I'm so sorry that you're having to face such a long wait, I know how scary it feels when you look at your wee ones and imagine the worst. I'm similar to you in that my symptoms started this summer too. My Dr tested and found inflammation present, but it was the positive fit test that allowed her to write again to the consultant and get me into the "two week wait" route for colonoscopy. Has your Dr given you a fit test? If not it would be a good idea to ask for one to be done, a positive result will help your case for a more urgent referral. 

Try not to worry, I know it's hard not to but it is so very unlikely to be cancer, there's lots of reasons for similar symptoms. 

Hi thank you for your message , I know It's awful looking at my son and worrying that something is wrong especially as he's an only child ...Yes I had a positive FIT test, not that I needed it though as the blood is visible, Its usually on the top of the stool and then yesterday was the first time I noticed that there was blood mixed with a bit of mucus in the toilet , Im just so worried.. I really thought it would subside again and that maybe it was just another once off.. but I seen it again today about an hour ago and its so upsetting,  Its not like its something I can ignore or not look at as its something our bodies need to do every second day! I cant find anyone online whos symtoms were like mine , usually the normal things is on the paper or when you wipe, Mine theres nothing which scares me theres something really higher, Did you have your colonoscopy yet ? X 

I'm due to have it this Sunday. One of my symptoms is blood on stool and occasionally in the toilet, nothing that was on wiping if you know what I mean; I think it sounds like perhaps a similar experience to yours. I was checked too, for hemorrhoids, and I know how you feel,  how worrying it is when that doesn't seem to be the issue and that it's a higher up bleed.

But I am keeping telling myself that you know there's many things it may be. In my case, I'm thinking it's possibly diverticular disease because you can have bleeding with that, and I'm finding it difficult to eat with pain right after I do eat something. I've had the mucus thing too, myself. I think it may be a sign of irritation? Could be a benign polyp that's bleeding. Honestly I know how difficult it is not to panic, but really we have statistics on our side; it's very highly unlikely to be something sinister. I have two little boys, and my ex was just horrible...I cannot be ill, they need me. You just have to see the positive side, you know? 

I really wish you the best. And please get back to your gp and push for an urgent referral! ( I know what you mean about the fit test; it was obviously bloody and it felt a bit silly having to do one, but it is part of the diagnostics for who will be referred on the 2 week pathway) 

That does sound similiar to my own symtoms and it did feel so disappointing and unnerving to hear they didn't think it was hemorroids.. I've been distracting myself trying to focus on everyday routines which works for a while but its one of those things that you cant ignore when you need to go , Tiktok really doesn't help , I'm unsure about whether or not the videos that show up are  related to your search history but a woman came up on mine shes 28 from another part of ireland  and got diagnosed with stage 4 bc after being investigated for bleeding that they were all convinced was from hemorroids, I just felt of all the videos that had to pop up ! It is really good to hear that you are getting your colonoscopy this week I'm hoping that all goes okay for you , My gp has said they can more or less tell you straight away if all was normal and what they found , I hope you get answers too and its all okay, If you get good news or anything I would love to hear how you got on, I'm having anxeity even thinking about the prep but only if you feel comfortable sharing how you got on , thank you for your kind messages I'm hoping things work out for us x 

Hi hope you are both ok, currently having the same issues myself and it's awful! Im early 30th with a young child and it's just so hard to hold myself together right now in the unknown. Xx

Hi hope you are both ok, currently having the same issues myself and it's awful! Im early 30th with a young child and it's just so hard to hold myself together right now in the unknown. Xx

It's absolutely fantastic to have this wee space as an outlet to express some of your anxiety isn't it?

I've been made feel like an idiot irl for even suggesting that there may be something seriously wrong, but it's only natural that you worry and feel scared over something like this. I'm finding the level of support I feel from chatting to others on here so beneficial right now.

Wishing you all the best and I hope you get some positive answers soon x

It's absolutely fantastic to have this wee space as an outlet to express some of your anxiety isn't it?

I've been made feel like an idiot irl for even suggesting that there may be something seriously wrong, but it's only natural that you worry and feel scared over something like this. I'm finding the level of support I feel from chatting to others on here so beneficial right now.

Wishing you all the best and I hope you get some positive answers soon x

Hi I was thinking of you over the weekend , Did you have your colonoscopy this weekend? I hope all was okay x 

Hi, thank you for thinking of me. No sign of anything like diverticular disease or colitis, colon perfectly healthy, but a large polyp in my rectum. Endoscopologist didn't remove it at the time because its a bit of a difficult one, but took 3 biopsies; 2 of it and one close to it it seemed. He's referred me over for a pelvic x-ray he said, because he did a digital examination after the colonoscopy and said he felt a mass or a fullness that he couldn't quite identify and so he just wanted to be thorough and get that checked out while things are being investigated. So at the moment just waiting on biopsy results (which should be within 3 weeks) and the letter for x-ray appointment. 

