Hi

Sorry you are going through all this worry.

I've had bowel cancer twice and both times different symptoms.

You did the right thing getting checked at your GP's, the fit test is very good BUT... if you have the slightest bit of blood, for example you mention 'stingy anus' so maybe piles, it will come back positive, so don't be surprised if this happens that you get sent for the urgent 2 week hospital appontment. They will probably do a colonoscopy, this is very good and will find out if there's a problem.

Worry does cause 'tummy problems', also don't google stuff, once you read it, it sticks in your mind festering!

thanks there :-)

If I have to have a colonoscopy I'm dreading that. They tried to put a camera down me (I forget what it was called) before having my gallbladder removed (done via the mouth) but it was painful and I could not keep still and so had an extra stay in hospital (concerns of having blood poisioning) but that was 2 years ago. I don't know if the camera they use for that procedure (colonoscopy) is smaller than the one for gallbladder - but I just wasn't able to keep still for long enough even though I had been given sedatives (2 years ago) - but I remember being told for some people the sedatives would do nothing - !

I've had the pain in my stomach or whatever is in that (roughly) bellybutton for about a week now. Can't quite diagnose it however sometimes it feels as if the indigestion-like pain goes away after eating but yet sometimes the total opposite if I don't eat. It is really hard to nail down precisely. 

Using google I agree it is a nightmare. You can get lead down lots of rabbit holes mosts of which usually seem to end in something serious. I tried to avoid this as much as I can (I did initially stick to just the NHS website) but then I find I can never quite match all my symptoms.

Only other thing I can think of is that I just feel ever so slightly "out of whack" - not despereately ill in the sense I'm collasped on the floor and in agony but rather being "a bit below 100%". You know .... sort of everything is nearly ok but not quite.

Wonder if anyone here can define "a change in how much you should poo/deficate". Would that mean a change as in going from once a day to two times a day or form one to 5 times? Could a small change just be a symptom of being older?

One more thing to add: Today (friday) the "indigestion" felt really bad. Went into work as normal and deficated around 9AM (felt somewhat like I should go and partly through fear/neves). Normally I don't do this -- I usually try to wait until the evening when at home back from work. After I'd done so for a time the "indigestion" pain went down by quite a margin but not totally. Normally though I don't do this I usually wait until the evening.

I guess though this is why I did end up using search engines and not just the NHS website -- my symptoms are just all over the place and don't seem to tie up with anything!

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

Another update have had my camera check moved forward. REALLY hope it isnt cancer though without the new blood tests and having to wait again for results x.x

ljones

I doubt the tests mean you have anything in particular. That probably just means they are checking to see what you might have. 

It really could be lots of things and if you have a negative FIT test, I think bowel cancer would be pretty unlikely. Like I said, even with the less sensitive test, the doctor thought it was practically ruled out for me.

I really do think that stress could possibly be making things worse. Try not to worry, especially about any symptoms that came on after you started thinking about this, because when you start thinking about things, it's easy to start paying attention to minor things and start wondering if they are a symptom of something serious. And stress can cause stomach or bowel issues and a lot of other issues too.

I know even a small chance of cancer is terrifying and it is really hard not to worry, but the odds are in your favour. I'm glad the camera test has been moved forward. Hopefully, you will have answers soon and I hope they will be good ones. Looks like you've already got some good results so that's reassuring.

Thanks there :-)

I just hope it isn't something else like stomach cancer. Although it almost seems to be in the wrong place if you know what I mean, around the bellybutton area. Does anyone know if this is the case?

Update: I just finished getting the ECG & blood pressure (blood test to follow with face-to-face next wednesday).

I did find out one thing though - and I know this is stupid (although I don't know anything about anatomy!) what is exactly "behind the bellybutton" is your bowels, not your stomach that's further up. Since most of my pain is in that bellybutton area can it still be stomach cancer or not - wouldn't the major problem be where the pain is. I do still have some acid reflux, nothing massive but enough to be occasionally tasting old food.

ljones

Hmm....

Ok while I know I have symptoms - maybe I'm being more stupid than a big box of stupid with a big flashy neon light that says "BIG BOX OF TOTAL STUPID HERE!". But maybe all my waking up with a racing heart and panic is just down to a nocturnal panic attack? (I did not know this existed until today). It has the same symptoms - you can be having a normal dream and then *BAM*. 

I'm going to try to tell myself that what it is.

And if that's the case could it be that some of my "normal" symptoms are actually anxiety? Dr. google is not a good idea to use and in the absence of quick doctor access yes I used it to look at websites. But then I guess websites aren't a doctor either so I get to play doctor which won't work either, so I wonder what % is real symptoms and what is just anxiety?

ljones

Hmm....

