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Questions.....I am scared

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 3/11/2010 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I went to the gynocologist for my annual pap smear and he did a rectal exam they called me the next morning and said there was blood in my stool. I have never seen anything at all, I have never seen any blood and the only other symptom that I have been having for the past few months is really bad gas, I have been taking Gas-X but that doesn't seem to work, do you think it could be irritable bowel syndrome? I am now worried I have colon cancer I have an appt with the GI Specialist in two weeks.  Maybe I just wanted to post so someone could put my mind at ease, I am scared to death!
Posted 3/12/2010 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I usually hang out on the UC forum but I saw your post and thought I'd answer.  I do not believe there's blood involved with IBS.  Now, I don't know how old you are but you are more likely to have an IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) than cancer if you are younger.  Not that cancer isn't possible of course but less likely.

Usually, if you have blood in your stool you will have further testing...lab work, stool samples, scope...to determine where the blood is coming from.

Don't freak out, just find out what the cause is and go from there.

Hope you find some answers.

Posted 3/12/2010 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I am 46, so I am not that young, , my mother in law just passed away from colon cancer she was 76, so I am really worried about this, thank you for your response.
Posted 3/13/2010 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I understand your concern with cancer for sure, I was worried about that when I saw blood and it is very hard not to freak out.  Just be sure the GI does the appropriate tests and you will have your answers.  A colonoscopy really isn't that big of a deal, the prep day is worse than the actual test (I was asleep for the actual scope).  Having a scope is really the only way to see what's going on, but the good news is, they usually give answers.

Hope all goes well.

Posted 3/16/2010 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Blood in the stool does not always indicate cancer.  I also an usually in the IBD chrons forum but I saw your post and wanted to give a few positive words. There are a few things that can cause bleeding besides cancer. An IBD for example or as my dr told me when he checked my stool that even a hemmorhoid can get some blood in the stool and does not necessarily indicate anything bad. See a GI as soon as you can. They may recommend a colonscopy but it was not bad for me at all. I took osmoprep pills and was on a liquid diet the day before. The colonoscopy itself was nothing..best 30 minutes of sleep I have had ever! There was no soreness for me after it and I felt back to my old self within a few hours of rest and a nice long nap. I was so upset to be diagnosed with crohns because it is a lifelong condition I have to manage but on the flip side was happy that I knew it was not cancer. Believe me I understand how the mind goes to worst case scenarios. When I had chronic stomach pain I just knew I had stomach or colon cancer. My dad passed away 2 years ago due to lung cancer and I was petrified I might have cancer. But really I worried and stressed myself over it and it was not. So, stay calm, breath...and go see your doc!smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/17/2010 5:07 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you for your responses, I have got myself so nervous over this I literally feel sick now, and I keep going over in my head everything that has been wrong with me, I have had back pain for awhile now that my doctor said was pulled muscle now I am scared that I have cancer and my back was telling me something also I have always had stomach aches, not enough to see a doctor but on and off through my whole life. I guess I will just pray for the best that is all I can do, I don't think it is a hemorroid as everyone keeps telling me, this blood showed up on the test, I have never seen any blood or felt any hemorroids.

Posted 3/17/2010 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Where is your back pain located. With all my other ailments when I went to have my barium swallow done the dr notated I have sacroilitis (sp) which is an inflammation of the area of the lower back. While I was in all this stomach pain I also had that back pain and could hardly lift my legs. That thankfully resolved itself but it can flare up from time to time. Believe me you will make yourself crazy going over every ailment that could be unrelated. My GP dr sent me for an abdominal ultrasound to check my gallbladder initially when I had this pain and because the girl was taking so much time notating measurements and marking stuff I just knew she found a tumor! When I saw the GI they gave me the results and it was completely normal! Whatever you do, do NOT I repeat do NOT go searching your symptoms online. You will convince youself you are going to die tomorrow. See I know all this because I did it. I speak from experience. You will just be borrowing trouble and making yourself sick in the process. Keep us updated when you see the doctor. and think of questions you want to ask before you go. When I saw the dr for the consult and I asked how concerned are we about this being colon cancer he looked at me like I was crazy and said his brain wasn't even going there. There were so many other things it could be. And of course it was something else. As far as the off and on stomach aches I also had that for 8 years. I thought it was IBS but found out it was not. so it seems we have several symptoms in common.
Posted 3/17/2010 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Sunflower - I know you're scared, just make sure you keep your GI appt and find ways to relax until then. Or hobbies, escapes to take your mind off your medical concerns until then. It is so easy to allow your worries and anxieties to run wild with something like this and my best advice, don't let it.

I am speaking from experience.

Like you, I was 41, went in for a regular Pap, and my GYN said it's time to begin anal smears, since you're over 40. He did one, saw blood and said - Hmmmmmm. I asked what he found. He said - there's blood on your smear. I sat straight up, gown fell open, I didn't care, saying - my dad and aunt both died from CC. He said well then, let's get you scheduled for your first colonoscopy.

I was freaking out. But ended up having 2 benign polyps. I was grateful my GYN doc did an anal smear.

I did however have a malignant tumor form 2 years later but nearly every surgeon, oncologist, nurse, GI technician, etc. told me how rare it was for someone my age to have. I held onto these statements knowing it was rare but treatable. And it was only Stage I, I was lucky I had a GI doctor already established.

So for now, make sure you keep your appt., don't cancel it for any reason and let's see what your diagnosis is before your thoughts run wild.

I can relate to how you're feeling, not trying to dismiss your feelings but it could be so many things that have nothing to do with cancer.

Let us know what your doctor finds.

Mary
Posted 3/18/2010 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the kind words, I will try to keep my mind off of it, but the nerves are getting to me and now I am actually feeling sick and I felt fine before this......
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