Symptoms for a few months...worried sick

I am in college so I eat greasy food a good amount but that has never been a problem before...and I wasn’t particularly stressed when the stool changes started but now I am stressed because of what I suspect it is. I had a pathogens test for my stool which was all negative which makes me even more worried it’s something serious. I had a CT scan last may and a colonoscopy in June for different symptoms before these symptoms started and those were all negative of anything in pancreas or colon. I have seen several doctors about this and they all don’t think it’s anything but I don’t understand why my bowel habits would just change like that.

I forgot to add that your stools can change with IBS.

No, the ultrasound just said that my gallbladder appeared normal, so they haven't done any other tests on it.  The pain doesn't go away, and I noticed I am losing at bit of weight. I have had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy and I had a CT scan on my appendix last May that showed a normal looking pancreas.  Would cancer develop that quickly?  I just don't know if I should worry.

I would say you should never worry because it will make your symptoms worse. Anxiety can cause weight loss.  Believe and trust what your doctor is telling you. CT scans are very, very accurate.  If they were not, they would not be used. Pancreatic cancer would be very rare at your age.  When people have typical pancreatic cancer symptoms, the tumour is large enough to be seen on scans.  When the tumour is very, very, small, people tend not to have any symptoms.  If your pancreas showed up fine, accept this.  If  was not, you would have been told immediately.

However, if you are still unconvinced, speak to your doctor about your worries and he or she will likely reassure you in the same way.  

My pancreas could not be seen at all on the ultrasound; but I was told it was likely to be fine. Apparently, this is quite common.  Since your pancreas showed up normal on CT, I would leave it at that. As I said, if something was wrong with it, you would have been told.

Rightsided shoulder pain can be a symptom of gallbladder problems.  Maybe ask for a HIDA scan just to rule out the gallbladder.

The other possibility is muscle strain. Have you pulled your shoulder recently?  If you have, that can take up to eight weeks to heal.  

However, if all your tests are negative. your doctor will usually diagnose IBS.  IBS can cause food malabsorption like you have described and some people have problems with fatty foods.  Try a food diary to identify food problems and cut out the foods that don’t digest properly and avoid fatty foods to see if that helps with your stools.  Back pain and shifting abdominal pain are also IBS symptoms.   IBS could still be a possibility.

The issue is that my CT showed a normal pancreas 4 months before my symptoms even started. That’s why I’m so worried they missed something

I have also noticed that my eyes have a hint of yellow under my eyelids, but not all of my eye.  Freaking out here 

Are you taking any medication?  If you are, check the patient leaflet to see if yellowing skin or eyes is a symptom. Some medication can be very toxic.At the age of 19, pancreatic cancer would be very, very rare indeed. Please believe this!  Have you told your doctor about your pancreas worries? If so, what were you told?  If your current tests still show a normal pancreas, then you should not worry. If you have not told your doctor about your anxieties, go back to your doctor and ask for reassurance. If your doctor tells you your pancreas is fine, you should believe and trust your doctor.

First, thank you for all of your detailed replies.

No, I am not taking any medication, which is what worries me more.  I just hear stories about doctors missing pancreatic cancer on ultrasounds and my CT was months ago and months before my symptoms started and was primarily to see if I had appendicitis so I am not sure if they looked very hard at my pancreas, even though they said it was normal in the report.

I have told my doctor that I think it is pancreatic cancer and was told that it would be very rare and my pain is probably musculoskeletal. I did not get much of an explanation about the oily stools, though.  My hope is just to live a normal life and my biggest fear is to get diagnosed with this awful disease.

If they said your pancreas was normal in the report, then they must have looked at it.  They would not have told you it was normal, if it was not.  They would have told you immediately if anything of concern was found.  You have also been told that pancreatic cancer would be very rare at your age, this is correct information.  I was told this by my doctor when I was panicking about my pancreas and I accepted this explantion and trusted my doctor.  I was diagnosed with IBS and I accepted this diagnosis and my health anxiety and IBS got better and I have a normal life.  

When people have pancreatic cancer symptoms, the tumour most definitely shows up scans.  I have a friend who has a mass of some sort on her pancreas, she had symptoms and the tumour showed up. She is very much older than you.  If you had pancreatic cancer with symptoms, doctors would not have to look very hard to see it.  It only shows up on scans when you start to have symptoms but in your case, your scan was clear.  This is good news for you.

Your doctor has given you logical, reasonable explanations that your pancreas is fine and your tests back this up. The tests you have had are extremely accurate.  They would not use them if they weren’t  Your doctor will probably have given you the same reassurances as I have done.  Why can’t you believe this?  

If you want a normal life, you will have to stop listening to horror stories of doctors missing symptoms until it is too late, listen to what your doctor tells you, and trust and believe what you are told.  If you continue to worry, you will make your symptoms far worse and you will not be able to enjoy life.  You are very young to be burdening yourself with such anxiety.  Anxiety can also cause you to think you have a particular condition, when you do not.  Avoid googling symptoms too.

Anxiety is very common while waiting for diagnosis but you can do a lot to manage it.  I would ask your doctor for help to deal with your anxiety.  CBT or relaxation therapy can be very helpful.

Thank you so much.  I will try to take it easy and I will reply with updates.

Joey

Try distraction techniques to keep you calm like a hobby or light exrercise.