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Colon / bowel cancer or GERD / IBS?

Posted , 9 users are following.

ccass
ccass

Hi everyone,

I'll try and keep this post as informative and compact as possible. I have questions that i just didn't think to ask my doctor when i last visited that i think can help me shed some more light on what's going on.

I've often had abdominal discomfort, usually higher up, under the breastbone - especially after eating. A few years ago i suspected a peptic ulcer but was treated instead for acid reflux with omoprazole (i think that's what it was called) and that cleared my discomfort up (at least i thought it did).

I tend to eat late at night as i don't finish work until 10pm, so in recent years when I've put my discomfort down to maybe poor eating habits and indigestion - but within the last year it has gotten progressively worse.

In December i became badly constipated and was passing blood (bright red - i beieve had developed hemmorhoids) was given mebeverine fybogel - i was tested for coeliac disease (results were negative) but the fybogel helped for a while - my doctor decided i had IBS and told me to start a food diary and manage my diet etc...

In January i became clogged up again and since then ive been having real trouble going to the toilet. I've changed my diet and haven't seen any great results. The problem i have now is that the symptoms i have could be anything and I'm at a complete loss with what to do or how to manage whatever it is that i have.

Symptoms i have are -

- upper abdominal discomfort

- constipation

- occasional visible blood in stool (90% of the time bright red - but maroon coloured a couple of times)

- decaying enamel on teeth

- always seem to have a tickly cough

- odd sensation in middle of breastbone at top of abdomen ... almost like an expanding sensation that takes my breath away tiny bit

- im usually fairly tired

- weight loss ... over a stone in the last few month

Some of these symptoms make me think I've got an ongoing GERD issue - but the only thing is i have no oesophagal issues - no heartburn or discomfort.

The worry for me is the blood in my stool - i have had hemmorhoids and it usually is when I'm constipated that i bleed, but the fact that I have had some maroon colored blood is now a concern as it tells me that that kind of blood is not from hemmorhoids - so where is it from?

The weight loss could be down to the laxatives and dietary changes I've made, but i haven't been this light for a while, so im not sure if it's caused by illness or the medication and lifestyle changes.

I'm going back to see my doctor today and am going to ask for tests to rule out more sinister causes - im aware that one of these tests is the colonoscopy and i dread it. If requested, would a virtual colonoscopy via the nhs be an option?

Does anyone else have similar issues / experiences?

Thanks for anyone taking the time to read this and anyone who replies.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • margaret91698
    margaret91698 ccass

    Posted

    Hi ccass

    i am so sorry you are having all these symptoms that are causing you worry.  I expect your doctor will advise a colonoscopy, and although this procedure isn't too pleasant, it will find the cause of your problems.  I had bowel cancer and my symptons were not like yours.  I have had hemmaroids and they do bleed badly.  But your symptons seem very much like recent symptons I had regarding gallstones.  I had pain in my upper abdomen, I was always tired, and I also began to lose weight because because I couldn't eat or digest certain foods.  I have just had my gallbladder removed, and when I have fully recovered from this op I hope all these symptons will disappear.

    i am sure your main concern is cancer, but I must say it sounds more like a dietary problem to me.  Please go for the colonoscopy, and when they rule out anything sinister, they probably look at your digestive system.

    i wish you well, please try not to worry too much.

    regards Margaret

    • ccass
      ccass margaret91698

      Posted

      Thanks for taking the time to read and reply Margaret. I appreciate it. And I'm sorry to hear of your troubles - i hope you recover to full health soon.

      I went to see my doctor today and he's prescribed me omeprazole for acid reflux and when speaking about colonoscopy he felt that because the discomfort was higher in my abdomen that a colonoscopy wasn't the procedure we needed to look at. All other symptoms he feels are tied to silent reflux and ibs/hemmorhoids.

      I've taken the meds and will give it a few days to see if any of the discomfort subsides - if i dont see any improvement by the end if the week I'll go back and insist on a colonoscopy / endoscopy.

  • Elstevo
    Elstevo ccass

    Posted

    Hi ccass

    similiar to my symptoms .which turned out to be colon cancer, I had key hole surgery to remove it .and it was very successful .the colon oscopy is a doddle and nothing to worry about.my first colonoscopy was with ought  sedative and I saw the tumor on the monitor, my second one was done 7 months after surgery, they gave me sedative for this one and never felt a thing, get it done urgently time is an essence 

     

    • ccass
      ccass Elstevo

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I'm going back to docs at end of the week after trying one last medication that has eased my symptoms in the past. If it doesn't make any difference; I'll be in for colon and endoscopues.
    • hdzmiriam
      hdzmiriam Elstevo