Ok while I know I have symptoms - maybe I'm being more stupid than a big box of stupid with a big flashy neon light that says "BIG BOX OF TOTAL STUPID HERE!". But maybe all my waking up with a racing heart and panic is just down to a nocturnal panic attack? (I did not know this existed until today). It has the same symptoms - you can be having a normal dream and then *BAM*. 

I'm going to try to tell myself that what it is.

And if that's the case could it be that some of my "normal" symptoms are actually anxiety? Dr. google is not a good idea to use and in the absence of quick doctor access yes I used it to look at websites. But then I guess websites aren't a doctor either so I get to play doctor which won't work either, so I wonder what % is real symptoms and what is just anxiety?

ljones

OK, *Really* going to need help again!

:-(

I've recently spoken to a GP again - this time I was able to get in and see *my* GP. They re-examined me (just got me to lie down and poke you about). This doctor said that there was a possibility of having two things , this time it is a hiatus hernia and gord. From what I can gather the former is when the stomach moves into a place it shouldn't be and that it causes the second (gord) which is really nasty heartburn and acid reflux.

Snag is I also read that having gord can cause cancer because of the damage all of that stomach acid can do when it goes to the wrong places. And I'm finding I have all kinds of odd feelings here and there. Here's a list of what I've experienced so far - trouble is that this could be down to anxiety, fear and panic or not I just don't know.

- This morning at midday after eating I almost was sick after eating lunch. I got down most of it but almost vomited but not quite because I guess of feeling sick. I don't know if that was anxiety and panic that caused that or something else.

(Update: This evening I had dinner, I did not eat all of it for fear of being sick again but did not vomit at all after eating).

- I really can't tell if I am having a problem of having "getting food down" (swallowing) or not. I do have a nasty feeling just below the adams apple but it is all over the place - sometimes better, sometimes worse. I don't know if this is to do with panic or weather it is getting wrecked by stomach acid. Or if it is something which I know I have, I think it is called rhinostitis its where you have constant post-nasal drip and are always or swallowing a lot.

- I sometimes get a warm feeling between the nipples. Again I don't know if this is the stomach acid or something else.

- I've had a pain in the right hand side of my neck although for now it seems to have gone.

When I spoke to the doctor they said they'd write (I presume they really mean email in this day and age!) to a hospital in southampton who could perform the gastroscopy that I'm due more quickly. But that was about a week and a half ago, last time I got to speak to the doctor (last wednesday) they re-wrote to them and I've not heard from the hospital that will do the gastroscopy at all even though that's what I've got to do according to the doctor. 

:-( I have also been reading about estroscopal ( the pipe for the throat that connects to the stomach) cancer and I hope it is not that. 

I am *very* worried I am wondering if I should be more forceful and get myself into hospital as I am having a nightmare trying to do anything much at home. Really I definately can't keep this all together and keep having these symptoms if I have to wait months. And I am really terrified about what all the damage all this is doing to the point my hands are shaking.

*Also* I know what I said earlier about not using "dr.google" but with no GPs avaliable at the weekend, with 111 being sloooow and nobody else to turn to I've done the inevitable again and had to use "dr.google". I have now spoken with 111 but they are busy and I don't know when they will call back (they originally said 6 hours, but I got another call to wait longer).

:-(

ljones

Not doing so well here again. It almost seems as if my bad stomach is becoming a permananet bad stomach!

Going to see the GP in the morning.

I ended up in A&E last night and they carried out a series of tests I even got to see an A&E doctor twice. They ran all tests - ECG, blood pressure, blood tests and urine but yet they all came out negative.

*?confused?*

ljones

Hello ljones,

                   sorry to read of your troubles,can l ask how the after effects of having your gall bladder removed went for you,.l lost mine along with 60% of my liver when cancer in my bowel decided to go on a little trip.l struggled with bowel problems for a good number of years until eventually working out that l have over zealous bile production and with the loss of the gall bladder,no control on the amount being released.This means that my bowel runs on a  steady to explosive cycle,with accompanying pains,bloat and grumbling, Reading your post makes me wonder if this may be a background issue for yourself? to a lesser extent to that that l "enjoy", just a thought,

                                                                                                             david

I have been to the hospital now for the camera test. I don't know if these results I have them now mean I can close this thread up.

The tests returned that I have a  hiatus hernia of size 2cm. Apparently the upper limit is 40cm.

The doctor also checked the stomach the duodenum, D2 2nd part of duodenum. The findings are listed as normal and  that I have "unremarkable mucosa to D2".

ljones