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Colonoscopy scheduled

Posted , 6 users are following.

ashley72
ashley72

I'm 28 and have a colonoscopy scheduled for 3 months time and little nervous. My symptoms first started around October last year, where I noticed a change in my bowel habits , very low energy and pain and cramping in my stomach with bloating. After discussing this with the GP it was initially put down as stress as im in my final year of my degree and this was my exam period. I didn't think much after that until a few weeks later where I had very loose stools and cramping and pain.

I had blood tests and I was also tested for celiac disease which was negative. My blood did show I had very low iron but I am not anaemic and was given tablets. It also showed my antibody level was considerably higher than normal. This was reviewed several weeks later with repeated blood tests which came back showing my iron levels where still too low and had only increased slightly and now my iron stores where depleted which I was also given tablets for. My antibody level was still raised.

Two months later I had blood from my rectum for 2/3 days and I was examined for fissures and hemorroides which was negative and resulted in the Doctor referring me for a colonoscopy . He was surprised I hadn't been referred to a specialist prior to this.

I'm just wondering what could be going on and other peoples opinions if anyone can relate to any of this ?

1 like, 35 replies

35 Replies

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  • amy71414
    amy71414 ashley72

    Posted

    Hi so i am 21 and i had all of the symptoms you mentioned and i had a colonsocopy and endoscopy last Friday and thankfully i am all good and she said there was nothing nasty down there as i have had ALOT and i mean alot of anti biotics in the last year and especially since January she said she touched it and it bruised very easily so she said to take 2 gastro health a day for 3 months and then stop i am so happy its over and done with and i can move on with my life! i hope you all get it sorted and have the same out come smile Also dont be to worried the prep for it all wasnt that bad at all although it tastes gross i put cold green tea in the mix to change the flavour a bit which worked also she said to mix it with diet lemonade so definately good tips. it said to drink the mixture within 4hrs although i did  it over 5hrs i just couldnt drink that much in that time frame but as long as its clear you dont have to worry and if not have epsom salts for a last resort. I hope this helps smile 
    • stephanie_02207
      stephanie_02207 amy71414

      Posted

      So happy it all went well for you! Was reading your post on Mel's thread about your lymph nodes as well, I have to exact same Thing! 2 cancer scares in the past year, my colonoscopy is the 17th I'll post back when I'm done smile hope to be relieved like you!

    • amy71414
      amy71414 stephanie_02207

      Posted

      My fingers are crossed for you its such a relief the thought of having cancer just puts your life on hold until you find out if you know what i mean im just so happy i get a chance to do things right now ive been going to the gym eating healthy and taking lots of vitamens so fingers crossed i wont have any other issues although my throat is still a pain from that tonsillectomy the side that was cut out a second time still hurts every now and again but i have a feeling that will never go away which sucks but if that all i have to worry about after all that i dont mind so much. I hope all goes well for you let me know how you go smile !!
    • ashley72
      ashley72 amy71414

      Posted

      I'm so happy for you 😊 great news . Hopefully September comes quick . Thank you for all the tips on the prep that's the bit I fear most. How where you after the colonoscopy ? I'm supposed to have a party the night of the procedure and wondering if this will even be possible

      Keep you posted on how I get n but you probably won't be on this site now 😁

    • amy71414
      amy71414 ashley72

      Posted

      Hey smile you will be fine i went out for dinner that night to celebrate haha you feel great after hey they gave me fluids through an IV after the surgery to keep you hydrated after all that prep stuff i woke up like id had the best sleep ever! and i felt fine so you should be fine to go after the procedure 
    • stephanie_02207
      stephanie_02207 amy71414

      Posted

      I'm doing my prep right now, colonoscopy tomorrow. Nervous for the results but ready to know what's going on!!!!

    • stephanie_02207
      stephanie_02207 amy71414

      Posted

      So I had my colonoscopy yesterday they said it all looked normal but took biopsies of my small bowel! I am relieved but also a little confused as they didn't find a source of bleeding and I'm also iron deficient! I get the detailed report soon so maybe I'll know then !

    • amy71414
      amy71414 stephanie_02207

      Posted

      Thats awesome im so happy for you! yer they took a biopsy from the endoscopy as well but i havent been back to my GP yet. I was also iron deficiant and my gp said sometimes you will never know why so i havent really looked into that to much as i dont eat alot of meat either. Hope all goes well for you!
    • stephanie_02207
      stephanie_02207 amy71414

      Posted

      Thank you! The only reason I'm concerned about the iron is because I feel really weak a lot of the time but I started on tablets so hopefully they help. So happy you are doing well

  • claireb1978
    claireb1978 ashley72

    Posted

    Ashley - it is really important to be assertive with the dr treating you. If your symptoms are getting worse do tell the GI specialist as well as your GP. If you can't get the Specialist on the phone become best friends with his or her secretary. Make a pest of yourself daily. ask /demand to be put forward for any cancellations. Emphasise your desperation and get hysterical if you must!

    After 6 months waiting and getting increasingly more desperate I did all this and got an earlier appointment. I wish I had started to shake the boat earlier but it's hard to shake the 'dr knows best' attitude.

    I hope your symptoms are nothing sinister. but September is a long way off so if you are feeling worse than you must look out for yourself and demand an earlier intervention.

    If you were over 50 you would be getting a colonoscopy within 2 weeks...

  • stephanie_02207
    stephanie_02207 ashley72

    Posted

    Might also be an idea to get a stool sample testing for occult blood.. I had this and mine was positive though so doesn't always mean cancer but at least it might speed the doctors up a bit

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