Worried about bowel cancer

Cancer
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I am posting on this forum, because, I really don't know where else to turn just now. My bowel movements changed back in January, and to cut a long story short, it was what I would class as constipation one day diarreah the next. I went to see my GP, after this had been going on for a few weeks, and was asked to provide a stool sample, based on them being loose at the time, the one I provided was formed, and the GP decided not to bother sending another one off, and prescribed fibregel, a month later I returned, with the same problem, and was given Movocol, a month later, still no better and was given Buscopan, I was given a rectal examination and told I was very constipated and given more medication for that, in July with no signs of improvment, my GP agreed to refer me to a Specialist,.

My appointment for that, was for 20th October, and I was told then that constiptaion was the cause of all my problems, but as I have 4 members in my family, that have had bowel cancer, a colonscopy would be done.

Over the months, my symptoms have just got steadily worse, I have accute abdominal pain on ocassions, a constant stitch like pain on the left hand side of my abdomen, I feel sick a lot and have ocassionally vomitted, I have had spells of tasting blood in my mouth, with no apparent cause, feel tired most of the time, feel extremely bloated most of the time, and generally unwell. The pain was quite bad last week, and I went to A&E, my blood pressure was quite high, but wasn't mentioned, a normal abdominal xray showed the Doctor I was constiptaed and he prescribed laxatives, he also told me to see if I could get the colonscopy brought forward, this I have tried to do, but the registra I saw, isn't having any of it, and has said that I am a routine patient, and will have to wait until December for the test, saying that if the Doctor at the hospital, thought it should be brought forward, he should be phoning not me. I can't get an appoinment with my gp, for another 3 weeks, and feel quite poorly at the moment, I really don't want to make a fuss, but I am worried that there might be something serious wrong. Has anyone got any advice?

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Have you recently been suffering with 'black poo'? smile

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Just realised I hadn't signed in, and am showing as a guest with my response to Dr Spock's question about the black poo.

Last week, I had a really bad night and had what was like black water running out of me. I haven't had that happen since though.

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Stop worrying about Cancer and read up on Gastric Ulcers :D You could be well in a month or two smile

A problem with the NHS is you have to be really bad to get a quick service, next time you are really bad (especially streaming black poo (its blood :shock: )) go to A&E and depending how they / you are feeling you could get to the bottom of this a lot quicker smile

Dont take any Asprin or Ibuprofen for it because theyll make it worse, 2 or 3 over the counter Co Codamol or a couple of soluable Paracetamol might make the stitch pain more bearable smile

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Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my post, and your advice too.

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Im sure youll be fine, tell us how you get on smile

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I had my colonoscopy today, which was awful, I wasn't able to have sedation, as the Doctor, managed to collapse 5 veins trying to put in a canulla, and then decided there wasn't enough time, to keep trying with it, so it was quite a painful experience. The results have come back normal, and its looking like I will just have to keep taking laxatives, as the Doctors really don't want to pursue this. Since my last post, I have passed black in my pooh, more than once, I seem to have undigested food in my pooh most of the time, What I pass, I have to strain to pass, but when it comes out, its very, very soft, sometimes flaky. I still have waves of severe abdominal pain, (there is no pattern to this) and I still have the stitch like pain in my left side low in the abdomen, more or less all the time. I really don't know now, what to do, as no-one seems to be taking me seriously...

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This black poo is a classic symptom of upper GI bleeding, and this undigested food, youve got a Duodenal and or Stomach Ulcer. What you need is H.pylori Eradication Therapy, ask your GP about it smile

Good to hear you are otherwise well :ok:

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I thought I would come on here and post an update... I saw the specialist at the hospital yesterday... he won't entertain the idea of me having an ulcer, I explained that I pass black in my stools, and that on one ocassion it was just like black water, all of the past week I have had big lumps of black in my stools, but he really wasn't interested or concerned by that, the stitch like pain I have in my left lower side, he feels is all to do with posture and nothing else. He has told me that I need to take 2-3 tablespoons of Epsom Salts daily as part of my diet as I have IBS, and I have been discharged... He has made me feel that there is no point in pursuing this, so I think I am going to have to just put up with things, and hope they don't get any worse.

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Epsom salts! :shock: :lol: How patronizing :roll:

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i've had to come back to write another post i was told yesterday by a consutant{private bowel} and on examinig me up into the rectum he said that i have diverticular, ok but he has not put my mind at rest about the terrible pain i am getting at the bottom of my abdomen, the pain killers are not helping and i wont be having a barium x-ray till next tuesday, so i have spent alot of money and still siting here none the wiser, i thought going private at least i would have gone home with my mind put at rest, now i have to stew all over the weelkend with this PAIN going rife!!! please could some one tell me of some really strong pain killers, i am takingCO-CODAMOL PHOSPHATE AND PARACETAMOL 500MG PRSCRIBED BY MY DOCTOR.thank you.am i panicking for nothing?

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this post is a reply to magzyol. i have just read your post and i feel sorry for you because i am suffering with the same problem and dont seem to be getting feed back to help me i feel that i am facing up to this on my own and it s not nice especially as it is coming up to christmas GREAT!!!!

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Hi I had similar problem and I changed doctor. I had a colonoscopy and they found a polyp and hemaroids. They think the hemaroids where causing the little red speaks in my stool. Keep asking and have one.

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Hi magzy

Im having similar symptoms to you (except for the black poo) I am a suffer of UC so im constantly managed by GI Consultants. 

Im on a shed load of meds and in the past weeks im been getting the same stick like pain in my left side, alternating constipation and loose movements and tiredness.

Ive raised this with my GI and Im going back for a colonoscopy (ive had loads over the years) 

Was there any further outcomes to your symptoms?

 

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Hi. I know you posted over a year ago but I can see that no one replied and I just wondered how it all went for you? How was the colonoscopy? I hope it was good news.  Would love to hear how you are.  I have pretty much all of the signs and symptoms you outline including a GP that didn't send me anywhere for 6 months. My colonoscopy is on Saturday. 

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Apologies! I can see you have lots of replies! They were not showing initially!! Sorry, I can't seem to delete my original message. 

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Hi was just wondering how you got on with your test ?