The colonoscopy itself was grand, wee bit uncomfortable at the acute turn in the colon; that was really the only painful part. Had some Entonox and opted not to have sedation. That was just a personal preference, and I'd say with it it really isn't anything to worry about. 

I am feeling quite a bit anxious I must admit, and thank you for giving me an opportunity to talk about it, that does really help to reason it out. Reading all the academic articles and whatnot that I can find, it's like 5% possibility of malignancy...that's just me roughly estimating from the characteristics, location, my age etc...basically me giving myself a solid thought to hold onto until I get results. And sure if it is something to worry about, thank goodness I'm in the position I'm in now and something can be done to sort it.

How have you been getting on? I hope you haven't had too much anxiety to deal with and have been able find yourself a bit closer to answers. Take care x

Hi, that is good news that you have had your colonoscopy! You must feel a bit of relief knowing that it's done now and your on the right steps to getting sorted. That sounds similar to my dad's expierence, He had a large , I think even 2 very large polyps that were not removed during a colonoscopy but done a different day, I think they said sometimes when they're that big it can take over an hour to remove it so they do the biopsies first while waiting to fit you in .. My dad's ended up being benign and they were pretty big ones. 

I'm thinking I probably have a polyp too as I know from reading our symtoms were similar. Did the doctor seem like anything was wrong or just that it was a more than likely benign polyp ? I think they can tell by looking so if hs seemed ok thats a good sign I'd say and if he did the exam staright after the colonoscopy it could maybe just of felt full from air used during the scope or else just a bit inflamed from having a scope .. thats the way I would try think of it was me x

I'm still no closer, my gp sent in another referall specifically addressed to the gastro specialist since the last one went to a general surgeon who decided it was routine, however it has somehow ended up in the hands of that surgeon again and so far I haven't heard anything since, My Partner sent an email to a patient service thing in the hospital asking why after a positive fit test and a&e attendance was it triaged as routine but I haven't heard back from that either , My gp said he might send me to the hospitals medical assessment unit to speed things up but so far no word back.

It's my sons birthday on Saturday hes turning 8 so I have been distracted and busy most of the week but I know after it passes I'll feel panicky again, I wish I would of been able to have been sorted before christmas but it definitely feels like I'll be a while longer, Did you expierence any bleeding during the prep or after the colonoscopy? I think I'm slightly traumatized at this stage over seeing blood in the toilet and It's playing on my mind a bit as I don't know what to expect,  I hope you get results soon xx 

Hi [@Hope_lovexo]‍ 

Sorry I've been quiet for a wee while, I was just giving myself some space from the forum and ruminating. Hope you had a lovely day with your wee one today :happy: my eldest is turning 8 in March; it's such a fun wee stage to be at. My other wee boy is 6 in May, and I was very well content to leave the baby stage behind!lol 

No bleeding etc during the prep..the worst thing about it is the sheer volume of liquid that you have to get down. Drink some prep through a straw and then wash it down with a drink of something you enjoy and I think that's how I'd recommend to handle it. I expected a tiny bit of bleeding after the colonoscopy but only due to the fact of having a few biopsies taken; as it turned out no bleeding, just a bit of pink tinged mucus when I got round to my first bowel movement after it.

I really hope you get somewhere with the process soon, it's not a nice thing to have such a worry hanging over your head in the run up to Christmas. Hopefully contacting the patient service people will get your referral into the correct hands. Let me know how you get on. 

Thank you so much for letting me know about your Dad's experience; that's a wonderfully reassuring story to hear, and thank goodness it turned out okay for him. 

I got a letter today for an MRI scan on pelvis and rectum, on 22nd Dec. No news back on the biopsies taken, but he'd said a report would be sent to my consultant and one to my GP within 3 weeks. Three weeks would be boxing day so, news is coming soon. 

Hi it's nice to hear from you again!

