Hi Sha123,

Hope you're doing okay!

I can't answer your questions but I am in a similar situation. I've been having changes in my bowel habits and some other symptoms but I am really stressing out incase it is bowel or ovarian cancer.

Ive been referred to lower gi at my local hospital and I'm having a telephone consultation with my nurse tomorrow and blood tests on Wednesday. They also mentioned a colonoscopy so I'm ******** myself! I'm only 24, so realistically our chances of it being sinister are low. I'm finding my anxiety is playing up too and I'm wondering if that's making my symptoms (like stomach pains) worse! Xx

Hey! 
 

Honestly just having someone else close to me in age who knows what I'm going through is abit of a relief for me. I've been struggling to talk to people who don't understand but I have the exact same thoughts as you. I feel like my anxiety is definitely contributing to symptoms and causing flare ups but I can't be sure. But if you're feeling like I have been and need to speak to somebody I am here.

i hope all goes well for you xx

I definitely think mine is being made worse by anxiety now, woken up feeling sick because I'm so worried! I'm stressing over the most stupid things right now, like if lower gi doesn't find anything wrong will they then refer me to gynae or do I have to go back to my gp for a referral and go through all of this wait again. Our symptoms are so similar, it could just be ibs like your doctor said! Raised calprotectin can be a sign of ibs so maybe try and take some comfort in that.
I think we just need to try and focus on the fact that we are both very young and our risk level is low. My family are sick to death of seeing me crying and hearing about it xx

I'm so worried about how much longer the process could be before I find anything out so I think we're similar in that sense. My family think I am being so ridiculous but it is hard not to think the worst. Just need to remember that that's the minds natural way of thinking like you said..our risks are just so low xx

I'm getting more and more paranoid now, laying here pressing my belly and the left side feels harder than the right and that's where I'm getting the pain. Just want this all over and done with! Have you had any referral links from your gp to get any appointment booked in? You normally have to go on nhs referrals and book x

I know the feeling because I do the same. I poke and prod the lump on my left side and look at it in every reflective service that I pass in my house. I have found that touching it makes it hurt more than it usually does so I try to avoid it as much as I can but when I'm not occupied with work or other things it does become difficult not to. Are you working from home or working at all? or do you have any hobbies/exercise you can do? I would definitely recommend trying to keep occupied as much as you can because it'll stop you 1. From touching it and 1. Thinking up loads of bad thoughts. This really is not easy though. I have really bad days where I can't stop obsessing over it but today I've set myself the task of not even looking at it let alone touching it. 
 

I was referred by my Gp to my local hospital for further tests at the digestive diseases department. I have been told it can be a longer wait than usual due to covid and other things so no sign of any set appointment dates just yet. Have you??

Sounds exactly the same as me! Second guessing myself and wondering if I look bloated or if this is normal for me. I'm working from home 1 day a week and it's being upped to 2.5 from next week, hopefully full time soon. I agree if I'm not occupied I'm either googling or prodding myself.

I had a telephone screening with a nurse this morning, she is going to pass it onto a doctor who will assess it and a letter will be sent to me soon, she said it should be sent out today. I've done a stool sample but not had any results from that and I am having blood tests tomorrow. Ive got a fear of blood tests so I'm trying to stay calm and drink loads today so my veins are easier to find :laugh: that's my first thing to tackle! To make it worse tomorrow is my 25th birthday so it's the last thing I want to be doing.

The nurse said she is going to add an ibd test onto the blood test so hopefully that will give some more clues. Strange you haven't heard anything. My doctor has a habit of referring patients as a matter of urgency so that's probably why I'm being sorted so quickly. The nurse said it could be a gynae matter and I would be discharged back to my gp and would have to then be referred onto gynae, so more waiting but I'm determined to get to the bottom of it xx

Hi Sha123, hope you're doing okay! I completely understand you not coming on here, sometimes it doesn't always help with anxiety!

So today I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy which actually turned into a colonoscopy as I was able to withstand it, got through it with gas and air and it was fine! The consultant said everything was clear and there wasn't anything to worry about just slight ibs which was a relief. I've also had a private gynae scan done aswell to rule out anything in that area and that was completely clear.

I was so worried up until today, but not looking back I'm wondering why I had convinced myself I had something sinister when the likeliness is so low. I'm glad you've found ways to cope with the anxiety, it's horrible when you go into panic mode and your mind is consumed by the "what if" thoughts. 

Definitely chase up your appointment. I know there is some delay as I was on the 2 week wait and it turned out being a fair bit longer.

Keep me updated with your progress. If you don't want to post on here feel free to message me and hopefully I can help with the anxiety you're having xx

I'm so happy to hear that you have the all clear! That's honestly amazing. 
 

unforunately I contacted my local hospital about my referral today and they are still unable to give me an appointment date. They have said it could anything between now and 52 weeks (although it is unlikely to be that long. They just say it to cover their backs). I have been absolutely distraught today because my wait still isn't over and still no end in sight but I do find comfort in the fact that you got the all clear!

im really debating a private colonoscopy but it just is so much money to spend when my appointment could be right around the corner. Right now I'm just torn between spending all the money I've got on private healthcare or to wait it out even longer.