      Posted

      What were your symptoms? When did you realize something was very wrong? I'm 25 years old and I've been having these bloody episodes for 6 years already. I had a colonoscopy and the doctor said I had colitis and hemorrhoids. BTW I had this colonoscopy in January 2011. My concern is that this summer, my condition has worsened. I almost bleed everyday now I have a new symptom. I've had gas, diarrhea, and constipation in the past. I've also had mild cramps that feel like I have to pass gas but this discomfort that I'm feeling is different now. I have a strange pain in my pelvic area that feels like pressure as if my colon still needs to release some poop. I'll be sitting or standing and I feel it and sometimes it aches. It feels cramps and achy and pressured. I'm just so tired of bleeding. Before I thought they were flares but this summer my condition is so bad. I can't stop the bleeding, it's almost everyday when I pass my bowels.
  • PaulBen
    PaulBen ccass

    Posted

    Hi ccass,

    If you had GERD you would certainly be suffering from heartburn problems, but as you are not being troubled by that it would seem to rule out GERD, but I'm not a doctor.

    Blood in your poo isn't normally connected to GERD, and from your description (bright red) it  sounds a lot ike bleeding from the rectum area, possibly haemorrhoids, but you need to have this checked out. A sigmoidoscopy, which is a minor version of a colonoscopy examines your rectum area and would confirm that. It's good at picking up other bowel problems as well. If bright red blood was your only symptom I would have started with that option. As you have constipation, loss of weight and fatigue, I'd definitely go for a colonoscopy instead.

    A ccolonoscopy examines the whole of you colon including the sigmoid area, and needs a more extensive prepararation beforehand (laxatives with restricted diet). The examination itself takes 30 - 45 minutes and can be uncomfortable at times but not excessively.so. I have had 3 of these  A sedative is offered before the examination starts but I never bother with it, and put up with what little discomfort there is.Those who have the sedative have little discomfort, but then you cannot drive for 24 hours, and you need someone to take you home from the hospital.

    Don't get too stressed about having a colonoscopy. It's not the procedure that is the problem. It's what they may find which can be the real worry, and the sooner you get one done the quicker your mind will be out at rest.

    • ccass
      ccass PaulBen

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply mate. I appreciate it. My doctor doesn't believe the problem is coming from my colon or lower abdomen - but higher up - when i mentioned a colonoscapy today he said i could get one but he'd like me to try omeprazole for a free days first to see if there's any difference. I'll give it until the end if the week and then go back to Insist on colon / endoscopies
  • ccass
    ccass

    Posted

    Hi everybody ...

    Thanks for all replying, it's great that there are loads of others out there that are able to help.

    I had my Colonoscopy this morning ... no polyps, no inflammation (much to my surprise) - all clear and everything as it should be!

    The procedure itself was fine too ... the only part about it was the pressure you could feel every now and again as the air was blown into the colon ... but that just felt like a really bad belly ache for a second or 2 then it would stop.

    Specialist believes the bleeding i was having was down to hemmerhoids ... even though the blood was a darker color at times ... and he also thinks it's just a pure case of IBS.

    I've eliminated dairy from my diet and the swelling and symptoms overall have settled greatly, so I'm looking down the intolerance avenue now.

    Thanks again for all your kind words and help ...

    A very relieved co-patient.

  • PaulBen
    PaulBen ccass

    Posted

    Well done ccass. Good to hear you're clear. A Colonoscopy is generally a breeze although you'd be hard-pressed to believe that it if you read some threads on here. Whenever I have one they always find a polyp or three which means I have to return tto the Colorectal unit every 5 years for the next one.

    Just a word about omitting dairy products from  your diet. We get most of our calcium intake from dairy food, which is vital for maintaining good bone structure. Unless you can make up your loss of calcium from other foods you risk getting Osteoporosis later on So bear that in mind.

    • elaine12351
      elaine12351 PaulBen

      Posted

      Hi Paul, can I just say that I had 2 colonoscopies which were fine just a bit uncomfortable however I've just had my third and it was absolutely unbearable so I don't know why this would happen. My last one was performed by another doctor? I don't know but I could still cry thinking about it and have had nightmares even. So it's just to say I don't think all are equal.

  • Jram
    Jram ccass

    Posted

    Hi ccass. Im experiencing right now what you experienced. But Im afraid my mom died due to colon cancer last year. Im afraid to think it's colon cancer. I want to believe it would just be light problem. My symptoms is upper right abdominal discomfort, tickly cough, weight loss, gerd(sticky clear mucus in my throat) , I was constipated 2 montha ago and got hemmorhoids. But now my stool is cleae of blood. I just undergone stool exam to check blood. But its clear. Im afraid to fo for colonoscopy. I Pray its just ibs or gallblader prob. So it's lighter.

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