sorry poo question again!

hello melinda thank u i am literally paralysed with fear now this is happening too

hi my doctor wouldn't send me for one, i spoke to a gastroenterologist privately and h said worth checking out and now it's been 3 months of the symptom!

do u have health anxiety too? do u think it could be cancer from these symptoms then?

Yes, I have health anxiety so I know how it can drag you down with the thoughts going round your head all the time and the HA brain arguing with the Rational brain. I can't say you don't have cancer and anyway you wouldn't believe me if I did!

A doctor friend of mine said that blood was the main concern. However you are doing what is right for you and having the Colonoscopy very soon now. 

I am over 60 so that is probably why my doctor sent me for one but he wasn't  that concerned.

The preparation went well for me and for the procedure I had the sedation which didn't put me too sleep but made me calm, something to look forward too! My blood pressure on checking in was 165 but after was 117 so it works.

You get to know what the doctor sees straight afterwards so no waiting unless they take samples.

Bowel cancer is apparently slow growing so you have a good chance even if something is found.

Could you let me know after the C? If you have any questions about it  please ask. Keep smiling Duddy.

hello duddy thank you for reply. have u always had ha? are u on medication? i am back

in sertraline and have been for a month but altho main side effects worn off now not much other effect. they did work a little for me a couple of years ago but i know they take a while. i

am worried about the test but i'll worry more if i don't! I am probably more worried about the sedation and possible interaction with my medication but i am seeing consultant tomorrow morning so i'll speak to him about it as i'm sure lots of people on this kind of medication. I am doing my own head in, it's like i'm having this test but now i'm getting undigested food from the night before in bowel movements so thinking is this maybe some other kind of cancer! also lost weight a, stone and even through

i know it's a classic anxiety symptom and my eating has been erratic to say the least my head is refusing to believe it!it's so exhausting i am trying other things: shiatsu, hypnotherapy at the moment too. How are u with tests? i get myself into such a state!

Hi Natalie,

?I have only had HA for the past three years, although I have had periods of anxiety before that. It's funny, I never thought much about my health and had two children without even a thermometer in the house.

I am taking Sertraline since January and it has been a help, it took ages to work and I am about 90% better. I have to think back to how I was and I realise the things that I can do now that I couldn't in January.

?I told the doctor who did mine that I was on Sertaline and pointed out where it says on the leaflet about Fentalyn but he wasn't bothered and I had no after effects. I would go for the sedation and pain relief again. I felt that I knew what was going on but I was calm and I rested up afterwards for about 20 mins and then I could go, although they insist that someone collects you.

?I had an endoscope in the stomach without sedation and that was OK but that only takes a few minutes whereas the colonoscopy takes longer. So talk to your consultant but I wouldn't worry about the sedation, just look forward to being more relaxed for a while!

?I can't say whether there is anything wrong with you but if you step back, obviously easy for me to say, I could see why anxiety would make the food pass through your system and if it is not being absorbed then you will loose weight and the nervous energy makes you loose weight too. I lost about 7 pounds. Another thing to worry about, it drives you crazy. I should have been glad of it.

?I am alright with tests because I think my anxiety is in the not knowing and if I know what is wrong then I can make a plan.

I have started having CBT early days and I am doing meditation with Headspace which I find helpful.

?Let me know how you get on. Do the preparation properly for the test and be brave.

did u have the 2 procedures on the same day? were ur symptoms similar to mine or different?.

i hope u don't mind me asking

No, I don't mind you asking, I know what a state I can get into with HA. No the two procedures were not related. I had the endoscopy two years ago for pains just below the ribs, surprise-surprise it was all due to anxiety.

?The colonoscopy was earlier this year. I had always had a poo first thing in the morning and that was that but it all started changing, going alot more and at all different times and alot runnier. This went on for a couple of months and my doctor sent me for a C because I was over 60. No blood and no pain. I told the nurse when she rang to arrange the appointment that it was probably due to HA but she said that it was a good thing to have done anyway and it is because if it is clear then that is one thing you won't have to worry about for several years.

?I have had a recent spell of powerful gurgling and diarrhoea but I didn't need to worry about it.

that's practically the opposite to me, apart from the getting a lot softer in consistency. i was very random, times and days and to the point that sometimes it would even hurt a bit but never worried as it was normal for me. Then 3 months ago, just like that, every morning around 7ish , i probably didn't take much notice first week or so but then it started worrying me. to the point now that it's the first thing i think of! I mentioned to my doctor several times and she just isn't concerned but then they say a change should be reported to GP. I privately arranged to speak to a gastroenterologist who said that altho unlikely to be sinister is worth getting checked out and i managed to get it for thursday. i am seeing him tomorrow for consultation appt. I am terrified this has been going on 3'months and been ignored and then it will be too late, yes catastrophising i know. and now of course

i am noticing food from the night before undigested and i'm becoming more obsessed and more frightened and thinking well if this is clear then it must be something that else. u don't think it could be stomach causing the issue and i should ask for endoscopy too? i would rather not as this is all becoming too much now and i'm so down. i suppose i am wary of GP as i had a bcc a few years ago and it was missed by GP's for months

how long did y have to wait for appt, it's the waiting and results that frighten me

I cannot say whether your stomach is causing this problem but when you see the consultant, ask him. As a gastroenterologist he will know what causes what and he will know whether a stomach endoscopy is appropriate. I waited about 2 weeks for both of mine. Remember to follow the preparation instructions that you are given as you need a clean bowel for this to work and you don't want to have it postponed. You don't have long to wait now and even if it is cancer you have a good chance that it will be caught early enough. Best of luck.

also did they ever say what had caused it to happen? does it still happen?

Anxiety. The substances produced by your body under stress e.g. Adrenaline can do all sorts of things and the mind can play a part too. The symptoms that I had have gone now.

i suppose that's another thing. if nothing is found what would have caused the change and do i just draw a line under it and accept it could be my new normal..? i have written down questions for consultant tomorrow and currently trying to eat dry white rice and plain chicken. also got terrible headache ! i bet not having any food for 24 hours feels terrible too..!

If nothing is found then that will be fantastic news, you will not have bowel cancer, it is something that happened, there are not always explanations. So discuss this with your consultant and believe what he tells you, he is an expert not a GP. Enjoy your fast!

i am getting more scared the closer it gets and a massive headache!

You are going to have to try and relax. Perhaps try some relaxation from the internet. It will soon be tomorrow and you can ask your questions. Try positive imagination, you will laughing at yourself when Thursday is over.

I agree - good advice Duddy. Search Rochdale mindfulness for a selection of free mindfulness downloads. There's one called working with difficulty which might be helpful for you. You will be ok.