Hi, am interested to know what your results were? I am worried sick and having similar issues. Thanks 

Hi -

Not cancer. They found 3 large diverticula, which had been bleeding, plus two very small pplyps, which were biopsied - nothing found. If you're worried, please see your doctor and don't be afraid of having a colonoscopy. At least you will know what you're dealing with and will be able to move forward. Good luck. xx

Thank you so much. And I am so pleased for you! What a relief! I am so worried still. Am off work today. Can I just ask was your blood with every bowel movement ? As the bleeding seems to have stopped now, it's just the bad abdominal pains and diarrhoea, with pain inside my bum and pains in my sides. I also feel sick almost 24/7. I have had blood tests today am just waiting on the results :-( did your blood test show anything? My poop is much lighter in colour too so I'm worried I've got liver or pancreatic C!!!! :-(  I hope that whatever I have it is treatable. Stories like yours gives me hope so thank you so much for responding x

Hi again -

So sorry that you're going through this, but it's good that you're having blood tests. That was the first step with me too. At first, when my symptoms were the worst, the blood tests showed inflammation and infection. That seemed to settle down after a while, but the pain came back (though not as bad), so the stool test was ordered. I only saw blood in one bm, and that wasn't the one that was sent for analysis - there was no visible blood in that. What they are looking for is "occult" (hidden) blood. My stools were (and still are, to an extent) light-coloured too; my doctor said that was usually a sign of infection. The blood tests will give you more information, and hopefully you will be referred for further tests so you can find out what's causing your symptoms. Your symptoms are fairly typical of IBS and diverticular disease. Please resist the urge to Google your symptoms - you will always end up focusing on the worst-case scenario, which is a form of self-torture I'm all too familiar with. Almost everything is treatable nowadays, and you are doing the right thing by having investigations done. Good luck! xx.

Hi again -

So sorry that you're going through this, but it's good that you're having blood tests. That was the first step with me too. At first, when my symptoms were the worst, the blood tests showed inflammation and infection. That seemed to settle down after a while, but the pain came back (though not as bad), so the stool test was ordered. I only saw blood in one bm, and that wasn't the one that was sent for analysis - there was no visible blood in that. What they are looking for is "occult" (hidden) blood. My stools were (and still are, to an extent) light-coloured too; my doctor said that was usually a sign of infection. The blood tests will give you more information, and hopefully you will be referred for further tests so you can find out what's causing your symptoms. Your symptoms are fairly typical of IBS and diverticular disease. Please resist the urge to Google your symptoms - you will always end up focusing on the worst-case scenario, which is a form of self-torture I'm all too familiar with. Almost everything is treatable nowadays, and you are doing the right thing by having investigations done. Good luck! xx.

Thank you so much! You've really boosted me so fingers crossed all ok when I get my results. Good luck to you too!! I hope you get some treatment and you feel better soon  Xx

Hi, I just wanted to say that I had several months of IBS style symptoms, yellow stools along with nausea plus enlarged lymph nodes - which led to a quickly scheduled colonscopy and many blood tests back in September. Even the consultants seemed convinced I had colon cancer but the good news was that I didn't; just a few polyps and obviously some kind of unexplained virus or infection. So I'm crossing my fingers for you too - even when you appear to have all the symptoms it doesn't mean it's cancer.  x

Awww thank you so much! That's really lifted me! I get my blood results tomorrow so fingers crossed! Can I ask what your symptoms were? The weird thing is I haven't got any bleeding now, and each time I had it was when I was passing a larger stool, and it hurt to come out which always led me to believe the bleeding was down to haemorrhoids, but maybe it could be polyps that are bleeding.... I don't know. I also seem to have lost my appetite these last couple of days.....and I'm usually a total scoffer!! I just want to feel well again. Fed up of feeling scared and convincing myself of the worst all the time :-( thank you for your reply hun! Xx

Thinking of you today. Let me know how you get on.  

In answer, my appetite did definitely decrease and I had chronic diarrohea for several months (plus nausea on and off) for no apparent reason (they had ruled out every possible infection apparently).  I remember I couldn't even do a stool sample (eurgh!) because I had nothing solid.

Awww thank you. That's so reassuring! I feel a bit better today, but last night during the night was not good. Also my stomach at the top is sticking out, it feels like a mass, but not sure it is, it could just be hard tummy.  That sounds horrible hun I haven't had to do a stool sample yet. Still no blood results in, just called doctors and they said to try again later. How long do they usually take? Doctor told me they'd be there today. Just want answers so I can start to get better. My anxiety isn't helping!!

I actually spoke to someone about bloods yesterday and basically I was told bloods are done within hours of receipt, it's actually the reading of them that takes time as they have to be reviewed. So I would imagine that if they said they'd be in today then someone must be tasked with reviewing them at some point.  But I was also told (and this is just my personal experience and obviously you may have had different tests) that bloods could not give any kind of definitive diagnosis only highlight areas for further investigation.

Yes I was told the same, they said they will be giving me an ultrasound anyway, regardless of blood results. I will keep you posted! 

Very best of luck 

Hi Hun, thought I'd give you an update on today, so i guess it's good news...but not out of the woods yet! Blood results were all fine apart from my Hemoglobin levels which are quite high apparently... not sure what this means? Doc wasn't overly concerned tbh. She just said sometimes it's just that we're a little dehydrated! She done an internal exam up my bum to check for any lumps and all seems fine she said. It feels so sore high up inside but she thinks that is from all the diarreah I've had! The pains she thinks is cos I'm so bloated and blocked up with poo and wind. So she's given me some softening medication to help flush me out. She said the constipation can cause the 24/7 nausea,.. but I can't see how. I don't get it just after eating it's there ALL the time. Anyway she agreed to refer me to a Gastrointestinal Specialist to get an ultrasound and possible colonoscopy too, just to rule anything scary out but she thinks it's all constipation and possible IBS! I asked her about my periods cos they've been bad for the last three months and she said that's seperate to this, it won't be linked, but in my mind it seems weird that I've been suddenly really struggling with my periods AND my bowels around the same sort of time. So she agreed that if the GastoIntestinal Specialist doesn't find anything then she will refer me to Gynaecology. Luckily I have free private medical through BUPA with work so hopefully it should all happen quite quickly! Am certainly feeling better about things but trying not to get too happy and reassured at the moment until I know why my hemoglobin levels are raised and nothing shows up on my scans/colonoscopy! Xx

Heh, I think that is probably really good news. What the doctor is saying sounds feasible to me. Constipation does make you feel a bit sick. Stress can affect periods so possibly something is going on there. The best thing is to get the colonoscopy done quickly like I did because that rules out all manner of things. Are they also doing a pelvic utlrasound?