Worried about Bowl and Lymph nodes

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi, my name is Rebecca and I am 26 years old.

I have today found a small hard lump under my right armpit. It is smaller than a pea and doesnt hurt at all. Its very hard but is not fixed to the bone - moves around upon touching/pushing. I have lost approximately a stone in weight over the course of the last month (going from 9 stone to 8 stone at a height of 5ft 4) which has been significant enough to have many comments of 'looking too skinny' and my clothing not fitting. I went to the doctors earlier in the year as I have regular significant blood loss when passing stool, the blood is bright red in colour however upon going for a Sigmoidoscopy nothing was found. I have problems with painful bloating and pain in a very specific area of my abdomen on a regular/daily basis which just over a month ago increased in pain so bad I ended up in A&E from being sick and fainting from the pain (I have never fainted before or since) the emergency department did blood tests, the results came back as slight anemia and low Billirubin levels but not low enought to put me through any further testing, they simply requested I ask my GP to re-test both. I hate going to the doctors and don't want to waste anyones time any futher if nothing is going to be found. I suppose my main questions are as follows:

1. As the blood loss is bright red in colour, could it be coming from somewhere higher up the bowel than a Sigmoidoscopy reaches or would it be darker in colour?

2. The painful bloating and intense localised pain - can these sort of symptoms be associated to perhaps an allergy which could be irritating the bowl lining and also causing the blood? - Again shouldnt the sigmoidoscopy have picked this up?

3. The hard lump under my armpit - Could this be completely unrelated? It moves so presumably can't be Lymphoma?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as mentioned I hate the doctors and really don't want to go back if I can possibly avoid it but the lump has set my mind worrying slightly.

 

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Rebecca,

    Have you had your ovaries checked? I had lots of bloating problems and abdominal pains for a few years before I ended up in a & e with a twisted fallopean tube and ovarian cyst with basically damaged both and they had to be removed. The pain from this is horrendous. It can make you bleed much more than you should too. I would ask your doc if it could be a problem linked to this. As for the lump under your arm - it sounds like a little cyst but have it looked at for your own peace of mind. Hope you feel better soon.

  • Posted

    No one here  is a doctor - you need to go back to your GP and insist on tests. Weight loss like that so quickly is a concern and so is rectal bleeding. Yes, it could be a lot of things that a sigmoidoscopy wouldn't reach, you would need a colonoscopy to reach further up the bowel. If you are losing blood regularly it is highly likely you will be anaemic - but that is a symptom not the cause and that needs identifying.

    I would say urgently - since a lot of time has already been wasted. Whilst I am not suggesting it is cancer - do please remind your doctor there have been a few high profile cases recently in young people who have been dismissed when they complained of their symptoms.

    • Posted

      Well said Eileen. Wise words. Sometimes you have to go to docs many times to get to the route of your problems. Sometimes it means being very assertive!

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