Hi, thanks for reading. I'm a 32 year old mother of one. I have suffered with IBS for 15 years, but 4 years ago, I began needing to go more urgently, and I noticed some blood in my stool. I went to my GP and after months of seeing them, they finally did a calprotectin test (for inflmmation) and mine came back as over 200 (normal is less than 50), so they referred me to gastroenterology at the hospital. They repeated the calprotectin test and it came back as over 2000! They referred me for an urgent colonoscopy for suspected IBD. However, they were unable to sedate me (they couldn't get the thing in my vein) and because I was in a lot of pain, the doctor decided to stop the procedure (I'm absolutely kicking myself for not insiting that he continue). He took a few bopsies from the bottom part of my colon to check for inflammation, but they came back clear. He also said he saw some internal hemmoroids. I then had a PillCam (where you swallow a camera) and that came back clear. However, I didn't know this at the time, but that only looks at the small bowel, not the colon. So they didn't look at most of my colon - only the very bottom part. They repeated the calprotectin test and because it had gone down to 200, then down to 58, they decided there was no need to continue with tests and said the 2000 level could have been down to an infection.
Over the last 4 years, my IBS symptoms have been pretty much the same. I have loose stools each day, but only usually go once or twice per day (and ocasisonally after a large meal). I have been bloating more than I used to though. However, I have been suffering with tenderness in my upper right abdomen for over a year. It hurts to press (feels bruised) and I can't lay on my left or the upper right hurts - it feels like pressure. They did the calprotectin test again twice last year and it came back as 108 and 110, which apparently is classed as 'slightly elevated'. I saw another gastroenterologist who felt my stomach and told me that he did not think there was anything to worry about. (I hadn't noticed any blood in my stool for a long time, however, I tend to like a glass of red wine [or two, or three] each night [yes I know, it's not good and if all comes back clear I will be quitting] but the wine colours the stool darker, so I'm worried that I might have missed blood because of this). A few months ago, because the upper abdominal tenderness was still there, I had an abdominal ultrasound whch checked my liver, pancreas, gallbladder and kidneys, and earlier in the year I had a pelvic ultrasound which checked my ovaries and bladder - all of these tests came back normal.
But 3 weeks ago, I did see some pink blood drop into the toilet after I went for a poo. It was there when I wiped too, and looked a bit mucusy. I straight away made a GP appointment, and she repeated the calprotectin test - it's back up to over 2000! She did blood tests but they were all normal. I have been referred back to gastroenterology and have been told that I will likely need another colonoscopy (but a complete one this time). I have noticed a tiny bit of blood on two other ocassions too.
To say I'm scared is an understatement. I'm now terrified that it is bowel cancer and that they missed it years ago by not looking at my colon, and that I am now going to die. It is rare in my age but I have read many stories of younger people who were diagnosed after years of symptoms. I can't sleep, can't eat, can't stop crying. I can't think abut anything else thoughout the day. I'm not sure what anyone could possibly say to make me feel better. I guess I just needed to get it out there - I feel like I'm going to go mad.