I haven't had much of an update except from this morning I've been told I may have an appointment for January with the consultant - as far as I know It's initially going to be an outpatient consulation and then they'll schedule a colonoscopy I hope,.. I wish it had been at least arranged before Christmas but I guess that was wishful thinking with all going on at the moment, I will post an update if I hear sooner, 

I'm glad that story brought you some reassurance my dad keeps using it to try reassure me , He had been bleeding for a few days and then one day it started spontaneously while at work and he passed out from loosing too much blood and then collapsed again in the hospital. He had the two very large polyps and all turned out okay but I still worry, 

If it takes the full 3 weeks for your gp to get results then that's usually a good sign too as they rush those they feel could be serious, and thats great news about your scan being so close If you felt comfortable to post an update after yours as I feel I'm going down the same path of investigations , How are you feeling about it all now ? I'm still quite anxious, The worry is just awful, it was nice to have a bit of a distraction the past few days but it's snap back to reality unfortunately xx 

I know how you feel; it would be better to have gotten the consultation and colonoscopy date before Christmas. It does settle your mind a wee bit when you have that definite date in your calendar. I hope you're able to put it aside as much a possible and enjoy the season. Your Dad's experience is worrying but also a fantastic outcome. I'm sure he was so worried himself at the time; it just stands to show you that just when it feels like the worst, the outcome may not always be so. 

Still trying to keep it in my head that statically us "younger adults" should have very little to worry about. I'm anxious to move time forward and get this MRI over with, as I'm sure that will be to point where I have a definite answer. I just want to get on with things and start getting better. Still waiting on my biopsy results, but my GP isn't in the surgery every day either so, I think she's in tomorrow so may give them a wee ring then. 

I will absolutely keep you updated, I am intending to be back next week with a benign polyp diagnosis and a bit of a clue as to how they intend to remove it, and I really hope that in some way that'll give you a bit of piece of mind yourself. I've read through forum posts here and not come across many people coming back with their positive (negative lol) diagnoses... I'm fully intending to be able to leave a wee trail that shows no matter how many symptom boxes your ticking that it does turn out okay! 

Best of luck with this week, throw yourself into Christmas activities and try not to dwell too much..we are on the right track. Chat soon!

Hello and happy new year , I hope you enjoyed the holiday times with your family and have by now received some reassuring news xx 

Hi there! No, still no further forward unfortunately. I have found out that the consultant I'm under is the colorectal surgeon who did my colonoscopy: he had said it was a different consultant, so that's changed somehow, but his secretary is not back until the 6th Jan. I'll be giving her a call then to see if I can chase up the colonoscopy/biopsy report. 

Still no report returned to my GP. They're closed today, but I'll be ringing to check if something has came in tomorrow. I'm considering making (well trying to make) an appointment to see my GP because the pain has gotten markedly worse. I've a new pain that's in my lower back, and at times it feels like sciatica (I had that with my chonk of a 10lb 2er) Honest to goodness it takes my breath away at times. Its worse when I'm sitting upright.

Still have the abdominal strechy pain, still bleeding, still mucus, still very difficult to pass a bowel movement, still hurts when I eat. I've lost a stone and a bit over the past while. Still have random night sweats; I feel like if I hadn't begun to get this investigated I would have taken myself to a&e with the pain I'm in at this stage. The team who were doing the MRI looked rushed off their feet, the poor things, there wasn't any opportunity to ask questions at that appointment. 

I'm kicking myself for burying my head in the sand and delaying doing the fit test; I could have been three weeks ahead of myself and perhaps known what was going on by this stage. Have to keep reminding myself that people are off for Christmas, and the health service is stretched beyond capacity...and that things will get done when they get done. Had a nice wee Christmas despite all that though!lol

How have you been? Have you been given the date for your colonoscopy yet?

Hello again! I'm so sorry for the extremely late reply. I had sent a reply to you about 3 days ago now and just popped on tonight to see if you had responded when I seen that the message I sent was not here and doesn't seem to have been posted?! Or else I can't see it? Either way I'm sorry! I had said in my last message that I had hoped I'd have more information by now or an update to give you on how things are going for me, but it seems to be going very slowly. I did this week get a letter in the post saying next Thursday I have an appointment with the gastroenterology consultant. I had been expecting just to get a letter with an appointment for the colonoscopy itself as that what I was referred for but at least its something Thats awful you have been feeling unwell, the worry and stress of all this has probably not helped things either, I seem to loose weight when I'm overly anxious for a long time too. Don't blame yourself for not doing anything earlier you've done everything you were supposed to and even if you had done it those couple of weeks earlier with the pandemic and christmas I doubt you would of been seen any quicker. If your still feeling ill and in lots of pain it wouldnt be the worst idea to pop over to your local a&e or the a&e in the hospital your being treated in and be assessed there, if anything you can get some reassurance, pain relief and also they can call up to the gastro surgical team and have you assessed by someone there and then , it may help speed things for you too, I hope your feeling better by now xx 

okay that message seems to have gone through okay .. I waited this time to be sure lol! .. also the deep heat patches are meant to be very good and might help your poor back, my Partner uses them for siatica and they seem to help xx