, and had got the stools out. I felt sick, bit shivery and weak, and at the end it would turn into diarreah. These flair ups would last a day at atime, but the last flair up was around 4 days long and really bad in May time. Generally after the flair ups I'd go back to normal, but since the last flair up I have been pretty bad. I've had a sharp pain on the right side above my navel, and sharp pains on the right abdomen, it started like a nigglling pain but they're so much worse now, it's really sharp at times and more dull at other times. I've also been having terrible acid refluxindigestion last couple of months, andwith a sore tummy when I need to emply bowels, it'susually in the morning time.last couple of months, so I'm on Lansoprazole for that but last week I'm getting it much worse. It seems to be worse, in the morning when I need to go toilet but then I go, the indigestion and tummy gradually gets a bit better. I already have IBS, had it for a few yearsbut never expreinced this. It'shorrible when it comes on. The sharp pains are worrting me too, I only get them on the right handside and it's so sharp and noticable, I can't get on with my day without feeling them. It starts on bottom right hand side of navel, and goes all up my right abdomen, to under my breast bone. It's so hard to explain, and no one I've seen has these types of symptoms. I've also since april, been getting the smallest bit of blood in stool on approx, 5 occasions. It's barely noticble but I have been looking. The first time was in April, and I was so scared - it was like a maroon red color, but so small. Last time Inoticed was about a week ago, and again was tiny. I had bloods done a couple of months ago, and my CA125 was raised to 45, so I went for ultrasound and all came back normal, so I was so happy about that. Had another blood done a couple of weeks after and it went down to 41, so it's still over the threshold but the Dr is not concerned nowin that area. Idid have high placelets on my first FBC test -after my last flair up, but then they went back down to normal, so they weren't worried in the end aboutthat either. The Dr is saying it's now my gut/stomach so I'm having endescopy/colonoscopy 11th Sept. I feel like I've been waiting for so long to get to this point. I just want to know if anyone else had experienced what I've expereinced, or even a little of it. Or if any one has any ideas of what it could be? I find it so hard to explain my symptoms but it's affecting my daily life. I've changed al my diet, and I've eaten healthy for last three months. I am overweight, so it's good to lose the weight but I even worry that I'm losing weight quickly, even though my diets so much healthier now than it was. I don't eat fatty foods, drink alchohol etc.

  • ah I hope your Dr appt goes well tomorrow. Yeah Iv been pushing for a few months now,got an endoscopy and colonoscopy on September 11th. Thanks for your messages, it’s nice to have different take on it all.

  • Hi nica, i have had similar symptoms to you with right side abdominal pain and my platelet count was high. I have had my breasts, overies, womb and lungs checked. I have also had an ultrasound covering spleen, pancreas, gallbladder, liver and kidneys. All clear so far. I am waiting on a endoscopy and colonoscopy, but it is a 10 week wait where I am. 

    How did your appointment go on the 11th? 

     

  • Hi there, thanks for your reply.

     

    Yes, it's all very odd isn't it. I had upper abdominal scan, and pelvic scan but bloods have some back inflamed sometimes but then go back to normal. They wanted colonoscopy and endoscopy to rule that side out, cause it seems like it was all pointing to that. I had it done and they found a small hyperplastic polyp, so it was not normal but he said it was benign. They've done biopsies on colon so I'll get results back soon. Also, in endoscopy they found hiatus hernia, which explains the indigestion pain I was getting but I'm still getting right sided pain and bad headaches at right side of head. The doctor at my last appt, said if all comes back clear we may need to go down the muscular route. I still think it's something to do with my bowel tho, as I was bleeding and pain feels like it's in the colon. I guess I'll have to wait for results. Did your placelet count go back to normal? I still don't know why I have a high ca125, it's slightly over at 41, and it was 45, so there's no explination for that either. I've noticed a lump on my bottom also lately, sinced colonoscopy which scares me. they would have been it before but it's only come on sincde, so I'll need to go to dr to get that checked too. Any word on a date yet for your endoscopy and colonoscopy? Just to reasure you, it wasn;'t as bad as I thought it was going to be :)

  • I'm pleased some good news for you and i hope your biopsy come back ok. 

    No date for mine as yet, I am dreading it but also cannot wait for it to be done. 

    Platelet count went back to high normal range. My bloodcount was low too which has returned to normal. Neither of which they can figure out why. They did put me on iron tablets but I had an awful reaction to them and only stayed on them for 5 days so that cannot account for it. 

    I was convinced the pain was gallbladder but ultrasound was clear. Rather then maroon stool i was sick and was convinced that it was blood as red and coffee like grains but the gastroenterologist is not convinced it was said it was probably what i had eaten. 

    It is so hard not knowing and it has caused me to be very anxious. So fingers crossed we find out what is going on and we both get good results soon!