Hi. I'm new here.
Around a month ago I had very noticeable abdominal swelling starting. I'm usually very thin and so a belly of any kind was unusual for me. My bowels have always been all over the place for most of my life but noticed at the same time the abdominal bloating started, my BM's were odd in that after I'd had a poo, I didn't feel empty. It was a very new to me sensation. Also my poo at that time was pencil thin. I just thought that I was a bit constipated which was also causing my bloating. I didn't go to my GP at that time as I'm always at my surgery (I've had ME/CFS for 15 years and I tend to be a frequent visitor) and felt bad about going to see him yet again.
A week or so went by and I noticed a low back pain. Well, not exactly a pain and I wasn't aware of it hurting unless I sat up from a lying position. It didn't bother me otherwise. But again, it was unusual for me.
Last week (end of June) my abdomen was so swollen that I looked in the first trimester of pregnancy. I sent an eConsult to my surgery and was offered an appointment on that same day. Very nice GP examined my tummy and listened to my symptoms. He ordered a FIT test and an ultrasound. The test kit arrived a few days later and I sent it back straight away.
a few days ago I was in pain and the sensation of pressure and puling in my lower abdomen... low into my pelvis. I had also been unable to eat that day as I felt so full, also breathless. A few weeks earlier a blood test had shown I was iron deficient... in fact the history showed I'd been extremely low in Ferritin for a few years. A GP at that time put me on a high dose of iron. Back to a few days ago. Phoned 111 and after triage I was asked to make my way to Warwick Hospital. I live alone and have no close friends here and felt too poorly to drive so I had to get a taxi which was expensive but it was my only way to get there.
In A&E for around 4 hours as it was busy. Ended up being ushered to surgical outpatients where I was examined by the surgeon who was on duty. He was very nice.. they were all very nice actually. He suggested I have a CT scan as I was there. In the meantime as there were a few beds there (for day patients I guess), the nice nurse said I could get some rest and they would call me when the scan was ready. At 2am I had the CT. Then went back to bed and slept... I'm unbelievably tired atm. The surgeon came back and told me that there didnt' seem to be any obstruction in my colon, nor could he see a tumor. I told him my FIT result wasn't back and he suggested that I have a colonoscopy asap.
The very next day back at home, my GP phoned me with the results of my FIT. He said that as it is high I'm now. on a 2WW for an urgent colonoscopy. So, that's where I am now.
My nature is not one to be anxious or to worry unnecessarily. However those of us who are single and have no family or friends close by do tend to be concerned about this kind of thing happening and being totally alone.
I'll be 66 on 15th July and other than my dodgy auto immune condition, I'm otherwise fit and healthy. I know cancer is all about the genes we were born with but I just feel that with my classic symptoms and this huge belly I have, there is something that has been cooking for some time. I'm so keen to find out what it is and what can be done about it..
Did anyone else have huge abdominal swelling before they were diagnosed?
