Hello!

I hope someone here is reading this. :-(

I managed to get to have a face-to-face talk with a GP today. Although I've taken my tablets and am still on lanzaprozole I am still having stomach issues.

To cut a long story short though:

- The two tests I had (FIT test and blood test) earlier were ok - no problems there.

- I Did run through a list of things that I'd noticed and told the doctor, some of them he said were "reassuring".

Essentially then I'm going to have a camera put down there (presumably throat, not sure) and I am not sure exactly when. It appears to be the only way to tell for sure and to rule things out. I did see the doctor look at a page entitled something like "SUSPECTED CASE OF ??? CANCER" but after I said something the doctor said that I was at low risk and I didn't even meet the criteria for a two-week emergeny referal.

The camera is going in as I was told it is the "gold standard" to know what exactly is going on. 

ljones

Don't worry if you have to have a colonoscopy, it will give you the answers.

You can have sedation, where you are sleepy and don't care less but you're not actually asleep, you can also have gas and air incase you get uncomfortable when they 'pump you up with air' to have a good look.

If you are worrying all the time about this, you can get dizzyness/vertigo with anxiety.

I think you need the camera to reassure you and then the anxiety will go.

Don't read stuff on google!

Good luck

The problem is the not knowing. I mean I still have symptoms after taking all the tablets - what else could it be? If the tablets are used to clear h pylori and then get rid of a stomach ulcer and hasn't surely that means the inevatiable?

And when the doctor asked "have you lost any weight" all I could say is that I didn't think that I did. I don't know -- I do not regulararly weigh myself.

Maybe there's a way to make things move more quickly with getting the camera test?

ljones

Will put my test results that I've had so far (external only, I haven't had the "camera test" yet).

- FIT test - came back negative

- Blood test - came back OK

- Heliobacter - positive :-(

- A "finger up the bottom" test (done by a GP) (anus test) - no problem there

At one point in one examination (carried out yesterday btw) where I did point out where I had pain the doctor (GP) did examine me and he noted from the outside that it was "sore" but when I asked he said he was "just commenting".

Another thing I fear is once they get back to me it'll be a case of "we can't give you your camera test for another 6 months". In which case........

Anyone? :-(

ljones

Sounds like your news is mostly good. I had a negative FOBT test and the doctor was like "it's definitely hemorrhoids; I don't think you even need the colonoscopy" and I think the FIT is a lot more accurate than the FOBT.

As regards losing weight, I think you would know if it was significant. I told the doctor I lost about a stone, possibly a bit more or less in the previous year and he put it down as no weight loss. He said if I'd lost enough for it to count, people would notice. I think they are talking losing a significant percentage of your body weight, not just losing two pounds or something but like going down a size or two in clothing. I mean, I don't know exactly, but I would think it would be enough to have people commenting or to have your clothes no longer fitting right.

I wouldn't worry too much about the "suspected case of". I think they might say that if there are any symptoms that could suggest it. I don't think it means they think it is, just that the test is to rule that out.

Thanks there :-)

I'm really not sure if my news is good or not though -- I still have the pain around whatever lies behind the bellybutton area. I managed to contact my GP again and was told the wait for having a camera test would be about 2 or 3 months....and I'm not going to be able to go on for that long in my current state :-( . Heaven knows what I would do about work as well.

Good point on the weight there my clothes still seem to fit ok I'm not aware of "going down a clothespeg" at all. 

Yep the test is to just rule it out but I'm really trying to find a way to speed up getting it -- I'm quite prepared to travel even if means long distances (I'm in southern england). I said I'd be ok to go to places fairly close to me such as southampton or lymington or sailsbury but if it means a quicker date I'm willing to go to say london or manchester I mean I can always use the national express coaches to get there.

Will try to tell my GP this hopefully they might accept this idea?

ljones

I need to add in two more points. More new asymptoms I hope this dosent mean cancer.

I hope someone is reading this. I'm really scared :-( 

Firstly I keep on waking up at night after having a vivid dream. My heart is racing once I wake but then slowly slows down. I don't know why that is happening. Can lanzaprozole do this. My sleep patterns are shot :-(

Secondly I still have some acid reflux and burning - it isn't massive but there is some.

ljones

Could some of it be anxiety or stress related? I did have a few stomach symptoms come on after the doctor suggested a referral to rule out bowel cancer and they gradually disappeared after the colonoscopy, so stress probably played a part. And dreams, broken sleep, racing heartbeat sound to me like they could possibly be symptoms of stress, though I am obviously no expert. Just wondering if that could be one possibility.

Quick update unfortunatly I think it is bad news :-(

I've spoken to the GP again and they're going to do new tests - an ECG test and then in 3 days time a new set of blood test to check for iorn deficiciency and a blood count and thyroid. I hope that dosen't mean that I have cancer :-(

ljones